? Meet ?Belgium-Halen commemorations August 12th 1914-2014

Khukri

Khukri

Well-known member
Gentlemen,

I have the program on the Commemoration of the "Battle of the Silver Helmets"-Halen-Belgium-August 12th 1914. [On the internet as well (dutch)].
http://www.slagderzilverenhelmen.be/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We (Missus Boss and I) will be around !

Any chance we could arrange a small Forum meet there.....

Commemorations are on Sunday August 10th. Other activities on Saturday and on Tuesday August 12th. (100 rounds gun salute).
-Battlefield walks etc...

[Don't forget to bring the Missus...who else will drive you home... :-?]
Regards,

Francis
 
As you all know we are writing a book on that. It really looks to be a lot of fun and the owners of the museum have been incredibly generous with us. They actually took an electric drill too many display cabinets in order to open them up so we could scan pictures for the book! Wonderful people outstanding museum. And a battlefield that is easy to understand. There is also one of the best bed and breakfasts nearby. I encourage such a meeting as perhaps people can see what real barbecue might be like. We had some tremendous ribs there and I would be willing to mail a bottle of barbecue sauce. Well if the postal police don't arrest me for sending an unknown suspicious substance! :-"
 
I don't know anything about the 1970s. The family was tremendously generous with us and certainly treated us far better than anyone could imagine!
 
Hello,

I'll be there for sure.
I can't believe I haven't been to the museum yet :pale: . It looks great judging by the pictures.

Arnaud
 
Arnoud,

Important: this is a battlefield museum ! Nothing wrong with these interactive museums like "In Flanders Fields" or the Brussels Army Museum exhibition....

But:
"I love the smell of old leather and brass in the morning"
Not that I sniff a Pickelhaube every morning :-? ...but I know you fine gentlemen understand what I mean...

I will be there.
Hope to meet you !

Rgds,
Francis
 
Great !

I can mail you the detailed programm:
It's in dutch. Please use: [email protected]
This is the most important (to me) I filtered out:
Saturday Aug 9th:
Museum:
-0900: Museum visits
-1330: Guided battlefield Walk
-1500: Free guided shuttle service to the battlefield
-1530: Ceremony at the former German Ehrenfriedhof Nr 223 at the IJzerwinning Farm
Sunday Aug 10th:Halen town:
-1000: Holy mass-Halen Town Square
Museum
-1130: Gun salute (Museum) during the ceremony at the Belgian Military Cemetery (Velpen)
-1300: Free guided shuttle service to the battlefield
-1400: Reenactors horse show: Lancers, Guides and Artillery
Tattoo
Monday Aug 10th:
1000: Museum visits
Tuesday Aug 12th:
0900-1400-1800- 100 year commemoration of the Fight: Gun Salute (Museum)

If you can: I would recommend the Battlefield Walk or the Guided Shuttle tour !

And don't forget to bring the Missus.... :lol:

Regards,
Francis and Sabine
 
I would go if I could. Something that might be of interest to more local individuals is that pretty much all of the dirt roads from the battlefield have been transformed into bicycle paths. They have all sorts of bicycle routes marked with signs that have a Pickelhaube on them! :thumb up:

Of course I could complain that will we went to Yper our visit found itself in the middle of some sort of Belgian bicycle race. Lots of bicycles – should have stuck to the french fries!
 
I understand now: :-?
Joe has some little "issues" with...
-Little fluffy/curly/white "dogs".... (All other dogs are totally ok !!!)
-Belgians pretending they know how to BBQ....
-Bicycle terrorists ( :x sorry---tourists--- :x )....
....
But: We know for sure that Joe and his wife Janet love our country :D !!

Francis
 
The idea of a forum meet in Halen certainly sounds attractive. I'll discuss the options with the missus!

Regards,

Edwin
 
Gentlemen,
Missus Boss and I just returned from a week long tour in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The Garison Towns of the German Kavallerie Regiments that were involved in the Halen fight. 17th Kav Brigades units-17th and 18th Dragoner Regtr that were stationed in resp. Ludwiglust and Parchim. 3rd Kav Brigades units-Ulanen Regt Nr 9 at Demmin and the Kuerassier Regt 'Koenigin' Nr 2 at Pasewalk (close to the Polish border). Not on purpose, but the meet with some people of the Pasewalk Kuerassier Verein was in the morning of June 4th...The day of the Hohenfriedberg Battle-269 years earlier. June 4th 1745. As marked on the helmet Wappen. We stayed at the former Villa of the Regimental Commander. The hotel-Bierkeller-restaurant is named after this proud Regiments last Kommandeur-von Knobelsdorff
"Villa Knobelsdorff". When I played the Hohenfriedberg March from my tablet all fell silent in the old house.
The people of Demmin-Pasewalk and Ludwigslust (Lulu) and Parchim will be present at the Halen commemoration in august. Pasewalk and Halen have a partership for more then ten years now. The other gentlemen are interested in the military history of the units that were stationed in their home towns.
Some have provided Joe and myself very interesting information and even pictures for "the project".
Hope to meet you at Halen !!!!!!
Regards,
Francis
 
I managed to take the day off on thuesday... Who's going to Halen then? Maybe we can have this little forum meet after all...

Adler
 
Sounds like a great event guys, enjoy.....too bad we all can't be there to hoist a few...looking forward to the photos.. \:D/

Larry
 
So many things are now on display that were hidden for 100 years.
Try to go on the battlefield tour. Walk or by shuttle.
Try to find me in the museum....A grumpy old Lancer or Husar....Good luck gentlemen
We don't drink...we work and taste!!!!
Capiche ?
Francis and Missus Boss
 
Francis sent this link – two videos in Dutch language.

http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/buitenland/1.1915440" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Joe was so kind to allow me the use of one of his presentations for some German friends that came to Halen.
2r27orl.jpg

Ceremony at the former German Ehrenfriedhof Nr 223 near the IJzerwinning Farm.
207opyb.jpg

Me in the Museum Shop (drinking water !)
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Francis

more to follow
 
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