Côr Meibion Llanelli will be travelling to The Netherlands next week to take part in special Liberation Day and Veterans Day services to mark a key World War Two battle.
The choristers will be travelling to the city of s’Hertogenbosch (known in the Netherlands as Den Bosch – ‘The Wood’), about 50 miles south of Amsterdam. “The invitation links in with special services and tributes to mark key events from World War Two,” said choir secretary Fred Elias.
“We are very honoured to receive the invitation to attend the events and looking forward to being proud representatives of Wales in ‘Den Bosch’.” Civic officials from ‘Den Bosch’ attended one of Côr Meibion Llanelli’s rehearsals at Furnace Community Hall earlier this year. “They were given a taster of what they can expect to hear at our performances in ‘Den Bosch’ next week,” said Mr Elias. Jan de Wit, chief executive of s’Hertogenbosch City Council, said: “We were greatly impressed by what we heard at their rehearsals and are looking forward immensely to the choir joining us in ‘Den Bosch’.” Lieutenant Colonel David Mathias, of Llanelli, has been playing a key role in organising the trip.
He explained: “There is a very big Welsh connection with ‘Den Bosch’. The city was liberated by the 53rd Welsh Division after a five-day battle on October 27, 1944. The 53rd Welsh lost 146 soldiers killed in action.
“A year after the liberation, the Divisional Commander, Major General Ross, returned to the city and presented it with a commemorative shield made of oak salvaged from a bombed Cardiff church. The shield now takes pride of place in the ‘Welsh Room’ in the city’s medieval Town Hall.”
The first of a series of ‘Den Bosch’ Liberation Commemorations took place in 1984. The commemorations today involve Welsh civic representatives and Welsh music, strengthening the links between ‘Den Bosch’ and the 53rd Welsh Division and between the people of ‘Den Bosch’ and Wales. Côr Meibion Llanelli members will take part in wreath-laying ceremonies, special civic events and two concerts. They will also visit the nearby Uden War Cemetery, the Vught Concentration Camp and join a Battlefield tour. Choir chairman Mel Harries said the choristers had been moved by the story of the liberation of ‘Den Bosch’ and were keen to pay their memorial tribute in song. The choir will be joined by soloist Llio Evans for their concert engagements.
