This memorial page is dedicated to Herbertus Mathijs Marie Willemse, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

 

Herbertus Mathijs Marie Willemse

Name: Willemse
First names: Herbertus Mathijs Marie
Nickname: Huub
Date of birth: 16 November 1938
Place of birth: in Liessel
Residence: 96 Heitraksedijk, Liessel
Rank / Occupation: –
Identity tag: –
Unit: –
Date of death: 27 October 1944
Place of death: Liessel
Cause of death: as a result of shelling
Cemetery: Roman Catholic Cemetery at Ysselsteyn
Memorial site: War memorial in Liessel
: War memorial at St Willibrord’s Church in Liessel

Additional information

Son of Johannes Jozef Willemse

and Francina Petronella Wilhelmina Spreeuwenberg.

On 27 October 1944, the Germans launched an unexpected counter-attack from Helenaveen and Meijel. Residents of Liessel fled in great haste to Deurne and Asten. The Americans stationed on the front line were unable to repel this attack. The 15th Scottish Division, which had just liberated Tilburg, came to their aid. After heavy fighting, often hand-to-hand, including in the Dennendijk woods, the German offensive was repelled. For a brief moment, Liessel made world news. War correspondents described the battle as one of the fiercest since the Normandy landings.

Fleeing the violence of war, as they made their way towards the air-raid shelter/silo at the neighbours’ house across the road, Herbertus Mathijs Marie Willemse, his father Johannes Jozef Willemse and Christianus van Hugten were caught unawares by a direct hit on the breeding room. Herbertus Mathijs Marie Willemse and his father Johannes Jozef Willemse were killed in the attack; Christianus van Hugten was seriously injured and taken to the hospital in Helmond, where he died of his injuries a few weeks later.

Joint memorial card
Gezamenlijk bidprentje
Death register
Overlijdensregister

View all persons in the category: Residents of Deurne who lost their lives in Deurne