VVAM Newsletter 30 – 1988

Utrechtseweg 232 6862 AZ Oosterbeek tel: 085-337710

10th Anniversery Airborne Museum in Hartenstein House.

On May 11th 1978, the new Airborne Museum in Hartenstein House was opened officially, so May 11th,1988, was celebrated in a special way.H.R.H. Prince Bern- hard visited the Museum and received the first copy of the jubilee-book “The Harvest of 10 Years.”

The Prince was received by the Trustees of the Board of the Museum.The Mayor of Renkum municipality,Drs.J.W.Verlinden, who is also chairman of the Board of Trustees,welcomed H.R.H. in a short speech,then he presented the Prince with the book.

H.R.H. Prince Bernhard with the first copy of the jubilee book “The Har­vest of Ten Years”, given to him by Drs.J.W.Verlinden,chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Airborne Museum.
In the centre: Drs. A.Groeneweg,one of the compilers of the book. (Photo: B.de Reus).

The Prince spoke some words of thanks and was then taken on a short tour of the Museum.Special attention was paid to a small exhibition of fotographs aquired by the Museum during these last ten years. These photo’s can also be found in the jubilee-book.
Plans had been made that the exhibition was to be opened officially by Mr.G.J. Walker from England.In September 1944 Sgt.Walker was one of the three cameramen of the “Army Film and Photo Unit (AFPU)” who recorded the Battle on film and in photographs.In the end.however,Mr.Walker was unable to come to Holland.owing to the ferry-strikes, which was a great disappointment to all concerned.

Special subject day on June 18th.

During the last two years we centred our excursions around the events.which took place during Operation Market Garden in the Eindhoven and Nijmegen areas. Our guide was Drs.Karel Margry.For 1988 we planned to organize an excursion to the area between Nijmegen and Driel. It appeared .however, that there was not enough time for a thorough preparation for this complicated area. So it was decided to postpone this excursion till next year.

We now propose to take a walking excursion through the Western part of the Peri­meter .Special attention will be paid to about 20 different points of interest during this walk.
On the proposal of Mr.van Roekel, this excursion will have a somewhat different character.People will not be forced to walk in one large group,but will be allowed to take their own time, in small groups, with the help of a detailed walking-guide. At various important points there will be people waiting for them to give more detailed information.

The program of this day is as follows:
10.00 hrs: reception of the participants in the Airborne Museum.Please don’t forget to bring your membership-card!
10.00 – 12.30 hrs: walk along the Utrechtseweg,Sonnenberglaan,Valkenburglaan, van Borsselenweg to the Westerbouwing. All participants must be at the Westerbouwing at 12.30 hrs.
13.30 hrs: Lunch at the Westerbouwing.
15.30 hrs: walk through the woods of the Hemelseberg and Pietersberg to Hartenstein Park.

Mr.van Roekel has organized this day, aided by a number of committee-members and members of the Society.
The total length of the walk is about 5 kilometres.The route covers some wood­paths and accidented ground:stout walking shoes are recommended! In case of rainy weather the excursion will still take place. The costs for this excursion will be f 17,50, they include coffee,lunch and the illustrated walking guide. Money can be sent to giro nr.4403641 of the Society, before june 11th.

H.R.H.Prince Bernhard looking attentively at the photographs of the special exhibition “The Harvest of Ten Years”. (Photo:B.de Reus).

“The Harvest of ten Years”.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Airborne Museum in Hartenstein House,a special jubilee book has been published, called “The Harvest of ten Years”. It contains a choice of diaries and photographs regarding the Battle of Arnhem, aquired by the Museum during the past ten years.
It has been compiled by Messrs. W.J.M.Duyts and A.Groeneweg and contains a foreword by General Sir John W.Hackett. It consists of six stories in English and one story in Dutch.
In his diary “Ending up at Arnhem”, Mr.G.W.Jukes describes the actions near Arnhem bridge, the period that he hid himself on the Veluwe, and his failed attempt to escape:”Pegasus II”.
Mr. C.B.Labouchere ’s activities as a resistance fighter have been described in the chapter called “The airlandings near Arnhem”.(See Newsletter no 27 August 1987.) ■ ‘ ’ The complete diary of Brigadier Gerald Lathbury can be read in “September-October 1944,Arnhem Diary”.
Flying Officer R.Lawton,190 Squadron,RAF,writes about his experiences after the loss of his plane on September 19th,1944,during a supply dropping operation.His chapter is called “An Airman at Arnhem”.
Major T.I.J.Toler,00 B Squadron Glider Pilot Regiment, wrote his “Diary of Events during the Battle of Arnhem”.In it he tells about his experiences during the landings,the actions in Oosterbeek and the retreat across the Rhine.
Colonel Graeme Warrack’s complete diary is entitled !’17 Sept.-16 Oct. 1944.Arnhem Diary”.
The last chapter in the book contains “Men at Arnhem” by Alan Wood,correspondent of the Daily Express.
The book also contains 23 hitherto unknown photographs of the Battle of Arnhem. The book can be obtained at the Airborne Museum and costs f 42,50.

English edition of “The Tommies are coming!”
The English edition is now ready to be printed. We hope that it will be ready for sale in July.It can then be obtained from the Museum and will cost f 10, — . The first edition will consist of 250 books. The price for readers from England will be £ 5.-.postage included. Please send your money in cash by letter, the costs for cashing foreign bank-cheques are very high!
We are very grateful to Mrs.A.G.Meeuwsen.who took care of the translation.She has tried to retain the simple and sometimes childlike atmosphere of this diary, which makes it so unique.
We are also very grateful to the two ladies who took care of the typing of the manuscript:Mrs. M.M.H.Pelkman-Bongers and Mrs.A.J.van Damme-de Groot.
Dutch members who want to receive an English edition by post,can do so by paying f 13,— into the giro-account of the Society, mention “The Tommies are coming”.

“Operation Argyle.”
Our Dutch building-team, Messrs, van de Brand,Berghege,Dellepoort,te Niet.Pelk- man and van Roekel, have seen to it that the Sherman ~tank”ARGYLE” has been neatly placed on its concrete sockel.Well done! Our member Mr.Benter is now busy constructing the slab of granite which will bear the regimental coat of arms of the Canadian “Lord Strathcona’s Horse”.
During the period of May 30th till June 3rd, 40 Canadian soldiers belonging to the sister-regiment “8th Hussars” will come to Oosterbeek in two groups of 20 men each, to help to restore the tank to its former glory.They will do the welding, cleaning and painting jobs and will also see to restoring the original emblems and armament.
The official unveiling ceremony will take place on June 2nd. Two special guests have been invited to attend this event:the Regimental Historical Officer and the Regimental Sergeant-Major of the L.S.H. from Calgary,Canada.
Extensive information about the tank can be found in the Ministory which is sent with this Newsletter. (Chr.v.R.)

The “Chair-project”.
We have almost reached the end of our Chair-project activities. The last two chairs were given by the 2nd Para Battalion and the Gelderland branch of the Ex – Marines. This means that the Museum is now the proud owner of twelve stylish oak chairs.In the mean time the table has also arrived.This table is to be dedicated to the Allied soldiers and the Dutch civilians who gave their lives for the libe¬ration of our country.Donations for the table are still welcome. The names of all donors of money will be mentioned on a brass tablet in the centre of the table. A provisional inscription will announce the amount of money received.

The”School-proj ect”.
Almost every file with information for schoolchildren has been handed out since the project started in 1984.This means that about five thousand Dutch schoolchil¬dren have visited our Museum till now.At first it was only the regional schools which were interested, but by now we receive requests from all parts of the country. We are now considering to have a second edition printed. If it is financially possible,we will continue this important work .

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