War Cemeteries, some pictures I wish to share

Robert Bergeron · #1 31-03-15, 16:20

Thank-you Alex,

In the past , I have mostly visited battlefields because of my Staff College studies, this time i will concentrate on cemetaries and your pictures convinced me. Thanks for the good work.

I am particularly interested in the one in Bretteville sur Laize commune de Cintheaux. A good friend of mine from the Legion has his father buried there. Soldat Donati from le Régiment de la Chaudière..

As i am myself a former member of Le Régiment de la Chaudiere i owe it to my friend Réal ( Donati ) to pay a visit.

But i have never visited Holland before so it is a bit intimidating for me . I do not know were to start . That's why i was asking. I think i will stick to Holten and then go back another year just to visit Holland . it is a must.

Best regards.

Robert

Jon Skagfeld · #2 31-03-15, 20:01

Robert:

From the Bretteville-sur Laize cemetery, an experienced guide can point out the position of Radley-Waters tank troop vice the Northhamptonshire Yeomanry both of whom claim the kill. I know you also have an interest in the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment. If you wish to pursue this I'd suggest you beg, borrow, buy Norm Christie's "Battlefield Mysteries", Episode 1 named "Who killed Michael Wittman?". Then you can decide which force blew Wittman's tank apart.(Hint: Radley-Waters was 400 yds away, the Yeomanry were 1200 yds away.)

WRT the Chauds, at Juno Beach there is an upright plaque showing a Platoon of Chauds leaving from the beach down a road. Then there is shown the same picture from the same location in modern times. A perfect Then and Now vignette.

I'd highly recommend a tour guide by bus. Driving a rental, unless you have a good navigator with you, will drive you nuts. Besides, some items of interest are very much out of the way, known only to locals and tour guides.

Bonne chance!

Hanno Spoelstra · #3 31-03-15, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

But i have never visited Holland before so it is a bit intimidating for me . I do not know were to start . That's why i was asking. I think i will stick to Holten and then go back another year just to visit Holland . it is a must.

Robert,

Take a look at traces of war, AFAIK the most comprehensive listing of what can be seen in the Netherlands.
Let me know the dates when you are over and we'll try to meet up. As for cemetaries, I would put Groesbeek in the list. There is a museum there too, as well as museums and cemetaries in Arnhem/Oosterbeek and Overloon.

Hanno

Robert Bergeron · #4 31-03-15, 22:32

Jon and Hanno,

Thanks very much for your help.

Jon ,my interest for the Sherbrooke's stems from the fact that i am originaly from Sherbrooke and that i knew David Fowlis son of Sgt Harry Fowlis from the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regt. David and i were scouts together . His father commanded a Sherman in the action around and against the famous German officer . We played with a Luger pistol that was requisitioned from a certain SS Panzer Officer . My Grand father , my father and i were members of '' Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke'' the militia unit , not the wartime Tank regiment whose traditions are perpetuated by the Sherbrooke Hussars , also a fine militia unit.

I will be driving and navigating. I love to get lost and ask directions from the Normans . I usualy ended up drunk a few hours later on Calvados after the request in a nice bed over a shop or Café. Once you tell them or they notice by your accent that you are a French Canadian you are done. I remember meeting a particular older lady that was younger in Normandy in ' 44. She had me as a guest for three days and two nights for free . I was very gratefull so i plowed her large garden and tended her yard . People remember what our fathers and grandfathers did for them.

Hanno, thanks for the invitation. Send me a PM with your private email and we will start from there. Is it reasonable to think driving from Bretteville to Holland , tour, celebrate and be back in Paris to board my plane all in one week ?

Tally-ho as Montgomery must of said sometime to '' his'' beloved '' canadians ''

Robert

Hanno Spoelstra · #5 01-04-15, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Is it reasonable to think driving from Bretteville to Holland , tour, celebrate and be back in Paris to board my plane all in one week ?

Robert,

Driving from Normandy to Holland will take about 7 to 8 hours, depending on traffic and stamina. Back to Paris is about 5 hours, but the you need time to board the plane.
So out of a 7 day week, it would leave approx. 5 days to tour and celebrate in Holland

Hanno

Alex van de Wetering · #6 02-03-16, 23:14

Le Paradis war Cemetery (France)

The place where 97 Royal Norfolks were massacred in 1940.

Alex

Ed Storey · #7 03-03-16, 03:59

This cemetery contains both WWI POW and WWII casualties. Many of the WWII casualties are Commonwealth aircrew.

Hanno Spoelstra · #8 03-03-16, 18:27

Ed,

Thanks for your contribution. One thing I would like to ask you is to attach pictures to your posts rather than using links to Photobucket - we have learned the hard way that one day sooner rather than later they will disappear making this thread worthless.

Here is how you learn how to post images - let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Hanno