Friends,

This autumn I'll start a new project. Every poject I that start, I start with severe research activities. Depending on the ammount of material that is available, I decide on whether or not to actually build it. This method will surely be know to quite a few modelers.

This project that I have in mind is about the fights of the Lonsdale Force around the N.H. Church in Oosterbeek during the battle of Arnhem. This will become quite a large project where I'll build an almost complete church, the "front lawn" and a piece of the road in front of the chruch in a 1/35th scale. If I can get my hands on enough reference material, I'll even do a part of the church's interior. The entire diorama will have to end up in a historical correct and lifelike scene. You'll understand that I'm going to need tons of reference material in order to pull this one off. It's impossible to reconstruct a historical scene without the help of reference material.

Right now I'm looking for all sorts of information, drawings, sketches, stories, pictures etcetera that have to do with the fights of the Lonsdale Force in the vicinity of the Oosterbeek Church.

Who can help me out here ? Everything is more than welcome : whether it is a story, a drawing, a picture, an internetlink, information about excavations around the church during the past 60 years...or...whatever...everythink is more than welcome !! Look at it as if is a jig-saw puzzle where you provide some of the pieces and I am to make it complete......

If you know something or have something that might be of any use, don't hesitate to contact me. every help, no matter how small or big it is, will be highly appreciated !!

I hope you can add something in order to pull this one off. Please forward all relevant information to : [email protected]

Thanks in advance for you cooperation, no matter how small or big it is !

I have some WWII books, I'll be happy to review them and pass on any information I can find.

Hi,

Some links:

OOSTERBEEK (LONSDALE) OLD CHURCH

The return of the altar cross at the R.C. Bernulphus Church, Oosterbeek

Major Richard Thomas Henry Lonsdale

The Oosterbeek Perimeter - here you have a photo from church inside


HTH

Danny, you have taken on a trully enormous task. The Londsdale force is the stuff of legends, and therefore there are almost no pic's or references. There is one good picture in 'A bridge too far' , of the ruinded interior of the church. Having read quite a bit about Arnhem, and having had an interest in Arnhem ever since i lived nearby, I really look forward to this diorama. If you need any help, just shout.

Groeten
Henk

Update :

Except a few (generaly known) pictures and some samples to determine the right color of soil, very little new information came up. It's very, very hard to get a better picture of the events and the scenery like it was in 1944. If nothing new comes up, this diorama is about end up in the book of useless ideas.


Therefore I would like to post this reminder : If you have access to anything that can help me in my research then.....please remember me and forward it to me. It would be a shame that this scene can't be rebuilt because of the lack of material.

I count on you guys !

In the "bridge too far" film, there is also a good scene of the many foxholes the Lonsdale Force dug around the church... may be worth another "watch".... great movie all around!