Ammunition disaster Heenvliet

After the liberation in May 1945, the clearing of ammunition and mines began.
126 (Middlesex) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment was appointed in the Dordrecht region to supervise the work, they were assisted by people from the Dutch Internal Forces (BS). The work took place on the iSouth Holland and Zeeland islands.
German army units were deployed for the mine clearance and collaborators were deployed for the work at Heenvliet on the Kanaaldijk West.
Ammunition from the island of Voorne Putten was collected here to be taken away by ship.
On 20 May 1945, things went wrong and an explosion occurred.
The neighbouring villages of Zwartewaal and Nieuwesluis were hit. In Zwartewaal, windows were broken and Nieuwesluis was even completely evacuated.
The explosion claimed five victims among the Allies and one Dutch BS'er. The allies are buried at Zwartewaal. Four English and one Canadian.
The Dutch BS'r is buried at Heenvliet.

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Source

• Text: Adri Kramer
• Photos: Adri Kramer