Yes, mr. Eden, and how would you define war? The Netherlands went to war in 1947 to strengthen their grip on the colonies (East Indies); they called it 'politional actions'... :-? It seems the quote from Omaha beach was spoken by Major-General (then Brigadier) Norman "Dutch" Cota, in command of one of the assault regiments of 29th infantry. I like his nickname
If this is in German original :"Klotzen, nicht kleckern!", I have to correct you, the author is Heinz Guderian. [/quote] nearly spew is kotzen.
I am embarrased to say that I am largely unaware of this. My knowledge runs to the British & French efforts, but I am only vaguely aware that the Dutch did not just surrender their colonies back to the original inhabitants!
That's quite all right, Roel. I only knew of it because I read Charles B. MacDonald's "A Time For Trumpets"; he gave a goodly amount of biographical data on Peiper, since the man played so large a part in the Battle of the Bulge.
As far as I know, Rwanda was never a Dutch colony... :-? The 1947 campaign just worsened the situation for the Dutch opressors in the area, who had virtually lost control after the Japanese takeover in 1942. They just couldn't retain their grip on Indonesia; once the taste of independence had been given... Just a few years after the actions (there were two successive unsuccesful 'politional actions') the country achieved full independence.
The Dutch had colonies and settlements all over the world but mostly to support the effort of merchant shipping, so there were very few settlements further inland and the colonies were all islands and coastal areas. Some of the places the Dutch have colonized are: Suriname (South America) and some of the Caribbean islands thereabouts, South Africa, Spitsbergen (now part of Norway), and Indonesia.
Yes, well, we sold that one to the Poms a long time ago... Thanks for adding that. Yes, all y'all New Yorkers, you live on former Dutch soil!
Written by Cpl.Patric Hennessey,13/18th.Hussars.(landed on DDay,in DD Sherman,launched 3miles out.)Describing a Tank Soldier. "Not all the soldiers in a Squadron are tank crew. There are clerks,drivers,batmen,storemen,medical and sanitary orderlies and the fitters of the Light Aid Detachment. All however, play their part in the life of the Regiment and are members of the family.An Armoured Regiment is indeed a family which supports, sustains and occasionally chastises its children, but to belong to it is a much cherished privilege. Strangely, the awareness of this increases with the years and the bond of brotherhood forged by service under a particular cap badge lasts a lifetime. This phenomenon is not generally understood and is at times ridiculed-but, only by those who have not had thegreat good fortune to have experienced it."Patrick Hennessey(Later Group Captain.RAF)
Hi there, Tankpark Have to say in relation to your end of post quote...... If they are a good crew, they are the tanks stongest part.
Hello Dave, thank you very much! I spend all that time writing out the position of a tank soldier and you pick on the closing quote. Read earlier and you will see it is attributed to Ernie Hamilton,15/19th.Hussars,fought from Normandy to the Baltic. Any way, more to the point, are you living anywhere near Lulworth or Bovvy?
Oops Sorry mate! That last post of mine must have come across a bit out of context. Thats the only trouble with forums, no tone of voice or eye contact. No offence meant. Location 12 miles due East of Lulworth Cove (not camp)
I wonder if this regimental bonding, as described by almost all British WW2 veterans and historians, was mostly a British thing. I haven't heard of this 'cap badge bonding' if I may call it that in any other army of the time, or at least not so strongly. This was the reason why you held on to your old regimental and battalion names, wasn't it? Like, Duke of Cornwall's light Infantry for example.
It's not cap badge bonding! it's family. as the last few lines of the quote says, if you have not been a part of it you will not understand.
No No no, this wasn't meant to ridicule it. I called it cap badge bonding just to give it a name, but the ties are closer than family and I try to understand how this emerged; in battle and through training, you endure the same and rely on each other.
