Feature image above: “In the frenzied joy of recent liberation after a wait of five years crowds wait in front of the town police station to witness the shaming of people who had held favour during the occupation of the Germans.” Credit: CANADIANS IN HOLLAND Date: 5 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Alex Stirton – Location: Area ALMELO – Unit: Special composite force of the 4th Cdn Armd Div. – Story: Liberation of town of ALMELO.
In January of 2025, I received this email from Frans A. de Graaff of Almelo, Holland…
"I just read the account of the search for a Bell & Howell movie camera
used during WW 2 by the Canadian army. (https://youtu.be/xQR8pioHnko)
It so happens, our museum just acquired one such camera..."
"I work as a volunteer for the Almelo City Museum. Five years ago we had a special exhibition on the occasion of 75 Years of Liberation. Almelo was liberated by Canadian troops that were on their way north. Unfortunately the exhibition, which was well-received, had to end when Covid broke out, so we decided that this year, 80 years after the event, we would do a similar, but even more elaborate, event. The photo's from Canada were a welcome addition, since we didn't have that many pictures taken by Canadian troops here. In a few years' time the museum will move to a much bigger building in the heart of Almelo, and there WW2 and our liberation will be part of the permanent display."
"Originally the camera was given by a Canadian army cameraman to his host family: after the liberation of Almelo he got billeted with this family for a short period of time. The story was the camera had been used in Normandy during the invasion, and in the process the green case was broken, so they used a children's coffin to construct a new case. The camera has since been in the possession of a Dutch cameraman who has lent it to our museum for the duration of our new exhibition about the liberation in April 1945.
It would be quite something if a member of the Canadian Army Film & Photographic Unit came to be in the possession of a 16mm movie camera that took part in the Normandy invasion. But, why would the camera have been given to one of the residents? Who would have been in a position of authority to do so? And was the cameraman a photographer, or cine (movie) personnel? With camera’s in low supply within the Canadian Film Unit, why would such a prize be given away? Spoils of war?
Procedures at the time would have prohibited any members of the Canadian Armed Forces to give away government owned equipment. In the field, Canadian Army Film Unit personnel were using the 35mm version of the 16mm Filmo;
"35mm film generally offers a higher resolution than 16mm film. 35mm film's larger negative area (typically 36mm x 24mm) allows for more information to be recorded, resulting in a higher resolution that's roughly equivalent to 5.6K. 16mm film, with a smaller negative (typically 10.26mm x 7.49mm), has a lower resolution, roughly equivalent to 2K or 2048 x 1080, especially when using standard 16mm." source: Google
Frans was also able to provide me with the serial number of the Filmo, (441615). My searches within the Public Relation files revealed no results, and so far, I have not been able to locate a trusted source with any additional information regarding serial numbers for the Bell & Howell Filmo, or Eyemo line of cameras. I was hoping the serial number, and possibly the body colour would have narrowed the dates to when a camera was released. If you have any information to share on this, please contact me here.
Indeed, the only 16mm Filmo I could identify as part of the Canadian Army inventory, was the McDougall Filmo featured in my video (see below). It was reported that this camera was on hand on D-Day, June 6th, 1944…
The body colour of this particular Filmo is unlike the one used by Capt. McDougall, which was black. The only other 16mm camera’s within the Canadian Public Relations inventory were the British-made 16mm Victor:
The fact that McDougall was able to retain ownership of the camera after the war is rare. I am only aware of two instances where camera’s were kept after the war. The Filmo owned by McDougall, as shown in the video above, and a 35mm Eyemo owned by Capt. Alex Stirton, both of which were donated to the Ingenium Centre in Ottawa.
Strangely enough, Capt. Alex Stirton was not officially a movie cameraman, but a still photographer with the Unit. Capt. Stirton was following the 4th Canadian Armoured Division when he documented the ‘Liberation of the town of Almelo‘, on the 4th and 5th of April, 1945. To view the images he shot at that time, meant going through the ‘Army Numercial’ albums stored at Library & Archives Canada. There are 110 of these Army Photo Albums, which contain contact prints of negatives shot by members of the Canadian Army Photographic Unit. To learn more about the albums please follow this link;
Searching, I came across one of the albums that displayed photographs shot by Lt. Alex Stirton in Almelo, April 4, 5, 1945. See pages 16 & 19 in the album. (click on the image below to follow the link…)
Army Numerical Album 91 – CANADIANS IN HOLLAND Date: 4 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Alex Stirton – Location: Almelo & Twenthe Canal (Twentekanaal) / Delden – Unit: 4th Canadian Armoured Division – Story: Drive through Holland.
Captions of Negative reference numbers;
49172-49173; "Following in reserve of Cdn Forces, tks (tanks) of the 4th Div (Division) cross the Rhine River. Crossing the one-time formidable obstacle of German Western Defence system, Cdns use pontoon bde (bridge) constructed by Cdn Engrs (Engineers) in the area just to the north of Wesel.
49174; "Moving into action to support bridgehead gained by infantry on the north side of the Twenthe(sp) canal. Spring rains made the back-rd routes to a seized bdge difficult going for all vehicles. Here DR waits for tk (tank) to get on to rd before moving."
49175-49176; "During the night infantry seized a bdge across the Twenthe(sp) Canal to the South of Almelo. Here, as soon as Cdn Engrs completed bdge across the lock part of the canal, this moved fwd (forward) in numbers to consolidate the infantry gains."
49177-49176; "Armour of Bde group of 4th Div crossing Twenthe(sp) Canal. Because of the rapidity of seizure by infantry, the Germans had not time to blow approach bdge. As soon as Engrs completed short span across the canal locks, armour poured fwd to give the trps (troops) around Almelo assistance. Bldgs on the locks of the canal were damaged by shell fire. This route, though being used only temporarily to reinforce the trps to the north of the canal, saved much valuable consolidation time."
49179--49181; The crossing Bailey bdge at Twenthe(sp) Canal locks.
49182--49184; "Citizens of the town of Delden on the North side of the Twenthe(sp) Canal cheering the liberating trps. Soon after infantry moved into the town, armour of the division started pouring across a seized bdge to consolidate gains. Delden citizens turned out en masse, each wearing ribbons of the province of orange or waving Orange flags, to cheer the endless columns of armour which poured through the centre of the town."
Army Numerical Album 91 – CANADIANS IN HOLLAND Date: 5 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Alex Stirton – Location: Area ALMELO – Unit: Special composite force of the 4th Cdn Armd Div. – Story: Liberation of town of ALMELO.
Captions of Negative reference numbers;
49193--49195; "In various spots through the woods around the town of Almelo, Cdn forces over-ran German "V1" launching sites. These sites have been used in the launching of bombs against the Antwerp area. Just before pulling out, the Germans had the chance of blowing up the sites and bombs in the area.
(1) Long shot of one of the destroyed ramps. (2) Cdn soldiers looking at the damaged ramp are: GNR L.J. ARMITA E, Timiskiming(sp), Que,; GNR J. RAFFLE, Nanaimo, B.C.,; L/CPL DON STOVER, of Moose Jaw, Sask., and SGMN R.N. CLARKE, of Forestdale, B.C."
49196-49197; "On the morning of the liberation of Almelo by Cdns of the Lake Superior Regt., citizens of Almelo captured a sniper who had been passed by the troops. From his hiding place in the cellar of a house, the mob chased him down the main street of the town to a Regt.H.Q. It turned out that he was a Dutchman of the Almelo district who had misplaced his faith in the Wermacht(sp).
When turned over to the Cdns the relief he felt was evident and showed on his face."
49198; "A matter of moments after the Germans had been chased out of Almelo, the civilians crowded the streets to cheer advancing Cdns. Here in one of the town squares a couple of soldiers give their autographs. The night before, TPRS V. PALICHUK, Pine River, Man. and W.A. RUSSELL, of Toronto had been captured by four Germans as they entered the town. During the night they managed to convince the Germans that Aldolph's was a lost cause, and talked them into surrendering. Just a matter of an hour before this shot was taken PALICHUK and RUSSELL turned their ex-captors over to the advancing infantry."
49199; "As part of the round-up that went on in Almelo soon after its liberation, these girls who had favoured the Germans during their occupation, are being marched through the main street of the town on their way to the local jail - much better than having their heads shaved."
49200; "In front of police station of Almelo, crowds wait to witness the in coming procession of collaborators."
49201-49202; "In the frenzied joy of recent liberation after a wait of five years crowds wait in front of the town police station to witness the shaming of people who had held favour during the occupation of the Germans.
Collaborators and girl friends of German soldiers were taken from their houses by a sort of 'grievance force', made to march through the streets of the town so that citizens who waited for this day might witness and enjoy the falling of the mighty."
Army Numerical Album 91 – CANADIANS IN HOLLAND – Date: 5 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Alex Stirton – Location: ALMELO – Unit: 4th Cdn Armd Div. – Story: Liberation of town.
Captions of Negative reference numbers;
49214; "Men who had collaborated with the German occupational troops for the past five years being marched to the town jail. From a list prepared by the underground movements, all Dutch who favoured the Germans and who failed to escape with them on the entry of the Cdns, were rounded up and now await trial and punishment."
49215; "Some infy (infantry) of the Lake Superior Regt. who aided in the liberation of Almelo marching through the town in pursuit of the fleeing Germans. All the route of their advance was lined with cheering happy civilians. After five years of misery and privations, release came this morning with the capture of the town by the Cdns."
49216; "One of the tks (tanks) which took part in the liberation of Almelo with a trophy of the successful fight. Over the mighty sign the 'Kommandantur is 'Kaput'. In other words, another headquarters of the Wehrmacht is 'finished'."
49217--49219; "All day the town of Almelo, special police, who during the occupation had been underground workers, brought in the people who for the past five years had helped to make their lives miserable - the collaborators.
By noon on the same day as came liberation, over four hundred men were under lock and key in the jail house. But as a bit of justice, the offenders were paraded through the streets in disgrace before being confined.
On many of the women, the crowds gave vent to the lon(g) pent up hatred by shaving heads of hair before the parade through the streets.
Others so far were more fortunate and only had to suffer the boos and cat calls of the mobs. No violence was perpetrated because the citizens were too happy at the thought of the release from the yoke of overbearing Nazis. At the sight of the photographers, some of the collaborators were forced to stop so that they might be photographed in their disgrace. Because of the rapidity of the Cdn advance not many of the guilty managed to flee with the Hun forces. Here are various shots of collaborators being driven through the crowd gathered in front of the town jail."
49220; An armd (armoured) car of the advancing Cdn force passes slowly through the crowd that had gathered in front of the town jail. Despite the fact that the town had been liberated hours before, the civilian populace continued to cheer and wave at every military veh (vehicle) they saw.
After five years of oppression by Germans their joy at being liberated knew no tiring point."
Other Canadian Film Unit personnel operating in and around Almelo, April 1945, photographing Canadians in Holland were;
3 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. Michael Dean – Location: Hengelo, Holland – Unit: (with the 2nd Cdn Div.) – Story: The Dutch Roundup Their Nazi Collaborators. Negative reference numbers; 49136–49151.
6 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. Michael Dean – Location: North of LAREN – Unit: Fusiliers Mont Royal – Story: Little Joe shots of F.M.Rs. Negative reference numbers; 49221–49232.
4 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. Michael Dean – Location: North of ALMEN – 4th and 5th Bde (Brigade) – Negative reference numbers; 49233–49244.
6 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. Michael Dean – Location: North of ALMEN, near Nelson’s Bridge – Unit: Royal Regt. of Can.- Story: SGT YOUNG Dives for it. Negative reference numbers; 49245–49256.
4 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Ken Bell – Location: ZEDDAM – Unit: 1 Cdn Army – Story: War Office Request on Air Co-operation. NOTE: FOR DETAILED STORY SEE PHOTOGRAPHER’S FILE. Negative reference numbers; 49259–49269.
7 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. Dan Guravitch(sp) – Location: AFWALNINGS CANAL North of LAREN – Story: The crossing of the AFWALNINGS CANAL . Negative reference numbers; 49350–49359.
7 April 1945 – Photographer: Lt. (Don) Grant – Location: ZUTPHEN, Holland – Unit: 3 C.I.B. (Canadian Infantry Brigade) – Negative reference numbers; 49367–49376.
1 April 1945 – Photographer: Capt. Jack H. Smith – Location: EWIJK, Holland – Unit: 5th Cdn Armd Div HQ – Negative reference numbers; 49378–49382.
Frans also asked if it was possible to locate where personnel of the Canadian Film Unit would have been billeted in and around the town of Almelo. His hope was to identify which Canadian cameraman might have been in possession of the Filmo, and in whose Dutch home he stayed. To do this, I accessed the War Diaries of No. 3 Public Relations Group, and came across several entries that coincided with the dates of photographs shot by Lt. Stirton in April, 1945.
Excerpt; CANADIAN PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICES, HQ 3 Canadian PR Group, Canadian Army Overseas – SECRET & CONFIDENTIAL – 29th APR 45 (Library & Archives Canada);
"With the two Canadian corps moving in opposite directions our press facilities are becoming sorely taxed. Although, our main press camp at Almelo remains pretty much in the centre, the two advance camps are widely separated. Accommodation is good in the new areas. The main press camp is a large school in an undamaged North Holland town with lights, running water and ample billeting and messing facilities. No 1 Advance Camp is well set up in Western Holland and No 2 Advance Camp is in one of the best private homes in the German town of Meppen from which the occupants were evicted. We have sufficient canvas to take care of any unexpected influx at either place. (Signed) C.W. Gilchrist, Lt-Col., Canadian A.D.P.R., 21 Army Group)"
Excerpts, WAR DIARY of No. 3 Canadian PR Group for 1-7th, April 1945 (Library & Archives Canada);
1 APR 1945 - D plus 299 - Easter Sunday, Fine and warm then overcast.
FILM & PHOTO; Five Cdn Arm'd Div was contacted regarding the attachment of a Film & Photo section. Lieut. D. Guravich arrived from 1 Cdn Corps. Capt. Dubervill was in Paris covering a special story for the Winnipeg Free Press, CWAC personnel on leave and a story on Paris University courses for leave personnel. Following 5th Bde. in their drive to Doetinchem Holland, Lieut. Dean and driver Grummett captured one prisoner and had a hand in collecting 14 others, one of which was in civilian clothes. Good pictures were obtained. "C" Section with 4 Cdn Arm'd Div (reconstituted under Capt. A.M. Stirton) moved across the Rhine to join 4 Div H.Q,. to the south of Emmeric Germany. All sections were now composed of 1 Officer Photographer, two Sgt. cameramen, 1 Despatch Rider and two drivers i/c a total of 6 all ranks.
2 APR 1945 - D plus 300 - Mostly cloudy.
FILM & PHOTO; "A" Section on the move to new location. "B" Section move to M.R. 956656 (1/25,000 Emmerich). "C" Section move to billets in Ruurlo Holland. Cdn front breaking up and mobile warfare returned to style.
3 APR 1945 - D plus 301 - Sun, cloud, showers.
FILM & PHOTO - Discussed the reinforcement problem at H.Q. 3 Cdn P.R. Gp. and saw Supervisor Thompson, Aux Services, re distribution of 15 mm Newsreels throughout Army Troops.
4 APR 1945 - D plus 302 - Mixed cloud and sun.
FILM & PHOTO - "E" Section with 5 Cdn Arm'd Div took over F & P duties under Capt. J.H. Smith and Sgt. Fleming. A general reshuffle of personnel was taking place. "D" Section, with 1 Cdn Inf Div being the only exception. Capt. Dubervill returned from Paris assignments. Covered along the Twenthe Canal, with 4 Cdn Arm'd Div making the crossing.
5 APR 1945 - D plus 303 - Fine then rain.
FILM & PHOTO - Field Marshal Montgomery visited Gen Crerar at First Cdn Army. Interviewed Lt-Col. Murdock, 1 Dlv. G-1 who was glad to have an F & P Section and stated that the officer i/c should feel free to see him about any matters relating to the movement, etc, of the Div. Due to speedy advance and weather conditions film shipments have dropped considerably this week. CQMS McCay to Brussels in preparation for Canada Leave. Cpl. Hall takes over Q.M. duties. Lieut. Aikman took over our Brussels Commitments attached to 7 PRS. Movies and stills taken of the riotous liberation of Almelo.
Excerpt, WAR DIARY of No. 3 Canadian PR Group for 15th, April 1945 (Library & Archives Canada);
15 APR 1945 - D plus 313 - Morning haze cleared - warm.
HQ - ...The ADPR went forward to the Main Camp, which was packing up preparatory to leaVing Nijmegen, and conferred at HQ Cdn Army. Then on to Almelo, where the advance party were preparing a large schoolhouse. It had been used as a hospital by Germans and was one of the best billets we've had ever taken over...
17 APR - D plus 315 - Hazy, clearing, sunny and hot.
HQ - ...after confering with Gen Simonds at 2 Corps HQ he returned to the new Main Camp at Almelo, Holland to find Maj. McIntyre had mostly completed the move. Main camp occupied the Openbare Legere School, Violier (Violierstraat) Street, Almelo - MR 274173...
18 APR 1945 - D plus 316 - Overcast then sunny but cool.
HQ - ...The main body of 2 PR rolled into the Main Camp at Almelo at 2300 hrs, after an extremely long final staging from their concentration area, and thus ended their "Goldflake" move from Ravenna in Italy, begun in the middle of Feb. '45. The party consisted of about 50 bodies and 20 vehicles, with another 35 personnel and other vehicles staying in Brussels with THE MAPLE LEAF and 7 PRS.
Here are a few entries for May 1945 with mention of Almelo – Excerpts, WAR DIARY of No. 3 Canadian PR Group for the month of May 1945 (Library & Archives Canada);
1 May 1945 D 329 - Cool, sun and cloud.
FILM AND PHOTO - Resistance was crumbling on all fronts. Hitler was reported by the German radio to have died in Berlin. This unit had been asked to make a sound sequence at First Cdn Army to complete a picture being assembled by the F and P unit, CMHQ. We had been unable to secure air passage in order to bring a second crew from England and had not been able to obtain anyone in this theatre capable of doing the job. From the Main Camp at Almelo an F and P crew had been covering the conferences between the Allies and Germans re the feeding of the people of Occupied Holland. A release was finally obtained and the film was shipped. Capt Stirton went to 1 Adv Camp to take over as OC, F and P. C section, after waiting 3 days till the airport at Bad-Swichenham was cleared, were able to get some good pictures.
20 May 1945 D 348 - Beautiful day-sunny, warm and clear.
FILM AND PHOTO - General coverage was made in the Almelo area. Crews went to the south and west of Zuider Zee to cover flooded areas of Holland.
At this stage in my research, and without any further leads, the trail went dry in locating any mention of the gifted Filmo camera.
What is certain, however was the chaos and confusion that ensued while the Germans retreated, as town after town was liberated by the advancing Canadians in Holland. And, as Frans says, “No idea if the Normandy story is true, but it’s a nice story, don’t you think?“
Many thanks to Frans de Graaff for taking the time to share this story. If anyone happens to know more about this camera, or wishes to share any memories with this website, please contact me here.
© Dale Gervais 2025
