Thread: My grandfather David McKellar, a Private, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 15th Scottish Division, died of wounds 21st Nov 1944 during the liberation of south Netherlands. During the battalion’s progress through the N’lands, he sent home postcards to his wife, my gran.

2 weeks ago, with Dutch friends Tom & Ellen, I visited locations on 7 of the postcards from Helmond, Deurne & Tilburg & took photos as close to locations & orientations of the originals as possible. I’ve turned them into a series of gifs to show how they’ve changed in 75 years.

The Kasteel Raadhuis in Helmond, where his 2nd Battalion GORDONS spent a few days resting up just after the city’s liberation ( #bevrijding). The Division’s pipe band played in the courtyard of this castle, which he also mentioned in the postcard home. @ghmuseum @gc_highlanders

In Deurne, he sent a postcard of St Franciscus Patronaat, where he was billeted for a night. I could get the angle right on the postcard but managed to match with another contemporary photo. Here’s the original postcard, where he marked an ‘x’ on the window by his sleeping spot!

And here’s a gif of a contemporary photo matched up with how it looks today.

Another postcard he sent from Deurne showed the Roman Catholic Church in the main square. The photo appears to have been taken from a more elevated point but I did my best to match the location. A few minutes walk from his billet, I am sure he would have strolled here.

Arrival in Tilburg for a few days respite from battle only lasted a day before they were despatched to respond to a German counter attack near Meijel where, ultimately, he would die of wounds he received. He sent 4 postcards, his last, from Tilburg, including this, the Markt.

He sent a postcard of this statue of King Willem II in Tilburg which, although it has been moved twice since 1944, is still in the general area of the square and matched well to my photo, despite the background being completely different!

Near the statue is the church of St Josephkerk which is largely unchanged from my grandfather’s 1944 postcard, although the pavement where the original photo was taken is now about a metre higher.

The final postcard location we visited was this considerably altered Tilburg street corner. I assume that he maybe visited this location, otherwise why choose a postcard? Spookily, when we matched the 2 photos, there is, by chance, a cyclist in an identical spot in both.

It was a wonderful, moving experience to follow in the footsteps of the grandfather I never had the chance to know, visiting places from which he sent home loving messages, never once mentioning the conflict or dangers faced. My love & thanks to Tom & Ellen. @ghmuseum. Ends.