Churchill's Varsity Battlefield Tour

In Gardner's IDPF I even found a map reference for the crash of 44-40286:

 

If she could identify the location, I would be excited too.

 

On the third day of his visit to the Lower Rhine, there was no longer any doubt about the success of Plunder/Varsity. Churchill issued the following message (to be read to all troops earliest possible).

 

Hello Ometei.
Unfortunately, our archivist is very busy at the moment. She is retiring at the end of the month. Since it was in the newspaper, she has been inundated with requests. I did have an “audience” last week to exchange new information, but we didn't talk about that specifically because she hadn't read my email yet. What was supposed to be a short visit turned into 2.5 hours, beyond normal opening hours, buried in a mountain of files.

But we're still working on it.

Greetings

 

before I forget, here's another one near Alpen (maybe ?)
Fixed steel treadway bridge near Huck, Germany

 

Hello Ometei.

Another interesting picture. Thanks for sharing.

There are two Hucks in Alpen. One is located towards Millingen/Rheinberg. American units were stationed there: 784th TK Battalion and 320th IR.

The other Huck is north of the town center towards Menzelner Heide. There were British troops, Guards, and also the KOSB. Fighting around the Römergraben, Kuhnen Weyershof.

All units without permission, I'm writing this from memory.

Greetings

Nachtrag: Bilder

 

Film - Krieg am Niederrhein

A few clips of Churchill at the Xanten pontoon bridge. This film in better quality would be great to view and grab frame stills from.

Regards ...

 

For anyone still looking for Christmas gift ideas, here are two suggestions that are not meant to be taken too seriously.

#1 Churchill's dentures
On the first day of his Varsity Tour, he forgot his false teeth, which were then brought to him. At the last auction, they went for £18,000.


© The Cotswold Auction Company


#2 Churchill's cigars
At the last auction, a partially smoked cigar sold for $12,000. During his three-day visit to the Lower Rhine, Churchill must have left behind quite a few of these cigar stubs.


© RR Auction

 

Gossip News

Alternative facts are nothing new, as one might assume. This example was gratefully taken up and found its way into several books. Source: britisharmedforces.org

---snip---

Speaking of Monty, I remember reading many years later a newspaper story about the Rhine operation. Apparently, Monty, for his Headquarters, took over a large chateau just a few kilometres from the assault point and invited Winston and all the American Generals. They sat down to enjoy a sumptuous champagne breakfast under the chandeliers. As 10 a.m. approached, they went out on the balcony to witness this great armada of planes flying over their heads. I hope they were suitably impressed. I would gladly have exchanged places with any one of them!

J.N.Corbett, 12th Devons, 6th Air Landing Brigade

 

Wow - completety made up! Or hearsay. Reminds me of the story told by Colonel Napier Crookenden who claimed that he met Montgomery east of the Rhine near DZ A shortly after the Varsity drop.

 

More on the Crookenden/Monty tale beginning about here ...

A Xanten Crash

Regards ...

 

In an audio recording, Crookenden also says that they found an abandoned Locust tank somewhere in the woods and used it as a means of transport for one to two weeks. Are there any doubts about this?

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80015874
Reel 6 (third-last icon)

 

Here's a photo of George Moodie of 9 Para driving a M22 Locust in Germany and yes those are Para Beret badges.



Regards ...

 

While working on my photo archive, I found this old photograph. It shows the panorama from Sonsbeck Heights towards Xanten. It would have been an ideal observation point, offering also a good view of the British flight corridor. The plain is unwooded and lies another 10 meters higher than the Fürstenberg location.

Edit: If time travel ever becomes possible, I will be here on Varsity Day.

 

Somewhat Related

I may have posted this elsewhere? A PDF download:

Monty's Movements - The Rhine Crossing

Regards ...

 

Jack Rice - Associated Press Photographer

Researcher Guy H. may have identified another cameraman on the Churchill Varsity Tour.



Regards ...

 

New spot identified

The history of the Highland Light Infantry includes a paragraph with details about the Churchill Tour on March 26. This reveals another previously unknown location, namely in the vicinity of Vynen on the left bank of the Rhine. The scene may have been captured by an AFPU photographer (Image 11). The text mentions all the VIPs who can also be seen later ? at the Draghunt Bridge. However, this information does not provide clarity, but rather raises new questions regarding the chronological sequence of events.

 

Vynen seems a bit off the beaten path. The crossroad was perhaps closer to a main road or Xanten ... ?



Regards ...

 

New spot identified - associated map

 

Yo,

I think they actually picked up Jeeps first at the Dempsey HQ and possibly more at Ritchie's HQ where Brooke switched over to ride with him and Dempsey with Churchill.

Regards ...