Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema

[Sgt Barker]

Mr. Roelfzema died last month. His passing is just another reminder of WWII fading into history. I heard him speak at the opening of the film Soldier of Orange, and excellent WWII movie, in Seattle back in the 70s. A quote from him in the TimesOnline (London... not the US rag), obituary.

“I became a war hero because I stuck out”, he said, “because I wrote about my experiences. But behind every soldier decorated with military honours, there are a hundred anonymous heroes, some of them greater. I had the fortune to be recognised, and to grow old.”

An extraordinary man. RIP