They are indeed crackin' figures you guys, and the best part is, they look even better in person. They are instant classic K & C figures. IMHO, they are really that good. I'll be buying all of them as soon as they hit the local toy soldier shop!
We all owe you a thank you mate as you did supply the amazing pictures as otherwise w would never have seen these amazing figures so thank you very much mate!!{eek3}
And yeah Craig, multiples may be a possibility for a few of them!:wink2:
And it's actually ironic as the 3rd Infantry division were actually not involved directly in XXX Corps's drive to the bridges over the river Rhine, they were part of a second colum heading a way off to one side as a diversion so that the main body could get as far as they did!^&grin^&grin I have spoken with a veteran who told me this, here's what he said:
"What is not generally known, is that Market garden was a two pronged drive North. We took part in the Eastern side of Holland drive..And got cut off, had to live on captured enemy rations YUK.
September 18th. Moved to Peer I mile North of village by nightfall in preparation for operation "Market Garden"
September 18th. Recce at the Escuat canal. Night time assault across the canal at 1am with storm boats and a folding boat assault bridge at Petite Brogel. Confused and desperate night fighting around the crossing with heavy machine gun fire down the canal and mortar bombs in it! Infantry over and spreading out. Very frightening assault at night against determined resistance.
September 19th/20th Over our own bridge during the night, advancing towards Weert in the company of C sqdrn 3rd Recce Reg.
September 21st/23rd. Advance eastwards along the North side of the canal to Weert. Town occupied in the afternoon.
September 23rd/25th. On the capture of Weert, I prepared explosive charges to blow the houses as road blocks, in case of enemy attack. Prepared bridges for demolition against expected counterattack.
September 25th/30th. The monastery at Euvelwegen. Near Gemert, where we were out of action, fueling and preparing for next thrust.
October 1st/ 9th. Continued driving North taking towns and villages to harbour in the vicinity of Nijmegen and the Reichwald Forest. At Linden near Mook bridged at Heunen. My lonely reconnaissance on the Arnhem road.
October 10th/11th. Coy moved to concentration area North of Overloon for operation Aintree
Sapper
As an aside... I knew of no Americans. But I am sure Canadians were present, as we had what was known as "Canloan" officers. Canadian officers drafted into British units.
If you find the previews interesting? have a look at this.
The Island.
Its quite remarkable how quickly one is looked on as an experienced and war wise veteran, even at the tender age of nineteen, it may have had something to do with all the fresh young faces that had joined the company, inexperienced newcomers.
The land between Arnhem and Nijmegen was known as the Island, it was an area of land with two rivers running round it, a particularly nasty place at that time. One of our officers called me in and told me to get a motor bike and get out as far as possible on the Island, towards Arnhem, then find a place to harbour the company.
Setting off, I soon came to the Nijmegen bridge, big, grey, and long, an infantry man stopped me saying "do you have to go further mate? jerry keeps floating sea mines down the river hoping that one will collide with the bridge and blow it up"
He pointed upwards to where there were infantry men up in the girder work, armed with rifles and machine guns waiting to fire on any mines seen floating towards them. Orders is orders! I revved up the bike and set off at speed to join the headlong rush. Early in the morning it had been cool and misty, later as the sun came out it became a beautiful warm September day.
Stopping to look at my map case one would not have known there was a war on, except for the sound of gunfire ahead and we had got used to that by now. Now well into the into the Island and quite near Arnhem, I continued until the roads became very dangerous, now and then shell fire straddled the road. Searching about, I found an Engineering factory, I think the name of the place was Schmit Engineering workshops, or something like that, (Not very good at Dutch) I do remember it had a very nice concrete hard standing, just right for our heavy vehicles, half tracks and carriers, just the job, marking the location on my map with some explanatory notes to make it easier to find, I set off back, quite pleased with my efforts. Arriving back at the company harbour a
rea, only to find that they were loading up ready for another move, this time in a South Easterly direction, all my efforts near Arnhem forgotten, orders had changed. Third British Infantries task now, was to protect the eastern flank and advance where possible. Off we went, heading for Overloon and Venraij towards a battle that caused the highest casualties that "Monties Ironsides" had suffered in a seven day period. While there, at night, we had the galling experience of watching the V2 rockets being fired at Britain, looking towards the Enemy lines they would appear in the distance and I was always surprised to see how shallow the trajectory seemed to be.
Sapper "
Was a pleasure to gain this knowledge from a Veteran!
Scott
