Last Wednesday on the way down from Harlingen to Breskens we took the longer scenic route so I could say I'd driven across these two famous bridges. We were traveling south so we crossed in the opposite direction to the Allies in WW2. First 3 pics are John Frost Bridge at Arnhem , the last 3 are at Nijmegen. Mrs took them while I drove . Didn't stop but did have a picnic near Elst, which made me remember the Wessex lads who served near there.
Owen In your photo 2 there is a small memorial in the building on the right (between the two lamp posts) In 2004 I found the attached message tied to the rail John
Thanks for sharing the pics Owen. John, I think that note just about sums it up. Thanks fellas..........
On your first pic the "Arnhem Battle Info Centre" is on the left. You could have easily stopped there. Ron
ronald You could have easily stopped there. Didn't have time , only just got to another campsite before the Receptie closed. Anyway I promised the family a war-free holiday for a change & got moaned at for visitng the bunkers on the Afsluitdijk.
It is a long time since I crossed Nijmegen Bridge. It was a grey morning, and I crossed at speed as mines were being floated down the river, in an attempt to blow it. Got half way across the "Island" towards Arnhem, on my Recce for the Companies future "Harbour Area" Found the Schmit? Engineering workshop???? With a hard standing for our half tracks. The shells straddled the road, and I left at an even faster speed than I arrived! Mind you: its only 67 years ago. Sapper
The area will be changing very soon Sapper, as there will be a second Nijmegen roadbridge within a 2 years, and Lent, will also be altered, as the river will be give more space and the dykes will be altered
Its all changing Philip. I have photos of many places where I once aw action. I would not recognise them. But it is not surprising, half were shelled anyway., The Weert canal has different bridges, The dusty road to Caen, I am told is a dual carriageway or worse! I use Google Earth to look. Even Pegasus bridge where we bridged under heavy fire has gone.Though I did see one of our half tracks ona plinth nearby, with its blue square with the white 49 on the mud guards. As I said; life has moved on, it is ionly old relics like my mates and myself that remain from those times.
Brian - speak for yourself mate - I am not an old relic - yet - but getting there too fast .. Sheila will be chuffed as well .... Cheers
Didn't have time , only just got to another campsite before the Receptie closed. Anyway I promised the family a war-free holiday for a change & got moaned at for visitng the bunkers on the Afsluitdijk. You ask for so little and give so much...
Hi Tom. Cheers mate... All my friends have passed on to where old vets go...... Sheila is busy making me my old English Breakfast Yippee! Keep well Tom, there are not many of us very nice people left.
Sapper - Well, the world moved on ... but in the right direction .. thanks to the 'old' relics. too true, loved the pics btw, plenty of places i eventually want to visit, if i can convince the other half, this last year has been spent decorating the house though!
I see the Colonel from the Black Watch... That reminds me... In Majorca, staying at the Hotel Pollensa was a one armed Colonel from the Black watch. Typical Scot. Lovely man. There was a German Judge staying at the same Hotel. The Colonel was teaching the German Judge Scots greetings. He had the German Judge practicing how to greet a Scot..The greeting he was teaching him was "Up your Kilt Jock" Like I said...Lovely man...
