‘Jong Nederland’ [The story of the Dutch Children]

  The Willenhall Local History Group, wish to thank Mr. Peter Leurmans, for allowing the group to copy extracts from his book ‘Jong Nederland’ which has been translated from Dutch, and his personal photographs which are used form the basis of these pages. Copyright of the following information and photographs remains Peter Leurmans.

The origins of the children’s visit abroad.   Page 26

During the war in the Netherlands, as the enemy plundered our land, the food supply became very low. In 1944 in the south, children were beginning to suffer from the ill effects of war. As a result of this dreadful state of affairs, the English and Netherlands authorities in London began to consider bringing children from the Netherlands across to England for health reasons. A month later, on Dec 30^th 1944, the Central Committee for Sending Children Abroad was set up. The headquarters were established in Den Bosch. The English committee consisted of business people and politicians. The chairman was Hr P, Rijkens and the treasurer was Hr ten Doessschate. Hr J Luns was also a member of the committee. The finances were controlled by the Netherlands Ministry of Social Affairs which was then established in London. The Netherlands committee consisted of Hr Ch. Hustinx , the chairman, L Wiffels, the secretary, Dr Matheu vd Berg, Mr Schats, Calon, Dr Sprecher, Hr Hissink and Dr Veeger, and the ladies Zr Gaudia and Mevruow Beukema. The Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force was responsible for the entire transport operation.  

On 13^th December Her Royal Highness Princess Juliana took her seat on the committee. The British Ministry of Health Arranged the accommodation for the children’s arrival. The Women’s Aid Corps of the Netherlands assisted in providing clothing for the children. They came in large consignments from the American and Canadian Red Cross. The doctors in Coventry were Dr CJ Gelderman from Nijmengen and Dr ‘Richard’ Tauber from Austria.

Below you will see examples of more statistics:

110 children went to host families’                                      287 boys/ 209 girls –  496 in total went to Coventry (also 72  adults)

The first transport to Coventry took place on 8^th Feb 1945. On the 29^th May, the above-mentioned children went to host families. On the 30^th May, the remaining children (excluding those who were sick) returned to the Netherlands. Some of the sick children left  behind, were brought home by a Dakota and landed at ‘Welschap’ near Eindhoven.

There were 3 camps with 500 children, 9 camps with 250 children, 4 camps with 180 children, 1 camp with 100 children.

There were 3 camps in Scotland;  3 in South of England; 11 camps in the Midlands

17 groups went to England;5 to France; 9 to Switzerland; 7 to Belgium;2 to Denmark

For every 500 children there was 1 doctor, 5 careers, 1 hairdresser, 2 seamstresses, 5 office staff. Also cooks, stokers, electricians, cobblers, matrons etc

In total, 9283 children went to England

Photographs about Baginton Fields Hostel

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