Here is a picture we have been discussing on another forum.....Holland??
See the civy bloke with his hands on hips! He seems to be wearing those strange shoes that Henk wears. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

That must be Holland and the hands on the hip come with the special shoes.

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

Interesting to note the rider has a German k98 rifle and a German entrenching tool.
Regards
Gary

email (option): welbike@welbike.net

Nice photo...the motorcyclist in the foreground seems to have misplaced his DR helmet..or just replaced it with a Tommy helmet...or, ..with his German rifle and the wrong helmet he might be Brandenburge Division.. ...Ian

Those shoes are for walking on water!

Is the rear mudguard M20 ? The bike in front looks (logically ) to be a Norton.

On the 'German' entrenching tool: with the introduction of the 1937 pattern web equipment, there was not a entrenching tool envisaged.
This lack was overcome with the introduction of the 1939 pattern entrenching tool. This consisted of a short spade, mquite similar to the German, Swiss, etc. modles, and dangling in its web holder from the belt, with the helve facing down.
In 1941 a slightly altered great War entrenching tool was revived, and that one got the nomenclature 1937 pattern entrenching tool, supposedly.

Rob

email (option): rvanmeel@wanadoo.nl

The picture has been established as a place called "Moergestel"
Here it is on Google maps.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&sugexp=kjrmc&cp=11&gs_id=7&xhr=t&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1680&bih=860&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Moergestel,&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=Moergestel,&sa=X&ei=Kz20TpzJFoOesQL3mK26Aw&sqi=2&ved=0CAQQyBM

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Just had a quick look at Street View on Google Maps - that view wouldn't be looking East over the river would it? Is the 40's bridge spanning a river?

email (option): lee@twowheelstested.co.uk

I pass that spot regurlarly. It looks like it is facing towards Tilburg, westwards.
If I am correct, on the far bank, on the right hand side is a 15 Scottish div memorial.
I try to get some photographs of that place this weekend.

Rob

email (option): rvanmeel@wanadoo.nl

That makes sense Rob! Further information is:- Members of the Highland Light Infantry and The Argyll Sutherland Highlanders crossing a Class 40 (bears loads up to 40 tons) bridge
over the River Raisal at Maergestel, Netherlands, 28 October, 1944.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Moergestel en de Reusel (also spelled Reuzel), one can now see where the small lorry comes from?

There is another photograph, takeen on Wednesday October 25, 1944, where the initial scissor-bridge is in the process of being laid, with the Anthoniushuis in the back ground. Troops involved in this crossing were part of the 46 Brigade. Two infantry batallions, 9th Cameronians and 7 bn Seaforth Highlanders, travelled in Kangaroos (Sherman and Ram tanks, of which the turret had been removed) (nowadays called Armoured Personel Carrier) with mainly Canadian drivers, and the third battalion, 2nd bn. Glasgow Highlanders, travelling on the Scots Guards tanks.

I'll sort out the photographs, incl. the modern one, and find a volunteer to post then here.
Incidently the photograph shown here is a cropped version, the original being landscape, and showing much more of the background.

10 bn. Highland Light Infantry and 2 bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were part of 227 Brigade, and according to history never crossed here, but were attacking German position to the south, towards Hooge Haghorst en Biest-Houtakker (along the Wilhelmina canal), and Hilvarenbeek, and towards Tilbrug in a nothernly direction.

email (option): rvanmeel@wanadoo.nl