Harley WLA monument in Belgium
- Johan WILLAERT
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Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Can't remember if I ever posted anything about this, but anyway...
Below is the WLA monument that was inaugurated in Rumes, Belgium in 2009...
Rumes is a very small village on the French-Belgian border which was 'liberated' by a WLA rider of the 2nd Armored Division 'Hell on Wheels' in early September 1944.
When the rider realised he had crossed the border, he turned back as that day he wasn't supposed to drift that far ahead of the main unit... But the incident made him the first American in Belgium that day...
The following days, the 2AD would liberate large parts of Belgium...
To see the spot in Google Maps:
http://maps.google.nl/maps?ll=50.524299 ... &t=h&hl=nl"
Enjoy,
Johan
Below is the WLA monument that was inaugurated in Rumes, Belgium in 2009...
Rumes is a very small village on the French-Belgian border which was 'liberated' by a WLA rider of the 2nd Armored Division 'Hell on Wheels' in early September 1944.
When the rider realised he had crossed the border, he turned back as that day he wasn't supposed to drift that far ahead of the main unit... But the incident made him the first American in Belgium that day...
The following days, the 2AD would liberate large parts of Belgium...
To see the spot in Google Maps:
http://maps.google.nl/maps?ll=50.524299 ... &t=h&hl=nl"
Enjoy,
Johan
Last edited by Johan WILLAERT on Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Very nice! And with a nice story behind it. Is the name of the soldier known?
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
No, unlike James Carroll of the 628th Tank Destorer Bn whose story you will find at the top of my website here: http://www.theliberator.be/liberator1.htmlowbonnet wrote:Very nice! And with a nice story behind it. Is the name of the soldier known?
this particular Harley rider remains unknown..
Therefore this monument honors all WW2 GIs who participated in the liberation of our country...
Last edited by Johan WILLAERT on Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
My Dad who was a WLA Rider remembers “Liberating “a town in Belgium or Holland where he was the only soldier to
Enter the town. The Statue has an uncanny resemblance.
His name is Zeke DeVane still alive with vivid memories.
Enter the town. The Statue has an uncanny resemblance.
His name is Zeke DeVane still alive with vivid memories.
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Nice photo!
The front fender has the markings of the 2nd Armored division could you ask your father what else the other markings are?
OldAbe
The front fender has the markings of the 2nd Armored division could you ask your father what else the other markings are?
OldAbe
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Nice photo!
The front fender has the markings of the 2nd Armored division could you ask your father what else the other markings are?
OldAbe
The front fender has the markings of the 2nd Armored division could you ask your father what else the other markings are?
OldAbe
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- Johan WILLAERT
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
2/\-41-I
SV-3
3rd Vehicle, Service Company, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division...
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Johan,
You think there is any connection with the monument and the GI in the photo?
You think there is any connection with the monument and the GI in the photo?
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
Exactly right 2nd Armored Division 41st Armored infantry service vehicle 3. Here is an additional picture.
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- Johan WILLAERT
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
NO, I don't think so... The monument was created as a generic MC rider of the 2AD...
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Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
I second that opinion: although dad DeVane was in one of those occasions so it seems, many towns in northern France, Belgium, southern Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany itself first saw a scouting WLA rider before the rest of the army came through..
So this belgian statue isn't just for a particular single occasion, it was placed to commemorate a general memory of the liberation..
So this belgian statue isn't just for a particular single occasion, it was placed to commemorate a general memory of the liberation..
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
......but that's me...
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Re: Harley WLA monument in Belgium
The very blurry picture with the three riders, It looks like they are on Indian 640's
Is there a higher resolution picture somewhere?
Thanks, Alex
Is there a higher resolution picture somewhere?
Thanks, Alex
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