A year later when I was already in touch with some of the former Company Commanders of the Battalion for some months, they invited my to be present as a guest during the unveiling of a plaque on the wall of the restaurant at the Westerbouwing Height. In 1944 this had to be captured on the German Troops, after crossing the Rhine.
When storming it, it was the battle cry by the Commanding Officer Major Tilly "Their they are get at them with the bayonet" that made them famous, it would also be the title for my book 26 years later.
The Westerbouwing Height 16 September 1993
The speech
This is the speech made by the 4th Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Commander in 1994.
Lieutenant-Colonel A.W. Thornburn, MBE during the unveiling of the plaque
(collection Ph Reinders) An battlefield relic in 2015, a broken 0.303 Lee enfield cartridge.
Westerbouwing 16 September 1993, Major Mike Whittle, B Company commander during the Battle.
Westerbouwing 16 September 1993, Major Philip Roper, D Company commander during the Battle.
A year later, September 1994 a memorial bench was placed on the Westerbouwing, Captain Ron Hall, C Company commander was the driving force behind this.
In 1994 there was also a "crossing" by member of the The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. In the boats there were also a numbers of 4th Battalion Veterans.
