08/03/2026
We have received an interesting information request from the Historical Society Maartensdijk the Netherlands.
Lisan Koppenol is writing a story about 11 Canadians who were given shelter by the underground in Maartensdijk 1944-1945.
They are requesting any information about William (Wally/Bill) Rice who gave an address of Box 58, Collingwood Ontario. They did not have his military number. He was believed to be part of the 1st Canadian Army, either motor brigade or tank driver.
William Rice was taken prisoner by the Germans during the battle of the Scheldt in Belgium near the Leopold Canal. After capture, William was taken to Utrecht in the Netherlands, escaped from a PoW-train and stayed near Soest. A policeman, Mr. De Vries, took care of the 4 Canadians who fled the train near Soest. William was helped and sheltered for the remaining of the war.
They would like to know about William, including his day of birth and day he died.
We would appreciate any assistance members could offer.
