Trace Your WW2 Family History

Barbara had long wanted to see the place where her uncle crashed in 1944. He was a co-pilot during Market Garden and was towing a glider on his way to Nijmegen on September 18 when the aircraft was shot down. They managed to land at an airfield, but during a brief firefight, her uncle lost his life. Barbara reached out to me, and I quickly found out where this had happened, near Haamstede in Zeeland. A few months later, I was able to take her and her husband to that location and to the cemetery where he had been buried for a time. It was a beautiful, emotional day.  This is what she says about it: Every item under "Why Travel with Tourguidesforyou?" was checked off for us. My uncle was a US Air Force pilot during WWII whose airplane was shot down and he was killed on the 2nd day of Operation Market Garden. It had long been a dream of mine to visit the site (near Burgh-Haamstede on Schouwen Island). Ending a Rhine River Cruise in Amsterdam gave us the opportunity. We are SO glad we found Martin to plan the tour and be our guide. He was able to research the crash; we drove to the site and he explained in detail what had happened. We were also able to visit the cemetery where my uncle was initially buried (5 years later his body was returned to the US). Martin also showed us several other sites in the area pertaining to Operation Garden Market. Throughout the drive, I felt we gained a better understanding of OGM and the war in Holland than I ever thought I would. We can't thank and recommend Martin highly enough!

It rained heavily today, but the experience for my guest from Canada remained truly remarkable. His father was part of the Canadian troops that liberated Arnhem in April 1945

Fiona came to the Netherlands with her mother, whose father was involved in the Market Garden operation in September 1944. They didn't know much about his history, only that he had served in the engineer corps and had been quartered with a family in Eindhoven.

David Dobie was an officer in the 1st Airborne Division who led his troops to Arnhem during Market Garden. His stepson spent a day with me in Arnhem.

Russell came for two days to Arnhem and Nijmegen where his grandfather had fought during Market Garden. In uniform, he also came to pay his respects. It was the weekend of September 17, a time when many events and commemorations are organized.