Some of the Jeeps at the Westerbouwing. The cafe/restaurant situated here always kindly give us a free beer each 
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Some of the Polish lads get a lift in a half track to Wolfheze DZ for the start of the march.Comment
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Kit inspection prior to the march. Standards are enforced; anyone with incorrect gear/uniform will not be allowed to take part.Comment
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Convoy on the Saturday afternoon. This event is know as "The Race to the Bridge". The push bikes set off first followed by the Jeeps and Motorcyles. The route follows that taken by the troops who reached Arnhem Bridge. This photo was taken on the road called the "Telephoneweg". This road was one of the forming up points for the Paratroops.Comment
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Nijmegen Bridge over the river Waal. Always an impressive sight! Taken by 504th PIR, 82ndA/B Div in 1944. This bridge is built in the same style as Arnhem Bridge but is much larger.Comment
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Our now traditional photo which we take each year on the steps of the "Hartenstien" Airborne Museum. This building, which was a hotel in 1944, became the HQ of British 1st A/B Div during the battle.
I am in the centre of the pic with the yellow recognition scarf around my neck.
That concludes my update. If I receive any more pics from my friends I will add them to this thread.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Hi Guys, here is a link to even more pictures of this years events, with good coverage of the Para drop, posted by a Dutch friend, Rene, from the Arnhem Battle forum:
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/ginkelse_heide/
The website gets a lot of traffic, and has been down a few times, but keep trying as there are lots of pics to see.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Hi Ade,
I was born in Oosterbeek in 1966 (molenweg), I remember when I was 4 years old, playing with spent .303 cartridges which we found in our garden. This was a start of something which has not left me and probably never will; the remembrance of the happenings in september 1944.
In 1972 my parents decided to move to Australia so along I went with them leaving my first memories for what they were. In 1976 the film ´A bridge too far´ came out. Me and my mates in Australia all saw it and we were all very impressed. In 1980 we returned to Holland and the first thing I did in Oosterbeek ... visit Hartenstein and Airborne cemetery! To be honest I visited it 52 times in 5 years time can you imagine that? I was in Oosterbeek and Arnhem every weekend I had off, looking for relics in the forests and fields. In 1980 me and my nephew even found some human remains in the forest along Dreyenseweg where the 156th had many casualties. A veteran named Mr Henry Mac´anelly (not sure about the spelling) who lived in Oosterbeek was at the scene and had the luxury of a car-phone at that time so we were able to report our findings to the police. This finally resulted in the finding of more remains but unfortunately without a name to go with them. Of coarse we got kopped but that did not keep us from searching and finding more items from the battle. Every year in september I was at the remembrance days there and also got to meet a few veterans and also Mrs Kate ter Horst just before she passed away.
My grandmother housed veterans at her home in Oosterbeek each year in september, she lived in Oosterbeek in 1944 and was in the cellar of her home as it exchanged hands sometimes as much as 5 times a day. She said ´the tommies were allways kind and spared sweats and chocolate for the children if they had some, and then the germans .... at one time; holding a handgrenade, one yelled down the stairs ´sind hier noch Engländer? .... sonst ...´ This is just one of the many stories she told me of what she experienced then.
Earlier in this thread someone asked what the dutch think of all you guys coming to Holland each year and dressing up like Airborne soldiers, I can say (and I speak for most dutch people) we proudly welcome anyone to Holland who is or feels related to the days of september 1944 and to the lives of all the soldiers who fought and who gave their lives for the liberation of the occupied Holland.
regards,
DJComment
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Thank you very very much for the pictures, Ade!!!!
A wonderful event, wonderful experience!!! Thank you!
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German,arnhem Helmet
Hello Adrian,i Have A German M40 Helmet ,that Apparently Came From Arnhem,with Large Crack In Forehead Area.it Was Found In Koniqsweg/saarsbergin,in Hedgerows Bordering Where Apparently There Used To Be Old German Field Graves.......it Is An Army Version ,not Ss,if You Have Time ,id Appreciate What You Know Of The Actions That Took Place In This Area,and The German And British Units Thatwh Ere Involved In Same,thankyou James BelfastComment
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Hi James, I saw the thread that you had posted on your lid in the "helmet & headgear" forum. I cannot add much more that what the other forum members added there, sorry.
The regards to the British and German units that fought in the area. British units were mainly from 4th Parachute Brigade. German units were pretty much a mixed bag of ad hoc formations, Heer, SS, Luft, KM, RAD, etc.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Excelent photos.
Peter WikvistComment
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Another Arnhem vet died recently...
Ade,another Veteran of Arnhem died recently-a family friend named (Dr.)MIZUR BARTEK,of the Polish Parachute Brigade.Originally posted by Adrian Stevenson
Bartek,as he was known to friends and numerous grandchildren,jumped into the Arnhem battle as a medic-whose only wish was to "kill Germans",he said.He rapidly changed his pre-combat wish on the DZ and suddenly just wanted to survive.
Twice before joining The Poles in England he had attempted escape from Poland,captured both times.He made the escape the third time.
He survived Arnhem and escaped there too.
Attending the Arnhem reunion event some years ago he met a comrade and both had believed the other was dead.
After the war he remained in Britain,finishing a medical doctorate in Psychiatry,Univ. of Edinburgh.
He was dabbling at a memoir at the time of his death-unfortunately never completed.I'm sure it would have made an incredible account as I've only briefly mentioned several high points.He still had his blue beret,Fairburn knife,and blouse(which he wore in Holland a few years back.)
Not only was he a terrific friend but an accomplished sculptor and painter.
R.I.P.
J.von CanonComment
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Hi John, I am very sorry to hear that your friend has passed away. These guys are fading away all too fast.
The Polish Vets all have incredible stories to tell. A few years ago now we attended the Polish service at Driel, on the opposite side of the Rhine from Arnhem/Oosterbeek, where most of the Polish Brigade dropped. We had a great afternoon with them.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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great photos and such...but where are the German Vets and Re-enactors?Comment
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