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Interior of the barracks at Leopoldsburg (Belgium) in 1939

Discussion in 'Military Training, Doctrine, and Planning' started by Arthur124, Jun 1, 2016.

  1. Arthur124

    Arthur124 Member

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    Picture of May 1939 at the barracks at Leopoldsburg (Belgium).
    Man on the photo was sublieutenant aide-de-camp with the Infantry, Fusiliers at that time.[attachment=24388:Leopoldsburg 05-1939
     

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  2. Brian Smith

    Brian Smith Active Member

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    [SIZE=9pt]My Dad's unit war diaries show much movement around Bourg Leopold between October 1944 and April 1945 when he was based in Meensel-Kieseghem (hope I have transcribed this name correctly).[/SIZE]

    [SIZE=9pt]Would this be the same location do you think?[/SIZE]

    [SIZE=9pt]Thank you Brian[/SIZE]
     
  3. Arthur124

    Arthur124 Member

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    Bourg Leopold (in French) is indeed Leopoldsburg (in Dutch) (still Army barracks nowadays, but a little more modern, no idea if the old buildings still exist)
    Meensel-Kieseghem is now called Meensel-Kiezegem. Meensel-Kiezegem is a village with a sad history, only 1 out of 3 inhabitants survived
    WWII, 64 perished in German camps and 4 were killed by collaborators in the aftermath of the war.
    Among those who died in German captivity was E.W. Blenkinsop, pilot of the Lancaster JA976 LQ-S, 405 Sqdn, that crashed in the night of
    April 27th-28th near Diest. The pilot was the sole survivor of the crash, he was hidden in Meensel but captured by collaborators during an raid.
     
  4. Brian Smith

    Brian Smith Active Member

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    Many thanks for this , very grateful Brian
     
  5. Arthur124

    Arthur124 Member

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    Hereby picture of the graves of the crew of the Lancaster JA976 LQ-S, 405 Sqdn in Webbekom (near Diest, Belgium).
    Hereafter translation of the text on the website "Online Database of Airforce memorabilia in Belgium"
    (http://www.luchtvaarterfgoed.be/content/graven-lancaster-ja976-lq-s)
    These are the graves of the crew of the Lancaster JA976 LQ-S of the 405th Sqdn that crashed in Webbekom in the night of April 27th-28th 1944.The pilot, E.W. Blenkinsop was the sole survivor. Resting here are F/Sgt Bradley (wireless operator / air gunner,) P/O Foster (air gunner,) P/O Clifford (air gunner,) P/O Booth (flight eng,) F/Lt Allen DFC (navigator,) F/Lt Ramsay DFC (air bomber,) en F/Lt Smith (air bomber). Date of death engraved on the headstones is April 28th, May 1st on the tombstones of the F/Lt.
     

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