A CANADIAN lady was recently in her husband’s home town of Crickhowell to cheer on her Dutch cousin who was cycling through with his fellow countryman, in honour of the Welsh soldiers who liberated the city of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) from Nazi rule during World War Two.

Ton was one of more than 20 cyclists from the Netherlands who were making a 400-mile pilgrimage to Pontypridd to commemorate the liberation of Den Bosh 75 years ago by the 53rd Welsh Division.

Troops from the Welch Regiment were the first to make it into Den Bosch in October 1944. The city housed the Nazi concentration camp Herzogenbusch where 30,000 inmates were interned from January 1943 to September 1944.

During Operation Pheasant (October 24-27 1944) 146 Welsh infantry soldiers were killed in action but the mission was a success and Den Bosch was finally free of the vile tread of the Nazi jackboot.

The people of the Dutch city have never forgotten the sacrifices made by the men of Wales and in honour of their memory a group of them peddled the 400 miles from the Welsh Division Memorial located in the 53rd Welsh Division Square, which lies on the Aartshertogenlaan in ’s-Hertogenbosch, to Pontypridd’s own monument to the Welch Regiment.

At Pontypridd, cyclists picked up a symbolic “liberty flame” to take back to Den Bosch with them. The flame will burn in the Dutch city’s cathedral until October, unwavering through day and night in celebration of the bond between Wales and the Netherlands.

Den Bosch Mayor Jack Mikkers explained, “In Den Bosch we realise that memories of the Second World War are fading, but we will pass on to future generations what the people of Wales have done for us."

Marita Thomas, who originally hails from Canada but now lives in Abergavenny with her husband Neil, and their two daughters Philippa and Josie, was in Crickhowell to wave on her Dutch cousin on his way to Pontypridd.

Marita told the Chronicle, “It was kind of strange twist of fate that led me to meet my Dutch cousin not far from the village (Llangynidr) where my husband was born, but I’m so glad that Neil, and the girls and I went along. It’s important to remember what those men fought and died for, and to celebrate the friendships between countries from all over the world that their sacrifice made possible.”