Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Today I drove the Dodge back from Arnhem to Veghel and deceided it would be a good idea to visit some of the Market Garde locations. Waalcrossing memorial, on september 20th the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne made an asault river crossing in daylight in order to secure the Nijmegen road and railbridges. This memorial has been erected to remember this brave feat and to remember those that did not make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 The Roadbridge at Nijmegen with a German PAK gun as a memorial. The gun was used by the Germans in the defence of the bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 Then I drove on to Beek where the "Devils in baggy pants" memorial stands, the name of the memorial being the name the Germans gave the paratroopers that fought here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 My trip to me on Devils Hill where the 508th PIR was cut off from the rest of the 82nd Airborne division for more then a day and being constantly under attack. They never surrendered and contact with division was eventually restored. Did not take any pictures there though. Then off to Germany for a drive in the Reichswald. Unfortunantly there is only one road that runs through the Reichswald, the rest go around it. During the briefing for Market Garden large number of German tanks were thought to hide in the Wald so it was one of the prime objectives of the 82nd Airborne to hold the highground and keep the Germans at bay. The farmland you see on the pictures was also used as on of the 82nd Airborne dropzones. After Market Garden it was for months the nomans land between the allied and the Germans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 I followed my way and eventually made it to Heumen where a lockbridge used to be. This lockbridge was the only bridg across the Maas-Waal canal, all XXX corps traffic passed across this bridge. I had parked the Dodge in the direction the Allies were advancing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 On to Overasselt to the main dropzone of the 82nd Airborne and the dropzone where most of the Polish brigade landed after the operation had already failed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 Not far from the Dropzone lies the Grave Bridge which was captured intact by only 15 man! The rest of the company assigned to take the bridge were dropped slightly off and arrived after the bridge was taken. It's now the Colonel Johnson bridge. While taking pictures an older lady said hello and she told me she witnesed the paratroopers landing and told me of the subsequent liberation. Very touching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 Finally I arrived in Veghel and went to the location of the old bridge where XXX corps crossed the Zuid Willemsvaart. Again the bridge has been removed, a new roadbridge stands on the left. The Dodge is parked in the direction of the advance. That sums it up for today, had a fantastic day and very nice weather and it's always great to visit these sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 those photo's of the place's and memorials are very much appreciated :tup: , Seems it was a nice fall day for the trip , what was the temperature like ? the shots looking through the Dodge without any end curtains make it seem to be a colder ride but I know its no warmer with them ! its just psychological. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 It was around 7 degrees celcius so not too warm but I was well dressed up for it. You are right about the end curtains but they limit visibility so much that I rather drive without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 We drove the Command today also. I thought it was quite warm. http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/T214/CommandCarOlaf017Small.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 While taking pictures an older lady said hello and she told me she witnesed the paratroopers landing and told me of the subsequent liberation. Very touching. Thank you very much for taking the time to post these up Joris. I adore seeing pictures from areas that we have never been and to talk to a eye witness - very special moment, you live a charmed life. Promise me that you will show me around one day soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Joris, Thanks very much for sharing these photo's; I'll echo Jacks comments, regarding seeing, 'through others pic's', etc, places not visited. All the best, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Oh Joris, I'm green with envy, I'd love to get my Dodge there. The Bedford QLR , phil Webb's Y Service truck served wth 30 corps, she may well have been there at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Well it was my pleasure to drive the tour Will try and drive through Eindhoven, valkenswaard and on to Neerpelt in the near future too. If you all want to come over, then do!! Let's make a plan and get you all over for a great weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazz Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Very nice tour, would like to spend a couple of days doing the same route. Nice part of the world, I used to spend time visiting when I was serving in Germany. Baz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 Yeah it sure is beautifull here, I'm lucky to live here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.