While actually having a few spare moments, came across some photos I had scanned a while back from a collection belonging to the widow of a WW2 soldier whom I know. Among them were these shots of the liberation of a Belgian town in September 1944. The town may be Tournai, as there are a lot of shots of it in the same collection. Unit appears to be RTR?
Lots of stuff chalked/painted on the Stuart. Fiddled around with the image - this is the best view of it I can seem to get. Looks like '27/45' on the front - Tac sign?
Hmmm and a "VI" above the "45", and possibly "TT 285" on the left above the piece of track. Perhaps it's 27-1-45? Did try a sharpen after the same contrast brightness you did in photoshop, but it just highlighted the blockiness of the jpef... higher res of that section perhaps? cheers,
Hmmm and a "VI" above the "45", and possibly "TT 285" on the left above the piece of track. Perhaps it's 27-1-45? Did try a sharpen after the same contrast brightness you did in photoshop, but it just highlighted the blockiness of the jpef... higher res of that section perhaps? cheers, Unfortunately I scanned these a while back, and I don't have the originals anymore, so that's the best resolution I'm going to get on that one. You could be right about a date... so perhaps it is liberation of a corner of Holland, rather than Belgium?
Paul, That is a wonderful photograph of the Stuart. Thanks for posting Regards Tom Glad you liked it, Tom. It's always nice to see previously unpublished photos - I had quite forgotten I had these!
Great photos Paul. I love this type of photo. Seeing the excitement on the faces of the civilians and the reaction of the soldiers to the civilian's appreciation. My own Mother never talked about Breda in Holland when it was liberated by the Poles, only some anecdotes about other events. I recently offered a copy of some liberation film footage from Holland to a relative who is helping me research family history. She was a young girl in Delft at the time and declined by saying she had enough memories still in her head that would live with her until she passed away. Robert
Unfortunately I scanned these a while back, and I don't have the originals anymore, so that's the best resolution I'm going to get on that one. Always a prob with digital images, just can't blow them up like a negative. You could be right about a date... so perhaps it is liberation of a corner of Holland, rather than Belgium? Perhaps, or maybe even just en-route to elsewhere at a time when any passing tank would gather a few flag waving folk still deliriously happy to see some of our lads. I tried to read what's on the side, the only thing which is definite as I see it is a word beginning with Oo, between the dangling legs of the passengers, which is very Flemish or Dutch... the only other ref being the place Oô on the French/Spanish border, but this one deffo has more letters, perhaps oogsten (reap/pick up/gather)? List of Flemish/Dutch words begining Oo; Flemish English Dictionary gOod luck
Great to see these pics; I always wonder what the poor people had to put up with for so long, when you see their faces. The chalk writing reminded me of this shot from IWM collection; this dated 31 Aug 44 - FFI, so 2Armd IG were near Beauvais, France and much too warm and earlier than yours, going by the overcoats in your pics.
Great and stirring photo's, Paul. I can't begin to imagine how it must have felt to be aboard a tank, streaming through streets one's just Liberated. And for the residents; What a profound sight they must have made. Raw power. And Their side! Brilliant!
Cheers for the pics Paul, Diane has beaten me to the chalk. I too was going to say I bet they are messages from well wishers who have just been liberated. The cap badge is RTR Cheers Andy
