Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
In early September, I and about a 120 like-minded individuals went on a 9-day long trip. Nothing special you might say, if it wasn't for the fact that all vehicles and participants were dressed up as a Combat Command of the 2nd Armored Division in the Autumn of 1944.
For 9 days we worked and lived like those GIs did 65 years ago (though nobody was taking shots at us).
The "Roll on the Meuse" tour took us from Belgium to the Netherlands; From the town of Jabekke, to a farm in Dentergem, to a field in Galmaarden, to an 18th century farm in Frasnes, to another field just outside Hoegaarden, to a field in Stevoort near the city of Hasselt, to the city of Maastricht.
With the exception of Maastricht we only stayed in each location for one night.
All this with a 120 2nd Armored re-enactors; 10 M8 Armored Cars, 5 Halftracks, about 10 Jeeps, 2 GMC trucks pulling a field kitchen and water bowser and 4 Harley Davidson WLA motorbikes.
For photographic and film coverage 3 jeeps were set up as War photographer and correspondent vehicles. Ours was marked Photo-3 of the the 165th Photo Signal Corps. The others as Press-1 and Press-2.
My friend and jeep-co-owner was my designated driver and I carried my Speed Graphic, 2 Leicas and Epson R-D1. Shooting a total of 800 Digital shots, 360 film pictures and about 50 polaroids.
Best moments, Meeting (and dining) with the 2nd AD Veterans in Hasselt, Maastricht and on the Siegfried line near Vaals.
Worst moments, returning from the Siegfried line and seeing the right track disintegrate on the halftrack 15 yards in front of our jeep on the motorway. Luckily no-one was injured.
It was a total trip of 540 miles including driving down to Jabekke and back home from Maastricht. The our jeep did well for the entire trip, but it started to sound more like a diesel towards the end and now it is having its crankshaft replaced.
The participants come from all over; America, the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourgh, the Netherlands and Austria.
For me it was the third of these trips organised by the 2nd Armored in Europe group; The first was the "Seine to the Siegfriedline" in 2004 and the other was "Back to the Bocage" in Normandy in 2006.
I'll post some shots from this tour that I took with my Leica IIIa and Leica IIIc (with 90mm Elmar and 50mm Summar respectively)
our Signal Photo Corps jeep after our arrival at the gathering location in Jabekke.
Some final preparations, sewing on the right patches and painting up the vehicles in the correct unit markings
Waiting for the call to 'roll out' to the next camp site
Camped down at Dentergem
Scouting for some late arrivals; A jeep and a halftrack that would not arrive until the next morning
For 9 days we worked and lived like those GIs did 65 years ago (though nobody was taking shots at us).
The "Roll on the Meuse" tour took us from Belgium to the Netherlands; From the town of Jabekke, to a farm in Dentergem, to a field in Galmaarden, to an 18th century farm in Frasnes, to another field just outside Hoegaarden, to a field in Stevoort near the city of Hasselt, to the city of Maastricht.
With the exception of Maastricht we only stayed in each location for one night.
All this with a 120 2nd Armored re-enactors; 10 M8 Armored Cars, 5 Halftracks, about 10 Jeeps, 2 GMC trucks pulling a field kitchen and water bowser and 4 Harley Davidson WLA motorbikes.
For photographic and film coverage 3 jeeps were set up as War photographer and correspondent vehicles. Ours was marked Photo-3 of the the 165th Photo Signal Corps. The others as Press-1 and Press-2.
My friend and jeep-co-owner was my designated driver and I carried my Speed Graphic, 2 Leicas and Epson R-D1. Shooting a total of 800 Digital shots, 360 film pictures and about 50 polaroids.
Best moments, Meeting (and dining) with the 2nd AD Veterans in Hasselt, Maastricht and on the Siegfried line near Vaals.
Worst moments, returning from the Siegfried line and seeing the right track disintegrate on the halftrack 15 yards in front of our jeep on the motorway. Luckily no-one was injured.
It was a total trip of 540 miles including driving down to Jabekke and back home from Maastricht. The our jeep did well for the entire trip, but it started to sound more like a diesel towards the end and now it is having its crankshaft replaced.
The participants come from all over; America, the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourgh, the Netherlands and Austria.
For me it was the third of these trips organised by the 2nd Armored in Europe group; The first was the "Seine to the Siegfriedline" in 2004 and the other was "Back to the Bocage" in Normandy in 2006.
I'll post some shots from this tour that I took with my Leica IIIa and Leica IIIc (with 90mm Elmar and 50mm Summar respectively)
Some final preparations, sewing on the right patches and painting up the vehicles in the correct unit markings
Waiting for the call to 'roll out' to the next camp site
Camped down at Dentergem
Scouting for some late arrivals; A jeep and a halftrack that would not arrive until the next morning
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Ducky
Well-known
What a great 9 days that must have been. I wonder how the R-D1 felt among all that history. I'll look forward to more shots. Will there be a web site with photos from other shooters?
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
The field kitchen did their best to keep us fed with interesting dishes. These guys got up at 5:30am and often did not get to bed until 11pm.
Our stay in the town of Franes/Genappe at an 18th Century farm was one of the more special locations we camped at.
An M8 scout car preparing to leave
Fellow-Leicaphile Uwe, who was shooting some expired kodachrome slide film in his Leica
Some drill exercise before our meeting with the Veterans of the 2nd Armored Division at the Hasselt City Hall
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
The others are working on website where all gathered images will be available
The surprised veterans as they exited the hall. They mingled with us and told us many interesting stories
The next images are all shot with expired Lucky 100 instead of BW400CN
The Parade in Maastricht, where we would meet the Veterans again
M8 Vehicle commander checking his map
Maastricht Market Square, the Veterans pulled up in old-timer cars and our column parked behind them.
The US Army Airforce Band Europe played some 1940s tunes
Our arrival at the Siegfried Line near Vaals, War Photographer Thomas preparing for the arrival of the rest of the column
The surprised veterans as they exited the hall. They mingled with us and told us many interesting stories
The next images are all shot with expired Lucky 100 instead of BW400CN
The Parade in Maastricht, where we would meet the Veterans again
M8 Vehicle commander checking his map
Maastricht Market Square, the Veterans pulled up in old-timer cars and our column parked behind them.
The US Army Airforce Band Europe played some 1940s tunes
Our arrival at the Siegfried Line near Vaals, War Photographer Thomas preparing for the arrival of the rest of the column
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
*click to enlarge image
At our final destination. After this we returned to our camp at the Tapijn Barracks and started packing for the return to our relative homes.
As for my R-D1, people did mistake it for a vintage camera until they saw the viewscreen. The J-3 lens I had on it manage to snap some interesting shots too.
The other two photographers used butcherd FED cameras with P&S Digitals hidden in them (gasp! horror!)
I'm afraid my images don't really capture the massive scale of this undertaking. But their promotional film might give you a better idea :
BCC-pictures promotional video
You can spot me having a jerry-can shower, having a cigar behind my typewriter and stealing cash from the other participants in a game of crown and anchor.
Regards,
Rick
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robklurfield
eclipse
Rick, shots from looks to have been a rather amazing trip.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Yeah, and instead of K-rations you had things like moroccan lamb with crème anglaise and bananas.
Nice pictures though!
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Liked your photos and enjoyed the BBC link very much. The effort to organize and stage an event like this must be enormous. By the looks of it you and your group more than succeeded in that end. very enjoyable, thanks for posting.
Bob
Bob
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Good shots and no doubt a wonderful adventure -- but I've always wondered how many re-enactors ever actually had to wear a uniform, go on route marches, etc.
No-one ever shot at me -- it was just a (non-voluntary) cadet force -- but I have less than zero nostalgia for just about everything I saw of the military life.
I'm very grateful, though, that some peple do this, because it makes for many great pics and also reminds us all of things we have gained and lost.
Cheers,
R.
No-one ever shot at me -- it was just a (non-voluntary) cadet force -- but I have less than zero nostalgia for just about everything I saw of the military life.
I'm very grateful, though, that some peple do this, because it makes for many great pics and also reminds us all of things we have gained and lost.
Cheers,
R.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Roger, I suspect most that are over 30 would have done at least a year of mandatory national service when they turned 18 (health permitting). I only got the letter saying that I might be called up for my physical, but because I was still studying I did not get called. When I finally got my diploma it was no longer a mandatory thing and the Polytech was calling...
So no, I never wore a uniform. For me this is a way to remember and honor our liberators.
Bob, The guys from 2nd Armored in Europe did a heck of a job making it a very memorable trip. But I think it was everyone working together and helping each other out that made it absolutely fantastic.
Rxmd, I wish they had served SOS and SPAM every day! Last trip we lived mainly on porridge, which was not too bad.....until the milk ran out
I forgot to mention the Czech re-enactors that participated. Next year in May there will be another big event like this, for 10 days in/near Pilzen I believe. I'm broke so I'm probably not going myself.
So no, I never wore a uniform. For me this is a way to remember and honor our liberators.
Bob, The guys from 2nd Armored in Europe did a heck of a job making it a very memorable trip. But I think it was everyone working together and helping each other out that made it absolutely fantastic.
Rxmd, I wish they had served SOS and SPAM every day! Last trip we lived mainly on porridge, which was not too bad.....until the milk ran out
I forgot to mention the Czech re-enactors that participated. Next year in May there will be another big event like this, for 10 days in/near Pilzen I believe. I'm broke so I'm probably not going myself.
bean_counter
Well-known
I do American civil war re-enacting, and several of the guys (and a few gals) were in the service (I was not). Some started re-enacting as kids, and subsequently enlisted - for real. There is a lot of respect in the re-enacting community for those who serve(d).
We even had guys come out to events while on leave from Iraq. They gave us a new perspective - on the skirmish line, they could flatten themselves out and disappear in a grass field. Us old fat guys look like target blimps
EDIT - forgot to say - Rick, GREAT stuff, thanks for posting! It must have been a blast!
We even had guys come out to events while on leave from Iraq. They gave us a new perspective - on the skirmish line, they could flatten themselves out and disappear in a grass field. Us old fat guys look like target blimps
EDIT - forgot to say - Rick, GREAT stuff, thanks for posting! It must have been a blast!
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Sparrow
Veteran
Yeah, and instead of K-rations you had things like moroccan lamb with crème anglaise and bananas.
Nice pictures though!
that was my first thought, wot no Biscuits (brown) Lamb Curry and Cooked Rice!
and yes the photos are interesting
Dralowid
Michael
'The other two photographers used butcherd FED cameras with P&S Digitals hidden in them (gasp! horror!)'
...I'd be interested to hear more about these if they were half decent. Any pictures? I have some parts cameras that might form the basis of such a project.
Michael
...I'd be interested to hear more about these if they were half decent. Any pictures? I have some parts cameras that might form the basis of such a project.
Michael
Benjamin
Registered Snoozer
Seems like grown men playing soldiers to me.
eli griggs
Well-known
Great shots, thanks for sharing. I'm interested in C&R firearms, equipment, etc from this period and the history that they represent. I'll share this link with others whom I'm sure will enjoy your fine work as well. It really is very good.
Eli
Eli
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
What a Fantastic Expedition.... Fab Shots
Did YOU use your Summitar ?
I would have thought it could ADD a Lovely Retro Edge
to the re enactment
Cheers-Helen
Did YOU use your Summitar ?
I would have thought it could ADD a Lovely Retro Edge
to the re enactment
Cheers-Helen
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Thanks for the replies everyone,
Helen, I didn't take my Summitar this time as it does suffer from a bit of separation. I didn't want it to influence any of the pictures. So I used my 50mm Summar and 90mm Elmar on my Leicas. Combined with a No2 Yellow filter and a FIKUS hood.
I had a 50mm Jupiter-3 (Sonnar copy) on my Epson R-D1.
A lot of the film images have made their way into my Galleries so far (the 800 Digitals need some work):
http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/thumbnails.php?album=161
Helen, I didn't take my Summitar this time as it does suffer from a bit of separation. I didn't want it to influence any of the pictures. So I used my 50mm Summar and 90mm Elmar on my Leicas. Combined with a No2 Yellow filter and a FIKUS hood.
I had a 50mm Jupiter-3 (Sonnar copy) on my Epson R-D1.
A lot of the film images have made their way into my Galleries so far (the 800 Digitals need some work):
http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/thumbnails.php?album=161
robert blu
quiet photographer
interesting event and interesting pictures
robert
robert
