Battlefield Tours Veritable

Name: Battlefield Tours Veritable
Address: Gennep, 6591TG, NL
Telephone: +31653929245
Price range: $

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Battlefield Tours Veritable

Battlefield Tours Veritable leidt u rond langs belangrijke punten van het Rijnland offensief.

10/11/2024

Today it was Remembrance Sunday. As every year there was a fine service at the Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

There is more need for peace than ever. Peace in our hearts, peace between people, peace between believes, peace between countries.

22/09/2024

Hass Tötet, Liebe Versöhnt
Hate Kills, Love Reconciles

Today, another impressive remembrance ceremony took place in Kranenburg, Germany. This ceremony was held to remember Corporal William H. Armstrong and Technical Sergeant George Harrison, two crew members of a C-47 that was shot down on 17 September 1944. They survived the crash but were arrested by border patrol. While being led to the town hall of Kranenburg, they were brutally executed by an SA officer.

The people of Kranenburg never forgot these men and this act. In 1994, a monument was erected in their honour. In 2016, research conducted by the Groesbeek Airborne Vrienden revealed the identities of these men. After further research in the USA, the family of Corporal Armstrong was found, and after 72 years, they finally learned what had happened to William.

Today, 80 years (and a few days) after this tragic event, family members were present at the annual remembrance ceremony. Although it was even more painful for them to learn how their grandfather and great-grandfather died (or rather, that he was murdered), it was a huge consolation that the civilians of Kranenburg resisted this act, never forgot the deed, and created a monument to remember it. Even without knowing the names of the men killed. For the family to be at the actual site, to be in contact with an eyewitness of the event, and to be part of the ceremony was an event that brought reconciliation.

The story to be told by the students of the Secondary School Euregio Kranenburg, give us a vision of how the story has to be shared with a new generation.

Also present was a veteran of Bomber Command. He is 104 years old but very lively! The interaction with the current generation of the 82nd Airborne Division was marked by great mutual respect. Later, he met a German veteran of WWII, 97 years old. I didn’t follow their conversation, but judging by the scene and the photos, I believe they found common ground. Here too, mutual respect was evident, and they were able to shake hands without hesitation, as they were equal men, under equal circumstances, but on opposite sides of a story where they had no choice in the matter.

A memorable day in many aspects.

Thank you, Gemeinde Kranenburg and the Groesbeek Airborne Vrienden, for bringing us all together.

19/09/2024

Perseverance, sacrifice, and brotherhood were the words that struck me during the remembrance ceremony for the B24 Rum Runner, which came down at the farmhouse of the Gossens family in Kessel.

Perseverance, because this B24 made three attempts over enemy ground, under severe fire, to complete their objectives. Sacrifice, for all the families involved in this crash. Brotherhood, between the men on the ground, the 82nd AA, and the men in the sky, the 489th Bomb Group supplying the ground troops.

With all the personal stories from the Gossens family, the Giesbers family, and the Allen family, it became a memorable evening.

Also, the involvement of the next, young generation is heartwarming to experience.

03/05/2024

I can't imagine what is it to be named after you uncle that perished during the war. Hence I can't imagine what is it like to visit the site where your uncle perished and to be able to remember him there at the actual site.

Antony Barbaro was a prime example of a man sacrificing his life so others might live. Therefor the monument remembering him is so endearing.

Today, his nephew, Tony Barbaro visited the site at the river Maas at the railway bridge. He was accompanied by his daughter.

Alice and Maarten made sure they were received well. And with support of Theo Jetten, playing the Last Post, Hèjs Nèjs singing "O Canada" and the Dutch National Anthem, the Deputy Major of Mook-Middelaar speaking on behalf of the Municipality and many invitees, it was a worthy moment to remember the men like Antony Barbaro.

25/04/2024

Visited Texel last week. I, of course, visited the Georgian and Commonwealth cemeteries, but also took some time to look at some bunkers. The one at Den Hoorn is freely accessible. Although part of the Atlantic Wall, it was initialy a Dutch command post overlooking the North Sea.

25/02/2024

When the John Frost Bridge was bombed in October 1944 by the allied forces, it was beyond use for about 6 years. (I believe it reopened in 1950)

To remember this occasion there is a small memorial (part of the old bridge) in the plains along the south bank of the river Rhine. Today I visited it and saw the river from the other side. A view I rarely ever had.

Of course the ground was soggy and I walked the straight line from the d**e to the memorial, hence the dirty boots....

11/02/2024

A short ride today throught the area I live in and was part the early stages of Operation Veritable. And visited the men that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Lest we forget!

31/12/2023

The last ride and last visit to some cemeteries for this year. Lest we forget!

12/11/2023

This Remembrance Sunday was a fine one. Glorious weather guided me during the day. I started off visiting the war graves in Ottersum and Milsbeek.

Then I headed of to the Oosterbeek War Cemetery for the Drum Head Service. The building of the Drum altar and the laying of the standard on top of it, is one moment that I count as very special.

The service was well visited and well lead by the RBL Holland Branch.

The sacrifice of the men is not forgotten.

11/11/2023

Remembrance day today, 11-11.

I attended the remembrance ceremony in Groesbeek. This service was organised by the Canadian Forces Support Units in Germany, with support of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 005.

Lest we forget.

17/09/2023

At the momument for the 1st British Airborne Corps we got together to remember the man that were in charge of communication between all the scenes of action during Operation Market Garden, no small feat knowing the complexity and the unstable air transmitters.

Realising all the houses of the estate were build on the ground where the gliders landed. Also realising that people live near these fields and had to make their way out of it somehow.

Breedeweg and Groesbeek became frontline for the coming 5 months. 5 months that changed the area completely.

17/09/2023

To remember the actions of the 82AA in the Breedeweg/Groesbeek area, people gathered at the church in Breedeweg. Here we shared the importance of the civilians helping out allied troops in sharing local knowlegde and with active support.

The gratitude by the officers in command now, towards the civilians then, was tangible, which made it a special gathering to me.

17/09/2023

Today the day of remembrances started in the German village Kranenburg.

Here the monument "Hass Tötet, Liebe Versöhnt", shows that the murder of two American soldiers by a bitter SS-officer, was not accepted by the German civilians and never forgotten by them.

A small, but important get together.

16/09/2023

Special day out: remembering operation Market Garden.

First I walked the White Ribbon mile, the route the retreating soldiers too from the old church in Oosterbeek to the boarder of the river Rhine. A very nice and "simple" way to remember an event, and therefor a must do for me.

Then it was the "Race to the bridge". Historical vehicels that could have been used during the operation rode the "THE bridge", here I took the photos near the old church.

Then to the cemetery just to pay the men my respect.

Last but not least, the remembrance service for operation Berlin and remembering the action undertaken by the Royal Canadian Engineers. Always the not to miss moment to me.

A very nice day out!

05/07/2023

Riding around in England on my Triumph I rode through Norton (....) and saw a Common Wealth Cemetery sign on the gate of the local cemetery, I had to stop and visit these two graves.

A pretty cemetery where they rest in peace.

29/06/2023

A few weeks ago I visited Coventry. Knowing the history of the bombing I wanted to visit the cathedral. Initially just to see it.

I was overwhelmed by the symbolism, the resiliance, the power to keep on even when it is difficult. The way it went onwards, with the upkeeping of the damaged cathedral, the building of the new one, the symbols of forgiveness, of reaching hands, from bombed city (Dresden) to bombed city (Coventry).

Also the sheer power of the new cathedral was beyond my comprehension.

Next time when I go back, I hope to spend more time than I could this time. It is piece of powerfull earth.

26/04/2023

To me it is always special to visit the Georgian war cemetery in Texel. This time there is a new monument at the site. This monument contains all names of the Georgians that were killed during the uprising in April/May 1945.
As always I believe that naming the names, with a known or unknown grave remains important. It was special to see it this soon. It will be unveiled on the 4th of May this year.

13/11/2022

Special day today. It was both Remembrance Sunday and Volkstrauertag. Had to make a choice what to attend. Decided on the Volkstrauertag in Donsbruggen. Visited several cemeteries during the day (Ottersum, Milsbeek, Groesbeek and Reichswald)

Lest we forget!

Adres

Gennep
6591TG

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