Not to be mixed up with the well-known Bastogne War Museum at the Mardasson monument, this one is part of the War Heritage Institute, collaborating with the Musée de l’armée Bruxelles. Homepage Bastogne Barracks - Bastogne Barracks In January 2015, I visited with some friends the Nuts-Museum in Bastogne, showing a Christmas dinner photo of General McAuliffe and his staff, reproduced by life-sized mannequins. Downstairs we got the chance to take a K98k, a U.S. Garand and a Thompson submachine gun in our hands. When this was done after 15 minutes or so, our guide offered us to visit the nearby workshops with many vehicles, mostly of the WWII-era. We went about 200 metres within the barracks to see about 100 vehicles. The workshops were military terrain (too), but then the vehicles were not officially on display. This has changed in the meantime, but then came COVID. Today, I finally managed to visit the museum “officially” (Rue de La-Roche 40, B-6600 Bastogne, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM, 11 Euros, no cash, advance booking not necessary). As there are a lot of British vehicles on display, more as one might imagine in this U.S. "domain", containing some rare birds, I thought I’d share. Besides many U.S. vehicles, there are some German (the heaviest ones are Panzer IV and Sturmgeschütz III) and at least two U.S.S.R. vehicles (IS3 and ISU-152). I missed some vehicles today, as they were sent to Mons for Tanks in Town starting tomorrow. Programme The majority of these vehicles are on display indoors, generally in good condition. More vehicles are on display outdoors, in any condition imaginable. Besides the tanks and softskins, there are larger artillery pieces and many anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns and smaller crew-served weapons as mortars, bazookas and so on, and equipment. 1. Ford Canada F15A 2. 155-mm Howitzer M1 3. Sight Refeflex M18 for Multiple Cal. .5-inch Machine Gun Mount M45 4. GMC CCKW-353 with winch 5. Scout Car M3A1
6. DUKW 7. Dodge D15T Fargo (Canada) 8. Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1A1 9. GMC CCKW-353 Leroi air compressor 10. Cromwell Mk. VII
11. Heavy Wrecker Scammell Pioneer SV2S 12. Scout Car Daimler Dingo Mk. III 13. T17E1 Staghound 14. Armoured Car Daimler Mk. I 15. Scout Car M3A1 (a different one, see no. 5)
21. Light Tank M5A1 22. Sherman Firefly 23. Quad Machine Gun Trailer M55 24. Tank Recovery Vehicle M32 Sherman 25. Mountain Gun QF 3.7-inch
26. Searchlight 60-inch M1 Sperry 27. Artillery Director M5A1 28. Scout Car Humber Mk. II 29. FN T3 Tricar 30. Armoured Truck C15TA
31. Staff Car Humber Box 32. Bedford MWD 33. Bedford QLR (somewhat hidden and inaccessible) 34. Valentine Mk. IX 35. Matilda Mk. IIA
36. Machinery Truck Fordson WOT6 37. SdKfz. 7/2 Flak 3,7 cm 36 38. SdKfz. 305/22 Opel Blitz Funkwagen 39. Feldküche 1933 40. Tankette Renault UE type 2
41. Sicherungsfahrzeug Renault UE (f) 42. Light Reconnaissance Car Humber Mk. III Ironside 43. Loyd Carrier Mk. I 44. Anti-Tank Gun QF 6-Pounder Mk. II
In the first (open) workshop from right they seem to be working on a Sturmgeschütz III. Outdoors. ... plus a lot of more tanks, vehicles, weapons, equipment ... (no pics). Enjoy!
Someone needs to tell them the 43 should be on a red over blue square. A red square is for senior infantry Brigade & would have 81, 55, 56 or 57. 43 is for a Field Regt. RA.
Thank you for this correction, Owen. I think the whole thing is run by Belgian volunteers under the leadership of the Belgian Army and the War Heritage Institute - not too knowledgeable in these details. These "amicals" in this extent seem to be a special Belgian (and French) phenomenon. In the late sixties and early seventies I always admired their really tremendous efforts, especially in the ring of forts around Liège and the Maginot Line, sometimes obviously more working for their hobby than for their living. Surely not aiming at reducing these efforts all over the world (especially in the U.K. ;-) ). Their thankfulness to their liberators seems to survive generations.
I “think” these are the same Barracks I stayed in, in 1984…….story, I’ll make it short (or I’ll try) In 1984, it was the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge…..and Bastogne was holding a large celebration including troops from across NATO. Of course the American’s sent upteen million to be in the Parade, and other countries sent contingents (a Company here, a Platoon their) EXCEPT US CANADIANS…….we went all out, spared no expense and sent 4 servicemen (yes I said 4)…..An Officer (to carry our colours and hopefully not fall down) a Sgt (to tell the officer where to go), a Cpl (to hold up the Officer or each other after drinking all the night before) and a Piper (to help the other 3 stay in step) (yes, the Piper was me)…. We stayed in the Barracks the night before the big parade, had breakfast at the Mess the next morning, then “dressed up fancy” and went to be in the big Parade. I can’t remember who was in front of us, but a Netherlands Company was behind us (very nice people, and of course the Netherlands ALWAYS appreciated the Canadians)……so off we went, marching thru town to the square (where the reviewing stand was)……crowds of people cheering etc etc…..and they even gave us 4 Canadians loud cheers (or they could have been left over cheers from the Units in front of us) Parade done, marching back to the Barracks, all alone (I’m not sure what happened to the other troops?? May have gone to their vehicles etc)……we march up to the gate house and low and behold, a Belgium Army Quarter guard at the gate, they presented arms to our colours as the 4 of us march through. I always remember that, as it doesn’t matter “how big” your are, it’s because you ‘showed up’ and to honour our Colours and Country….. Anyway, I haven’t got ONE SINGLE PICTURE of me, the parade or anything (remember, before cell phones etc)……but I do remember having my picture taken hundreds of time with the locals (cause I was wearing my Kilt and looked all fancy) But, I did bring back ONE souvenir of the day, which sits in my Den Cheers, and terrific pictures in the post above by the way
