EB went to Market Garden 63rd Anniversary

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:03 AM

Since I'm new here I thought I'd share my 'Market Garden' experience from last September with the Forum. It was my first trip to the Arnhem area and it was unforgettable....

Please pardon me as I cut and paste from another forum. This thread will be quite the treat I promise!

On to Arnehm and the ceremony at the Airborne monument near the John Frost Bridge. 21 September 2007.

After the ceremony the Vets and everone marched down to the City Hall for a coffee and tea.

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:04 AM

my wife, Kelly, and I went back to the bridge the following day and took a few photos. The original Bridge was blown up during the war.

A Bridge Too Far...

Then and now...sort of... (I didn't have the older picture with me on the bridge to compare on the spot.)

Sunset from Arnhem Bridge

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:04 AM

Kelly and I started the day 22 September 2007 with a visit to the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth Cemetery.

Kelly walking amongst the markers by herself reading the names.

One of my favorite pics from that morning. Hope.

I found this marker quite intriguing. A Polish soldier with an American flag at the base. The attached note said "To them be the glory. With love from your daughter." There must be an interesting story behind this man.

.
The plaque at the bottom says:

"George Edward Thomas was a seargent in charge of a 17 pounder gun near the old church in Oosterbeek. After being seriously wounded he died on the 26th of September in the house of Kate ter Horst at the age of only 34 years old. George Edward Thomas was the elder son of Edward an May Thomas and had two brothers and a sister. Thomas was married to Francis Margaret and was father of Margaret May. Frances Margaret died in 2006. Her ashes were laid to rest with her beloved husband George after being a widow for 62 years. In grateful rememberance. The people of Netherlands. That we may never forget."

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:08 AM

After visiting the cemetery it was on to the ceremony at the Ginkel Heath. On this site, on 17 and 18 September 1944, thousands of paratroopers of the 4th Parachute Brigade landed to join the battle for Arnhem Bridge. On 22 September 2007, it was a site of commemoration. Lots of veterans attended this event which included several parachute drops on the Heath.

Polish Re-enactors

I joked with Kelly that upon seeing this 4 legged trooper that the Germans had overrun the drop zone. She promptly replied that since he was attached to a British Officer (Re-enactor) he must be a POW instead. She's getting better at this stuff...

The last two pictures were made the next morning after the crowds had disappeared.

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:09 AM

This next group was a ceremonial component of the Dutch armed forces. My Dutch friend Bart joked that this was an example of the Dutch Army at the beginning of WWII. We all got a laugh but it got better when the announcer stated the the particular type of cannon being fired was commisioned in the 1880's and used up until 1939 or 1940. So in reality, this WAS the Dutch Army in WWII.

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:10 AM

Bart with one of the veterans who helped to liberate his hometown.

Following the ceremony at the Ginkel Heath we visited a few other sites in the area before heading over to the Polishj ceremony at Driel and then back to Arnhem Bridge before finishing up the evening at the Cafe Schoonord with good company and a frosty beverage.

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:12 AM

Back to the Polish Ceremony at Driel....

Polish Monument

The Sosabowski Monument

General Sosabowski's grandson and great grandson laying a wreath.

Polish Veterans laying a wreath

Our good friend Bart taking it all in...

On to Sunday 23 September. Before attending the ceremony at the Cemetery, Kelly and I explored a few of the more well known local sites in the Oosterbeek area...

Hackett's Hollow.

I got muddied up a bit and walked down into the Hollow and I was amazed at just how confined this area was. For those who are unaware, Hackett's hollow was the site of a bayonet charge by troopers of the 4th Parachute Landing Brigade . There is an excellent account of this action in the book "Men at Arnhem" by Geoffrey Powell.

Also on the agenda was a stop at the infamous Railway Tunnel...

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:13 AM

The Ceremony at the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth Cemetery, 23 September 2007.

British Veterans

"We Will Remember Them"

There was an intimate ceremony by members of the KOSB after the main Ceremony.

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:14 AM

The gentleman on the far left is the U.S. Representative to the Ceremony and is a Colonel but I can't recall his name.

Polish Veterans

EmersonBigguns · 22-04-2008, 04:16 AM

"Operation Berlin 2007" It was at this site, near the old Lonsdale Church in Oosterbeek where the British 1st Airborne evacuated the Perimeter across the Rhine River on the night of 25/26 September 1944. On a sunny Sunday in September 2007, 30 or so people participated in an annual re-enactment of the event as a tribute.

The Old Church then and now.....

Monument at the Crossing Site

The Crossing Site

Busted! If I may paraphrase Bart... "In a country where you can walk into certain cafe's and openly order and smoke a marijuanna cigarette it is kind of silly that it is illegal to swim across a river." In the end, the Police gave up, civil disobedience ruled, and with the help of a small boat to make the crossing semi-legal, the swim took place anyway.

Bart and I about to take the plunge

Bart and I in the water.

On the other side. Flowers in hand, on our way to the monument outside Driel for a small ceremony.

Enjoying an adult beverage after the swim.

22-04-2008, 04:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	EB went to Market Garden 63rd Anniversary Since I'm new here I thought I'd share my 'Market Garden' experience from last September with the Forum. It was my first trip to the Arnhem area and it was unforgettable.... Please pardon me as I cut and paste from another forum. This thread will be quite the treat I promise! On to Arnehm and the ceremony at the Airborne monument near the John Frost Bridge. 21 September 2007. After the ceremony the Vets and everone marched down to the City Hall for a coffee and tea. Last edited by EmersonBigguns; 22-04-2008 at 04:33 AM.

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22-04-2008, 04:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	my wife, Kelly, and I went back to the bridge the following day and took a few photos. The original Bridge was blown up during the war. A Bridge Too Far... Then and now...sort of... (I didn't have the older picture with me on the bridge to compare on the spot.) Sunset from Arnhem Bridge

22-04-2008, 04:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	Kelly and I started the day 22 September 2007 with a visit to the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth Cemetery. Kelly walking amongst the markers by herself reading the names. One of my favorite pics from that morning. Hope. I found this marker quite intriguing. A Polish soldier with an American flag at the base. The attached note said "To them be the glory. With love from your daughter." There must be an interesting story behind this man. . The plaque at the bottom says: "George Edward Thomas was a seargent in charge of a 17 pounder gun near the old church in Oosterbeek. After being seriously wounded he died on the 26th of September in the house of Kate ter Horst at the age of only 34 years old. George Edward Thomas was the elder son of Edward an May Thomas and had two brothers and a sister. Thomas was married to Francis Margaret and was father of Margaret May. Frances Margaret died in 2006. Her ashes were laid to rest with her beloved husband George after being a widow for 62 years. In grateful rememberance. The people of Netherlands. That we may never forget."

22-04-2008, 04:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	After visiting the cemetery it was on to the ceremony at the Ginkel Heath. On this site, on 17 and 18 September 1944, thousands of paratroopers of the 4th Parachute Brigade landed to join the battle for Arnhem Bridge. On 22 September 2007, it was a site of commemoration. Lots of veterans attended this event which included several parachute drops on the Heath. Polish Re-enactors I joked with Kelly that upon seeing this 4 legged trooper that the Germans had overrun the drop zone. She promptly replied that since he was attached to a British Officer (Re-enactor) he must be a POW instead. She's getting better at this stuff... The last two pictures were made the next morning after the crowds had disappeared.

22-04-2008, 04:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	This next group was a ceremonial component of the Dutch armed forces. My Dutch friend Bart joked that this was an example of the Dutch Army at the beginning of WWII. We all got a laugh but it got better when the announcer stated the the particular type of cannon being fired was commisioned in the 1880's and used up until 1939 or 1940. So in reality, this WAS the Dutch Army in WWII.

22-04-2008, 04:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	Bart with one of the veterans who helped to liberate his hometown. Following the ceremony at the Ginkel Heath we visited a few other sites in the area before heading over to the Polishj ceremony at Driel and then back to Arnhem Bridge before finishing up the evening at the Cafe Schoonord with good company and a frosty beverage.

22-04-2008, 04:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	Back to the Polish Ceremony at Driel.... Polish Monument The Sosabowski Monument General Sosabowski's grandson and great grandson laying a wreath. Polish Veterans laying a wreath Our good friend Bart taking it all in... On to Sunday 23 September. Before attending the ceremony at the Cemetery, Kelly and I explored a few of the more well known local sites in the Oosterbeek area... Hackett's Hollow. I got muddied up a bit and walked down into the Hollow and I was amazed at just how confined this area was. For those who are unaware, Hackett's hollow was the site of a bayonet charge by troopers of the 4th Parachute Landing Brigade . There is an excellent account of this action in the book "Men at Arnhem" by Geoffrey Powell. Also on the agenda was a stop at the infamous Railway Tunnel...

22-04-2008, 04:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	The Ceremony at the Arnhem Oosterbeek Commonwealth Cemetery, 23 September 2007. British Veterans "We Will Remember Them" There was an intimate ceremony by members of the KOSB after the main Ceremony.

22-04-2008, 04:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	The gentleman on the far left is the U.S. Representative to the Ceremony and is a Colonel but I can't recall his name. Polish Veterans

22-04-2008, 04:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
EmersonBigguns Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 100	"Operation Berlin 2007" It was at this site, near the old Lonsdale Church in Oosterbeek where the British 1st Airborne evacuated the Perimeter across the Rhine River on the night of 25/26 September 1944. On a sunny Sunday in September 2007, 30 or so people participated in an annual re-enactment of the event as a tribute. The Old Church then and now..... Monument at the Crossing Site The Crossing Site Busted! If I may paraphrase Bart... "In a country where you can walk into certain cafe's and openly order and smoke a marijuanna cigarette it is kind of silly that it is illegal to swim across a river." In the end, the Police gave up, civil disobedience ruled, and with the help of a small boat to make the crossing semi-legal, the swim took place anyway. Bart and I about to take the plunge Bart and I in the water. On the other side. Flowers in hand, on our way to the monument outside Driel for a small ceremony. Enjoying an adult beverage after the swim.

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