Alan Kettley GPR G Sqn Arnhem

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by TomTAS, Feb 1, 2010.

  1. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    Just had the pleasure of seeing Alan Kettley again, Alan wanted me to have some of his things and he also wanted to know what this is.. Some kind of map reference tool I didn't know so thought someone on this might.. He also let me have a strap book all of 1944 GPR news paper cuttings from Arnhem and the like, note the Pegasus on the cover....

    Cheers
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Capt.Sensible

    Capt.Sensible Well-Known Member

    Tom,

    The map tool is a combined scale ruler for measuring distance/range on the map and a protractor for measuring angles. It sort of acts as a universal range-card. You can plonk the device on a location of the map and quickly be able to measure distance and bearing. Very useful for directing arty/mortar fire or for taking notes on a recce, eg from location X enemy MG post is 600 yards and 275 degrees. Fairly common piece of kit in its day I think but how many survive now I do not know.

    CS
     
  3. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi CS,

    Thanks will tell Alan next time I see him, he will be interested I'm sure..

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  4. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Does this mean you have a book that Paul does not:lol:
     
  5. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Does this mean you have a book that Paul does not:lol:

    Scrapbooks don't count! :lol::lol:........
     
  6. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi All

    What about this one then Paul do you have that.... And free too
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    OK, you've got me on that one! :lol:
     
  8. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    HI Paul, & All

    Also what I did find interesting was Leo Heaps and Alan's after action reports, MI5 interviews with them after Arnhem.. In fact Alan told me that he went to the 1st Airborne HQ and was told to return to Arnhem.. Because in his words he was one of the few that made it back, he ended up on the island in no mans land... With Leo of course...Alan's story after Arnhem is just as interesting what them two got up too...

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Tom,

    The map tool is a combined scale ruler for measuring distance/range on the map and a protractor for measuring angles. It sort of acts as a universal range-card. You can plonk the device on a location of the map and quickly be able to measure distance and bearing. Very useful for directing arty/mortar fire or for taking notes on a recce, eg from location X enemy MG post is 600 yards and 275 degrees. Fairly common piece of kit in its day I think but how many survive now I do not know.

    CS

    I used one on my Det Commanders course back in 2002. Mine was a semi circle though rather than a square.
     
  10. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

  11. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi brithm,

    Thanks for posting this up do you know if Alan is in todays Times ??? or Tomorrow's one...

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  12. Victor van Haeren

    Victor van Haeren New Member

    I just signed up to this forum when I googled for Alan Kettley. My hopes are that somehow he or his relatives might be able to provide information about Ted Bachenheimer. My father was part of the dutch resistance at Nijmegen and worked with Ted when the 504th PIR sweeped through that city. Ted send him on a mission behind the lines Germany on the 7th Oktober. An impossible mission. He returned in December 1944, barely alive. After that he joined IS9, in which capacity he wprked somehow with Leo Heaps in March/April 1945. My father died young unfortunately. He did leave behind quite some notes on which we conduct now research to get a complete picture.

    My father held Ted in high regard. That much is clear from his notes. However what Ted's mission exactly was is unclear to me. When he arrived at Ebben's farm is equally unclear to me. And if he was already there when Peter Baker (IS9) arrived, or if they jointly arrived is also unclear.
    Therefore I was hoping that maybe Alan could know more about this matter.

    Best regards
    Victor
     

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