the royal british legion antwerp...
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THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANTWERP BRANCH
Tweemaandelijkse newsletter mei-juni 2013 Verantwoordelijk uitgever:
Suzanne Mastbroek, Lodewijk Van Berckenlaan 192/6, 2140 Antwerpen Afgiftekantoor 2000 Antwerpen 1
P701114
Belgie-Belgique P.P-P.B
2000 Antwerpen 1 BC 26323 P701114
RBL dates for your diary
● Thursday 30th May 2013 TRBL All Ranks Lunch ● Sunday 8th September 2013 TRBL Tank Lunch ● Sunday 27th October 2013 TRBL Poppy Appeal Lunch ● Sunday 15th December 2013 TRBL Christmas Lunch
Other dates for your diary - Saturday 25th May 2013 from 11 – 4pm St. Boniface Church fete There will be stalls, amusements, home produce, lunches, afternoon teas incl. cream teas. - Saturday 8th June 2013 at 8pm KMLPA Lenteconcert in De Roma met special guest Jo Lemaire RBL Royal British Legion Antwerp Branch For entertainment, call Martin Southam on 03/295 00 76 (evenings) or Raf Kloeck on 0473/297 623 For payments, call Frank Van Nunen on 03/321 28 84 (evenings) For membership matters, call Phil Shaw on 0486/189 734 (evenings) ABCA Antwerp British Community Association: contact Mary Ann Marinus on 0486/646 941(evenings only) St. Boniface St. Boniface Anglican Church: contact Father Andrew Wagstaff SSC on 03/239 33 39 BATS British American Theatrical Society: contact Jill Franks on 03/236 23 19 ABIW Antwerp British & International Women: contact Valerie Carroll on 03/254 03 73 MtS Missions to Seafarers: contact on 03/605 41 88 KMLPA Koninklijke Muziekkapel Lokale Politie Antwerpen: contact 0478/997 091 of [email protected]
Welcome! Dear members, dear readers of this newsletter, Get your diaries out as here are the dates for a few lovely lunches! The All Ranks Lunch in May and the Tank Lunch in September. You read it here first! On May 24th some of us will be going to Oostende for the HMS Vindictive anniversary. We’d like to thank them for making that effort. Also thanks to several of our members who sent articles for this newsletter. These are always welcome. Suzanne
Open letter to the RBL Antwerp Branch On the bereavement of a dear family member, Richard George, (Taffy), Luc, Denise and family would like to thank all the members of the RBL Antwerpen branch who attended the funeral. We found it a tremendous support, the Reverend Ann Babb gave a lovely service, it was with heavy heart we said goodbye but never forgotten, nor by us or the Legion. It was lovely to see the standard bearer, a bit of pomp and ceremony but simple, and done with a touch of pride. We were not alone on this sad day. Thank you to you all, Luc, Denise & family.
Important: Antwerp Branch Help Line! We can only help people if we know they are not feeling well, so please, please, please: contact the RBL Antwerp Branch Help Line if you are ill, or if you need a visit. Or if you know someone who does…
RBL Antwerp Branch HELP LINE 03/685 34 20
(The Reverend Ann Babb) If someone is ill, or needs a visit,
please DO call.
May All Ranks Lunch When? Thursday 30th May What time? 12h00 for 12h30 Where? De Basiliek, Edegem What’s on the menu? ● Aspergesoep ● Asparagus soup ● Asperges met garnituur ● Asparagus with garniture met ‘strooiaardappeltjes’ with ‘strooiaardappeltjes’ ● IJs met aardbeien ● Icecream with strawberries ● Mokka, thee, rode/witte wijn, water ● Mocha, tea, red/white wine, water How much? € 22 per person How do you pay? Transfer your money to PNB Paribas Fortis Meir RBL Bank Account number is 220-0020212-72 (BIC: GEBABEBB, IBAN: BE38 2200 0202 1272) Payment details: NAME + NUMBER PEOPLE + € Pay? As soon as possible FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LUNCH Call Raf Kloeck Martin Southam 03/664 72 85 03/295 00 76 Fax Martin Southam 03/295 00 76 Email Martin Southam [email protected] Post Martin Southam (Chairman – Entertainments) Klein Heiken 11, 2950 Kapellen
Tank Lunch When? Sunday 8th September 2013 What time? 12h30 for 13h00 Where? De Basiliek, Edegem What’s on the menu? ● Slaatje met rivierkreeftjes ● Salad with crayfish ● Ossenhaas met choronsaus, ● Tenderloin with sauce of choron, groentengarnituur en vegetable garnish and dauphine-aardappeltjes’ pommes dauphine ● Banana split ● Banana split ● Mokka, thee, rode/witte wijn, water ● Mocha, tea, red/white wine, water How much? € 35 per person How do you pay? Transfer your money to PNB Paribas Fortis Meir RBL Bank Account number is 220-0020212-72 (BIC: GEBABEBB, IBAN: BE38 2200 0202 1272) Payment details: NAME + NUMBER PEOPLE + € Pay? As soon as possible FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LUNCH Call Raf Kloeck Martin Southam 03/664 72 85 03/295 00 76 Fax Martin Southam 03/295 00 76 Email Martin Southam [email protected] Post Martin Southam (Chairman – Entertainments) Klein Heiken 11, 2950 Kapellen
In the picture: Korean War, a summary By Rob Vaneker, veteran of the “Cold war” Neerbeek, Netherlands THE FORGOTTEN DUTCH UNITED NATIONS VAN HEUTZ BATALLON OF THE COLD WAR Sixty years ago, on June 25th 1950, communist North Korea attacked the South. The conflict resulted in an extremely bloody war involving North Korea and China who fought against South Korea and UN forces, led by the United States. The Netherlands also sent troops. Of the 4748 Dutch soldiers, 121 died and many wounded were wounded. 3 were missing in action. POW1(died in camp) A total of 91 men were permanently disabled. With great reluctance The Netherlands admits to the UN appeal to all Member States for acting in Korea. The Netherlands is war-weary and desperately needs money for reconstruction purposes in the country. When the Americans put pressure on The Royal Netherlands Army, it agrees to send an infantry battallon. The Dutch army starts to recruit hundreds of volunteers. On 15th October 1950 the Dutch Detachment United Nations (NDVN) is established, trained and ready to go. However, they are insufficiently armed and poorly equipped when the battalion gets to Korea by troopship . Commander in charge is Major Marinus Den Ouden. After arriving in Korea the NDVN/Van Heutz regiment is assigned to the 28th U.S Infantry Regiment “Rock of the Maine” . This was one of the regiments of the U.S 2nd Infantry Division “indian head patch”. The Dutch think their contribution to the "police action" in Korea will be nothing more than symbolic. "We will all be home for Christmas” is heard all around. However, in reality, the men of the NDVN are faced with a bitter, heavy uphill battle. The battalion is severely understaffed and is used again and again to close holes in the defence lines. The enemy’s force majeure and bad weather conditions put extreme and enormous strains on the military. Here are some of the combat activities of the NDVN : 1951 Hoengseong,Wonju,Hill 325 1952 Silver Star Hill, Sagimak 1953 Samichon valley,Iron triangle and more For gallantry in battle the following decorations were awarded to members of the NDVN van Heutz Regiment Military Order of William: 3 (of witch 2 posthumous) Bronze Lion: 5 Bronze cross: 19.cross of Merit 4 American awards: 120 Korean awards: 43 In The Netherlands, after the initial press coverage there was little concern for the fate of the Korean veterans. Only one member of parliament took the courage to
visit the men on the frontline. No more than a single independent reporter is there for a spot on coverage report. Most of the news comes from military correspondents. However, their messages are carefully censored. Instead newspapers prefer to use the foreign press agencies. The media pays little attention to the war and hardly any to the Dutch military there. One of these correspondents is a man called Wim Dussel. His reporting is little resounding, but his pictures are without doubt the most impressive made of the Dutch troops. Today most of these men have passed away. It is indeed a disgrace that it’s taken 50 years for those veterans who served in Korea to receive their deserved medal of the Dutch MoD. We are proud to have count some of those veterans amongst our Cold War association “KOVOM” and the Wapenbroeders Maastricht.
Correspondent Wim Dussel
Herdenking Sake-Masisi C119 crash “I attended the ceremony on behalf of the Antwerp Branche and I laid a wreath. It was a very well organized event in which the band of the Belgian Airforce as well as three military detachments took part. There was a small American contingent present. Our presence was very much appreciated and I received special thanks from the base commander who was in charge of the event.” Edward Van Egdom
Daring World War II pilot Ken Gatward’s medals auctioned BBC News Essex website: Sent in by George Bell
Wing Commander Ken Gatward, his medals and a cartoon depicting his wartime exploit,
writing “Hope” around the Eiffel tower.
Colchester auctioneer's Reeman Dansie aucted the items following the death of Wing Commander Gatward's widow. They had lived near Frinton-on-Sea where Wing Commander Gatward died in 1998, aged 84.
In a Bristol Beaufighter of RAF Coastal Command, Wing Commander Gatward and his crew flew over the main streets of the capital at the level of third-floor windows.
People in the Champs-Elysees watched as the French Tricolour streamed from the fuselage of the aircraft and floated down on to the Arc de Triomphe.
The airmen then attacked Gestapo Headquarters with 20mm cannon-fire, dropping another Tricolor in the hope it would fall across the front door.
Wing Commander Gatward's gallantry was rewarded with his first Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in July 1942.
He received a second DFC in September 1944 where he participated in an operation which resulted in the destruction of a German Convoy and, despite sustaining serious damage to his aircraft, flew safely back to base.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in June 1944 and Mentioned in Despatches in January 1944.
The medal group are official replacements because the originals were lost.
His pilot’s log books, press cuttings including cartoons of the Paris attack, original photographs and congratulatory telegrams were included in the groups of items for sale.
Medals awarded to a World War II pilot who risked his life to drop the French Tricolour over the Arc de Triomphe in occupied Paris on 2 June 1942, were auctioned earlier this year.
Wing Commander Ken Gatward, who lived in Essex, first flew his Bristol Beaufighter down the Champs-Elysees in the operation to boost French morale.
He then machine-gunned the
His pilot’s log book stated: "Paris - no cover - 0ft. Drop tricolours on Arc Triomphe & Ministrie Marine. Shoot up German HQ. Little flak - no E.A. Bird in STBD oil radiator.”(one dead crow)
Boekentip Eindelijk bevrijd Geen schuld, geen slachtoffer Tekst: Simon Gronowski, Illustraties: Koenraad Tinel, Woord vooraf: David Van Reybrouck
Dubbele getuigenis: die van een Joods kind dat naar Auschwitz wordt gedeporteerd en kan ontsnappen en dat van een Vlaams kind, zoon van een pronazi vader. Met als achtergrond, de plicht van het herinneren. Op 17 maart 1943 wordt de Joodse familie Gronowski gedeporteerd met het beruchte 20ste konvooi. Bij wonder kan de kleine Simon, die elf en een half jaar
is, van de trein springen en ontsnappen. Koenraad Tinel is de zoon van een fervent Hitler-aanhanger. Opgestookt door hun vader dragen zijn oudere broers het uniform en de wapens van de Waffen SS en verdedigen de nazistische idealen. De oorlogskinderen Simon en Koenraad zullen nog lang het gewicht van het verleden meedragen, tot ze 80 jaar later tegenover elkaar staan. Uit deze onwaarschijnlijke ontmoeting ontstond een duurzame vriendschap waarvan dit boek de getuigenis is, en tevens een pleidooi voor menselijkheid. Dit vierhandige verhaal, verwoord door Simon Gronowski, in beeld gebracht door Koenraad Tinel en ingeleid door David Van Reybrouck, laat alle clichés achterwege en gaat recht naar het hart, voorbij elke raciale, etnische, religieuze of filosofische overtuiging. Simon Gronowski, geboren in 1931, is advocaat aan de Brusselse balie en getuigt van de shoah bij de jongere generaties. Hij is auteur van L'enfant du 20e convoi dat in 2013 werd heruitgegeven. Zijn verhaal werd ook verwerkt tot beeldverhaal voor kinderen met de titel Simon, le petit évadé. Koenraad Tinel, zoon van een Vlaamse collaborateur, is een befaamd beeldhouwer en tekenaar.
David Van Reybrouck werd vooral bekend met Congo dat in 2012 werd bekroond met de Libris prijs en de prix Médicis essai. Uitgeverij Hannibal • Aantal pagina's: 112 • 16,90 euro Eveneens in het Frans verschenen bij La Renaissance du livre
Cromwell Tank
Who’s who? Hon. President: Lt. Col. E.B. Jeffrey [email protected] Committee for 2012/2013:
Chairman Bob Chambers Oude Beurs 33 2000 Antwerpen [email protected]
Vice Chairman Sid Wilkins Lispersteenweg 219 2500 Lier [email protected]
Membership Secretary Phil Shaw Ridder Dessainlaan 40 2800 Mechelen 0486/189 734 [email protected]
Secretary George Bell Dr. E. Van Dammestraat 19 2660 Hoboken 03/830 54 23 (evenings/answerphone) [email protected]
Editor Newsletter/PR Suzanne Mastbroek Lodewijk Van Berckenlaan 192/6 2140 Borgerhout 03/295 89 03 (evenings) [email protected]
Chairman Welfare Committee Ann Babb Leo Van Hullebuschstraat 37 2900 Schoten 03/685 34 20 (also help line) [email protected]
Hon. Treasurer Frank Van Nunen Floris Primslei 22 2150 Borsbeek 03/324 66 85 (office hours only) [email protected]
Poppy Organiser Mary Ann Marinus Oude Beurs 33 2000 Antwerpen 0486/64 69 41 (evenings) [email protected]
Chairman Entertainment Committee Martin Southam Klein Heiken 11 2950 Kapellen [email protected]
Entertainment Committee Raf Kloeck Te Boelaarlei 103/bus 2 2140 Borgerhout 03/664 72 85
RBL Antwerp Branch Webmaster Steven Marinus [email protected] RLB Website: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/antwerp
● RBL Bank Account number is 220-0020212-72
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