My Ardennes Trip, February 2008

Just got back today from a week at Trois Ponts , Belgium.
Have many photos to post but it's getting late and it's been a long day travelling back so I'll just post these of the La Gleize King Tiger for now.
Went to see it on the Sunday when the Museum was open.
Later in the week I accidentally deleted the front view I took so had to pop back and retake some more.
It was the only wet day we had that's why some photos are in sunshine others in drizzle.

 

Very nice shots mate, looks in good order at the moment.
Wonder if thos front gouges are from the Bazooka practice it was used for?

 

Here are some from Trois Ponts, memorials to the Us Army that fought there, the Belguim civilians killed there , a few "Then & Nows" from 1940, from ATB Blitzkrieg In The West and a GMC that was outside the supermarket on Friday.
Read about the 51st Engineers here.
http://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-pamphlets/ep870-1-38/basic.pdf

 

As for King Tiger read here.
Restoration of 213

The frontal armor of 213 (in an earlier paint scheme). The solid shot lodged at the junction of the armor plates is approximately 75mm, but was probably fired from close range by a US tank crew after the battle to "see what they could do." None of the Shermans of TF McGeorge could have penetrated the Tiger's armor like this during the battle on 22 December.

 

Monday was a trip to Stavelot as well as WW2 memorials there is a great MotorSport Musem there.
The circuit of Spa-Francorchamps is just up the road. We popped there to see it again.
I included the photo of a pre-war Belgium motorbike combination for the likes of Rich Payne, Bodston and any other bike nuts out there.

 

Tuesday we headed off to the British area of the Bulge battlefield calling in to see the Panther of the 2nd SS Panzer Division at Grandmesnil.
As you can see it was a glorious day of winter sunshine.

 

Here is the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division memorial at Hotton.
I wonder why they choose a Firefly turret when the 53rd Div was an Infantry Division?
Maybe some bronze "Ammunition Boots" would have been more suitable.
I know it's to their attached Armoured Brigades too.

 

At Hotton I did a few more 1940 Then & Nows from ATB Blitzkrieg In The West.

 

On the road to Laroche from Hotton I was able to do this 1940 Then & Now too.

 

Outside la Roche is this memorial to the dead of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.
I think Richard (51st Highland) may have posted photos of this before.

 

Not far from the 51st Highland Memorial is "Northampton", an Achilles, of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry.
Viewed from the castle "Northampton" is just under the white "X".

 

Viewed from "Northampton" we can see an American Sherman in the carpark, "X" marks the spot.


Down in the car-park it looks like this.

 

Not far from the Sherman is the memorial to the link up between the British 51st Highland and American 84th Divisions.

 

Stopped off at Parker's Cross-roads, an action I haven't heard of before.
I really must read up more on the American involvement.
Any suggestions on where to read up on the action here?