After Luneberg, we drove to Celle, in order to visit the cemetery where Ray's uncle Raymond Holmewood is buried. He was killed in May 1945 at the age of 19, very close to the end of the war. Of course Ray was born nine years later, so never knew his uncle, but it was a moving experience nonetheless. We were pleased to see that the cemetery was immaculately kept, very peaceful and respectful.
Celle is a pretty town, but the stellplatz where we expected to stay had been taken over by a circus (they were washing the elephants when we arrived). So we drove on past Hannover to Mardorf, and a nice camping place by a huge lake. Next day we travelled a long way west into Holland and arrived at Wolfhaze, near Arnhem. This turned out to be the area where the troops and equipment for operation Market Garden landed in 1944 by glider and parachute. The purpose was to attack the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem - an operation which eventually failed, with huge losses, but was a very brave attempt. We visited a little glider museum and cycled round some of the monuments - a very interesting day.
So after another long drive across Holland and Belgium, we are near St Omer, and, I think, ready to come home after an amazing and sometimes challenging trip!
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| Street scene in Celle |
