On 16 September 2015 John Joseph Kennell was buried at the Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery. Many people attended the service despite the heavy rain.
On 5 May 2015 the annual Liberation Parade was held in Wageningen. It was 70 years ago that the German capitulation, and therefore peace in the Netherlands, was signed in Hotel 'de Wereld'. Many foreign veterans attended this event for the 70th commemoration. It is likely that this will be the last time that such a large number of World War Two veterans come over to the Netherlands.
In the period from 3 till 5 May 2015 160 British veterans have a trip to the Netherlands to commemorate that this country was liberated 70 years ago. The veterans travel in London taxis. This morning they arrived at Hook of Holland. After lunch at Bronbeek they were hosted at the Airborne museum at Oosterbeek. Despite the rain many people attended this event. For some there was an opportunity for a meet & greet meeting with a couple of the veterans.
Two years ago we already were present also; In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division is a yearly organized march referring to the battles of the 82nd Airborne Division in the Ardennes. This year the locations that were visited, were related to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The start and finish were in La Gleize, world famous for its enormous Tiger II Tank. Your reporter left the Netherlands on Friday, in order to drive in two days from the German border in a westerly direction via La Gleize to the farthest point of the German advances during the Ardennes offensive, near Dinant.
On 13 December 2014 the Nationaal Militair Museum was first open to the public. Since then the museum has been a popular attraction . Your STIWOT reporter visited this unique building on Monday 22 December. Here is his photo report.
On Friday 28 November 2014 was the internment of ashes of Joseph (‘Joe’) Reginald Robertsat the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Joe died on 20 June 2014 in England at the age of 91 :
On Sunday afternoon 21 September 2014 a large music and dance party was held in front of the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek to thank the veterans of the Battle of Arnhem Thank you Mr Veteran.
On Friday 19 September 2014 there was a lot going on at former Drop zone X along the Telefoonweg at Renkum. There were a lot of re-enactors and there was a commemorative service at 1:00 PM.
On Thursday afternoon 18 September the Rhine Crossing of September 1944 was re-enacted. The event had been organised by the Liberation Task Force in coöperation with the Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Dutch Army).
On Sunday 21 September 2014 the annual service at the Airborne cemetery at Oosterbeek took place. For the majority of the veterans, this is the most important event in the commemoration weekend.
On saturday 20 September 2014 the annual commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem on Ginkel Heath was being held. This is the Drop Zone where the 4th para brigade landed on 18 September 1944.
There was a lot going on today in Wolfheze. The Glider Collection Museum was open, there were vintage vehicles and, last but not least, para drops.
It has become a tradition that a commemoration is held at the airborne memorial in Oosterbeek on the wednesday morning prior to the airborne weekend.
Monday the 15th of September at 9:00AM the commemorations of the Battle of Arnhem 2014 started in de province of Gelderland. At that time 70th commemoration flags were hoisted by the King's commissioner mr. Cornielje and mayor of Arnhem mr. Kaiser.
Since early September the lawn outside the town hall in Ede is the venue for an open air museum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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…