commemorative gift for Allied forces

[greatwhite]

Hi folks got this piece from a widow of a former soldier, in her words
" I am pleased it has found a good home and thought you might be interested in a little more information about it's history.

My late husband was a soldier in the Welsh Guards towards the end of the last war and was sent to Holland, in his tank, with the British Expeditionary Force, to clear any remaining Nazi resistance. He reached a town called Enschede on the German border and assisted with their Liberation there. After the war he was invited back to this town for several memorial ceremonies of that event where he made new friendships with several Dutch families. The boxes were apparently presented to the veterans and their hosts around that time.

I am hoping to find out what was in the box - possibly cigarettes or cigars which were regularly issued to soldiers during the war. It has been a very useful box since.

it is a nice piece which looks like something from a gift shop, any one else seen one of these.

[Alter Musketier]

Hi folks got this piece from a widow of a former soldier, in her words
" I am pleased it has found a good home and thought you might be interested in a little more information about it's history."

Dear greatwhite,

A very honorable compliment! Such a piece and its history behind shows that history doesn't take place in a vacuum. Nor come our objects of collection out of a vacuum. Thank you for showing!

I have just looked for the museum in Best, NL, very interesting: Bevrijdende Vleugels (WINGS OF LIBERATION): Bevrijdendevleugels.com


With best wishes
alter musketier

[greatwhite]

Hi thanks, i guess many of these were given as gifts and the widow has kept it for many years, as you say a honorable gift for all concerned, i just dont know what to put in it now.

[Jerry B]

An interesting item, from the museum gift shop but great they were handed out to the veterans on their visit.

[Jerry B]

Hi thanks, i guess many of these were given as gifts and the widow has kept it for many years, as you say a honorable gift for all concerned, i just dont know what to put in it now.

Perhaps a small collection of badges/insignia from the campaign in the Nederlands, obviously well known were the actions of the airborne forces of both Britain and the US as well as the Poles and others, but lets not forget the ground forces, the armoured spearhead that tried to relieve the airborne forces at Arnheim and the accompanying infantry etc.

I lived in the Nederlands for a few years and visited many of the battle sites and museums but did not visit the one on the tin.

[greatwhite]

Thanks Jerry, great idea, the widow does state her husband was in a tank, i will look into this.

[Alter Musketier]

And I know what I will do together with my children tomorrow on Sunday: At the museum not very far away from us there is a commemoration day on Sept, 17 ('remember september') with presentations, reenactment etc. Dear greamtwhite, you have just presented it at the right time.

With best wishes
alter musketier

[greatwhite]

Great, take some pictures.

[Jerry B]

And I know what I will do together with my children tomorrow on Sunday: At the museum not very far away from us there is a commemoration day on Sept, 17 ('remember september') with presentations, reenactment etc. Dear greamtwhite, you have just presented it at the right time.

With best wishes
alter musketier

Sounds great, pics please

[Alter Musketier]

Here are a few pictures to give you a little impression. There are a lot of nice photos at the internet site of the museum too (of halftracks, Jeeps, a Glider etc. , those are not blurred like mine ).

The museum is very interesting and very advisable, there are 1:1 scale displays/dioramas starting with the German air attacks against the Netherlands in 1940, showing anyday live, resistance and collaboration under the German occupation, the operation Market Garden, air attack and air defence etc. And there is a great radio museum too.

When my children and I visited the location on September 17, "Remember September" took place with some US reenactment, Jeep and Dogde tours.

The entrance of the museum is not so easy to find. From the street you see a restaurant. Please look for the blue "Welcome" signboard. The halls of the museum are behind the restaurant.


Former Czechoslovak OT-810 built from 1958 and aged as "SKFZ 251"




A Sleeping beauty? "After the battle"