CRASH SITE THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF 20 CANADIANS COMMEMORATED ON SEPT. 25, 2021

For those who follow the news regarding the military and the roles Canadians had during both World Wars, you recall a news item from the Fall of 2018. It was about a plane crash over Germany during WW 11 with 20 Canadians being on board plus 3 staff, and all were killed. James Ernest Allen from East Nissouri township was one of those Canadians killed.

Under the leadership of Eric Wieman, who works with the IG Heimatforschung Rheinland-Pfalz/Historical Research Community in Germany. the site of that crash was located in 2017. The area was meticulously searched. Pieces of plastic windows, tire fragments and small pieces of aluminum – some still with camouflage paint were just a few of the items recovered.

The group worked on establishing a permanent monument right where the plan crashed down. They were also able to contact descendants of those fallen Canadians. This is when the Heroes Of Zorra were called upon. See earlier write-up for the Thamesford Village Voice published in December 2018 and now available on the HOZ web site...

Due to the world-wide Covid 19 pandemic the scheduled event to commemorate the monument and the 23 men who lost their lives had to be re-scheduled three times. Finally on September 25, 2021 the long-awaited event was held. Thank you to the kindness of Mr. Wieman the Heroes Of Zorra have been given permission to share with you a couple of links, posted on our web site, that will allow you to view the ceremony in German and also a shorter version that was provided in English. We hope you enjoy this little part of history brought closer to home.

For the recording in English click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuTTkOXlU0

For the recording in German click here https://youtu.be/VbMvDiEZHyc

For an unnarrated video of the ceremony click here https://youtu.be/QRig4t9pBKE

Contributed by Shirley McCall-Hanlon

Heroes Of Zorra Committee Chairperson

November 2021