Thursday, July 17, 2014

[0300hrs]

3am Reveille, complete with red and blue flashing lights. Never enough sleep. Everyone awoke with sore and tired feet for day three, which meant that demand for the medical room for foot mending outstripped that for the toasted sandwiches and coffee in the breakfast room.

4am, everyone was ready in patrol uniform for the muster call.

—

We just took our first 10k break. We marched alongside a British Army Intelligence Corps and together we passed a US Army Medical Corps.

Early afternoon, and the temperatures were climbing into the mid-20s. Rest stops felt like they were getting shorter and shorter. And, before our final rest-stop, the joint VPD/Hague Police detatchment took a small detour from the route, and marched proudly into Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Having marched uphill, north for 3km from the village that bears its name, the contingent fell in at ease, and everyone was briefed by Chief Inspector Carolus as to the remembrance ceremony we were to perform in honour of the 2,338 Canadian soldiers of World War II who are buried here.

The cemetery is unique in that many of the dead were brought here from nearby Germany. It is one of the few cases where bodies were moved across international frontiers.

Constable Ian rang out with Last Post on the Bugle, bringing the cemetery silent for two minutes reflection of the  Fallen Canadian soldiers of the Rhineland battles, who were buried in German battlefields, were reinterred here. Chief Carolus read a homily, and wreaths were laid by Sergeant Corey.

[1630hrs]

Day Three Finish Line. Everyone march across the finish line for Day Three, somewhat hot, sore, and sweaty, and all headed back for cool showers, and blister treatment.