2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers at Zetten, Holland

[Barry Read]

Hanno
I hope you had a good Xmas.
I am not sure were abouts you live in Holland, but I need to find information about a Castle. Called 'Zetten'
My father was there in 1944-5 with his carrier.
after passing though Nijimgen & Arnham.
Have you heard of this place?
Regards
Barry

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Barry,

Zetten is a small town in between Arnhem (top right corner) and Nijmegen (lower right corner) - see the blue circle on the map.
I don't know about a castle there, will look into it next year

Can you please tell us a little more about your father and his exploits in a carrier?

Regards,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Barry,

I have searched the web, and the most I could come up with is a reference to a castle in Hemmen at http://oud.refdag.nl/betuwe/980220betu23.html.
The village of Hemmen is built on to Zetten, and its castle dates back to the 12th century. It was destroyed during the battle for Hemmen in 1945. Some of the remains are being restored at the moment so knee-high walls will visualise the layout of the castle.

Was your father involved in the battle for Hemmen in 1945?

Regards,
Hanno

[Barry Read]

Hanno
I think thats the place.
Unfortunatly my father is no longer with us. But he often spoke of this place. He was a carrier driver in the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers. there offical report reads.

The battalion set out to dislodge the germans from the castle, a stone building surrounded by a moat. the infantry attacked but drew heavy fire and the battalion's carriers, with much courage, went right up to the building and sprayed it with small armsfire from a stationary position, in spite of a rain of armouur-piercing ammunition fired by the enemy. They continued the bombardment but the building did not catch fire until they were ordered to withdraw and use mortar smoke bombs. This caused a blaze and the next day the castle was taken.

I will try and post a picture of him and carrier crew.

regards
Barry

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Barry,

Sorry to hear your dad passed away. I guess you still have thousands of things to ask him...

Interesting report - would be great to learn if there were any pictures taken during this action.
Why don't you bring your carrier over to make some "then & now" pictures?

If you can post a pic of your dad and his carrier crew, that would be great.

Regards,
Hanno

P.S.: I have renamed this thread in line with the subject, hoping it might attract comments from other forum members.

[Barry Read]

Carrier Crew
2nd Battalion
South Wales Borderers.
1945

Strange wheels on carrier!
anybody know why?

Barry

[Andrew Tomlinson]

Barry

I do think these have been lifted off a German Opel Blitz Maultier (halftrack) which had the usual ex-Bren carrier suspension, with those type wheels on late models.

Italeri box art shows these clearly, but not supplied in their kits.

Andrew

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Andrew Tomlinson
I do think these have been lifted off a German Opel Blitz Maultier (halftrack) which had the usual ex-Bren carrier suspension, with those type wheels on late models.

Andrew, although clearly patterned on Light Tank / Universal Carrier wheels & tracks, those on the Maultier are of an entirely different construction and not interchangeable with Universal carrier parts - see my remarks in the thread "CMP Half Track".

I have seen the type of wheel in Barry's picture on Loyd Carriers.

Regards,
Hanno

[Andrew Tomlinson]

Hanno
Many thanks, I forgot about the LLoyd

Andrew