Pat and I have joined the British Legion – Holland branche. Last Wednesday we attended a meeting and during the “social bit”, an octogenarian approached us. He said he’d been to Wales in 1940, where? We asked. Holyhead he replied. I nearly knocked him over with my enthusiastic “that’s where we’re from”.
So we’re chatting away about Holyhead and his service, when I discovered he was on the same ships as my Dutch grandfather. My Grandad was Marine and was based in Holyhead amongst other ports whilst Holland was occupied. He ended up marrying a local girl, as did lots of other Dutch sea men.

One of the end results is meee...aren't you glad now

A friend of mine is currently doing research into the Dutch presence in Holyhead during World War 2 and Mr. van Aken kindly allowed me to take his number for my friend to call him. He did so and was given some very interesting information and stories.

What a small world. I love it when things like this happen.