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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ OOSTERBEEK, The Netherlands
Representative in Great Britain: Mr. F.Young, 6,Kildown Gardens, Cliftonville, Kent CT 9 3 EG
Editor:Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil Translation:Mrs.A.Meeuwsen
Presentation of “De Polen van Priel” and opening of the exhibition.
The presentation of “De Polen van Driel,the first Polish Independent Parachute Brigade of General-Major Stanislaw Sosabowski during the Battle of Arnhem”,took place on Friday,March 23rd ,in the Airborne Museum. The author,Mr.George F.

Cholewczynski.had come over from America especially for this. The first speaker was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Airborne Museum,Mr. Verlinden.who welcomed the guests.Then followed Flora Bouman on behalf of the publishing firn.,LUNET of Naarden.She gave a short talk about the realization of the publication of this book.
Then the author presented the first copy of the book to Mr.G.H.Maasse Sr. It was Mr.Maassen who first took the initiative to gather and publicize infor mation about the Polish Para Brigade and the röle it played at ne . .
On behalf of the Dutch team which has been assisting Mr.Cholewczynski during the past six years,Mr.Voskuil presented the author with a special souvenir of the Battle of Arnhem.lt consist of a small piece of string belonging to a Polish parachute which was dropped on Zone K near Driel on September 21st,1944. This piece of string had been dug up again presentation,had been framed,surrounded by After the presentation it was time for the Polish Brigade by Mr. B.Lincewicz,a Polish
On Saturday,March 24th,the book was presented to the members of the Society, during the General Annual Meeting.A large number of the members present availed themselves of the opportunity to buy a copy of the book and to have it signed by the author who was present at the meeting.

10th Anniversary excursion on Sunday,June 10th.
This excursion was already mentioned in our last Newsletter.We can now give you the programma for this day:
10.00 hrs. Arrival of the participants at the mooring-pontoon of Heymen Ship- owners,on the Rijnkade at Arnhem. Coffee.
10.30 hrs. Walk around the Northern ascent of the John Frost Bridge.Mr.Drs.van
Iddekinge,who is the municipal archivist,will give information about the actions which took place in this area between September 17th and 21st,1944.
12.30 hrs. Return to the Rijnkade to board the excursion boat.
13.00 hrs. Lunch.During lunch the boat will travel up-river for some miles.
The excursion proper will begin after lunch, the boat will take us from Arnhem,along the Veluwezoom to Wageningen and back to Arnhem. During this trip a large number of points along the river can be observed which played a röle in the Battle of Arnhem.They can all be found in the special excursion guide.
17.00 hrs. Arrival at Arnhem.

Booking. The boat can accommodate 200 passengers. You are advised to book soon. The costs are ƒ 37,50 for (family)members and ƒ 42,50 for guests. Bookings are accepted via giro nr. 44 03 641 of Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, mention “Rijnexcursie.”
The costs include the excursion,coffee on arrival, lunch and the excursion guide. The extensive guide contains 26 pages with a lot of photo’s and maps. Several members have helped to compile this guide.

Parking.As this excursion takes place on a Sunday,parking on the Rijnkade and along the river will offer no problems.There is also parking space on the Grote Markt between the St.Eusebius Church and the Provinciehuis.
If you come by train,the distance from the station to the Rijnkade is about a 10 minutes walk.
Members who do not live at Oosterbeek or Arnhem,will find enclosed with this Newsletter a small map with detailed information.
People who come from Nijmegen are advised to take‘the Nelson Mandela bridge,they will reach the Rijnkade via Weerdj esstraat and Vossenstraat.
If you are unable to take part in the mornino’e woiv …
At 12 30 hr morning walk,you can join the excursion at Iz.JU nrs tor the lunch on board and the boat-trip.

Society donates camera to Airborne Museum.

On the occasion of the lOth Anniversary,the societ donated a ZEISS SUPER IKONTA photo camera to the Museum.In September 1944 this type of camera was used by the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) to take photographs of the
actions at Wolfheze and Oosterbeek. The size of the negatives is 6 x 6 cm, each film supplies twelve photo’s.

There was a special reason for the fact the the British Army photographers had been supplied with German camera’s: they came from Sweden. The Germans had exchanged a series of these camera’s for Swedish ball-bearings.Afterwards the Swedes sold these camera’s to Great Britain! They were then used to supply the AFPU with camera’s.
Although these camera’s produced good photographs,they had the disadvantage that one could only shoot twelve pictures with one film.The British camera-men had only taken films with them for two days’ shooting,when it appeared that the battle would not be over within two days,they could no longer use their camera’s.
The German army photographers of the “Propaganda Kompanien” used Leica 35 mm camera’s with 36 pictures on one film..
A figure representing the British camera man Gordon “Jock” Walker will be placed, holding the camera, in the diorama in the basement of the Museum. The figure is also a gift from the Society to the Museum.

“De Polen van Priel”:fllling a gap in the history of the Battle of Arnhem.
Much has been written about the Battle of Arnhem during the past 45 years. However, the röle of the Polish Para Brigade in this battle has always been a rather shadowy one. But now there is a book which has been dedicated to this Brigade.Is does not only describe the Battle of Arnhem, but also the previous history of the Brigade, its foundation, its training and also the history of its remarkable commander,General-Major Stanislaw Sosabowski.
The research for this book has taken more than six years.The American author Mr. George F. Cholewczynski interviewed tens of veterans and was allowed to study every report,both in English and in Polish, in the United States and in England.
All this has resulted in the appearance of a sound and very readable book. Although its title might suggest that it only describes the actions in and around Driel,the author does give extensive Information about the presence of the Polish troops in and near Oosterbeek.
The book is well-produced, it contains about 290 photographs,many of which have never been published before.
The publisher is LUNET of Naarden.The book costs ƒ 39,95.

 

Commemorative envelope.Towards the end of 1989,the Polish authorities issued a series of special stamps,depicting Polish commanders during the second world war. One of these stamps has been dedicated to General-Major Stanislaw Sosabowski and the Battle of Arnhem.

It took a lot of effort to obtain a sufficiënt number of these stamps but in the end they arrived in Oosterbeek. The Society has decided to use them for a special commemorative envelope which will be stamped in Warsaw. The envelopes will cost ƒ 5,- and be on sale at the Museum,during our excursion on June lOth, and of course via the giro account of our treasurer.
New books: Our member,Drs.A.Groeneweg,has translated Geoffry Powell’s book “The Devil’s Birthday into Dutch. See also Newsletter No. 37.
Hackett’s book “I was a stranger”, can now be bought at the Museum in a paper¬back edition. ƒ 28,70.
“De Polen van Driel” appears to be a best-seller.If you have not got it yet.you’d better hurry!
“Theirs is the glory”:we have been able to obtain some copies of this film on video.lt can be bought at the Museum, ƒ 87.50.
Stop-press : our excursion on June lOth. During the morning walk around the Northern aspect of the bridge,we will be able to visit the top floor of the B.A.S.F. building near the bridge. This will give us a marvellous view over the whole area. We are very happy that the Directors have been so kind as to open their building to us – on a Sunday,too! – and we know that the participants will appreciate this kind gesture very much.
The excursion has not yet been fully booked, but we advise you not to wait too long.The sooner we know the exact number,the sooner we can plan the catering,etc. Additional excursion guides can be obtained ,they cost ƒ 5 –

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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232,6862 AZ Oosterbeek,the Netherlands
Representative in Great BritiancMr.F.Young, 6,Kildown Gardens,Cliftonville,Kent CT9 3EG
NEWSLETTER No 36 Editor:Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil
OCTOBER 1989 Translation:Mrs.A.Meeuwsen

From the Editor.
This year again thousands of people,among whom were hundreds of veterans,attended the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem.The service of remembrance in the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek,was,as always,the most impressive and moving high point of the week.
Although the programme was more or less similar to that of other years,there were also some special meetings,like the one at Driel where the monument to the Royal Engineers and the Royal Canadian Engineers was unveiled.
In order to give those members who could not be present.an impression of the various events.we have decided,like we did in 1984,to include with this News- letter a photo coverage of the various meetings.Because of the special character of this’45th commemoration,and also on the occasion of the forthcoming lOth anniversary of our Society,the photo’s will this time be in colour. All photo’s were taken by our own photographer,Mr.B.de Reus.
Our series of Mini-stories will be continued in our next Newsletter.

Special-Subject Afternoon on Saturday,November 25th.
A special-subject afternoon will again be held for our members on Saturday, November 25th,1989.We will meet in the ELEKTRUM at Arnhem,where we will be welcome guests for the fifth year.
The programme will be as follows:
13.30- 14.00 hrs : arrival of the members
14.00-15.00 hrs : Lecture by Mr.G.H.Maassen from Oosterbeek on the röle played by the First Independent Polish Parachutist Brigade during the Battle of Arnhem. Mr.Maassen,who is the archivist of Renkum Municipality,has for many years made a special study of this subject.His lecture will be illustrated by colour – slides,most of which have not been shown before.
This lecture coincides with the forthcoming publication of the book “De Polen van Driel” by the American author George Cholwczynsky,which describes the experiences of the Polish parachutists at Driel.Mr.Maassen will give more Information about this book.
15.00-15.30 hrs : tea-break.
15.30- 16.00 hrs : continuation of lecture by Mr.Maassen.
16.00-16.45 hrs : showing of the new video-documentary “Forever in our Memory” (More Information about this film further on in this Newsletter).This film will be for sale during the tea-break and af ter tha showing.
The ELEKTRUM is situated at the Klingelbeekseweg in Arnhem,a small distance West of the road junction Onderlangs/Bovenover. Telephone number 085-568020.

Donation to the Museum of General Urquhart’s personal pennant.
During a special meeting in the Museum on September 15th, Mrs.Pamela Urquhart handed over to the Museum the personal pennant belonging to her late husband, General R.E.Urquhart. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Airborne Museum,Drs.J.W.A.M.Verlinden.accepted the pennant on behalf of the Museum.
This pennant,fastened to a lance.stood for a large period of the duration of the Battle at the back of the then Divisional Headquarters.Hartenstein House. One of the most published photographs of General Urquhart of that time shows him at the back of Hartenstein House,the pennant beside him. ,
Just before the Division’s evacuation across the Rhine,General Urquhart s batman, Corporal Hancock, hid the pennant inside his battle blouse.After his arrival at NijmegenjCorporal Hancock returned the pennant to General Urquhart,who was very pleased and surprised as he thought that it had been left behind.
Afterwards,this maroon pennant with the blue Pegasus,was framed behind glass and hung on the wall in the Urquhart family home in Scotland.Now.after 45 years.it has returned to Hartenstein,where it will be given a place of honour.

Two new life-members.
Two more persons have applied for a life-membership: Mr.Izak de Vries from Haifa, Israël, and Mr.Eric Seal from England.

Important gifts.
During the past commemoration week, our Society has received several important gifts of money.
Mr.James Swanston donated ƒ 1100,-,on behalf of the 7th (Galloway) Battalion, The King’s Own Scottish Borderers. This Battalion also donated a chair to the Museum.
Mr.J.R.Roberts donated F 350,- on behalf of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical— Engineers (REME).
The Thanet Branch ircn England donated £ 25. for the schools project,and a member of the Thanet Branch donated the same sum for this project.
The Society is very grateful to these givers for their great generosity.

New souvenirs for sale.
During the past month,several new articles have been purchased.Mr.Ch.van Roekel, who is responsible for the buying and selling of souvenirs,together with Mrs.M. de Langen and Mr.W.T.B.de Ruyter.has compiled a special information leaflet which you will find with this Newsletter.
Memorial Booklet.
During the reception on September 22nd on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Airborne Museum and the Society for Geography and History of Renkum Municipality, a memorial booklet was presented, called “In Heerlijckheit en Hoofd¬kwartier 1949-1989”. (For more information about this booklet,see Newsletters No 33 and No 35.)
This booklet,which is only in the Dutch language.was written by Messrs Dr H J Leloux and W.J.M.Duyts.It contains about 45 photographs,most of which daté from the period that the Airborne Museum was still housed in a wooden shed and afterwards in part of the stables of Doorwerth Castle.
This booklet can be bought at the Museum and costs F. 10,-.
Polish Badges of Honour.
Among those who received the Polish Badge of Honour from this year’s leader of the Polish Pilgrims.Mr.Gasowski.were two members of the staff of the Museum- the director.Mr.C.Wilhelm and the curator.Mr.B.de Reus.
The Polish Government conferred a high Polish order on our member Mrs. C. Baltussen

Mrs.Pamela Urquharc donates the personal pennanc belonging co her late husband to the chairroan of the Board of Trustees of the Airborne Museum, Drs.J.W.A.M.Ver 1 inden (photo: B.de Reus).

Donation of set of medals.
While visiting Oosterbeek on the occasion of the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem,Mr.Eric Seal from England has donated his medals to the Airborne Museum. During the Battle,Mr.Seal belonged to the First Para Battalion.
This set will also be given a place in the special show-case in the Museum.
Unveiling of the Engineers Monument.
This unveiling took place in the afternoon of Friday.September 15th. The monument is dedicated to the Royal Engineers and the Royal Canadian Engineers. The 260 and 553 Field Company RE and the 20 and 23 Field Company RCE were responsible for the evacuation across the river Rhine of the survivors of the First British Airborne Division.This evacuation,which took place in the night of September 25th/26th,1944,was executed under heavy German artillery-fire.
The idea to erect this monument was born after a lecture on the subject by Mr.H.Duinhoven in November 1988. (Information about the ensuing activities can be found in Newsletter No. 34.)
The monument was designed by our member.Mr.H.van de Brand. It was unvelled by Colonel Holburn.who.as a young corporal of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, was himself evacuated across the Rhine by the Engineers in September 1944.
New Commemoration envelope.
In the series of commemoration envelopes,the twelfth was issued by the Museum last September. This time it shows an enlarged picture of the commemoration medal which was presented to all veterans during their visit to Arnhem and 0os~ terbeek. The envelopes are numbered and provided with a special postmark,dated September 17th,1989. The price is ƒ 5,-.

“Forever in our Memory”, a gripping documentary.
On September 7th of this year.the first showing took place of the video film “Blijvend in Herinnering”. This documentary aims to give an answer to the question why we keep on remembering the Battle of Arnhem till to day.
The village of Oosterbeek,the place where the British troops kept on fighting till the last minute.plays the central part in this story.
In the first part of the film we hear the stories of a number of veterans and civilians about their experiences during the Battle. One of them is sergeant Gordon Walker,a camera man who filmed the actions of the British air landing troops.He tells his story with the help of fragments of his own films.
Other participants are General Urquhart, Father Dijken,who worked in the Tafel¬berg field hospital,and Mr.Bal,who watched at close range the landings of the gliders and the parachutists. Their stories are also illustrated by unique professional and amateur film fragments.
The second part of the film describes the origin of the commemorations directly after the war. The then acting burgomaster of Renkum Municipality,Mr. J.ter Horst,took the initiative,together with General Urquhart,to organize a remembrance service in the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. We are shown pictures of that first service and of the laying of the foundation stone for the Airborne Monument.
Inhabitants of Oosterbeek who,as a schoolchild,were the first to lay flowers on the graves during the commemoration service,teil their story:Mrs. H.de Jongh- Langevoort and Messrs. H.Kardol and J.Hartgers.
The film ends with pictures of subsequent commemorations.
The duration of this film is 40 minutes,there is also an English version,titled: “Forever in our Memory”. It can be obtained from the Museum and from Bal Video Produktie,Rozensteeg 1, 6862 DH,Oosterbeek, tel. 085-340719.
The price is ƒ 55,-. Apart from the VHS-system ,there are also other systems in supply.
Second photo book about”Arnhem in 1945 “.
In April 1985,a book was published called “Arnhem voorjaar 1945,Wandelen door een verlaten stad” (“Arnhem^pring 1945,walking through a deserted city”.) This book,illustrated with photo’s by the Arnhem photographer Nico Kramer,gives an impression of Arnhem as it looked in 1945.The interest in this book was so large that the compilers,Wim Verhoef and Paul Vroemen,decided that a second book was called for. The first book contained about 200 photo’s, but Nico Kramer had taken more than 800 pictures in 1945. It was therefore not difficult to make a choice for a second book.
This second book has now appeared.One cannot but be impressed by the way Kramer managed to picture so sharply and clearly the enormous devastation and scenes of desolation which made up Arnhem in that time.
Kramer systematically photographed streets and houses in every part of the town. Much of what he photographed can no longer be recognized as such.new buildings have taken the place of the ruined ones.Many other houses,however,could be restored.and are still recognisable.
The compilers have given each photo a short note and indication of its place, so it is very well possible to walk through the town with the book as one’s guide and see for oneself how the town has risen again from its ruins.
The book also contains a Street plan.
Part of Nico Kramer’s diary has been incorporated with the text which is both in Dutch and in English.The same applies to the notes with the photo’s.
The book costs ƒ 49,50 and is obtainable from booksellers in Arnhem and from Kramer’s photoshop,Looyerstraat,also in Arnhem

Bijiage bij Nieuwsbrief No. 36.
Appendix to Newsletter No. 36.
45ste HERDENKING VAN DE SLAG OM ARNHEM
45th COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF ARNHEM
1944 – 1989

 

 

Foto’s/Photographs: B. de Reus, Airborne Museum, Oosterbeek.

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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ OOSTERBEEK, The Netherlands
Representative in Great Britain: Mr.F.M.Young, 6,Kildown Gardens, Cliftonville, Kent CT 9 3EG
NEWSLETTER No 34 Editor:Drs. R.P.G.A.Voskuil
MAY 1989 Translation:Mrs.A.Meeuwsen

Excursion.
You are invited to join our yearly excursion on SATURDAY.MAY 27th. This time it will take us through the region of the Betuwe.This is the third and last excursion from the series which started with the “Brabant Corridor” in 1986 and the “Market Garden in the Rijk van Nijmegen” in 1987.
This time we will pay special attention to the breakout by the British troops from the bridge-head North of the Waal bridge at Nijmegen, their advance through the Betuwe,the air-landings of the First Polish Independent Parachutists Brigade near Driel on September 21st,1944, en the subsequent actions in this area.
The excursion will be led by Karei Margry and Geert Maassen;the organisation is in the hands of Robert Voskuil.
The provisional programme is as follows:
9.00-9.30 hrs: Assemble in the Airborne Museum:coffee will be ready!
9.30 hrs: Depart for Nijmegen by coach.From Nijmegen the following points will be visited successively:
– Old road between Nijmegen and Arnhem (Griftdijk), where the breakout of the Irish Guards did not succeed.
– Oosterhout,the actions by the 7th Somersets.
– Crossing “de Hoog” near Elst,where the 43rd Wessex Division encoun- tered the German “Kampfgruppe Knaust”,while on their way to the Poles at Driel.
– Monument 7th Hampshire Regiment on the river-dike near Driel.
12.30 – 13.30 : LUNCH at Beteren.
After lunch the programme continues with visits to:
– The landing-areas of the Polish Brigade near Driel.Attention will also be paid to the advance routes of the Poles and to the German lines behind the railway embankment.
– Place of the German counter-attack on the Poles at Driel,on September 22nd.
– Site of the Roman Catholic boys’school which was used as a hospital for the Polish Brigade during the actions.
– Headquarters of the commander of the Polish Brigade,General Sosabowski.
– Places where the Poles crossed the Rhine on September 22/23 and 23/24,in order to reinforce the British troops at Oosterbeek.
– Site where the 4th Battalion Dorsets crossed the Rhine in the night of September 24/25.
– The church hall at Driel,which was used as a hospital for the wounded civilians.
– The cemetery where the Polish soldiers were buried. their bodies were conveyed to the Airborne Cemetery
– The monument for the Polish Brigade at Driel.
16.30 hrs: Depart for Oosterbeek. 16.45 hrs: Arrival at Oosterbeek.
Members who want to take part in this excursion are requested to „
per person on giro account 4403641 /’Vereniging Vrienden Airborne Museum , mention “Excursion”. The closing date is MAY lOth.so don t wait too long before you send your money!

In Memoriam Mr. Schager.
Our member Mr. Simon Dirk Schager from Zaandam, died on March 20th,1989.
In spite of his physical handicap,Mr.Schager was a faithful and interested visitor of the yearly commemoration days and of the activities of our Society. Towards the end of his life his health did not always allow him to travel to Oosterbeek,but he remained interested in our activities.
May he rest in peace.

Rectification.
One of the photo’s in our last ministory does not show Jan Penseel,as stated, but Klaas Schuttinga,who is also mentioned in the story.

Exhibition:The role of the Netherlands Resistance in the Battle of Arnhem.
Preparations for this exhibition are now in full swing. The opening will take place on April 28th at 14.00 hrs in the Airborne Museum,and can be visited till May 15th.
The exhibition is divided into three parts:
1. The Resistance gets ready to render help in the liberation of the Netherlands.
One of the most important activities was espionage.as carried out for instance by the “Albrecht” group.Documents have been saved which show that Information was given about German units near Arnhem.In order to supply the Resistance with weapons.there were regular droppings on the Veluwe.Material relating to these droppings is shown,together with the apparatus to keep contact with England.
Attention is also given to the question of how to maintain the Communications between the members of the Resistance. This was for instance done via special telephone lines of the Provincial Guelders Electricity Board. There is also Information about the sabotage actions undertaken by members of the Resistance.
2. Liberation drops unexpectedly from the skies.
The Resistance had not been prepared for this event.After the airlandings,the Resistance did its utmost to give aid to the troops.Members acted as guides and as orderlies. Although the British had been more or less prepared for co-operating with the Resistance,they hardly used the help offered to them.
The role played by the “Orange Battalion” is one of the aspects shown to illustrate this.
3. Help to British soldiers after the Battle of Arnhem.
British soldiers were taken to addresses where they could stay hidden.As food was very scarce.the people hiding them were given extra rations. Escapes were planned and executed. Operation “Pegasus I” was succesful.Operation “Pegasus II” did not succeed.
The exhibition will make use of the new large glass showcase which was donated to the Museum by the Society for use in the “Resistance-room”. Another donation the new video installation.will also be used.

’

Continuation of School-projeet.
It has been decided that this very successful project will be continued.A great number of schools in the Arnhem region has been informed and the first applications have already been received.The information-file and the photo-sheet have been re-printed.
Exhibition by Christien de Haan.
The drawings by Christien de Haan of eleven commanders of the Battle of Arnhem are now on show in the Museum.Two years ago.five of these drawings were reproduced as picture postcards.They can still be bought at the Museum,price:ƒ 5,- .
Security.
In order to step up the security of the Museum,two new television camera’s have been installed.They will guard the back of the building on a 24 hour basis. Furthermore,in order to improve the control at night,special lamps have been fitted to the outside of the building.
Lions Club book fair.
This year the Renkum Lions Club again organizes a book fair.lt will take place in the hall of the Pieter Reijenga Secondary School,on June 9th and June lOth.
The proceeds will again be donated to the fund of the Foundation “Lest we Forget.” This Foundation helps to take care of travelling expenses for veterans and their relatives.
Many books are needed for this book fair, and all kinds of books are welcome.
If you want to donate books and live in the Renkum region,somebody will come and fetch them.Please ring the following telephone numbers (between 18.00 and 20.00 hrs):
J.R. Straatenmeier, 085-334136 ; G.Kalverla, 085-341255.

Monument for the Royal Engineers and the Royal Canadian Engineers.
After the lecture on “Operation Berlin” on November 26th of last year,the suggestion was raised to erect a monument to the memory of the British and Canadian Engineers. It was they who transported those many hundreds of Airborne troops across the river Rhine in the night of September 25/26,1944,thus
enabling about 2400 British and Polish soldiers to reach their own lines.
In most of the better known books and reports we find only a couple of lines about this operation:” we were ordered to go down to the Rhine in small groups … a rainy night … much enemy fire … sometimes narrowly missing German positions … at last we reached the boats .. . fortunately we reached the other side.”
Thanks to an investigation conducted by two of our members,we now know much more about the extensive preparation for this operation and we know a lot about the courage and perseverance it took to bring it to a good end. That is why many people have now decided that there should be a monument as a lasting remembrance of the courage and self-sacrifice of those British and Canadian engineers.

A Committee has now been formed,called the “Committee R.E.&R.C.E.Monument.” lts members are Messrs.J,H.Boon,H.v.d.Brand,H.A.Duinhoven and E.Wijnhoud.The address of the secretariat is:Steynweg 27,6862 DE Oosterbeek. The committee will try and obtain enough money to build the monument.Although official consent has not yet been received,we have received so many unofficial favourable reactions that we believe permission will be granted.
The site for the monument would be on the South bank of the river Rhine,along the Drielse Dijk. That’s where the operation began and where freedom was waiting. If everything goes as planned.the monument can be unveiled on September 15th,1989. As far as the financial side is concerned:we can teil you that the first gifts of money have already come in.In the near future we plan to contact the Branches of the Arnhem veterans in England.
A special giro-account has been opened for your contributions: 5937926 in the name of “Committee R.E.&R.C.E.monument,Mr .E.Wijnhoud” at Arnhem.
We do hope that you share our conviction that these men deserve a monument,and that you will help us to realize it.

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Newsletter 32 is missing… if you can help us, please send a copy of the newsletter to webmaster@vriendenairbornemuseum.nl

Tien jaar Airborne Museum in Huize Hartenstein.
Redactie:
Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil
Op 11 mei j.1 was het tien jaar geleden dat de officiële opening plaats vond van het nieuwe Airborne Museum in Huize Hartenstein. Dit feit werd op 11 mei op bijzon-dere wijze gevierd. Z.K.H.Prins Bernhard bracht op die dag een bezoek aan het museum, waar hij werd ontvangen door het stichtingsbestuur. Na een welkomstwoord overhandigde de burgemeester van de gemeente Renkum, Drs.J.W.Verlinden, die tevens voorzitter is van het stichtingsbestuur, het eerste exemplaar van het jubileumboek “De Oogst van Tien Jaar” aan Z.K.H.Prins Bernhard.

Z.K.H.Prins Bernhard bekijkt het eerste exemplaar van het jubileumboek “De Oogst van Tien Jaar”, dat hij zojuist had ontvangen uit handen van Drs.J.W.Verlinden, voorzitter van de Stichting Airborne Museum. In het midden een van de samenstellers, Drs.A.Groeneweg. (Foto: B.de Reus)

Nadat de Prins een kort woord van dank had gesproken, volgde een rondleiding door het museum. Daarbij werd bijzondere aandacht geschonken aan de kleine fototentoon¬stelling die ter gelegenheid van het tienjarig jubileum was ingericht. In deze expositie werd een aantal foto’s getoond, die de afgelopen tien jaar door het Airborne Museum werden verworven. De getoonde foto’s zijn alle tevens opgenomen in het jubileumboek.
Het was de bedoeling dat de fototentoonstelling officieel zou worden geopend door M?G.J.Walker uit Engeland. Sgt.Walker was in september 1944 een van de drie “Army Film and Photo Unit” (AFPU) cameramannen die de strijd op foto’s en films vast-legden. Helaas was de heer Walker niet in staat om te komen door de staking bij de Britse veerdiensten.
Themadag op zaterdag 18 juni a.s.
De afgelopen twee jaar hebben we bij onze excursies aandacht besteed aan de gebeur-tenissen die tijdens operatie Market Garden plaats vonden in de gebieden rond Eindhoven en Nijmegen. Hierbij trad Drs.Karel Margry op als gids. Het lag in de bedoelong om dit jaar een excursie te organiseren naar het gebied tussen Nijmegen en Driel. Hierbij zouden worden behandeld de opmars van de verschillende Britse eenheden, de Duitse tegenaanvallen en de landing en de gevechtsacties van de Eerste Onafhankelijke Poolse Parachutisten Brigade. Echter, binnen het daarvoor beschik-bare tijdsbestek bleek een grondige voorbereiding van deze excursie door dit zeer gecompliceerde gevechtsgebied niet mogelijk. Daarom is in overleg met Karel Margry besloten deze excursie een jaar uit te stellen.
In plaats daarvan wordt een wandelexcursie gehouden door het westelijk deel van de “perimeter”, het hoefijzervormige gebied bij Oosterbeek dat in september 1944 door de Britten en Polen werd verdedigd. Tijdens deze excursie zal een twintigtal punten worden bekeken.
Op voorstel van de heer Van Roekel zal de wandeling deze keer een enigszins ander karakter hebben dan de wandelexcursies die eerder tijdens themadagen van de Ver-eniging werden gemaakt. Deze keer hoeven de deelnemers niet in één grote groep te wandelen, maar kunnen zij in kleine groepjes in hun eigen tempo de route lopen met behulp van een gedetailleerde excursiegids. Op verschillende belangrijke punten zullen mensen staan die uitleg geven aan de excursiegangers.
Het programma van deze themadag ziet er als volgt uit:
9.30 – 10.00 uur: Ontvangst van de deelnemers met koffie in het Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek. U wordt verzocht Uw lidmaatschapskaart mee te nemen.
10.00 – 12.30 uur: Wandeling langs een aantal punten bij de Utrechtseweg, de Son- nenberglaan, de Valkenburglaan, de Van Borsselenweg en de Wes-terbouwing. Alle deelnemers dienen uiterlijk om 12.30 uur aan-wezig te zijn in de Westerbouwing voor de lunch.
12.30 – 13.30 uur: Lunch in de Westerbouwing.
13.30 – 15.30 uur: Wandeling langs een aantal punten op de Hemelse Berg, de Pieters¬
berg en Park Hartenstein.
Na terugkomst bij Hartenstein is er nog gelegenheid om het Airborne Museum te be-zoeken.
De organisatie van de themadag is in handen van de heer Chr.van Roekel, bijgestaan door een aantal bestuursleden en leden van de Vereniging.
De totale lengte van de wandeling bedraagt ca. vijf kilometer. De route loopt deels via bospaden en over geaccidenteerd terrein. Denkt U daarom aan goede wandelschoenen. Ook als het regent gaat de excursie gewoon door.
De kosten van deze themadag bedragen f 17,50 per persoon. Hiervoor ontvangt U de koffie bij de ontvangst, de lunch en de geïllustreerde excursiegids. Het bedrag kan worden overgemaakt op postbanknummer 4403641 t.n.v. de Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum onder vermelding van “themadag”. De sluitingsdatum voor de inschrijving is 11 juni. Op die dag moet het overgemaakte bedrag binnen zijn bij de penningmeester.Gezien de korte tijd die nog rest tot deze sluitingsdatum, wordt U dringend verzocht, indien U meewilt, het verschuldigde bedrag zo spoedig mogelijk over te maken. Tot ziens op 18 juni !

Z.K.H.Prins Bernhard bekijkt vol aandacht de foto’s in de tentoonstelling “De Oogst van Tien Jaar”. (Foto: B.de Reus)
Jubileumboek “De Oogst van Tien Jaar”.
Ter gelegenheid van het tienjarig bestaan van het Airborne Museum in Huize Hartenstein is een speciaal jubileumboek uitgegeven, getiteld “De Oogst van Tien Jaar/The Harvest of Ten Years”. Dit boek bevat een keuze uit de dagboeken en foto’s betreffende de Slag om Arnhem, die werden verworven in de jaren 1978 – 1988.
Het werd samengesteld door W.J.M.Duyts en A.Groeneweg. Het voorwoord werd geschreven door General Sir John W.Hackett. Opgenomen is een zestal verhalen in de Engelse taal en één verhaal in de Nederlandse taal.
Mr-G.W.Jukes beschrijft in zijn dagboek “Ending up at Arnhem” de gevechten bij de Rijnbrug in Arnhem, de periode dat hij zich schuil moest houden op de Veluwe en de mislukte ontsnappingspoging “Pegasus II”. C.B.Labouchère’s werk als verzetsman is vastgelegd in het hoofdstuk “De Luchtlandingen bij Arnhem” (zie ook Nieuwsbrief No.27, augustus 1987). In “September-October 1944 Arnhem Diary” is het volledige dagboek van Brigadier Gerald Lathbury opgenomen. Flying Officer R.Lawton, 190 Squadron RAF beschrijft in het hoofdstuk “An Airman at Arnhem” zijn lotgevallen nadat op 19 september 1944 zijn Stirling tijdens een bevoorradingsvlucht werd neergeschoten. In het hoofdstuk “Diary of Events during the Battle of Arnhem” doet Major T.I.J.Toler, commandant van B Squadron Glider Pilot Regiment, verslag van zijn ervaringen tijdens de landingen, de gevechten in Oosterbeek en bij de terugtocht over de Rijn. Colonel Graeme Warrack’s complete dagboek is weergegeven in het hoofdstuk “17 Sept.-16 Oct.1944 Arnhem Diary”. Het verslag van de Daily Express correspondent Alan Wood, “men at Arnhem” is als laatste hoofdstuk in het boek opgenomen. Het boek wordt besloten met 23 onbekende foto’s van de Slag om Arnhem. “De Oogst van Tien Jaar” is verkrijgbaar in het Airborne Museum en kost f 42,50.

Boekje “De Tommies komen” in het Engels vertaald.
De Engelse editie van het boekje “De Tommies komen” is drukklaar en zal vermoedelijk in juli voor f 10,- verkrijgbaar zijn in het Airborne Museum. Er zal bij wijze van proef een beperkte oplaag van 250 exemplaren vervaardigd worden. De Engelse prijs zal, inclusief verzendkosten, £ 5,- bedragen. Dit bedrag dient dan per brief opge¬stuurd te worden , daar de afhandelingskosten van de Engelse bankcheques niet in verhouding staan tot het te betalen bedrag.
Voor het vertaalwerk zijn wij zeer veel dank verschuldigd aan mevrouw A.G.Meeuwsen, die kans zag om naast het vertalen van de Nieuwsbrieven ook deze omvangrijke taak uit te voeren. Bovendien vergde het vertalen van dit dagboekje met behoud van het typisch kinderlijke element extra veel zorg. Hiervoor onze oprechte bewondering! Het typewerk van deze Engelstalige editie was in handen van de dames M.M.H.Pelkman- Bongers en A.J.van Damme-de Groot. Ook hen zijn wij zeer dankbaar voor het met veel zorg uitgevoerde werk.
Nederlanders, die het op prijs stellen een exemplaar per post te ontvangen, kunnen hun wens kenbaar maken door f 13,- over te maken op de postbankrekening van onze Vereniging, onder vermelding van “boekje “De Tommies komen”. Na verschijning krijgt U het boekje dan toegezonden. (Chr.v.R.)
“Operatie Argyle”.
Ons Nederlandse bouwteam bestaande uit de heren Van de Brand, Berghege, Dellepoort, Te Niet, Pelkman en Van Roekel heeft er voor gezorgd dat de SHERMAN-tank “Argyle” keurig op een betonnen platform is geplaatst. Vakwerk! Ons lid, de heer Benter, is bezig met het vervaardigen van een granieten plaat met daarop het regiments- wapen van het Canadese “Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment”.
Gedurende de periode 30 mei tot 3 juni zullen veertig in Duitsland gelegerde Canadese militairen van het zusterregiment “8th Hussars” in twee groepen van twintig man de tank een opknapbeurt geven. Laswerk, reinigen, schilderen en het voorzien van de originele symbolen en bewapening staan op het programma.
De “regimental historical officer” en de regiments sergeant-majoor van de L.S.H. komen speciaal over uit Calgary voor de onthulling, die op 2 juni om 16.00 uur zal plaats vinden. Aan deze onthulling van onze “bevrijdingsveteraan” zal in ruime mate door de media bekendheid worden gegeven. Indien U kans ziet aanwezig te zijn op die dag, wordt dat zeer op prijs gesteld. Ook een kijkje tijdens bovengenoemde werkzaamheden is de moeite waard.
Uitgebreide informatie over de tank treft U aan in de bij deze Nieuwsbrief ge¬voegde Ministory. (Chr.v.R.)
Het “stoelenproject” bijna voltooid.
Het “stoelen- en tafelproject” nadert haar voltooing. Met de schenking van de twee laatste stoelen door respectievelijk het 2e Para Bataljon en de Oud-Mariniers Afdeling Gelderland,is het Airborne Museum in het bezit gekomen van twaalf stijl-volle, degelijke eiken stoelen. Inmiddels is de bijbehorende tafel ook gearriveerd en heeft een plaats gekregen in de grote zaal. Het is de bedoeling deze tafel op te dragen aan de geallieerde militairen en de Nederlandse burgers, die hun leven moesten geven tijdens de bevrijding van ons land. Voor deze tafel zijn bijdragen welkom. De namen van de schenkers zullen, evenals op de stoelen het geval is, op een messing plaat worden vermeld, die op het midden van de tafel wordt aangebracht. Een voorlopig opschrift zal aangeven hoever de aktie is gevorderd. (Chr.v.R.)
Het “Scholenproject”.
Bijna alle werkstuk-mappen van het in 1984 gestarte scholenproject zijn verbruikt. Dit betekent dat ongeveer 5000 Nederlandse schoolkinderen ons museum hebben be-zocht. Aanvankelijk betrof het scholen uit de regio, maar steeds vaker komen er nu aanvragen vanuit de rest van ons land. Een tweede druk van de scholenproject¬map wordt overwogen.
Indien de financiën het toelaten zullen we dit belangrijke werk ten dienste van onze jeugd voortzetten. (Chr.v.R.)

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