The Hunger Winter

By Willy Dirks, Thornloe, Ontario, Canada
Date mid 1980’s
Excerpt from her book she wrote of her life.

During the hunger winter, on February 8, 1944, our little Luke (Lucy) made her entrance into the cold world. She took a long time in coming.
Anne and Liz (Elsje) were thrilled about their new sister. Liz’s first words, while petting the little baby, were: "That has no hair!", and indeed Lucy was bald like an eagle.
She was such a cute baby in her pink and white cradle, however the poor little tyke could not get enough food. She became the most pitiful little baby, always crying, always hungry and her little arms and legs looked like purple sausages from the cold. She had big blue eyes, that always showed fear and her hair did not
One time Elsje was ill and we had to call the doctor. Our doctor was not home so a strange doctor came. Lucy was crying in the playpen. She was 8 months old and did not even make an attempt to sit up. The doctor looked after Elsje, and then looked into the playpen. One look and this total strange doctor said: "I have kept one bottle of cod liver oil for an emergency. This is an emergency!"

Starting the Search for Two Canadian Soldiers

I am looking for two Canadian WWII soldiers who saved the life of my mom and her family. The parents were Ad [Adriaan] and Wilhelmina [Willy] Dirks. They had 3 very young girls, Anke, Elsje, and Luke. Canadian soldiers saved them from starvation during World War II. Chris Duke [me, the grand child] is trying to find the identity of these two Canadians to thank them personally. Their names were Perry and Andy. Andy was from Medicine Hat and Perry was from Abbotsford, B.C. They worked in a Canadian mess tent in Utrecht we think. They brought food to the family. They were looking for a camera and my Opa Ad brought them to their house.

What would I like to do if I find them? If they are willing, I'd like to make a documentary about it. I'd like to bring them to meet my Oma and her family in Thornloe, Ontario. A story, maybe a short book, and maybe on film.

This blog is the story and resource I am using for this search.

If you have any information, please contact Chris Duke here.

Email Chris Duke!