An account by BGen Budge Bell-Irving regarding events in Amsterdam on 8 May 1945. It was written on 11 November 1990. The document states: "REMEMBRANCE DAY May 8th, 1945. The guns were silent. Hostilities had ceased on all fronts. The war in Europe was over. Seaforths of Canada with a troop of armoured cars of the P.L.D.G. under command, had been ordered forward to enter, occupy and keep the peace in Amsterdam. An hour or two ahead of the Battalion, the C.O. with one officer and driver in a jeep went ahead to recce the situation in the City. As the jeep crossed the bridge into the City it seemed to the occupants to be a small, rather insignificant vehicle on a very large mission. The avenue stretching out ahead was already lined en both sides by some thousands of Amsterdammers. They were still and silent. There seemed to be an atmosphere of doubtful expectation. Were the rumours true? Was freedom really coming this very morning? Were those people lined up against a wall and shot just yesterday really the last of us to be murdered? The jeep stopped for a moment . An old lady, kneeling at the curb, handing a rose blossom up to the Colonel with tears in her eyes, said it all in simple English words: "Thank God you've come". In the Dam square, close to the Palace, a senior Dutch officer asked the Colonel for permission to hoist the Dutch flag. The honour of having been there at that moment to represent all the Allies in granting that request will not be forgotten within the Seaforths of Vancouver. The symbol of Freedom and Sovereignty was flying again. within a short time the Battalion convoy arrived. In addition to its full load of Cuidichn's, each T.C.V. seemed to have a second load of volunteers joined while entering the city, for the most part of the feminine gender. No more silence, no more doubt. The war was really over. The joyous celebrations may still be heard forty - five years later - in the next generation. Beginning on that glorious eighth of May the Pipes and Drums beat retreat each evening in a city Square written in the Netherlands history. The music of the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada is the Sound of Freedom. When a soldier has been long away from home , often in combat with the enemy, often sickened by the death of beloved companions, he might well wonder why. Is it all worth while? Is it necessary? Why are we here? The brave and almost starved citizens of the ancient city of Amsterdam gave the answer to those questions in full measure to every man of us. The joy, the deep gratitude, the constant refrain: "Thank you Canada" will not be forgotten. We will always mourn those "friends of our youth who grow not old as we who are left grow old" but we fortunate survivors were able to go home in the knowledge of an essential job well done." Attached to Media