Wenches in the Trenches

Colour Serjeant Church entertains the ladies



John Greenacre with his ladies at the start of the event



John taking his guiding responsibilities seriously at Pozieres!!

On 21 October 2011 sixty ladies from Fallingbostel, Hohne and all over the UK met in a field in Mailly Maillet for an Army Benevolent Fund fund raising event labelled as ‘Wenches in Trenches’. The ladies were preparing to walk across the Somme guiding by four intrepid members of the Guild; Peter Hewlett-Smith (the group leader), Ed Church, Jo Hook and John Greenacre. In the evening the guides gave background talks to help prepare the ladies and Colour Serjeant Church made an appearance to tell about the life of the Tommy. The night was spent (mostly wakeful) in unheated army tents as the temperature plunged well below zero.

The following morning the ladies were bussed to Hebuterne where Ed explained the preparations for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The walk began from Touvent Farm and took the ladies to Sheffield Memorial Park and then over Redan Ridge to the Sunken Road. The ladies were entertained by the guides while walking and during stops in the freezing conditions. Lunch at the Sunken Road was enlivened by the appearance by an Ulster pipe band provided by Rod Bedford!

After lunch the walk continued to Newfoundland Park via Auchonvillers and then finished at the Ancre Cemetery. The evening was spent in a large tent being entertained by a drag act who, if nothing else, should be commended for performing in minimum clothing in freezing conditions. Ed and Peter were singled out as the ‘Saga’ contingent. The night felt a little warmer, probably due to the red wine consumed.

The following day’s walk began at Dartmoor Cemetery and continued through Becourt to the Lochnagar Crater. On through La Boiselle the ladies walked cross country to Pozieres where a lunch break was taken at Gibraltar. As the weather improved a pleasant afternoon was passed walking past Mouquet Farm and up to the Thiepval Memorial where a service of remembrance was conducted by Peter and the group was joined by triple amputee Corporal Andy Reid.

This was a worthwhile and great fun event supported by the Guild. The ladies thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the efforts of the guides and it is planned to be a repeat event, so watch this space!

The Funeral of Frank van den Bergh

The funeral of Guild member Frank van den Bergh took place on Saturday 15th October and was attended by Wybo Boersma and representatives of the Guild in Holland. Above are pictures of the floral tributes which are now in the National Liberation Museum 1944-45 in Groesbeek.

Frank van den Bergh

As members will know Guild member Frank van den Bergh passed away suddenly on the 8th October 2011. His friend and colleage Wybo Boersma has written the following tribute to Frank:

Frank van den Bergh 1957 - 2011.

Frank was born in Haarlem in 1957. After high school he studied at the University of Nijmegen history focusing on military history. This was a course that fitted his personality and interests like a glove! He graduated Cum Laude.

In 1991 he joined the ‘National Liberation Museum 1944-1945’ in Groesbeek - a job that was just made for Frank. He looked after the museums archives and library, and was also a focal point for all the questions and enquries people put to the museum. His broad interest in military history was reflected in the numerous articles he wrote on various topics such as battles, military clothing and armaments.

His knowledge was not confined to the Second World War. All matters military throughout the ages were of interest to him. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable. War games also became a passion for him. His interest, in particular, with the American and British Airborne Forces was reflected in his involvement in the ‘Air Despatchers’, obtaining a parachute wing, and his membership of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein.

In 2009, Frank joined the International Guild of Battlefield Guides. He attended several of the Guild meetings where he had an opinion on almost every subject and was free with his often outspoken opinions! The highlight of his time with the Guild was the Battlefield tour to South Africa in 2010. Frank was working hard to get his Guild badge. However owing to his illness earlier this year he was unfortunately not able to complete this work.

Frank died suddenly on Saturday, October 8^th 2011 and the world is a lesser place without him.