The Canadian War Cemetery:

  As the farmer N. Zeinstra came back from the evacuation, he saw on his land different boards with “Verboden Toegang” (= trespassers will be prosecuted) writen on them. He went to the mayor of Groesbeek, Jonkheer van Grotenhuis for more information, but the mayor didn’t know something about it, and advised farmer Zeinstra to begin with his work on his land. After some days, a Canadian officer came a little bit indignant to mayor van Grotenhuis, to complain about his advice. Because that piece of land was specially selected by the officer, to make a war cemetery of it. The mayor could convince him, that this land was not suitable, because a residential quarter was near that piece of land, and that it was also a pity because of the very good quality of the land. He promised to take care of a good alternative. They asked for advice, Mr. Lambert Janssen (owner of the farm Groenendael near the Wylerbaan). He belonged to the foundation “Landbouwherstel” (a foundation for restoration of the agriculture after the Second World War) and as a farmer-son he was a specialist in the quality from land in the municipal of Groesbeek To make a cemetery there were two pieces of land possible:

1. One piece near the woods of Klein America (the first dropping place from the airborne divisions) in the south of Groesbeek, and
2. A piece of land near the Zevenheuvelenweg in the north of Groesbeek.

Both places had a viewpoint to Germany. This was a prerequiste. To have a look, the mayor of Groesbeek in that time, went to the land of large land owner Jurgens at the Zevenheuvelenweg, which was tenant by Zeinstra. As he came there, he saw that the land was destroyed by tanks, trenches and holes to shoot made by the soldiers. Also on the land, was a destroyed German tank. On the ground, he saw an empty packet of cigarettes. He took it and saw the trade-mark: “Sweet Corporal”. He took the packet with him, and he also found a Canadian uniform button. These two objects were the clue to decide that this was the real place. The Canadian officer agreed, but he also wanted to have a look to the other place in the south. By Jeep, both men went through the village of Groesbeek to Klein America in the south of our village. As they came on the road “de Colonjes” , the officer and the mayor both saw that there were still dangerous mines everywhere. The officer stopped the car, and said: “ I do not go further”. He also told the mayor, that he as an officer, had to do more important things, and that he was a little bit afraid to drive on one of those mines !! He thanked the mayor for his help, and with the adres from the family Jurgens he went to Berg en Dal (belongs to the village of Groesbeek, near the town of Nijmegen). With the Jurgens he made an agreement.