Discover the story of John Forfar and the German doctor in Dishoek.
Between the dunes of Dishoek stand 22 bunkers of the former Battery Dishoek, including the hospital bunker M159. In the build-up to and during the liberation of Walcheren in November 1944, this battery became the scene of heavy fighting and difficult decisions for the soldiers. Among them was the British doctor John Forfar, who later recounted his personal experience of 2 November 1944. The story of Forfar and a German doctor who asked for help shows that even in the heart of conflict, humanity can exist: doctors from opposing armies working together to save lives.
At the end of October 1944, a young German doctor was stationed in the hospital bunker M159 in Dishoek. Newly graduated and without front-line experience, he received a severely wounded soldier. The victim had such a serious leg injury that amputation seemed necessary. The patient’s condition was so poor that the German doctor decided to seek help from colleagues. However, Walcheren had been flooded due to the bombing of the dikes, making doctors in Vlissingen or Middelburg unreachable for him.
Carrying a Red Cross flag, the German doctor made his way through the dunes toward the British positions of the 47 Royal Marine Commando. There, he asked for advice from their doctor. John Forfar was called forward and listened carefully. He was impressed by the determination of the young German doctor, who was doing everything he could to save his patient despite the war conditions and the danger.
Forfar offered to come along to advise on the treatment. Together they walked through the dunes to M159, where they assessed the soldier’s leg. However, the patient’s condition was too severe for surgery, and he later died in the bunker. A few hours later, the battle for the Dishoek battery broke out, with the bunker and surrounding area becoming the setting for intense fighting.
What made this event remarkable was the cooperation that took place in the middle of a war. After the fighting around Dishoek, the German doctor also cared for wounded British soldiers who had been brought toward Vlissingen, a sign of humanity amid violence.
Disclaimer & source attribution: The stories have been provided by the participating locations and involved volunteers of Bunkerdag and are based on the personal memories of those involved. These are subjective and may differ from historical facts or be experienced differently by others. No rights can be derived from the content.