November 11, 2018
Westduin Cemetery, The Hague – Each year a service his held for Commonwealth Remembrance Day in The Hague to honor the sacrifices of the Commonwealth forces in the First and Second World Wars. The ceremony was hosted by British Ambassador Peter Wilson who spoke on the importance of remembering those who died so others might live in freedom on the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
Deputy Chief of Mission Shawn Crowley and Air Attaché Colonel Scott Fisher joined Ambassadors and military attaches from India, Australia, New Zealand, Malta, France, and other countries to lay wreaths and honor the dead.
There are four Commonwealth cemeteries in The Hague. The Hague General Cemetery at Kerhoflaan and The Hague Roman Catholic Cemetery contain war graves of the First World War. The Hague (Westduin) Cemetery and The Hague (Oud EikEnDuinen) Cemetery contain war graves of the Second World War. The Commonwealth-Netherlands Joint Committee annually remembers the sacrifices of these Commonwealth forces in a ceremony held at the Westduin Cemetery.The Westduin Cemetery in The Hague contains 87 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
The Remembrance Day Service also pays tribute to The StijkelGroep, named after Hans Stijkel, Leader of a group of individuals actively involved in the resistance against German occupation after the invasion of The Netherlands on 10 May 1940. Memorial stones have been erected in Westduin Cemetery in their honor.
