Werl

Canada has played an integral role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since its inception on 4 April 1949. Canada's commitment to NATO resulted in the stationing of a brigade group in Germany. Although the Canadian Forces had been in Germany for some time, in 1953, with the establishment of new camps, wives and children were allowed to join their husbands and fathers. The camps were located in eight Forts:
    Fort Prince of Wales and Fort MacLeod in the Hemer Area;
    Fort Chambly in the Soest Area;
    Fort Henry and Fort York in the Soest-Stockum Area; and
    Fort St Louis, Fort Anne and Fort Victoria in the Werl Area

By 1955 there were just 1600 married quarters available, however, many members still had to acquire accommodation on the local economy in villages near the Camps.

As with any community there were marriages, births and, unfortunately, deaths. Canadians serving with NATO were not exempt from any of these facts of life, the joy nor the sorrow.

There were 474 Canadians (124 Post-War military and 350 Dependants) buried in the Central Cemetery in Werl. Unlike most of North America, in most locations in Europe plots are not acquired in perpetuity but rather for a specific period of time, normally 20 to 25 years, after which the grave marker is removed and eventually the plot is reused. Fortunately, the two Canadian Sections in Werl were leased by Canada and there has been no loss of graves.

The Department of National Defence and the City of Werl worked to conclude a further 50-year lease for the Canadian Sections. Included is an option to extend a further 50 years. A technical report prepared concerning existing grave markers indicated that, these stones would not last too long in the future. A decision was made to replace all markers with ones of granite. This was done in 2003. Two Memorial Cairns were installed in the Canadian Sections and the names of dependants whose graves were lost both in Werl and the surrounding area were inscribed on the Cairns.

In 2003 a dedication ceremony was held at the Werl Central cemetery.

Background Information on these sites has been extracted from: the Pinetree Line Web Site; the 2 (F) Wing RCAF Grostenquin, France Information Booklet (1957); publication 4 CMBG Canada's NATO Brigade, 1983, Moritz Schauenburg Gmbh & Co. KG.

Return to search