My brother Jimmy had an original photo of all these brave men who fought in WWII but it was in very poor condition. I am his son Stephen and my wife managed to find this original photo. My father would have been 26 years old at the time this picture was taken. He had 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Posted by Tanya Juttla-Underwood on Sat 19 Aug 2023 02:55:47 EDT
This photo is similar to another one taken by Tom Italiaander in Feb-Mar 1944 at the back of what seems to be one of the Dutch Troop HQs in Eastbourne.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Sat 12 Aug 2023 05:13:38 EDT
Although not critical, this seems to be the most appropriate place to discuss the labelling of German fortifications on Walcheren which numbered at least (W)289 (Cruq, p. 120) which was for for Westkapelle.Elsewhere in the Gallery on Hans Cramer it is stated that W stands for "Whisky". Whisky is the NATO alphabet code for W which may have been the code used by the RAF to refer to these fortifications. However, it does not explain why W was used. It seems likely, as Houterman and Sakker, have suggested that it stands for Walcheren (p. 237, 501).
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Thu 10 Aug 2023 11:29:29 EDT
Lord Lovat's book "March Past" is freely availble to read o Internet Archive.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05:30:04 EDT
Brought up in Eastbourne. Died in Holland in 1945.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Thu 10 Aug 2023 02:54:17 EDT
Part of a larger photo of Adrianus Hagelaars with Herman de Leeuw taken by Tom Italiaander in August 1944 outside the Dutch Troop HQ in Eastbourne.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Thu 10 Aug 2023 02:46:33 EDT
It certainly looks like my father. He went to Poona, was attached to McIlroy's 505th PIR Medical Detachment at Groesbeek and 47 RM at Dishoek, Walcheren where he was one of the 7 Dutch commandos wounded. After the war, he joined Unilever, spent 11 years in Trinidad and died in Bromley on 16 May 1971.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Thu 10 Aug 2023 01:18:00 EDT
Donald Gilchrist wrote Castle Commando which is freely available to read on Internet Archive.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Wed 09 Aug 2023 19:19:22 EDT
This photo is part of a larger one showing Kieffer shaking hands with General Giraud.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Wed 09 Aug 2023 19:02:07 EDT
This seems to be the tank on the Westkapelle monument. The following information has been copied from Traces of War.
Corporal Frank Reginald Himsworth 1153990
1st Lothian and Border Yeomanry
79th Armoured Division
Commander of the M4 tank as a monument on the dike of Westkapelle.
Under the command of Lt. Col. C.J.Y. Dallmeyer.
Corp.. Frank Himsworth was almost 21 years old and one of the youngest tank commanders in the British army, landed on June 10, 1944 with his unit at Gold Beach (Normandy). His unit was usually part of the 1st Canadian Army.
The landings craft LC (T) 737 which was loaded with tanks, left the port of Oosteinde (Belgium) on October 31 1944. He landed back on a beach, but now at Westkapelle with his tank "Bramble 5" (blackberry, also Flail tank and the crew called it "the crab"). The Bramble 5 was the second tank which landed at Westkapelle.
During the landing the tank became unusable, caused by water in the tank.
This seems to be the tank on the Westkapelle monument. The following information has been copied from Traces of War.
Corporal Frank Reginald Himsworth 1153990
1st Lothian and Border Yeomanry
79th Armoured Division
Commander of the M4 tank as a monument on the dike of Westkapelle.
Under the command of Lt. Col. C.J.Y. Dallmeyer.
Corp.. Frank Himsworth was almost 21 years old and one of the youngest tank commanders in the British army, landed on June 10, 1944 with his unit at Gold Beach (Normandy). His unit was usually part of the 1st Canadian Army.
The landings craft LC (T) 737 which was loaded with tanks, left the port of Oosteinde (Belgium) on October 31 1944. He landed back on a beach, but now at Westkapelle with his tank "Bramble 5" (blackberry, also Flail tank and the crew called it "the crab"). The Bramble 5 was the second tank which landed at Westkapelle.
During the landing the tank became unusable, caused by water in the tank.
The ammunition was transferred from the tank into a amphibian vehicle for troop transport. Due to its heavy load dropped the vehicle became deeper into the mud. Eventually the vehicle drove on a mine which caused a huge explosion.
Himsworth himself was injured and was treated in Vlissingen to his amazement and then transferred to Breskens.
Looking back on the war Himsworth says:
For us it was easier than for the Dutch.
We had to fight, but we had enough to eat and shelter.
Our country was not occupied. It must have been terrible. We just did our work.
Himsworth heard in 1999 about a reunion in Westkapelle and decided to urge attend.
After the meeting Himsworth went to the monument at the dike of Westkapelle.
Once arrived at the tank, he discovered at the rear of the tank the entitled "Bramble 5". The brass plate in the tank confirmed his suspicion. After more than 50 years he stood beside his tank which was part of the liberation of Westkapelle.
On the back of the tank is a plaque with explanatory text:
"Flail" (flail) tank of the 79th Armoured Division (1st Lothians & Border Horse), part of the 56nd (Lowland) Division. Used in the Allied landing of the Royal Marine Commandos on November 1th 1944 in Westkapelle.
Did come ashore from the landing boat LCT 737 (Bramble), flooded at high tide in the middel of the Zuidstraat in the night of November th to November 2nd 1944.
After the war, partly demolished - and saved as a monument. Placed on the Zeedijk in thanks and tribute to our liberators.
We ask you to honor this monument.
Besides this text there is also a technical description of this type of Sherman tank.
Sherman V (M4A4) equipped with a 75mm cannon and equipment to defuse mines. Powered by a 30 cylinder engine from USA-Chrysler with 425 hp.
Total weight: 40 tons.
Length 6 to 8 meters (incl. Flail).
Width 2.5 to 3 meters (including Flail).
3 meters height.
Posted by Duncan Cramer on Wed 09 Aug 2023 18:59:06 EDT
