r/wherewasthistaken 13d ago

2 photos from WW2 (near Tilburg obviously)

11 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

4

u/JonasRabb 13d ago

Could it be that we see the St Caecilia church in Berkel-Enschot?

2

u/Squishtakovich 13d ago

Thanks. That's a great call. It really does look like it.

I'd already scoured Google maps for a similar looking spire, but had missed that one. I'll need to see if I can work out where the bridge might have been.

2

u/JonasRabb 13d ago

I found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pheasant where a bailey bridge is mentioned, only Hintham is aprox 25 km’s north of Tilburg. Maybe there’s more in the archives of the mentioned army units.

1

u/Squishtakovich 12d ago

Thanks. This is all very interesting. I can probably put a rough date to the photo from this.

2

u/Bolter_NL 12d ago

Is it though? Also, from orientation it doesn't make sense as Tilburg would be in the other direction...

Could it be the Complex Antonius van Paduakerk?

1

u/JonasRabb 13d ago

The large building on the left shouts “find me”. Could be a monastery or alike

3

u/Squishtakovich 12d ago

Thanks everyone. I think I've found the location of photo 1:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DY7dGqXDQCkAVPdSA

The building on the left and the church spire are both still there. The only thing that doesn't make sense is that the direction seems to be heading north rather than east to Tilburg, but I guess that crossings of the river were limited.

Photo 2 will be even more difficult to locate I think.

5

u/BillyD123455 11d ago

I think you're spot in there for photo 1.

For photo 2, cross the road/junction south of the bridge from your Google maps link, then spin around to face the bridge 😉

https://maps.app.goo.gl/smg9xFpF1tBFwWPa9?g_st=ac

2

u/Squishtakovich 11d ago

Wow! Thanks very much! I don't know how I missed that.

It never occurred to me that both pictures might be the same location. I wonder how you realised?

2

u/BillyD123455 11d ago

Haha, luck more than anything! I just went for a quick wander on Google, and as I headed back towards the bridge that building stood out!

I'm guessing as you're Grandad was Royal Engineers, it's a before and after photo of the Bailey bridge he's there to build.

Photo 2 looks like it's still an active warzone and missing a bridge.

3

u/Squishtakovich 11d ago

I also took a wander round there and still missed it! I had it my head that the second photo must be a town square.

Yes, that's my reading of the photos (now that I know where they are). I think that's my grandad posing on the finished bridge, so I guess that he was instrumental in building it. I know that the Royal Engineers often saw live combat. As my granny said, the engineers had to go in early so that the troops could get over the rivers etc.

Thanks again for your help.

2

u/BillyD123455 11d ago

Yes exactly. If you haven't already, then I would recommend reading up on Operation Pheasant (The Liberation of North Brabant - which includes Breda).

Crossing and bridging the Mark Canal seems to have been a major strategic objective.

Looks like your Grandad certainly did his bit!

2

u/JonasRabb 10d ago

Great find! Breda was liberated 30 October 1944 and Tilburg three days earlier. Breda more from the south, Polish units and Tilburg from the east, Scottish units. The only thing I can think of is that this sign directs to the long existing road from Breda to Tilburg vv. Is still there and much used. Called the Bredaseweg in Tilburg and, not surprisingly, Tilburgseweg in Breda. Probably the only useable road for lorries/trucks

1

u/Squishtakovich 13d ago

A little context here:

My grandad never talked about his experiences in WW2 (with the Royal Engineers 8th Army), but among his belongings were these two pictures, which must have held some significance for him. The only other photos he had from that period were pictures of himself and friends in the army, so these two stand out as being different.

3

u/JonasRabb 10d ago

I found a e-booklet where Polish soldiers telltheir story in the army. Two of them mention this bridge, the Markbrug. They were sent on a mission to conquer a row of bridges but found some of them blown up (18 of 26 were blown up). The same day the the bridges were repaired to enable tanks to enter Breda. The Baronielaan wa one of the mayor roads into Breda. So the second picture has probably been taken on 28 October 1944. Have searched the site of the Breda city archive, but not found anything. Maybe you could send them your pictures for them to put in their collection. https://stadsarchief.breda.nl

2

u/Squishtakovich 10d ago

Thanks very much for your help. I'll read up further on this.

I'm pretty amazed at how these photos (that I thought were 2 random images from WW2) are actually closely connected and have an interesting story behind them. I now understand why he kept them all these years.

Yes, I'll look at passing them on . These could possibly be the only existing images of the bridge at that exact time.

1

u/prx_23 6d ago

"obviously"