Cemeteries in Belgium & Netherlands.

GEEL CEMETERY, BELGIUM.

General Views of the cemetery. For someone not very interested in WW2, my Sister was very patient with me whilst photographing headstones and completely understood by the end of our trip, the purpose of doing this for myself and other Forum members.

Phil (EnglandPhil) - Have e-mailed your 6 as arranged.

Dbf (Diane) - Will send your 14 IG, 1 SG, 3 WG and 2 CG by disc as arranged.

Andy (Drew5233) - I know you said you did not want Royal Signals guys, but I got you 6 anyway.

 

LEOPOLDSBURG CEMETERY, BELGIUM.

Due to time constraints, I could not get every headstone photo. I completed Sections 1 through 4 (124 Photos) but not Sections 5 through 8 (38 Photos). I hope to go the same time next year and will endeavour to complete the outstanding ones, if they have not already been done by someone else.

Recce Mitch - There are 3 outstanding (WS Gunn, JA Myles & J Evans). Here are the other 14.

Phil (EnglandPhil) - Have e-mailed you your 15 as promised, plus general views.

 

Robert,

It looks like you have had a very busy time on your trip. Looks like you also had a little sun too.

Very well done.

Regards
Tom

 

Thanks Tom

It was a great trip and I'm trying to get the headstone photos sorted before I do anything else.

This is a photo of my Sister and I at Leopoldsburg in front of 2 men from my Dad's Regiment. Lt Cyril Le Rue and Gunner Edwin Warburton were blown up by a mine in Wortel Kolonie on 24 October 1944 whilst operating as Infantry. 49 Infantry Division were very stretched at the time and put Anti Tank and LAA men into the line during an advance. 62 AT, 86 LAA & 102 LAA Regiments were part of the adhoc force (Bob Force) that was put together for this task. There was another called ImpForce, but I don't know the units involved.

Regards - Robert.

 

Robert
Well done.Great pics, looks like you had a good time in NL.
Very moving picture of you and your sister with the graves of the Regt's men.
Rob

 

Thanks Tom

49 Infantry Division were very stretched at the time and put Anti Tank and LAA men into the line during an advance. 62 AT, 86 LAA & 102 LAA Regiments were part of the adhoc force (Bob Force) that was put together for this task. There was another called ImpForce, but I don't know the units involved.

Regards - Robert.

Hi Robert,

Couldn't stand getting my Polar Bears (The Polar Bears-Monty's Left Flank by Patrick Delaforce) book from the shelf to try to find something about that Imp Force.
About Bob Force the book says: "Gen. Barker's next composite force was named 'Bob' Force, and was formed to hold a 10 mile front from the north-west of Merxplaas(sic) to Ryckevorsel(sic), commanded by Lt.-Col. 'Bob' Cory, CO of 89th LAA Regiement, plus the recce regiment, two batteries of the Anti-tank regiment and half of the Kensingtons. They acted mainly as infantery, and in their new role they carried out some excellent patrolling."

Can't find anything on Imp Force. There is mentioning of Clark Force.

In the order of Battle during the decribed period the book mentiones only 55th Atk Regt and 89th LAA Regt.

Levien.

 

Thanks for that Levian.

As you say, Lt Col Cory of 89 LAA was the overall commander of Bob Force.

Lt Col NG Thompson of 102 LAA Regt (My Father's unit) was the commander of "A" Sector of Bob Force. A copy of the war diary is attached showing the other units under command.

Lt Col Thompson was actually nearly killed on the night of 24 October 1944. A column of 102 LAA personnel were heading to a school in Wortel Kolonie.

The lead vehicle with a liaison officer of the Belgium White Brigade went over the mines no problem then a Bedford Truck went over and Lt Cyril Le Rue was killed along with his driver Gunner Edwin Warburton (both of 338 Battery). Lt Col Thompson was following behind and his jeep drove into the crater caused by the explosion. The lead vehicle circled across the fields and the column reversed away from the carnage.

Ironically, the day before, an unknown unit exploded another mine killing one individual. The incident was not reported.

Although 102 LAA reported the presence of mines, a man from 62 Anti tank was killed on the 25th.

My guide showed me the spot where it happened and the information of these events came from a German Pioneer soldier he interviewed shortly before his death. (The man was also responsible for the charge which destroyed St CatherineKerk in Hoogstraaten on the 23rd October).

The men were buried in what is now a car park before being interred elsewhere in CWGC cemeteries. A photo of the temporary graves is being sent to me sometime later.

The first photo shows the spot where the incident occurred and the second is where a car park is now built. The 3rd photo is of what is now a prison which was there in 1944. The 4th photo is of the 102 LAA graves at Leopoldsburg. Francis Huijbrechts my guide, said that he obtained permission to check the location before the carpark was built and they found a number of 303 bullets scattered where the graves were located.

This was one of the many things I was lucky to experience during my short stay in Belgium.

 

In the village of Lonneker very near to my home town there is only one War grave that of a RAF flying officer.Maybe it is of some one's interest so here it is.

 

Robert just finished cataloguing all the photos posted. Again thank you very much.

Cheers
Paul

 

Thanks Tom

It was a great trip and I'm trying to get the headstone photos sorted before I do anything else.

This is a photo of my Sister and I at Leopoldsburg in front of 2 men from my Dad's Regiment. Lt Cyril Le Rue and Gunner Edwin Warburton were blown up by a mine in Wortel Kolonie on 24 October 1944 whilst operating as Infantry. 49 Infantry Division were very stretched at the time and put Anti Tank and LAA men into the line during an advance. 62 AT, 86 LAA & 102 LAA Regiments were part of the adhoc force (Bob Force) that was put together for this task. There was another called ImpForce, but I don't know the units involved.

Regards - Robert.

Rob
Have a mention in the diary of "River Force", don't know if they were part of the same formation.
Rob

20th February.
A cloudy day with considerable fog and ground mist.
12.00 A very quiet day, the OP registered several targets to be used for HF. Little information coming in.
18.00 Sitrep received from 49th Div. Regiment took over the 3rd Can Regt RHQ billets, adjacent to our own RHQ to provide more accommodation.
20.15 Captain Holford the rep with 130 Bde. 43rd (W) Div (River Force) returned as not now required having been relieved by the 1st Heavy Regt rep.
Rounds fired 160.

Limited advances only were made during the day. The 2nd Can Div was counter-attacked throughout the day and night by infantry, tanks, and SP guns and the firing carried out by the regiments was mostly defensive.

 

Thanks for that Levian.

As you say, Lt Col Cory of 89 LAA was the overall commander of Bob Force.

Lt Col NG Thompson of 102 LAA Regt (My Father's unit) was the commander of "A" Sector of Bob Force. A copy of the war diary is attached showing the other units under command.

Lt Col Thompson was actually nearly killed on the night of 24 October 1944. A column of 102 LAA personnel were heading to a school in Wortel Kolonie.

The lead vehicle with a liaison officer of the Belgium White Brigade went over the mines no problem then a Bedford Truck went over and Lt Cyril Le Rue was killed along with his driver Gunner Edwin Warburton (both of 338 Battery). Lt Col Thompson was following behind and his jeep drove into the crater caused by the explosion. The lead vehicle circled across the fields and the column reversed away from the carnage.

Ironically, the day before, an unknown unit exploded another mine killing one individual. The incident was not reported.

Although 102 LAA reported the presence of mines, a man from 62 Anti tank was killed on the 25th.

My guide showed me the spot where it happened and the information of these events came from a German Pioneer soldier he interviewed shortly before his death. (The man was also responsible for the charge which destroyed St CatherineKerk in Hoogstraaten on the 23rd October).

The men were buried in what is now a car park before being interred elsewhere in CWGC cemeteries. A photo of the temporary graves is being sent to me sometime later.

The first photo shows the spot where the incident occurred and the second is where a car park is now built. The 3rd photo is of what is now a prison which was there in 1944. The 4th photo is of the 102 LAA graves at Leopoldsburg. Francis Huijbrechts my guide, said that he obtained permission to check the location before the carpark was built and they found a number of 303 bullets scattered where the graves were located.

This was one of the many things I was lucky to experience during my short stay in Belgium.

Thanks for this.

You must have had a very rewarding trip.

Levien.

 

Impforce + Whiteforce,Qorforce.

The River Mark and the Taking of Willemstadt


Several composite forces. Their CO, Lt.-Col. Peter Barclay, was in charge of a national force. Two Canadian armoured regiments a Canadian detachment, as well as the Lincolns, were Impforce. Their task was to keep pushing towards so, two days later, they took Ulicoten. Next came a Whiteforce (three Lincoln companies plus Lt.-Col. ! Canadian Armoured Regiment) and Qorforce ('D'
.of the Lincolns under Lt.-Col. Gordon's 27th Armoured Regiment).

Rob

 

Impforce + Whiteforce,Qorforce.

The River Mark and the Taking of Willemstadt


Several composite forces. Their CO, Lt.-Col. Peter Barclay, was in charge of a national force. Two Canadian armoured regiments a Canadian detachment, as well as the Lincolns, were Impforce. Their task was to keep pushing towards so, two days later, they took Ulicoten. Next came a Whiteforce (three Lincoln companies plus Lt.-Col. ! Canadian Armoured Regiment) and Qorforce ('D'
.of the Lincolns under Lt.-Col. Gordon's 27th Armoured Regiment).

Rob

You forgot the Begians.
I stopped looking as I was past the date that was mentioned (Oct. 24)

Thanks for looking better.

Levien.

 

Hi ramacal

Did you get to the one I was after ???

Cheers
Tom

 

Tom

I was going to do it on the way home on Friday, but due to a mega traffic jam, it took over 4 hours to do a 2 and half hour journey. I would have missed the ferry if I'd tried.

Apologies for not getting this for you.

Robert.

 

Hi Robert,

Thanks no worries I know what its like to get on the ferry will add it to the list for next time...

Cheers
Tom

 

Thanks for this.

You must have had a very rewarding trip.

Levien.

Levian

Even better, I was thrilled to meet a veteran of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, L/Cpl Stanislaw Jeziorni who fought at Prinsenhage at the Liberation of Breda when my Mother was there. He served in the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment of the 10th Polish Armoured Brigade. I asked if I could meet and thank him in person. He got very excited at my story and gave me a great big hug. This is a picture of us both.

 

Hi Robert,

Was you and about today again with Andy, Streatham was visited again and took lots this time walk around all over the place... Even found a Para Pole as well with more Artilley ...

Cheers
Tom

 

Tom

Was the Polish headstone named Waligora?

I sent to this website after my last visit as they did not have him.

4161.htm.

Robert

 

Levian

Even better, I was thrilled to meet a veteran of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, L/Cpl Stanislaw Jeziorni who fought at Prinsenhage at the Liberation of Breda when my Mother was there. He served in the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment of the 10th Polish Armoured Brigade. I asked if I could meet and thank him in person. He got very excited at my story and gave me a great big hug. This is a picture of us both.









http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/attachment.php?attachmentid=21060&d=1254156791




Robert,

That is a great photograph and a must for your family records.

Regards
Tom