News - TracesOfWar.com

Sep2014

Excavation Halifax DT795

RAF Handley Page Halifax DT795 crashed at Wapenveld (Netherlands) on the 3rd of April 1943. The seven crew members perished. On 8 September 2014 the excavation of the aircraft has started.

Sep2014

The Airborne March is the largest one-day march in the world. This commemorative march is held every year on the first Saturday in September to memorialize the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The Airborne March is an hommage to the more than 1.750 British and Polish soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Anhem and who are buried on the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. From the beginning the nett revenues of the Airborne March are used to enable veterans and next of kin with poor means, to come over to The Netherlands and attend the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem. As of 2011 other charities are supported, provided that they are in accordance with the ideology of the Airborne March and comply with the policy's rules and regulations.

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May2014

Memorial Service Glider Pilot Regiment

On 13 May 2014 there was the annual short memorial service for the Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps at het memorial for the Glider Pilot Regiment 'the Renkum Stone' in the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, England. Two veterans of the GPR were attending.

May2014

Liberation Day Wageningen 5 May 2014

On 5 May the Netherlands celebrate Liberation Day. Wageningen is the place to be. There are a lot of pop concerts. Wageningen is unique because of the annual march of veterans. In 1945 peace with the Germans was signed in Hotel ‘De Wereld’ in Wageningen, so it’s a logical place for such an event. Special guest this year were 160 British veterans of World War Two. The came over to the Netherlands with 80 London taxi’s to join the annual 4&5 May events.

May2014

Fly-by's BBMF Lancaster

On May 4, 2014 the Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight made several fly-by's over war memorials in the Netherlands. Your reporter was in the back garden of the Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein' at Oosterbeek where the RAF Memorial is.

Mar2014

Opening Bastogne War Museum

Tomorrow the completely renewed Bastogne War Museum will open its doors again. The museum is probably better known under its former name: Bastogne Historical Center. Closed since 2011, the museum was originally planned to reopen already in 2013; amongst others this was finally postponed by a fire until March 22nd, 2014. So tomorrow. Your reporter already went to have a preview at the press conference and in the museum. It became soon rather crowded, a lot of press had been attracted. The roads to the museum and the next door Mardasson were completely barred. Even the museum itself was checked for explosives with a tracking dog...

Feb2014

R.I.P - Kees Jan Koster (1964-2014)

Unfortunately today we received the message that Kees Jan Koster passed away. His illness already prevented him to do the things he liked to do the most. Kees Jan was a long time volunteer with STIWOT, primarilly with the WW2Awards.com project. During meetings and conventions he always managed to inspire others by his good spirit. Besides a fine volunteer we most of all loose a friend. Many of us have known him personally and his work for us will never be forgotten.

Dec2013

Thanks for 2013 and best wishes for 2014

With this notice, we would like to thank any of you that made a contribution to the website WW2Awards.com. Without all the contributions, it would not have been possible to achieve the results we have had so far.

Dec2013

Photo coverage Parade Bastogne 2013

On Sunday December 15th, 2013, again it was the opportunity for the annual parade through the center of Bastogne. After the 'Bastogne Historical Walk', Recogne and Clervaux you will find here the fourth and our most recent report of our Bastogne week end. Of course we were here last year as well, for those who want to look for the differences.

Dec2013

Photo coverage of "The First Hit" 2013

As we were still looking in vain for the re-enactors in Clervaux on Saturday, we found them in masses on Sunday 15 December, 2013, after our visit to Recogne. The event of The First Hit played in Clervaux where the German armored troops, on their way amongst others to Bastogne, ran into the 28th Bloody Bucket Infantry Division. Around the castle many re-enactors were spotted. Many Dutchmen also, so your reporter had enough fun. Many questions about whether we were STIWOT and, we see you everywhere, originating from the fact that coincidentally we were also at Eerde.

Dec2013

Photo coverage of the Battle for Recogne 2013

Just like last year also this year a re-enactment event took place in the area of Recogne and Cobru. On Sunday morning December 15th, 2013, at 08:30 the laying of a wreath ought to take place at the monument at the former American war cemetery. Ought to is the key word here. When your reporter presented himself at 08:15 nobody was present and no one else was to be seen, worse: even at 09:00 still nobody…

Dec2013

Photospecial Bastogne Historic Walk 2013

Saturday december 14, 2013. After your reporter made the trip already yesterday to Bastogne via Beek and La Gleize today was the day for the 36th edition of the Bastogne Historic Walk. This year, though encouraged by a hearty breakfast, your reporter departed in the early hours to the “Centre Sportif” for the start. This year the hikers could select a walk of 6.5 , 15.8 or 23.5 kilometers [ie approximately 4, 9.8 and 14.6 miles]. For each of the distances the sector of Flamierge and Mande Saint-Étienne was its main theme. Of course this is well-known as the meeting point of the 101st Airborne Division and the defense by the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment.

Oct2013

Bastogne Historic Walk 2013 on the 14th of December 2013

The 36th Bastogne Historic Walk will take place on the 14th of December 2013. The route of the march will go through the sector of Flamierge and Mande Saint- Étienne. Hikers have the choice to select from three distances: 7, 13 or 22 kilometers [approx. 4.5 mi, 8.1 mi or 14 mi]. Departure will take place between 08:00 and 09:30 from the Sports Center of Bastogne.

Sep2013

Airborne Commemorations Oosterbeek Cemetery 2013

On Sunday 22 September 2013 the annual service was held on the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. STIWOT reporter Arjan Vrieze made following photo report:

Sep2013

Airborne Dropping Ginkel Heath 2013

On 21 September 2013 the annual airborne drop was being held on Ginkel Heath near Ede. Hundreds of parachutists dropped from Dakota, Transall and Hercules aircraft. Nice to view for the thousands of visitors. There were around 50 veterans.

Sep2013

Photo report Dropping Renkum 2013

Today there would a dropping of a number of paratroopers on Dropzone X and a gathering of vehicles in downtown Renkum. The dropping was scheduled at 14:15, 'Renkum Rolling' at 15:30. Unfortunately, the dropping was eventually executed at 16:30 'cause of engine trouble to the Dakota, so your reporter had to miss 'Renkum Rolling'.

Jun2013

Photospecial unveiling memorial Halifax W7930

On 22 June, 2013, Saturday afternoon, the unveiling of the memorial for the Handley Page Halifax W7930 YE-W took place in Renswoude. The four engined Halifax bomber was on its way to the Ruhrgebiet during the night of 22 to 23 June 1943 in order to participate in the air battle. The bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire near Soesterberg. South west of Renswoude a fatal skirmish with a German night fighter followed. The aircraft crashed on top of the farm called “de Wetering” (which in English would be called a “Water-course”), which was completely destroyed. All seven aircrew lost their lives. The inhabitants of the farm, the family with the name of Vlastuin, got off with a fright.

Jun2013

WW2 grave photo of missing person discovered

Basil J. Gillis, known as missing in action, but once buried?After the Battle for Tarawa, Jay M. Johnson was responsible for setting up a weather station for the pilots using the island to help with navigation. He was also an avid amateur photographer and took photos on the island. From his son Andy Johnson, the editorial board of WW2Awards received a photo of a number of graves on Tarawa.

Feb2013

Photospecial In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division 2013

On saturday 23 February 2013 your reporter participated in the 31st edition of the march “ In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Divison”. The participants this time followed the traces of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. It was cold, many of the forest tracks had become slippery skating rinks and now and then snow came down in the Ardennes. These were the ideal circumstances to experience a little bit the feelings the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division must have had during the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ in the Ardennes.

Jan2013

Thanks for 2012 and best wishes for 2013

The WW2Awards team and our organisation STIWOT thank all visitors and all who contributed to WW2Awards in any way for the contributions we received in 2012. For 2013 we would like to wish you all the best and adress the hope that you will send us may additional information.

Dec2012

Photospecial Bastogne Historic Walk 2012

It is 06:30 in the morning and the alarm clock sounds in a hotel in Houffalize. Your reporter wakes in the rainy Ardennes. Today the 35th edition of the “Bastogne Historic Walk” takes place and STIWOT is present in full battle force. It will be the first event from which we will try to send live pictures from our smart phones. And to compose a report later this day back in the hotel with pictures from our cameras. Tomorrow we will leave for Recogne for the re-enactmentevent (DUTCH) and to close the day with a parade in the streets of Bastogne (DUTCH).

Oct2012

Lecture Judy Urquhart

On saturday 13 October 2012 Judy Urquhart gave a lecture about the life of her father General Roy Urquhart. She was invited by the Friends of the Airborne Museum. The titel of the lecture was: The Road to Arnhem. The lecture in the Concert Hall in Oosterbeek turned out to be very popular. Arjan Vrieze took the pictures below.

Oct2012

WW2Awards further grown

Every day our volunteers are working on adding new persons, decorations, data on persons and images of persons and decorations. Also we daily receive input from our visitors, veterans and our foreign volunteers. A; this has to be checked and added to the website.