Hello again Abby, Here are a few pics I took last year in Oosterbeek. The marker post is at a place called "The Hollow" and it was near here that many men of the 156th Battalion, your Grandfather included, sadly met their end. Best regards, Paul.............. Paul, where is the exact location of 'The Hollow"?
You can see it here, it is Battle Marker 4 on the Valkenburglaan Oosterbeek Oosterbeek-memorials - Google Maps Ron
Britman, "The Hollow" wasn't really a single place. It consisted of several depressions of various sizes in the ground which the remnants of the 4th Para Brigade held for approx 4-5 hours from 1300 - 1700 on the 20th September. I've attached a pic from Google Earth which gives the location of the marker post and basically "The Hollow" would have been the area just west of the marker. All the best............
Britman, "The Hollow" wasn't really a single place. It consisted of several depressions of various sizes in the ground which the remnants of the 4th Para Brigade held for approx 4-5 hours from 1300 - 1700 on the 20th September. I've attached a pic from Google Earth which gives the location of the marker post and basically "The Hollow" would have been the area just west of the marker. All the best............ Paul and Ron, Thanks for the information. I was touring around there in Sept this year. Surprising to see not far away from the 'Hart'. Jason.
I just wanted to put a post saying another big thankyou to everyone for all the help and advice and information you have given to me and my mum - it is very very much appreciated. My mum has managed to get a copy (sign) of "From Delhi to Arnhem" for her aunt, and she is well into reading her own copy (and I'm hoping to borrow it from her). She has been given an awful lot of help in finding out things from various people via email rather than on the forum which has been great. She has also had a very very lovely letter from Harry Bankhead which she showed to me, and she is going out to dinner with two other men (sorry I can't remember who) in a few weeks time - which is she is looking forward to. She is also hoping to go out to Arnhem again next year. In a way I feel it is a shame she didn't have the courage to start asking questions and searching for things earlier when Geoffrey Powell, and my gran (Jocelyn Page), where still alive - although I think in part my gran didn't like looking back on things as it must have been hard when she lost her husband. So thankyou all very much again. This year I will wear my poppy with pride. Abby
That's wonderful news Abby. I'm glad your Mum has been able to get in touch with some of her Father's old comrades. I hope you will let us know how she gets on in the future. Best regards, Paul...........
This really has been a great thread, although I have not contributed myself its been a pleasure reading and seeing the story unfold. Well done fella's you have done yourselves proud yet again.
Abby Thanks for the post. I've had a lovely email from your Mother and am glad that things have progressed so well. I'm certain that she will have a wonderful time at her forthcoming meeting with the Arnhem veterans (a couple of very famous Arnhem names!!) and I hope that I will be able to meet her in Arnhem next year. It is you who need to be thanked and congratulated for taking the time to make these enquiries on your Mother's behalf. John
HI abby, I know you already have the photos of Michael's Headstone but here's another one for you taken by myself with the cross... Cheers Tom
Thanks. I've another question, but I'm not sure if anyone will be able to help - when my mum went to her father's grave she put a cross on it - but there was one already there and she was wondering (in a nice way ) who had put it there? - does any one know? - as she would like to thank the person. Abby
Hi Addy, Was it this year your Mother was there or last ??? if it was 2009 then it was me... Cheers Tom
Abby You might be interested to see the attached load manifest whicxh shows the other occupant's of Major Page's aircraft to Arnhem John Hi John, I've just taken a close look at the manifest and noticed that the date on it is the 18th September. Didn't Page go in on the 17th with the 4th Brigade's advance party? All the best..........
Hi Abby, Just noticed this picture on page 397 of the book "From Delhi to Arnhem". The caption reads: "Anna Higgins, Grand-Daughter of Major Page, lays a wreath on behalf of the Veterans and relatives of the 156 Battalion, at Hackett's Hollow, September 2006". All the best.............
That's my cousin - am not sure why she went out there - maybe one day I'll get to go there - but it was interesting to see my mum's photos. I've another question that I/My mum hope someone will be able to answer....Did my grandfather have a batman? and if so does anyone know who he was/his name? I meant to watch the TV programme this week on Arnhem, but we had a power failure in the middle of the first one - I was not happy. Abby
That's my cousin - am not sure why she went out there - maybe one day I'll get to go there - but it was interesting to see my mum's photos. I've another question that I/My mum hope someone will be able to answer....Did my grandfather have a batman? and if so does anyone know who he was/his name? I meant to watch the TV programme this week on Arnhem, but we had a power failure in the middle of the first one - I was not happy. Abby Hi Abby, Yes, he would undoubtedly have had a Batman. As for his name, sadly I can't help with that at the moment. I'm still going through O'Reilly's book with a fine tooth comb so if a name crops up I'll get back to you. All the best, Paul............
That's my cousin - am not sure why she went out there - maybe one day I'll get to go there - but it was interesting to see my mum's photos. I've another question that I/My mum hope someone will be able to answer....Did my grandfather have a batman? and if so does anyone know who he was/his name? I meant to watch the TV programme this week on Arnhem, but we had a power failure in the middle of the first one - I was not happy. Abby Abby, Harry Bankhead might know the name of Major page's batman.
