VVAM Newsletter 23 – 1986

Editor: Drs. R.P.G.A.Voskui1
Translation: Mr H.A.Meijer

Dear Friends,
Recently three different newspapers carried articles featuring persons who are deeply interested in the history of World War II.
These persons stated their firm belief (and quoted examples) that a lot of historical material relating to these war years is still in private hands. Very often, it lies forgotten in a cupboard, an attic or a shed. There is a serious risk that during cleaning up such mate¬rial is thrown out as worthless junk and that thus, important, perhaps unique material is lost.
It is also a fact Chat many documents [pictures, diaries,etc.1 and objects have not been forgotten, but have been carefully kept and treasured by their owners. Sometimes such an individual will allow others to inspect his documents or he will exhibit the objects, but it remains difficult for many interested persons to gain access to such material. It becomes avialable to a far larger public if it is donated or given in loan to a museum.
It is understandable that it may be very difficult to part – be it temporarily or for good – with a diary, notes, pictures, publications, military objects, etc., the more so if the item in question forms a link with a period which has left an indelible mark on the life of the owner. However, it frequently so happens that there is no or hardly any interest among the family for these tangible or written memento’s. The question Chen arises: what is to happen later to the possibly unique documentation, or to the perhaps laboriously accumulated collec¬tion? Let it go to waste, or give it a proper permanent destination? The latter possibility, to ensure a permanent and meaningful purpose, can be easily archieved by making proper arrangements in your will to the effect that objects of interest must pass to a museum in due course, please also remember the Airborne Museum in this connection.
J. Smits, Chairman.

Guide enclosed with this Newsletter.
Enclosed in this Newsletter you will find a copy of a small guide for a walking tour through the “perimeter”. Via a carefully selected route you are taken through one of the most attractive parts of Oosterbeek and past many conspicuous spots from the Battle of Arnhem. The route starts and finishes at the Airborne Museum. A visit to this museum will go very well in combination with the walk. An English text of the guide is also obtainable. [Price at the Airborne Museum::Hfl. 0.30]. Guides for a cycling tour [not in English] and for a tour by car are also available [price Hfl. 1.- each]. Both guides take you also past important spots outside Oosterbeek, such as the John Frost Bridge,
the dike at Driel from Arnhem to Heteren (dropping zone an area of the Poles) and the landing zones near Heelsum,tour
Papendal (Johannahoeve) . An English edition of the guide or by car also exists. The length of both tours is approx. 50 min
required, the cycling tour can be made in two parts. In addition t description of the route, a clear explanation is given of events in September 1944, with the use of maps, plans and brief texts.

Society badge available soon.
Following many requests, a fine society badge has now been made and will be available to members shortly. It is finished in enamel and measures 13 millimetres in diameter. The badge represents Pegasus against a maroon background circled by a light blue edge which contains the words “Friends Airborne Museum”. The badge can be solidly fastened and worn on coat, dress or necktie. It can be ordered as from mid¬September exclusively by remittance of £ 2 to Mr F. Young. Please mark your remittance-order: “badge”.

Excursion “Corridor through Brabant” most succesful.
Saturday 28th June 1986 the excursion “Corridor through Brabant” took place. Favoured by fair weather and under the excellent and expert guidance of Mr.K.Margry, 48 members were able to follow the actions of XXX Corps and Che 101 U.S. Airborne Division closely. Mr.Margry started his commentary at the bridge across the Meuse-Sche1dt Canal (“Joe’s Bridge”) from where the Irish Guards launched Operation “Garden”.from there, “Hell’s Highway” was traced in the direction of Eindhoven.
Detailed attention was given to the achievements of the “Screaming Eagles in their courageous efforts to take and hold the various bridges. Appropriate attention was also given to the German attempts to block the important road to the North. After an excellent lunch at Son, an exten¬sive visit was made to the dropping zones of the 101 U.S. Airborne Di-vision. Following this, the excursion led to the “Wings of Liberation” museum at Veghel, whose interesting collection was well worth seeing. Although much later than planned, the party then started back to Oosterbeek and returned at the Hartenstein at 19.30 p.m. (C.v.Roeke 1 ) .
Excursion “Corridor through Brabant” to be repeated on on Saturday, 4th October 1986.
The number of applications for the excursion “Corridor through Brabant”, which was held on 28th June 1986, exceeded the maximum of 50 by far. In consultation with the excursion- 1eader, Dr. K.Margry, it was there¬fore decided to repeat the excursion once, viz. on Saturday, 4th October 1986. The program was published in Newsletter No.22. The only item in which the program for 4th October differs from that of 28th June is, that no stop will be made in’s Hertogenbosch to collect participants . As on 28th June, the departure on 4th October will be at 9:00 a.m. from the parking-area of the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek.
Applicants for the excursion on 28th June who could not be accomodated then, will now be automatically placed on the participants ‘ 1ist unless the Treasurer receives a timely notice to the contrary. In addition to the above mentioned participants who are already registered, there is room for a limited number of other members. They can register by remit¬ting Hfl. 35,- to Postal Account No. 4403641 in the name of Vrienden van het Airborne Museum, marking their remittance order: “Themadag” The closing date for registration is 15th September. The maximum number of participants is 50, as was the case last time. Registrations are pro¬cessed in order of their receipt. So don’t pospone your registration too long if you want to participate in this excursion. In this respect the following should be noted. If you transfer the amount from your bank to our Postal Account, you should bear in mind that this takes longer than a transfer from your postal account to our postal account. The T will follow the order of receipt strictly. Exceptions have not an^wil^ not be made, either for members or Commi11ee-members I 1
Tho oAUS have been processed and discussed within the
. e addresses, professions, areas of interest and offers
of assistance have been fed into the computer.
many members did not return the form. We received 140 contained special comments to which we will now react not feasible to approach everyone personally; in those considered this to be urgent, this has since been done. that they wish to be of service to the Society be approached in due course.

The Hartenstein in scarffolding during painting of the exterior walls. (Photograph: B. de Reus).

We are pleased by the compliments and give us cause to continue in the same the principle of the Society to limit Ar hem, within the scope of Operation we hold our meetings, special subject Oosterbeek; from the point of view of none in the country,

Inofin to ever lend out a great part of the literature dealing with the Battle of Arnhem The September days offer sufficient opportunity for discussions and contacts with veterans; the initiative is up to you! In order to accomodate members working on Saturdays, we will organise a snecial subject day on a Sunday and, depending on the response recei¬ved reneat this. Additional: More Newsletters with Ministories require ved, rep ais0 mQre time> which we do not havd.Have you?
We sincerely thank you for your suggestions. Should you wish still to t0
– 4 – return your form after having read this article, you are most welcome. The more we know about you, the more meaningfully we can operate or your benefit. For not only the Committee, but all the members jointly make up the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum. (O.luursema).

Hartenstein gets an overhaul.
Recently, some hard work has been put in to smarten up the exterior of the Hartenstein. A new coat of paint has been applied to the walls and the wood-work. The renovation of the roof will commence shortly, (see picture).

“Roll of Honour” published.
In the last Newsletter we announced the publication of the “Roll of Honour, Battle of Arnhem, 17-26 September 1944”. This Roll of Honour, the results of many years’work by Mr.J.Hey of Hengelo, has now been com¬pleted and published in a limited edition. The book, which numbers 125 pages, contains a complete survey of all Allied Servicemen, belonging to land- and airforces, who were killed during or as a result of the Battle of Arnhem. The names of the British,Po1ish,Canadian and American dead are grouped according to their units. In addition to the dates of their death, the location of their field-grave is included (if known) as well as their present resting-place and further details, if any. The present graves are scattered around dozens of cerneteries,in the Netherlands and abroad. In addition to these detailed descriptions, the book contains lists of casua 11y-figures, two general overview maps, a map of Oosterbeek showing the situation in 1944 and a modern topographical map of Arnhem and surrounding areas with which approximate locations of the fieldgraves can be traced. The book is illustrated with a number of pictures of field¬graves, which were to be found everywhere in 1944. A number of appendices deals briefly with the losses incurred by the 6th Airborne Division during operations in Normandy, Germany, and Belgium, as well as the losses incurred by units of the 1st Airborne Division during operations before and after the battle of Arnhem. The Roll of Honour, written in English and published by the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum, can be obtained at the Airborne Museum (price: E 5,-). It can also be ordered by remitting £ 7,- to Mr. Young, our Brittish Representative, mention: “Roll of Honour”. It will then be sent to you as soon as possible.

Dr.Lipmann-Kessel buried in Oosterbeek.
The British physician, Dr.A.W.Lipmann-Kesse1 MBE,MC,died in London on the 5th of June 1986, aged 71. In September 1944 he was a surgeon with the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance. During the Battle of Arnhem he operated on dozens of British and German wounded. After the battle he was taken prisoner, but he managed to escape and to go into hiding. Eventually he was able to return to Britain via the liberated Southern Netherlands.
After the war he wrote the book “Surgeon at Arms” under the pseudonym “Daniel Paul” (1958). Dr.Lipmann-Kesse1 had provided in his will that he wished to be buried in Oosterbeek, close to his comrades who had died in 1944. On Wednesday, 11th June, during an impressive ceremony, the burial took place on the Public Cemetery, close to the Airborne Cemetery.

Special subiect-afternoon and contact-day to be combined.
For several years, our society has organized special subjectdays and subject-afternoons. Last year the first contactday for members was orga¬nized. The day was a succes and many members found their way to Bennekom. This year we intend to continue the succesful experiment by holding a “contactday”, but now in combination with the special subject afternoon to be held in the autumn. Consequently, people coming from afar, will have only one long and expensive journey to make, instead of two. In the beginning of November we shall organize a day, the morning of which will be available to make contacts and exchange information, while the after¬noon will be taken up by lectures and films. Further details

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