On Thursday, 16 November 1944, 84 Allied troops and Dutch civilians gathered in the chicken sheds of the Wolfswinkel family near Lunteren. The weather was cold and rainy. That night, they set off, and by morning, they reached the Wekeromse Zand area, where they were joined by another six persons.
The next night, the group continued on towards Westerrode Farm on the Ede-Otterlo road. By now, they were behind schedule, and at Westerrode another three people joined the group. But 23 others arrived here too late, and failed to make the rendezvous. Moving via Mosselse Veld, they headed for Planken Wambuis. The British commander, Major Maguire, decided to take a shorter route and consequently ended up between German artillery positions at Hindekamp. After a German shouted ‘Halt!’ the group scattered into the undergrowth. But not everyone got the signal to move on again...
On arrival at the Heidebloemallee road, it turned out that the advance party now numbered only 40 men. As the stragglers moved to catch up they were fired on, with some being wounded and others taken prisoner. The leader of the rear party, Major Coke, ended up at the German command post and was killed there. After being fired on again at state highway 24 (now the N224 main road) the advance party numbered just 17 men, including Major Maguire. They were all taken prisoner on 18 November 1944.
Only small groups of soldiers managed to get as far as the Rhine. Ultimately, just seven of the 116 participants safely reached the American troops in liberated territory on the southern bank of the Rhine. During the operation, two British participants and one American were killed, while one Dutch guide died of his wounds. One man went missing. Twelve of the 48 soldiers taken prisoner were wounded as well. Three men were exposed by the Germans as members of the resistance and were shot by firing squad at Woeste Hoeve on 8 March 1945. The other 64 participants were able to escape and went back into hiding.
Do you want to experience this story on its original location? Visit this information panel on the Heidebloemallee near the Heidebloemplas.
