Framed pictures of the location of memorial LCol MacKenzie’s death. Donated by mr JHJ van Blommestein, Burgomaster of Voorst, during ceremonies commemorating the liberation of Holland by the Canadians in 1945. 48th Highlander veterans were in attendance at the unveiling of the plaque on May 9, 1995. A parade in Apeldoorn and other ceremonies in The Netherlands are held every five years.
1, 2: Aerial photos of Wilp on the Ijssel River in The Netherlands; 3, 4: Plaque mounted on the exterior wall of the church in Wilp. Plaque was donated by the citizens of Voorst (including the towns of Wilp, Twello and Apeldoorn); 5: On the road out of Wilp looking back toward the church. This road was the axis of advance of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders, toward the town of Twello, the first objective of Operation Cannonshot whose final goal was the liberation of Apeldoorn.
The approximate centre of the image 2 is the location at which Lt. Col. Donald MacKenzie, Commanding Officer, was killed in action in Wilp on 12 April 1945. Mackenzie was first buried on the dyke at Wilp with 18 other 48th Highlanders. The graves were moved subsequently to Holten Cemetery.