Syl Kiekt

Make your choice....

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:30:00 +0000

When on the computer or laptop, click the photo to go to the album.

When on the phone, click the photo to enlarge it.

Best seen on a laptop or computer.

Home

Market Garden 2020

2020

London Januari 2020

London 2019 Armistice Day

The Island 2019

Market Garden 2019 Bevrijdingsfestival

Market Garden 2019 Groesbeek

Market Garden 2019 Wolfheze

Market Garden 2019 Ginkelse Heide

Market Garden 2019 Last Campday

Luchtmachtdagen 2019

Belgium

London 2019

4 Daagse 2019

2018

Commemoration Groesbeek

The Island

London 2018 Armistice Day

2016

Mix

Commemoration 101st Airborne Divisie 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:30:00 +0000

Even though commemorations were held

since 1982 at the Monument at the Drielse Rijndijk,

the story of WW2 at the Betuwe was nearly lost.

In 2008 the Foundation 'Never Forget Them'

restarted the annual commemorations

with the involvement of the local schools.

This way the activities of

the 101 Airborne Division are remembered

and the more than 250 fallen soldiers honored.

This year only a few people were allowed,
so attendance was by invitation only.
It was decided 3 schoolchildren would be present
per program item,
and the rest of the schools watched by webcam.

Even though there were some huge changes
the commemoration wasn't less respectful.

Click a photo to enlarge,
when on the website:
click a photo to go to the album.
Best be seen on the website.

People, watching from the bridge,
were unaware we could hear them talk very well.

Market Garden 2020 Wolfheze - 4

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 21:30:00 +0000

In the morning part of our members
went on a battlefield tour,

and we went to see
if we could attend the Commoration
at the Airborne Monument.
The public was warned that
no attendance was possible

and the roads would be closed,
but we were able to attend outside the fences.

(King of the day?)

Each year our group jumps first
at the Ginkel Heath (Ginkelse Heide),

from a Dakota,
but due to Covid-19 it was not possible this year.
But the army could't do without a gesture:

Photographed straight in the sun,
so it was only hand eye coordination.
Can you spot the little dots?

Left: the whole constellation reduced,
right: part of the photo.

One veteran present..

The band 'Pegasus'.

The organiser of it all.

Drone assisted BBQ

See the drone?

Yummy!!

Almost everyone gone home,
and the area was quickly reclaimed by nature.

When we left these friends waved us goodbye.

Market Garden 2020 Wolfheze - 3

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 21:00:00 +0000

Debriefing and more
at the camp on september 18th.

Click the photo to enlarge it,

or to go to the album
when you're visiting the website.
(Best be seen on the site.)

Social distance was carefully kept,

Some photos are taken from a large distance,

which distorts the observable distance.

People from the same household

don't need to social distance.
Also be aware that we have quite some

family members.

No demonstration of dancesteps,
no individual hooray,
but an explanation about landing with a parachute
during heavy wind.

Waiting in ther sun...

Painting with only the sun.

Special event:
the wings!

And the BBQ

Market Garden 2020 Wolfheze - 2

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:45:00 +0000

A commemoration without public,
at the Horsa Glider Monument at Wolfheze.

Click the photo to enlarge it,

or to go to the album.

Social distance was carefully kept,

Some photos are taken from a large distance,

which distorts the observable distance.

People from the same household

don't need to social distance.

One of our foreign members
narrating the life
of one of the fallen.

Market Garden 2020 Wolfheze - 1

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Another commemorative jump
without official announcement,
so without public.
This time at Wolfheze,
near the Horsa Glider Monument.

Click the photo to enlarge it,

or to go to the album.

Social distance was carefully kept,

Some photos are taken from a large distance,

which distorts the observable distance.

People from the same household

don't need to social distance.

Like the past days
the windspeed increased by the minute.

Market Garden 2020 Groesbeek - 4

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:30:00 +0000

We attended the informal gathering

with Peter van Uhm and others

Then went to the Canadian War Cemetry.

Market Garden 2020 Groesbeek - 3

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:37:00 +0000

Commemorative service at the
Waco Glider Monument.
Official guests are sitting,
PGH and a few civilians are outside the fence.
All keep social distance, except those who are family.
(Photographing from a distance distorts space observation)

Schoolproject

Market Garden 2020 Groesbeek -2

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:07:00 +0000

Commemorative Service
at the Market Garden monument
at Klein Amerika Groesbeek,
with Parachute Group Holland
and some media crews,
followed by an interview.

Click a photo to enlarge
or to go to the album.
Best seen on a computer or laptop.

Market Garden 2020 Groesbeek

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:05:00 +0000

Market Garden 2020.
Covid-19 reigning the world, including us.
Events are hardly possible, as public isn't allowed.
It's extremely difficult to distance yourself from others
when looking up.
But those boys needed to be remembered.
So after careful consideration
it was decided to jump without public.
To allow people to witness the jump
television crews were invited
and they were present.

So early in the morning
the plane sounded above the fields
around Groesbeek
and Parachute Group Holland

honerod those who risked their lives

for our freedom.

Click a photo to go to the larger version
or to the album.
Best be seen on a computer or laptop.

Preparations Market Garden 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 20:08:00 +0000

In the morning we went to Teuge
to realize a jump for one of our foreign paras.
Alas, the weather didn't allow it.zz
Too much wind.

Click the photo to enlarge it,
or to go to the album.

Social distance was carefully kept,
Some photos are taken from a large distance,
which distorts the observable distance.
People from the same household
don't need to social distance.

Een vliegenveld op het vliegveld.

Not only planes and paras fly at the airfield.

After announcing the commemorative jumps
to the press under embargo,
the calls came in.

The wind got even worse,
so we decided to go to the camping,
set up camp, do the admin and check the parachutes.

Ready to jump, but the weather....

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 21:00:00 +0000

Seppe is a small airport near Breda,
officially called: International Airport Breda.
It's the base for our parachute group.

Click a photo to see the enlarged version
or to go to the album.

Everyone and everything was ready,
but the weather.

While we were waiting,
another group was taking the course
and practicing.

Then the rain arrived and things were moved indoors.

And then: no go!!!

Overloon War Cemetery and german war cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 20:14:00 +0000

THE OVERLOON WAR CEMETERY

Here 273 identified warvictims have been buried,
all military of the British Commonwealth,
who died in the south of The Netherlands.
And 1 Dutch soldier.

Click a photo to see it enlarged
or to go to the album.

GERMAN WAR CEMETERY
Timmermannsweg 75
5813 AM Ysselsteyn

This is the only German war cemetery in The Netherlands.
After the war all German remains were brought here.

85 soldiers from WW1

And 5.000 unknown german soldiers among
31.585 deaths.
There are also people buried from other nationalities
that served in the German army and german organisations.

Captain Timmermans, first a member of a resistance group,
was serving in the mine search group
when he stepped on a mine
and was hospitalized beside a german soldier.
When the german soldier was recovering,
he took care of Captain Timmermans
and they had long talks.
Timmermans found out
that not all Germans served because they wanted,
but because they were forced.
After the war he got the opportunity
to manage the German cemetery.
He stayed 28 years.
He was a main figure in forgiveness and
integration of both Germany and The Netherlands.
Before his death in 1995 he requested
that his ashes would be scattered on the cemetery.

Families of the fallen have erected a 4 meter high,
5 poles wide monument with 25 clocks.
Some clocks carry the names of the fallen.

When we left the clocks sounded a lonely tune
over the endless rows of grey crosses
that disappeared as a dull haze

in the evening chill.

.

We haven't been to the area
where the victims of these people were buried:
those who died in concentrationcamp Vught.

War Museum Overloon

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 19:10:00 +0000

We went to the War Museum Overloon.

Click a photo to enlage it
or go to the album.

So to plave that 'car' into perspective:

Krabbendijke en Yerseke.

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 16:16:00 +0000

Today we decided to enjoy Zuid-Beveland.
It was fun to take the country roads

and see the work they have put in that area
to win the land from the sea and safeguard it.
One of the lakes was filled with kitesurfers and surfers.
Amazing!

Click a photo to see it enlarged
and to go to the album.

Krabbendijke

Yerseke

A visitor. Finally!

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 13:35:00 +0000

After lockdown and social isolation to stay away from the Covid-19 virus,
and the fun of anticipation,
it was great to see one of our friends from the UK again
and spend time at the airfield.
Social distance was the very well respected rule.

First the annual test needed to be done.

Click a photo to go the enlarged version and to the album.

It's a test that decides if jumping is possible for another year
and all paras need to do the test,
which made this visit not only fun but also a serious issue.

The instructor poses a task,
which consists of a real problem that can occur,
and the para needs to solve it and show the right movements.

Ofcourse others can learn from it too.

Some nice natural surprises...

The folding of parachutes is a skill that needs to be learned.
Lives depend on it.
So the materials are checked well,
and folded in such a way that unfolding in the air is best.

To keep the lines stretched makes things a lot easier.

Watching is learning.

And teaching gives insight.

Some muscles...

and lots of precision.

This is how ity should be,
Not the other way around.

And another one...

For our friends of the RAF:
here is our small big friend,
sitting in a pilot's chair

And then...
FOOD!!!

You can see the safety screens between the tables.

This was listed as toast with mushrooms,
but was in fact mushrooms with some toast.
Yummy!!!

Note the small english flag at the left on the wheel?

At the camping.
Huge trees!!!

And after a drink there
we went to the hotel.

.
.....

Groesbeek 21-7-2020

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 19:30:00 +0000

A jump to educate young people
about how the parachutists came down
in WW2 on this historic grounds.

Click a photo to enlarge it and/or
to go to the album

More to follow

Commemoration Operation Veritable, Groesbeek 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:30:00 +0000

Operation Veritable (also known as the Battle of the Reichswald)
conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's

Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group,

primarily consisting of the First Canadian Army

under Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar and

the British XXX Corps

under Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks.
It took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945

during the final stages of the Second World War.
More information ... here ...

Click a photo to reach the album and see the photos at a better size.

Preparations by the regional TV

Due to storm Ciara

events were held at one of the local churches.

We decided to visit a monument nearby
and ofcourse the Canadian Cemetry.

At the Canadian Cemetry
a black leaf
rested on the stones.
A monument in itself,
created by nature.

Spring showing itself
in the middle of a fierce storm,
the thorns of the roses
as a symbol of the pains of life.

The fields where many paras landed
and so many died.

I found a feather

between the graves.
Given freedom in the air

it flew over the graves

into the fields.

.

Monument unveiled in Best, The Netherlands

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 22:00:00 +0000

In the night of february 8 1945 two lancasters collided mid air.

Only one person of the two crews survived.

15 young men were killed.

To see the photos better click them and you'll be taken to the album.

More information can be found ...here...

Monuments of remembrance in North Brabant, The Netherlands

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 21:30:00 +0000

This monument commemorates the IXth Troop

Carrier Command

during Operation Market Garden, 17 - 23 september 1944.

It can be found near a viaduct over the A50,

At Sonniuswijk / Ockhuizenweg in Son

The IX Troop Carrier Command was a United States Army Air Forces unit.

It was a component command of the Ninth Air Force,

based in the United Kingdom.

It's role was parachute and (WACO) glider assault.

It was active from 16 October 1943 to 31 March 1946

More information: ...here...

Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Cole

(March 19, 1915 – September 18, 1944)

was an American soldier

who received, posthumos, the Medal of Honor

The Purple Heart and

the French Croix de Guerre with Palm

for his actions in WW2.

following the D-Day Normandy invasion.

He was shot in Best by a Germasn sniper while

trying to assist a pilot

and died immediately.

Schietbaanlaan, Best

Joe Eugene Mann

(Reardan, Washington, VS, 8 juli 1922 - Best, 19 september 1944)

was an american soldier of WW2.

He served as Private First Class (Pfc.)

in Company H, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment,

101st Airborne Division

of the american army during Operation Market-Garden

He was shot in both arms and his group got enclosed between germans

which was not noticed by their own army nor the Germans.

They held their position until discovered.

The Germans attacked, killing several people.

Joe Mann couldn't throw back the granade that landed near him.

He threw himself on it, and saved the soldiers around him.

He was honored with the Medal of Honor.

He's burried in 1049 at Greenwood Memorial Terrace

in Spokane in the state of Washington.

He is also honored with another monument.

Boslaan-Zuid, achter de Decathlon.

....

London 4-6

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 20:00:00 +0000

The last hours in London... for this trip.

Almost apocalyptic skies.

Brunner!!!
So great to hear you again.

@brunnermusic

You won't find this language in The Netherlands!

Bye!! Hope to be back soon!

In the train on our way back home.

London 4-5

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 19:30:00 +0000

London offers so many interesting views.

One of them is an old entrance to the underground.

She really needs a coffee...

Use your eyes.... :)

Not a sharp photo.

Discovered the texts when I was home.

London 4-4

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 20:00:00 +0000

Dark clouds to the left,
sun at the right.

London is a place of opposites.
New and old,
grey and red,
clean and dirty.

Up...

...and down.

London 4-3

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 19:00:00 +0000

Taking a walk through Covent Garden
to the embankment.

Have you found one of my photography themes?

London 4-2

noreply@blogger.com (Syl ) — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 18:30:00 +0000

We had to take photos of some interesting trains.
So used our time in the sun

A little bird had alot of fun....

Walking at Shepherd Bush....

...taking photoss at the samespot I was with dad
so many years ago.

Hi! Don't you know it's winter?

Oh..... that was delicious!!

Stay behind the yellow line!!!