Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen. Archaeology & Research.

Ok, I was wondering what is was.

 

Made some then and now pictures today in Alphen, village south of Gilze.

Polish MP watching how the Polish 1st Arm.div is moving towards Gilze.



Same location, other dirrection.





Same street, just a small 15 meters ahead, notice the destroyed church on the background.



Again same location, notice the German dirrection bords on the house seen on the pictures above. Here are standing two Polish MP's.



Some pictures of the warcemetry in Alphen, here a farmer, girl and a Polish soldier are standing near the grave of the two fallen brothers Wloch, they were both killed the same day near Alphen.



More Polish graves when the battle continues.





Here some extra photo's from the graves, notice the 6 graves in front, they are from six Dutch soldiers from Alphen who were killed in the German invasion in May 1940.

 

Great "now and thens". You could try to look up the fam Speliers in Belgium, or the townhall of Roeselare. They apparently knew Tadek Gorski very well, enough to mention his first name, know he was buried in the Netherlands and cross the border to pay a tribute to his grave. Maybe these Polish troops liberated the area and were quartered with the inhabitants.

 

Thats what I think as well.

 

Thanks for this glimpse into your town and it's history! Fantastic pictures too!
Thanks!!

 

Thanks mate.

 

I don't know what the PPOR rank is equivalent for, but I believe he could have been an officer. Just a guess but he is among the older soldiers and another tomb (Lapinksi) has a similar rank and he is from the same generation. The other soldiers are 5 or 10 years younger. Also with some red yellow and black paint you could restore the original colors of this plaque (Belgian and polish flags + text in black) .

 

Found this item a while ago, just found out its an "Halter für Sanitatstasche". I'm very pleased with it.

WW2 German Halter fur Sanitatstasche, Fl. 30523 Me262 - eBay (item 370080436340 end time Sep-23-08 12:28:35 PDT)

 

Today I made some more then and now pictures near my hometown with a friend of mine. Enjoy.

This one is taken in the village of Zondereigen, just a few miles south of here near the Dutch/Belgian border. The picture shows the home of the family Gils-Mercelis, and a jeep with a few Polish soldiers.





These pictures show the Dutch/Belgian border near Zondereigen/Baarle Nassau.













Here a picture of the road to Baarle Nassau, you can see some Brencarriers moving along the road.





A few 100 meters away there was an German 8.8 cm Flak gun that was captured by the Polish troops, along with is ammunition.









And my favorite a destroyed German Panzer, think its a Marder type? In front of a farm just outside of Baarle Nassau.





And the last picture so far, a Polish MP on the old railroadstation in Baarle.
On the background you can clearly see a Sherman.

 

I thought that you'd left us, Nick ! These are really superb 'then & nows' - many thanks for posting......

 

The pleasure is mine Martin.

Regards,
Nick

 

Excellent now and thens. They are a real pleasure to look at. It is sometimes hard to recognize the places, you did a great job!

 

Fantastic photos Nick! I love the picture with the "big" gun in the driveway!
Great shots!

 

Thank you both. I'm also very pleased with it. Soon more I hope.

 

My first post here. I've been told this story over and over when I was little. The family Van Beijsterveldt mentioned in this story was my grandfather living on number 28. I was born on the same address too. I lived there till 1984, then we sold the house. Great to see this here!

 

Welcome to this forum. I'm glad to have your confirmation about this story. Cheers.

 

Hi neighbour! Welcome.
You still live in Gilze?

 

Nope, Tilburg!

 

Hey, I was born there and grew up in that town, I live in Gilze for about 1,5 years so.


Groeten,

 

That's cool......... last year I've sold ''vijf jaar luchtfront" (the serie of five from the eighties) for €250,-. I still have the original copy from 1947. Someone offered me already the same amount for it.............