Frankie Day and daughter Donna visit the grave of brother and uncle Edward Fenn

In the moonlight at Hoeve de Knol in Overloon, we said a deeply moved farewell to Frankie Day (née Fenn) and her daughter Donna. Frankie was born in 1946 and grew up alongside the profound sorrow that had previously stricken the family. On July 28, 1944, her brother Gordon was killed during a bombing in London. Her other brother Edward, known as Ted, had been deployed to Normandy just four days earlier to fight on the mainland. Ted was granted leave to attend the funeral and returned to his regiment in Normandy in August: the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
 
With this regiment, he eventually arrived in St. Hubert in the Netherlands on October 1, 1944, where they stayed until October 12, 1944. Billeted in farms across the surrounding countryside of the small village, they enjoyed a very pleasant stay. There was time for relaxation, music, and film (set up in a barn). They connected closely with the locals and learned about each other’s (culinary) customs. A football match was organized against the St. Hubert team, accompanied by the pipe band of the regiment. In short: it was a warm, pleasant, and wondrous stay for both sides, and the hope was that it would soon lead to the liberation of the Netherlands.

A documentary about St. Hubert tells the story of this stay and describes how, on October 12, 1944, the men were waved off with tears and fear as they set out toward Sint Anthonis.

From October 13 onwards, the regiment was plunged into the hell of the Battle of Overloon. A day later, the village of Overloon was liberated: destroyed and suffering heavy casualties. The fighting continued for days, and on October 19, 1944, Ted was caught in a firefight in which he sadly lost his life, alongside four of his comrades. This took place on the grounds of Hoeve de Knol, where Frankie and Donna stayed over the past few days.
 
Over the past few days, we took Frankie and Donna on a “journey” through the area where her brother and uncle served. We took them to the spot where he was killed, to where he was temporarily buried, and to his grave at Overloon War Cemetery.

We traveled to Sint Anthonis, shared stories of the (military) chaos in that village in late September and early October, and paused at the military graves, including that of Lt. Col. Silvertop in the churchyard.
 
In St. Hubert, we spent time reflecting at the artwork created by 500 residents and children to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. We translated the many glass paintings with drawings, texts, and poems for them. Deeply moved, they took in every single piece of art. Driving this route with them, hearing the stories, and seeing the surrounding landscape “brought her beloved brother suddenly to life,” as Frankie put it. Knowing that he had spent such a good time in St. Hubert with his comrades gave her a completely different perspective on the final days of his life, something she could never have imagined before.

The following day, we visited the Overloon War Museum with them, where they received a warm welcome. Deeply impressed, including by the beautiful new artwork (the ‘V’ from the musical Soldaat van Oranje), they closed that day overwhelmed as well.

Yesterday, October 14, the day of the liberation of Overloon, was dedicated to spending time at the cemetery, looking at the many flowers and photo displays, and meeting visitors. Here, too, conversations took place that will never be forgotten. We concluded with a visit to the freedom monument in Overloon and observed the peaceful life that, thanks to peace, can now be enjoyed by the village’s residents and children.
 
Once again, it was an honor to welcome family members and guide them through the area that has caused them so much grief. They emphasized that they left with a completely different feeling than when they arrived. They felt the gratitude and dedication of all the villages in honoring their loved ones, and how meaningful it is to be able to give them that feeling!

Read the full biography of Edward Fenn here at the website: Biography Edward Fenn

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