Arnhem 2006

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, just returned home on Tuesday after my annual trip by my 1942 Airborne Jeep to Arnhem for the commemorations of the 1944 battle. I have done this every year since 1994.

Before undertaking the trip, I spent several weeks working on the Jeep. I fabricated a new windscreen metal skin, did some repairs to the floor and did a complete respray. I did not have time to apply any markings, so the Jeep went in plain OD paint and minus the ammo and battery racks on the bonnet/wings.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

New seat cushions were also fitted. But "Jeep Bum" is still a problem after driving a long way

[Adrian Stevenson]

We set off and after travelling about an hour with no problem we had a large "Bang" and a lack of drive! I though the trip was over before we had started. The rear prop shaft had sheared off. I called out the "AA". But before this I placed the Jeep is front wheel drive. This worked fine. I got the "AA" to take us the rest of the way to the port of Hull. Here we drove onto the boat under our own power. I unwound for the night in the bar with a few much needed beers. Next morning we docked in Rotterdam. I then drove to Nijmegen, taking it steady, with no problems.

We called in a REOMIE, a Dutch Jeep parts dealer located about 1.5 miles from where we stay. Marcel sorted me out with a new prop shaft and UJ's.

A few more beers were in order once we got to the Hotel.

Next morning I fited the new parts and we were back in rear wheel drive. Taking a 64 year old vehicle abroad is not an undertaking for the faint hearted, but is a lot of fun, well I keep telling myself that anyway!

I took the Jeep I test drive to Groesbeek to pay my respects at the Canadian War Cemetary. See my earlier thread on a Red Army soldier buried there in this forum for pics.

The weather was outstanding for the time of year. Indeed, it stayed like it for the rest of the week with bright sunshine. T shirts were the order of the day and the top down on the Jeep.

[Adrian Stevenson]

You may ask, why take this photo of a concrete post surrounded by weeds and an old car?

However, the post marks the old Dutch-German border in the village of Beek and it was here that British troops of the "Sherwood Rangers" first entered Germany in Sept 1944. They were the first Regt of the British Liberation Army to cross into Germany.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The memorail to the US 508th Parachute Inf Regt located in the village.

[Adrian Stevenson]

A few more photos of Beek. Here is the Town Hall. I took this as a Stuart tank was photographed here during the battle. I will try and add a scan of the wartime pic later. This is opposite to the memorial seen previous.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the pic. I took this from memory and I was quite pleased with the results. The tank is from the "Sherwood Rangers" with members of the 508th in coversation with the commander.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Another then and now photo. Not quite the same angle, as I did not wish to tresspass into someones garden, but this is the slope seen in the next pic.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The Stuart tank is the same one as seen earlier. The Sherman is an OP vehicle from the Essex Yeomanry.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Staying in Beek for a final pic.

Looking down the main street. Outside the Hotel t' Spiker seen on the left, the dead US Para's were laid out on the pavement...

Lez and I ended Thursday with a very pleasant evening with Ben from the forum. We sat outside the hotel and had a few beers and talked militaria.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Friday was a busy day for us. In the morning I met up with my Veteran friends from the XXI Indep. Para. Coy, the "Pathfinders" for 1st British Airborne Div.

Here they lay flowers on the XXI memorial at the house named "Quatre Bras" on the crossroads in Oosterbeek. This was Lt. David Eastwood M.C. 's platoon HQ during the battle of Arnhem.

Here David places a wreath to his comrades, while Fred Weatherley stands to place his wreath. Fred was in a wheelchair but stood with help.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here I place flowers from our Living history group "Summer of '44". Don Turner and I pay our respects.

[Adrian Stevenson]

We then went down to the Airborne Cemetary to visit the grave of my friend Don Hobbs. Don's ashes are here.

As you can see, he is well remembered.

[Adrian Stevenson]

We them moved on to a house where the XXI fought located on Pasberg. Here there is a small memorial plaque. Hans, the house owner, is a good friend of the unit.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The house itself, typical of the area. Note the British A/B flag in the front garden.