Documentation

• Article by Leo G. Lensen
• Published on May 9th, 2022

Emile Tielman, a prisoner of war of the Japanese

Emile Tielman was born on February 5, 1916 in Mojokerto, on the Indonesian island of Java. After World War II ended in Indonesia as well in August 1945, Emile went to the Netherlands in 1946 to recover from malaria and beri-beri. That year he studied meteorology and returned to Indonesia in 1947 as a meteorologist.. After he got married in 1960 he emigrated to America. There his daughter Ria was born. She studied, together with her friend Roberta, called Bobbi, at Drexel University.

• Article by Jeroen Koppes
• Published on May 5th, 2022

British soldiers in an abattoir in Helmond

Helmond was liberated by British troops on September 25, 1944. The city soon turned into a rest centre, an army camp with maintenance troops where men and equipment could rest and refurbish. This required space, a lot of space. The British 171st Company, R.A.S.C. took up residence in the Helmond abattoir on the former Deurnescheweg.

• Article by Pieter Schlebaum
• Published on January 14th, 2022

Crash of Wellington Z1207 near Terschelling

The Dutch Frisian Islands are the most northern part of The Netherlands. During the war more than 350 Commonwealth killed servicemen – mainly airmen and navy personnel – washed ashore on the islands beaches. Many of them could not be identified and were buried as unkowns. Most airmen were single members of crews which were lost over the North Sea. Like Pilot Officer Parslow and Sergeant Swingler, who are buried in the cemeteries on Ameland and Terschelling. They were two members of a six men Wellington crew that was lost on the night of 20/21 January 1942. The bodies of their companions were never found and these men are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

• Article by Jeroen Koppes
• Published on March 7th, 2021

George Wilson's Battle for Meijel

George Wilson served in the 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. In October 1944, his division was involved in the liberation of Tilburg. After that liberation it was send to the east, into a area in the Netherlands called 'De Peel'. On the 27th of October, German forces launched a counter-attack. The 15th Scottish Division was rushed from Tilburg to help deal with attack. This is where George Wilson picks up the story.

• Article by Jeroen Koppes
• Published on March 7th, 2021

The Scruffy British Tommy

A poem dedicated to the 257 Corps Delivery Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps, by Lieutenant R.M.D. Lynes. It was send to Major R.T.G. Lynes, M.B.E., Commanding Officer 257 Corps Delivery Squadron.

• Article by Leo G. Lensen
• Published on May 10th, 2020

Sergeant Roy Tull, with the RAF Bomb Disposal Squad, 1940-1946