Eighty years after Welby Patterson died in Europe during the final days of World War II, his niece Maidy Keir will witness his long-overdue recognition at the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, Netherlands. Surrounded by wartime artifacts in her London, Ontario home, Keir reflects on Patterson’s sacrifice and legacy.
Patterson, a 22-year-old member of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and proud Tuscarora from Six Nations of the Grand River, was killed in April 1945 while helping build a bridge under sniper fire. He was previously awarded a military medal for bravery during a 1944 firefight and is buried at Holten Canadian War Cemetery.
The discovery came when Keir’s daughter found a Dutch article searching for families of Indigenous soldiers. Dutch historian Mathilde Roza is curating the exhibit “Indigenous Liberators: First Nations, Métis and Native American soldiers and the Liberation of the Netherlands WWII,” launching May 1 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Dutch liberation from Nazi rule.
The exhibit features 30 stories of Indigenous soldiers, many of whom, like Patterson, endured residential schools and colonization before fighting for freedom abroad. Roza emphasizes the importance of recognizing these contributions as part of both Dutch and Canadian history.
Patterson’s legacy lives on through his family and the Dutch who continue to honor the Indigenous soldiers who helped liberate their country.
Source: Swifteradio.com
