Unidentified photos from the collection of Lance Corporal Emmerson

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/11/2012 19:30:28

Any ideas on this one just posted into our War Graves albums:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/France+Cemeteries/scan0070.jpg.html

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/02/2012 23:50:02

I can read "COMMA..O" on the second line - I can't make out what is written on the first line.

I would guess that the word 'Commando' has been written on to the stone for the mason to 'chase out' with the chisel.
Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 12/02/2012 10:05:31

It looks like "No" on the top line. And possibly a number 6?

Julie

I agree with Julie. No. and what appears to be a 6.

Yep, I'm with Julie & Peter on this - now I've retrieved my glasses from my daughter's house, i can clearly see a 'No 6'.

What a shame we can't make out a name.

I am intrigued that the stones appear to have been carved in situ though (although I hadn't really though about it previously.
Now I have to wonder who did the carving - The Pioneer Corps perhaps?

Nick

I would have thought that the name would appear above the regiment/Commando unit but there is no sign of any lettering whatsoever between the cross and the No. 6 Commando. Had there been a name there we should be able to make at least some of the letters. Most strange.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 17/04/2012 17:12:31

Looking through the photos and War Diaries I see that HQ Bde was established at 'the Priest's House' at Brachterbeek from 25 Jan 45 - 19 Feb 45.

As previously stated, Lt Gen Miles Dempsey visited Bde HQ on 17 Jan 45 and he is easily identified on this photo
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/30.jpg.html
There is no other record of Lt Gen Dempsey visiting the Brigade, so we must assume that this is the Priest's House', Brachterbeek. [although the War Diaries for March 45 are missing from the National Archives so it is possible that Lt General Dempsey may have visited in March too]
If we now look at this photo:
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/The+Commanders/scan0137.jpg.html
I think it's fair to say that this is the same building.

The War Diaries say that Durnford Slater visited Bde HQ on 9, 13, 16 Feb 45, but the only other British General that visited was Major General L O Lyne, Commander 7th Armoured Division, on the evening of 18 Feb.

Could the officer at Brachterbeek be the same as the general taking the salute on the link below?
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205300

Nick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:34:52

I have been able to identify this church as being the Heilig Hart van Jezus (Holy Heart of Jesus), Brachterbeek

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/jke073.jpg.html

Looking at the architechture I thought it must be in the Maasbeek area and then I found this church at Brachterbeek but, somehow, it wasn't quite right.

http://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/view.jsp?content=479

What threw me was that our photo has been accidentaly uploaded back to front (but with no easy reference it is almost impossible to tell) but I enlarged the clock face and it was clear that it was back to front

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:36:41

I am pleased to say that John Emmerson has discovered another album at his sister's house which contains some of the photos for which John had found the negatives and were unidentified. The good news is that John's father, L/Cpl 'Ken' Emmerson, who took the photos, has written annotations on these photos. I have begun to replace those photos concerned with the new annotated versions. There are also a few new ones to be uploaded. At the present time they can be seen on the last page of the No.1 SS Bde album. There are about 70 in all so will take some time but the 10 I have just uploaded can be seen here. Those that are simply replacing photos we have in the gallery will not show up in the Recent Updates so I will post a message here as I update them :

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/

A big thank you once again to John Emmerson for all his efforts and for granting the CVA permission to display his father's excellent collection.

That's great news - I'll be interested to see if some of the annotations confirm the names of individuals and places that I have theories on but, unlike some of the buildings I have been able to identify, have no proof to substantiate those theories.

Nick

Hi Pete

When John Emerson first emailed me about these photo's I had no idea they would amount to this................what a fantastic archive.....absolutely wonderful.

regards

John M

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:37:34

More new photos added and others amended all shown here:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/

Excellent work Pete.
Please keep the photos coming. :-)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:38:19

A few more added to pages 2 and 3 . The last batch of graves and medal ceremonies will be added tomorrow.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/

I am interested to know if there are any CVA members or friends resident in or near Le Plein ?

Pete

I get your drift Pete: you could send the photos of the youngs girls and two children to Le Plein to try and find out who they are and if they are (hopefully) still alive. It did happen with the two boys on the photo in Kamperland just recently. It could be an idea to send them to the Town Hall or something like that. Perhaps there are people who know the girls and the children.

Concerning the photo of the Kamperland boys. I have been in contact again with the man from the historical section of Beveland and he has had an interview with Rien Koole, one of the boys on the photo (the left one). When he has finished writing the things Rien Koole told him, he will send it to me. Koole didn't have many photos of the war. There is also contact with the widow of Piet de Haze.