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
Last edited:
