The Dutch don’t take freedom for granted. Unlike in many places where historical memory fades, the liberation of the Netherlands is taught in schools, passed down in families, and commemorated in ceremonies. They “bother” because of Canada’s pivotal role in liberating the Netherlands from the Nazis occupation during World War II. They remember being helped when they had nothing, and because thousands of Canadians gave their lives for a country that wasn’t even their own.
The winter before liberation was brutal; tens of thousands of Dutch civilians died of starvation and cold. Cities like Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, Groningen, and many more were freed by Canadians after years of hunger, fear, and repression under Nazi control. When Canadians arrived, they brought food, medical aid, and compassion—saving countless lives in both a military and humanitarian sense.
Approximately 175,000 Canadian soldiers took part in the Liberation of the Netherlands and 7,600 Canadians died during the Liberation between September 1944 and May 1945.
For the 80th anniversary Liberation Parade in Apeldoorn, twenty Canadian WWII veterans aged between 96 and 105 participated. This event underscores both the dwindling number of surviving veterans and their enduring commitment to remembrance. While exact figures for 2025 are not publicly available, it is reasonable to estimate that the number of living Canadian WWII veterans is now well below 5,000. Hard to believe as there was 1.1 million Canadians that served in the Second World War.
As of May 2025, the oldest known living Canadian war veteran is Burdett "Burd" Sisler, who recently celebrated his 110th birthday on April 14, 2025. Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1915, Sisler moved to Etobicoke, Ontario, at the age of three. During World War II, he served as a radar technician in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group, and he is recognized as one of the oldest living WWII veterans globally.
The decline of our WWII Veterans highlights the importance of preserving their stories and honouring their service while we still can and this is what D-Day Wear is doing. So if you have friends that are proud Canadians and you think that they would appreciate what we do, please share our website with them www.ddaywear.com .
We can never forget: Their duty was to serve, Our Duty is to remember them!