Words of comfort

If you want to share words of comfort for each and everyone of you, affected by Frank's death, feel free to use this blog.
Esther

47 Air Despatch squadron in english

The Funeral of Frank Van Den Bergh

Speech by

Major Colin Munce RLC

Officer Commanding 47 Air Despatch Squadron RLC

Family and friends of Frank Van Den Bergh, ladies and gentlemen. It is my great honour to be here today to represent 47 Air Despatch Squadron, the Air Despatch Association and Air Despatchers throughout the world. I am eternally grateful to the family of Frank and to Frans Amerlaan for your outstanding efforts in ensuring the message of Frank’s death reached us all in the UK.  Indeed, I am humbled to be able to join you today in order to pay our respects and say farewell to one of our own.

I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say how shocked and saddened we were by the news of Frank’s untimely death.  We had drawn great comfort from his presence at the Air Despatch Memorial Service only 4 weeks ago.  Despite his recent illness, we fondly remember him as he proudly overlooked the Air Despatch Memorial, looking resplendent in his Air Despatch and Airborne regalia.

Frank van Den Bergh holds a very special place in the hearts of Air Despatchers throughout the world.  As you all will know, it is for his tremendous work in commemorating the Air Despatchers at Arnhem.  But you must look deep into the soul of an Air Despatcher to understand the importance of Arnhem to everything we do today.  The unique espirit de corps, fighting spirit and professionalism of the modern Air Despatcher was forged in the hell of Operation Market Garden and has survived ever since.  There can be no greater tribute to the Air Despatchers of Arnhem than to commemorate them at the memorial in Oosterbeek.  We are all hugely grateful to Frank for the instrumental role he had in commissioning the memorial.

I will share with you the story of a young Air Despatcher who recently made his first visit to Arnhem, only 4 weeks ago.  This young man was only 20 years old and had barely heard of Arnhem, never mind understanding what had happened there.  After the memorial service, he reflected on what he had just seen and said to me that suddenly ‘it all just made sense’.  He had been struck by the magnitude of the effort which Frank and all of our friends in Arnhem go to in order to ensure we always remember the Air Despatchers at Arnhem.  Today, we remember Frank and the special part he has played in that.  We owe you a debt gratitude for ensuring their story lives on.

Indeed, Frank has carried the torch for so long and continually championed the memory of the Arnhem Air Despatchers.  His passion and energy in flying the flag is an excellent example for us all to follow.  We all know the greatest tribute to Frank’s memory will be to pick up the flag and continue the legacy of his work in Arnhem.

In recognising Frank’s unique and immense contribution to the Air Despatch community, it is easy to forget there was so much more to Frank.  Few will disagree when Frank is described as an absolute expert when it comes to the history of Operation Market Garden and the Second World War.

Frank Van Den Bergh, it only leaves me to bid you farewell.

‘Action Stations!’             ‘Red On!’             ‘Green On!’

Safe journey my friend.  The name ‘Frank Van Den Bergh’ will always be remembered by Air Despatchers throughout the world.

Vaarwel en goede reis mijn vriend.

Guild of the Battlefield guides in english

Frank first came to the attention of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides in 2008. By then he had spent years doing battlefield tours for the National Liberation Museum 1944-1945 of the battlefields of Nijmegen, Arnhem and the Reichswald, to name a few. So membership of the Guild was a logical step in his long career as a battlefield guide.

When he participated in the Nijmegen Four Day Marches in the eighties, Frank had met the British Para’s, amongst whom were Captain Tony Dogeet, Ron Glancy en Mike Pety. They kept in touch for the rest of their lives and Mike Pety of 10 Para became somewhat of a Guru in Frank’s eyes. They welcomed him into their group and made him feel like he belonged. Frank completed the civilian parachutist training and was awarded the much coveted parachutist wings and red beret by the Para’s, which he wore with pride. Ron Clancy then introduced him to the Air Dispatchers. As a result of his contact with Arnhem veterans, Frank became a member of the Friends of the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek and a much appreciated participant in their meetings.

As I’ve mentioned, Frank was a guide on battlefield tours, and he preferred military groups, which allowed him to display his ability to the fullest. When I pointed out the Guild of Battlefield Guides to him in 2008, he immediately wanted to become a member and accompany me to their meetings in England. There he met a great many like-minded battlefield guilds and felt right at home.

Every guide in the Guild is an expert in his own field, from the War of Roses in England to the Second World War and beyond. Frank’s diverse interests helped him in exchanging views about everything and getting along swimmingly with everyone. His background as a passionate war gamer helped him to gain an insight into almost every battle. His high-level and demonstrable knowledge was respected by all.

Last year, as part of the Guild weekend in England, we were given a tour of the RAF training centre at Carnwell College and came across a painting of what I think was an 18th century battle scene. The curator didn’t know much about the painting, which prompted Frank to improvise a 15 minute lecture about the painting, the scene depicted, the uniforms and the battle. Had he seen the painting before? No. He hadn’t even know it existed until that day.

British always have a quiz as a part of such meetings. On the first meeting in Woolwich the Dutch had their own team. With Frank’s help, it was a splendid victory for the Dutch. As a result of which the Dutch were no longer allowed to have a team of their own the next year and all the teams started competing to get Frank on their team. Frank also enjoyed himself immensely when the Dutch were asked to prepare the quiz. The questions he came up with, as it turned out, were a bit too difficult for the British.
Frank also joined the Guild on their battlefield tour of the Zulu- and Boer War in South Africa last year. To no ones surprise but his own, he defeated a range of international contesters and won the South African quiz. Despite the usual mass of books and presents he bought for his family, his suitcase was allowed on the plane during the return journey without paying extra. For Frank, this tour was the zenith of his membership of the Guild.
Frank was working hard on the assignments required to receive a Guild badge, but he never had the chance to complete them. He had a stroke only days after his return from the RAF Guild weekend. In the days that followed, emails from all over the World demonstrated how in a short period of time Frank had become a highly appreciated Guild member to many.
Last week, after our Guild weekend in France, we received news that Frank had passed away.

Frank, on behalf of the Guild, Thanks

Wybo Boersma

Guild of the Battlefield guides in dutch

Frank kwam voor het eerst in beeld bij de International Guild of Battlefield Guides in 2008. Hij gidste toen al jarenlang bij het Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945 groepen over onder meer de slagvelden van Nijmegen, Arnhem en het Reichswald. Het lidmaatschap van de Guild was dan ook een logisch vervolg op zijn lange carrière als Battlefield gids.

Tijdens zijn deelname aan de Nijmeegse Vierdaagse in de jaren ’80 kwam Frank in contact met Britse parachutisten onder andere met Captain Tony Dogeet, Ron Glancy en Mike Pety. Een contact dat nooit meer verbroken is zolang zij leefden. Mike Pety van het 10e Parachutisten bataljon werd een soort Goeroe voor Frank. Zij namen hem op in hun kring en gaven hem duidelijk het gevoel dat hij erbij hoorde. Frank volgde zelfs met goed resultaat een burger parachutisten-opleiding waarna hij van de groep behalve de felbegeerde parachutistenwing ook een rode baret kreeg. Twee dingen waar hij terecht erg trots op was. Via Ron Clancy kwam hij in contact met de Air Despatchers. Als uitvloeisel van zijn connecties met Arnhem veteranen werd Frank lid van de Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek waar hij een veel en graag geziene deelnemer aan de bijeenkomsten was.
Zoals gezegd verzorgde Frank battlefield tours, bij voorkeur voor militair groepen. Burgergroepen vond hij eigenlijk beneden zijn kunnen. Toen ik hem in 2008 attendeerde op het bestaan van de Guild of Battlefield Guides in Engeland aarzelde hij geen moment om daarvan lid te worden en mee te gaan naar de bijeenkomsten in Engeland. Hij ontmoette een groot aantal gelijkgestemden, Frank voelde zich daar als een vis in het water. Ieder van de Guild leden is vaak expert op zijn eigen gebied dat loopt van de War of Roses in Engeland tot aan de Tweede Wereldoorlog en zelfs daarna. Door de grote verscheidenheid van interessegebieden was Frank de aangewezen man om met iedereen over welk onderwerp dan ook van gedachten te wisselen. Zijn achtergrond als enthousiast War Gamer had hem inzicht verschaft in bijna ieder veldslag waar ook ter wereld. Hij werd alom gerespecteerd door zijn parate kennis.

Toen we begin dit jaar tijdens het Guild weekend in Engeland in het Opleidingsinstituut van de RAF in het Carnwell College een rondleiding kregen hing daar een schilderij waarop een gevechtsscene uit, meen ik, de 18e eeuw was afgebeeld. De curator wist hier niet zoveel van waarop Frank uit de losse pols 15 minuten lang een college in het Engels gaf over het schilderij, de afgebeelde scene, de uniformen en de veldslag. Kende hij het schilderij? Nee hij wist zelfs van het bestaan ervan niet af.

Britten hebben altijd een quiz tijdens hun bijeenkomsten. Bij de eerste bijeenkomst in Woolwich vormden de Nederlanders een eigen team. Met Franks hulp wonnen we dan ook glansrijk deze quiz met als resultaat dat we de volgende keer geen Nederlands team meer mochten vormen. De anderen vochten als het ware om Frank in hun groep te krijgen want dan was de kans om te winnen het grootst.
Veel plezier beleefde Frank toen de Nederlanders de quiz moesten samenstellen. Het niveau bleek echter voor de Britten wel wat hoog te liggen.

Met de Guild nam Frank het vorige jaar deel aan de Battlefield tour in Zuid Afrika met als onderwerp de Zoeloe- en Boerenoorlog. Ook hier won Frank in dit internationale gezelschap weer de Zuid Afrikaanse quiz. Ondanks de gebruikelijke hoeveelheid boeken en cadeaux voor zijn familie die hij gekocht had mocht hij toch zonder extra betaling terug met het vliegtuig. Deze tour was voor Frank wel het hoogtepunt van zijn lidmaatschap bij de Guild.
Frank was druk bezig met de assigments voor het behalen van de Guild badge maar heeft dit niet meer mogen afmaken. Daags na zijn terugkeer van de het RAF Guild weekend dit voorjaar kreeg Frank een beroerte. Uit de vele mails van “all over the World” bleek eens te meer hoe Frank in korte tijd een gewaardeerd lid van de Guild was geworden. Afgelopen week, na het Guild weekend in Frankrijk, kwam het bericht dat hij onverwacht overleden was.

Frank, on behalf of the Guild, Thanks.

Wybo Boersma

Liberation Museum in dutch

Beste familie, vrienden en collega’s van Frank,

Wat is dit zwaar hier te staan. Afscheid te moeten nemen van onze conservator, historicus, collega en jazeker: bondgenoot en kameraad. Maar behalve zwaar, wat een eer ook het adieu te mogen uitspreken namens het team van het Bevrijdingsmuseum, waarin Frank zo’n prominente rol vervulde.

De vele herinneringen aan Frank hebben mij de afgelopen week niet meer losgelaten. Zij zitten heel diep, zijn gigantisch rijk en ongelooflijk dierbaar. Het uitspreken van een allesomvattend afscheidswoord is een tour de force  die niet anders zou kunnen eindigen dan in een maratonzitting. Daarom enkel de meest trefzekere biografische streken, getekend op dat mooie palet dat zijn leven zoveel kleur gaf.

Wie was Frank? Welk erfgoed laat hij na?

1.    Laat ik beginnen met Frank de vakman. Natuurlijk, zijn feitenkennis is vaak geprezen. Als je hem vroeg op welke dag in de jaren ’30 en hoe laat precies de Duitsers Sudetenland bezetten, dan wist hij je dat op de minuut af te vertellen. Maar daarmee zouden we hem tekort doen. Feitenkennis is immers gelijk aan de inhoud van een telefoonboek; inzicht, begrip en wetenschap van geschiedenis gaan veel verder. En juist daar  lag nog veel meer zijn kracht. Frank zocht bovendien naar de nog niet betreden paden, naar het nog onbekende. Tegels wilde hij lichten, het nieuwe ontdekken. Dat deed hij in de research bij de concipiëring van tentoonstellingen. En daarmee heeft hij enorm geholpen het museum groot te maken. We kennen de kaskrakers toch: “Voetbal in Oorlogstijd”, “Over Landmijnen en Lef”, “Liefde in Oorlogstijd”. Hij excelleerde op het terrein van militaire geschiedenis en de geschiedenis van de burger, met een toch wel een stevige voorkeur voor dat eerste. Als ik hem daarom wel eens mister Pentagon noemde zei hij: nee, ik ben geen militair complex, maar ik heb er een. Van buitenlandse militaire groepen die het museum bezochten mocht hun eigen educational officer thuis blijven, er was maar één die ze op de bus wilden hebben: Mr. van den Bergh.

2.    En dan een tweede streek op dat biografische palet.  Frank de travailleur. Zijn tomeloze inzet voor de museumcollectie is legendarisch. Hij beschreef in z’n eentje de 8.000 foto’s van Beeldbank WO2 en ik ben er zeker van dat alle 38.000 voorwerpen en documenten van het museum door zijn handen zijn gegaan.  Voor de fameuze Liberation Route gingen we samen te keer. Wat een klus en wat een schitterend project: een co-productie met marketeers, dramaturgen en toerismedeskundigen. En voor het museum ging Frank door het vuur. Regelmatig kwam hij bij me langs om te informeren naar de bezoekersaantallen. Als hij dan hoorde dat er weer groei was dook hij fluitend en zingend het depot in. U ziet dit voor zich, toch?

3.    De biografie zou niet compleet zijn zonder het hoofdstuk Frank, die warme en leuke kerel. Als er ergens nood was, was hij er als de kippen bij om te helpen, op welk vlak dan ook. Op een afstand bekeken leek hij monomaan met zijn vak bezig, van dichtbij was dat volstrekt anders en dan keek je hem regelrecht in z’n hart. En wat een humor: ik herinner me nog een autoreis naar Normandië; vanaf Nijmegen tot in Caen gaf hij op de achterbank college, vol met humor van de bovenste plank - fout en niet fout -. Met buikkrampen van het lachen arriveerden we  op de plaats van bestemming. Ik zal het nooit vergeten.

Hoe fijner en rijker de herinneringen aan de degene die je zo graag mocht, des te moeilijker het afscheid. Rouw, het verscheurende verdriet is inherent aan dat dierbare. Want daar sta je dan, verbijsterd van pijn en schrik. Het leven lijkt voor anderen met fanfare door te gaan. Theoloog Dietrich Bonhoeffer zei hierover echter: “De mooie herinneringen aan degene die je verliest zijn geen doorn in het vlees, maar een kostbaar geschenk dat je meedraagt. Het is een verborgen schat, een veilig bezit waaruit je kracht en vreugde kunt putten”.

En zo wapen ik mij bij dit afscheid van Frank. Het afscheid van, zo wil ik hem blijven noemen, de MAESTRO.

Frank, je liet je eigen prachtige erfgoed achter en dat was heel veel, het zal voor altijd blijven voortbestaan. Als een cadeautje á la Bonhoeffer in onze binnenzak. Rust zacht!

Drs. Wiel P.H. Lenders

Director National Liberation Museum 1944-1945

Groesbeek

Liberation Museum in english

Dear family, friends and colleagues of Frank,

How difficult it is to stand here to say goodbye to our curator, historian, colleague and yes also ally and friend. But apart from being difficult, what an honour to also be allowed to bid adieu on behalf of the team of the National Liberation Museum where Frank played such a prominent role.

The many memories of Frank have occupied my thoughts this last week. They are deeply embedded, enormously rich and incredibly precious. Delivering a comprehensive farewell speech is a tour de force that could only end in a very lengthy meeting. Therefore I will only present the most accurate biographical brush-strokes on that beautiful palette that coloured Frank’s life.

Who was Frank? What legacy does he leave behind?

1.    Let me begin with Frank the professional. Of course, his knowledge of facts has often been praised. If you asked him on which day in the ‘30’s and at what time exactly did the Germans occupy Sudetenland, he could tell you that to the minute. But this would derogate from his merits. After all factual knowledge is equal to the contents of a phone book; insight, understanding and science of history reach much further and therein lay his strength. Above all Frank searched for new pathways, for the unknown. While doing research for exhibitions he discovered new roads, hereby helping to enhance the museum enormously. We all remember the very successful exhibitions ‘Football in wartime’, ‘About landmines and courage’, ‘Love in wartime’. He excelled in the field of military and civilian history, but with a strong preference for the first. When I sometimes called him ‘mister Pentagon’, he would reply ‘No, I am not a military complex, but I do have one’. Foreign military groups visiting the museum could leave their own educational officer at home, they only wanted one person with them on the bus: mister van den Bergh.

2.    And then a second brush-stroke on that biographical palette: Frank the worker. His exceptional devotion to the collection of the museum is legendary. All by himself he determined the 8.000 images of the WW2 Image Data Bank and I’m certain that all 38.000 objects and documents in the museum have been handled by him. Frank and I both worked hard on the famous Liberation Route. What a great project: a co-production of marketeers, playwrights and experts in the tourist industry.

Frank went through fire and water for the museum. He regularly came to see me to enquire about the number of visitors. If he then learned that they had increased, he happily returned to the depot whistling and singing. You can just picture him, can’t you?

3.    Frank’s biography would be incomplete without the chapter Frank, the warm and funny guy. If there was an emergency he always immediately lent a helping hand. Regarded from a distance you could consider him monomanic in his profession, seen close up he was entirely different and you could see straight into his heart. And his humour: I remember a car trip to Normandy; from Nijmegen to Caen he lectured from the back seat, full of humour and wit -bad and less bad- . We arrived at our destination with stomach cramps from laughing. I will never forget this.

The finer and richer the memories of the one you were so fond of, the more painful is the farewell. Grief, intense grief is inherent in these cherished memories. For there you are, shocked and in pain. Life seems to continue happily for others. However, the theologist Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated ‘The beautiful memories of the one you have lost are not a thorn in the flesh but a precious gift, a safe possession to draw on for strength and happiness’.

And so I protect myself from this farewell to Frank. The farewell of the MAESTRO as I will continue to call him.

Frank, you leave behind a great legacy which will live on forever, like a gift in our pocket à la Bonhoeffer. Rest in peace!

Drs. Wiel P.H. Lenders

Director National Liberation Museum 1944-1945

Groesbeek

Casus Belli in english

Speech on behalf of the Nijmegen Games club Casus Belli
on the occasion of the cremation of
Honorary member Drs. Frank van den Bergh
Beuningen, 15 october 2011


Frank was an exceptional personality. Even something down-to-earth as a chat about the weather went his way: on some Sunday June 17th we talked in Pub ‘de Fiets’, for years the lair of games club Casus Belli, about the current weather, nice and sunny, in comparison with the wether exactly so many years ago, raining cats and dogs, on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. Sunday next week we could have talked in the same manner about the storm following the Battle of Trafalgar.

I cannot describe him better than he did himself. One day I arrived at the club with a game called Charlemagne. “Frank, the game has two sides: ‘Frank’ and ‘Chaos’”. Frank’s response: “What, that’s both me!”. Quite right, Frank, you were somewhat chaotic, but in the first place, you were Frank.

Our friendship dates back to 1971, when we met over a wargame at the national games club Ducosim, at a memorable meeting in Amsterdam with the antimilitaristic protest group ‘Onkruit’ at the door. Hence it was no coincidence that I joined the games club Casus Belli, founded amongst others by Frank, immediately after moving to Nijmegen. There I spent many Sundays with Frank, and it is there where he agreed to be the Best Man at my wedding with Annemarie.

Besides being a founding member of Casus Belli, Frank served for years as Secretary. His notes were very precise, but so slow that sending him on a Stenography course has been proposed, though it never got that far. He contributed very much to the club magazine ‘De Nieuwsbrief’. And he was there at all club activities. His blog gives a clue: the question whether someone could bring him and his wheelchair to the introduction market of the university. Hence his elevation to Honorary Member is fully deserved.

This does not end his contributions to wargaming. He was Honorary Member of Ducosin and wargame editor of club magazine ‘Spel!’, and a welcome guest and lecturer at Hexacon of the Gesellschaft für Historische Simulation in Germany. Not only did he collect wargames, he contributed as well. ‘The Devil’s Cauldron’ on the Northern part of the Battle of Arnhem has been fully checked and approved by him, both the map and the highly detailed Order Of Battle. In addition he wrote a paper on the historical background. His contribution to two Arnhem Megagames should be mentioned too.

He wasn’t a very competitive player, and he must have known it. Whether the situation was good or bad, Frank enjoyed playing. Even though he contributed a sizeable portion of the ship miniatures at our annual sea battle, he himself preferred the calmer water of reporting. Even that he did his way: with a model of Her (Dutch) Majesty’s ‘Unstoppable’, a rubber dinghy.

We will definitely also miss Frank’s immortal words on no matter what historical subject mentioned: “I’ve got a booklet on that!”. Frank, you were a formidable friend!

Niek van Diepen

Casus Belli in dutch

Rede namens de Nijmeegse Spellenvereninging Casus Belli

t.g.v. de  crematie van

Erelid Drs. Frank van den Bergh

Beuningen, 15 oktober 2011

Frank was een zeer bijzondere persoonlijkheid. Zelfs iets simpels als een gesprekje over het weer ging op zijn manier: het moet een zondag 17 juni zijn geweest dat we het in Café de Fiets, jaren de stamkroeg van spellenclub Casus Belli, hebben gehad over het weer nu, lekker zonnetje, vergeleken met op de dag af zoveel jaar geleden, het regende pijpestelen, de avond voor de Slag bij Waterloo. Volgende week zondag had het op die manier over de storm na de Slag bij Trafalgar kunnen gaan.

Beter dan hijzelf het deed kan ik hem niet typeren. Ooit kwam ik de club binnen met het spel Charlemagne, over de tijd van Karel de Grote. “Frank, er zijn twee partijen: ‘Frank’ en ‘Chaos’.” Frank’s antwoord: “Wàt, maar dat ben ìk allebei!”. Helemaal gelijk, Frank, je was wat chaotisch, maar vooral, je was Frank.

Onze vriendschap gaat terug tot 1979, toen we elkaar over een wargame ontmoetten bij de landelijke spellenvereniging Ducosim, tijdens een gedenkwaardige bijeenkomst in Amsterdam met de antimilitaristische actiegroep Onkruit voor de deur. Het was dan ook geen toeval dat ik direct na mijn verhuizing naar Nijmegen in 1988 op bezoek ging bij de mede door Frank opgerichte spellenclub Casus Belli, en daar vele zondagen met Frank heb doorgebracht, en waar ik Frank ook bereid heb gevonden om getuige te zijn bij mijn huwelijk met Annemarie.

Naast oprichter van Casus Belli was Frank jaren secretaris, heel precies in het notuleren, maar zo traag dat er is voorgesteld hem op een cursus Steno te sturen. Dat is er niet van gekomen. Ook heeft hij ontzettend veel bijgedragen aan het clubblad ‘De Nieuwsbrief’. En Frank was altijd present bij activiteiten. Zijn blog laat daarvan nog sporen zien: de vraag wie hem en zijn rolstoel naar de voorlichtingsmarkt van de universiteit kon brengen afgelopen introductie. Het is dus geen wonder dat hij al lang geleden tot erelid is benoemd.

Daarmee zijn zijn verdiensten voor het wargamen niet afgelopen: erelid van Ducosim en wargame-redacteur van clubblad ‘Spel!’, en welkome gast en gever van lezingen op Hexacon van de Gesellschaft für Historische Simulation in Duitsland. Hij verzamelde niet alleen wargames, hij heeft er ook aan bijgedragen. ‘The Devil’s Cauldron’ over het noordelijk deel van de Slag bij Arnhem is helemaal door hem gecontroleerd en goedgekeurd: de kaart en de zeer gedetailleerde slagorde, en hij heeft een stuk historische achtergrond geschreven. Ook zijn bijdrage aan twee Arnhem-Megagames mag genoemd worden.

Als speler was  hij niet zo geweldig, en dat wist hij ook wel. Hij had altijd wel plezier in het spelen, of het nu goed ging of niet. Bij onze jaarlijkse zeeslagen bracht hij een groot deel van de scheepsminiaturen in, maar zelf zocht hij de beschutting van de verslaglegging. Ook dat ging in zijn stijl: met een model van Harer Majesteits ‘Onstuitbare’, een rubberbootje.

Wat we zeker ook zullen missen is Frank’s gevleugelde uitspraak over willekeurig welk historisch onderwerp dat ter sprake kwam: “Daar heb ik een boekje over!” Frank, je was een geweldige vriend!


Niek van Diepen

Family speech in dutch

Frank was onze oudste broer. Hij werd als eerste bij ons thuis geboren. Te vroeg, en kwetsbaar. Maar met het doorzettingsvermogen dat hem in zijn latere leven zo kenmerkte zette hij zich in om iets moois van zijn leven te maken. Hij werd daarin enorm gesteund en gestimuleerd door zijn vader en zijn moeder.

Wij, zijn 3 zussen, werden later geboren. En voor Frank zal dat wennen zijn geweest. In onze jeugd begrepen we weinig van elkaar. We leefden in gescheiden universums, die vreedzaam en soms iets minder vreedzaam naast elkaar co-existeerden.

Zijn universum begon bij de deur naar de zolder, waarachter zijn grote zandtafel en zijn kamer vol met boeken school. Ons universum lag voor die deur. We leefden met elkaar en naast elkaar en dat was het toen wel. We voelden absoluut loyaliteit en verbondenheid met elkaar, maar elkaar begrijpen, dat deden we niet.

Nadat wij allemaal het ouderlijk huis verlieten begon Frank zijn eigen leven verder vorm te geven. Op kamers aan de Hartertseveldweg. In zijn studie geschiedenis, en na zijn studie in de zoektocht naar de verdere invulling van zijn leven. 

Op hoogtij dagen zagen we elkaar: huwelijken, verjaardagen, kerstmis en voor Frank was dat niet altijd een feest. Hij worstelde met zijn eigen verwachtingspatroon en met dat van zijn ouders. En hij had vaak het gevoel dat er weinig van hem deugde. Maar desondanks kwam hij altijd, loyaal en trouw.

Die loyaliteit en verbondenheid bleef en door de jaren heen breidde ons contact zich uit met vriendschap, groei van wederzijds begrip en liefde. Ook met zijn zwagers ontwikkelde hij een warme vriendschap. Hij hielp als dat nodig was met vertaalwerk, of kluswerk, en was altijd te benaderen voor hulp. Nadat onze vader overleed vervulde hij met verve de rol van enige overgebleven man in onze familie. Hij voelde die verantwoordelijkheid en speechte graag in de geest van zijn vader en genoot van die rol.

Zijn grote prime kwam toen hij oom werd. Hij genoot enorm van zijn neven en nicht. En niets was te dol. Er kwam Cola bij het ontbijt, samen Top Gear kijken, samen stoeien, samen lid worden van de spellenclub. Hij spaarde voetbalplaatjes (en zorgde voor het laatste plaatje waarmee ons album compleet werd). Als hij iets zag dat voor zijn neven en nicht leuk kon zijn kocht hij het acuut (stenen, t-shirts, messen, petjes, sjaals, brandweerpakken; hij kocht het allemaal). Als hij zo’n cadeautje dan bij je kwam brengen, stond hij bij de voordeur al te wippen op zijn schoenen en kreeg je het daar al uit die grote rugzak uitgedeeld. Hij was zelf dan ongeduldig en nieuwsgierig naar de reactie van de kinderen. Van blije kindergezichten werd Frank ook heel blij! Zo toonde hij zijn enorme kwaliteiten naar zijn neven en nichten: zijn enorme generositeit, liefde, gulheid, trouw, het vermogen om aansluiting te zoeken bij kinderen kwamen in zijn rol als oom samen.

We zullen Frank heel erg missen.

Marieke van den Bergh

Family speech in english

Frank was our older brother. He was born prematurely, and vulnerable. But with the persistence that was characteristic of him throughout his life, he set out to make something beautiful of his life. He was supported every step of the way by his father and mother.

We, his three sisters, were born later. And for Frank that must have taken some getting used to. We understood little of each other in those early years. We lived in our separate universes, coexisting peacefully, and sometimes less peacefully, within our family.

Frank’s universe started at the door to the attic, behind which was his room full of books and his large table. Our universe was on the other side of that door. We managed to live with and next to each other and that was it. We shared a bond and felt loyalty towards one another, but did not understand each other.

After we left our parental home, Frank became the master of his own life. He moved into a room at the Hatertseveldweg, studied History, and after graduation continued the search for his place in life.

We saw each other on holidays and anniversaries: marriages, birthdays, Christmas. For Frank, this wasn’t always a cause for celebration. Frank struggled with his own, and his parents expectations of himself. He often left those gatherings feeling like he wasn’t good enough. Nevertheless, he showed up every time, loyal as he was to those close to him.

That loyalty and commitment between us stayed and was strengthened ever more by friendship, mutual understanding and love. He also became a good friend to his brothers in law. He always helped them with translations, the odd job and anything else with which he could assist us. After our father died, he took on the role of leading man in the family with a great deal of passion. He felt that this was his responsibility and loved to give speeches in the style of his father.

His greatest moment was the day he became an uncle. He loved his nieces and nephews and would stop at nothing to amuse them. A glass of coca-cola for breakfast, watching Top Gear together, romping around and visiting the gaming club on Sundays. He collected football cards (and found the final card to complete our collection) and immediately bought anything that he thought his nieces and nephews would like (stones, t-shirts, knives, caps, scarves, firemen costumes, he bought it all). When he arrived with such a present, he would be rocking on his shoes at the door and would pull his latest surprise out of his large backpack while still on the doorstep. He was incredibly impatient to see the looks on the children’s faces and shared in their joy in almost equal measure. All this made him an example to his nephew and nieces: his generosity, love, loyalty and ability to connect with children all combined to make him an amazing uncle.  

We will miss Frank very much.

Marieke van den Bergh

De Gelderlander, Nijmegen katern, Vandaag.

(klik voor grote versie)

Feel free to join us

Dear reader or follower of the blog. We don't have all the postal adresses to send cards to so hereby we post the funeral card. Feel invited and free to join us, wether some time this week at our house or on saturday at the funeral service. Our credo is "anything goes, nothing should" you're welcome.
On behalf of my family and Frank's closest friends,
Esther

Cremation of Frank Saturday October 15th at 14.30 CET

Dear friends, the cremation of Frank is going to take place on Saturday October 15th at 14.30 hours CET. The service is to be held in the Crematorium in Beuningen, near Nijmegen.
Because Frank has so many friends it is nearly impossible to send all his friends a personal invitation. Please feel free and you're more than welcome to attend the ceremony.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at the telephonenumber 0031243882588.

family and friends

Sad news : Frank died after a severe heart attack.

We are very sorry and sad that we have to inform you that our beloved son and brother Frank van den Bergh died yesterday October 8th. He enjoyed a very happy day with his dear friends in Germany (Wesel), and returned to his home at the end of the afternoon. At home he suffered a severe heart attack and died.

At the end of the afternoon October 9th he will be transferred to the house of his sister Esther: Baljuwstraat 10 in Nijmegen.

If you want to visit Frank to say goodbye you can contact Esther Meijer (phone +0031243882588, or by mail or by leaving a post on this blog).
The adress for correspondence is Baljuwstraat 10, 6525 XM Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

We are aware that Frank has lots of friends everywhere around the world. We will keep you informed of the moment and time to say goodbye to Frank. Please pass on the information of Frank to anyone close to Frank. We encourage you to join our family and his friends in mourning.

Eanks

Here is another tip on youtube for your delectation, but only if you're a Pazwe Pusher like me who qas raiaed on Panzerblit and Panzer Leaswe.. On Youtube type ub either saumur 2009, A7V or Tankfest. Then sit back and enjoy some of the tankiest tanks on the internet!!

GREETINGS FROM WALKING fRANK
]

I walkesd thisaftwernoon and my therapist was impressed Yay!

Greetings

Frank

Love waits for me 'round the bend

Please watch Mary Fahl's Going home on youtube,It is beautiful and haunting. it comes from Gods and Generaks, a film biography (hagiography, actually) of DTonewall Jackson.

greetings

Frank

Friday morning

Well, I am awake now and succesfully got out of bed under my own power. Anothwe day. Tomorrow is D-Day (Duzi-Day). Roll on!


Greetings

Frank

hust being alive, it can really hurt

Slowly i am coming toterms with what happened to me. It is a change inmy life and I must see whatvthepermanent wfects will be. We will see.

Greetings

Frank

More memories; Youtube

Moyher was here and brought more herring, Yummie! we also remibisced about when I was little.From photo's I was the most scrawny, hopless runt.The doctors agreed and thought i ciuld not live anyway. Well, I've showed them. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztoday i spend a lot of time watching youtube vids. Kate Bush,cats Mylene Farmer, all so very lovely, to say the least.I quite understand why I losr my heart.I long for Saturday.


Greetings

Frank

I slept erll amd have just been awakened. Time for breakfast, methinks.

Frsnk

I slept erll amd have just been awakened. Time for breakfast, meyhinks.

Frsnk

Wednesday afternoon

This afternoon mum came by with a photo album from my younger days in Overveen. It brought backa lot of memories. There were photo's of the "Santa Kiriyaki", a Greek freighter thrown on the beach at Zandvoort by a stor. We went to see it. I wasafraid it would topple over on top of me. Squish! It looked really impressive, big screw, big rudder, big hull.There also were some photo's of our time in Suriname. It reminded me that we went up the Commewijne river in a boat, and on thw return leg I was both helmsman (under captain's orders)and sailor, responsible for throwing out the mooring lines when we docked. What a lovely adventure was that. There also were some pictures of my younger sisters, looking as cute as anything.I can't understand why we had so many fights. They are lovely sisters still.

ffrank on the verge of turning in.

Using A.B.I.

tHIS MORNING i had a shower and made a herring sandwich for breakfast. Yum! There was bo help with the herring, so I had to use my A.B.I. For those who dont know that abbreviation, it means Airborne Initiative. I often use it wwhen left to myself. The herring and a cat programme on T.V. THIS MORNING GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH MY inner kitten.


Purrrrrrr

Frank

Tuesday morning

I just finished my morning walk. All went well.yesterday wa;king went very well, to everyone's amazement I am curious to see how my permanent bracw will fit and how I will walk with it.

Frabk

I slept well and awoke refreshed. Now I am working on new articles for Marleen. zzzzzzzzzzzWzzzzzzwe will both be happy with the result, I think. Yesterday there was not much interesting to see on T.V., so I have little or nothing to comment ( a bad sign).Yesterday, Andre sr. and Rense visited.I loved talkin=bg to them, especially Rense, who is doing real well at the Liberation Museum.I am proud that Rense is doing so well; proof I trained him properly, I'd like to think.
Acontented Frank greets you

Yesterday

On Sunday, Mathieu came by at 24.00 hrs to pick me up forCasus Belli. It was great to be back at the club agaib=n, and play. Twice I played king of Tokyo, a game about epic movie monsters fighting ech other in downtown Tokyo (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/70323/king-of-tokyo). I was eliminated twicwe(curse you, Atomic Bunny and Gigasaur!).But all in all, I had a ggood time.
The game reminded me a lot of S.P.I's Creature thst ate Sheboygan and Oh no, there goes Tokyo!( http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14410/oh-no-there-goes-tokyo) a print and play game you can find on Boardgamegeek.
yesterday evening I watched the Slavery again. it again reminded me of Suriname, and this time a not very nice memory.InParamaribo I saw some old wooden barracks, that were used as a retirement home. There were vultures sitting on the roof.Ttheyw ere waiting for the food to come out before swooping down and making off with the meat. I imagined they were feasting on the residents. As a "memento mori"they were really horrifying to this young boy! Another funny memory: When I came toParamaribi I also brought loads of homework from shool(not nice). I needed a school notebook for that, so I ambled down the street to the local Chinese Toko. These sell anything you need. Since the owner's Dutch was ceap and my chinese not much better (it hasn't improved sicw, Tense!)I was reduced to hands- and-feet explanation.I thought I was successful, but when I got homeI found out that I had gotten a notebook for making sums! So back I went and more hsn- and foot work follwed before I finally got what I needed.
One last memory: When our stay was over we flew back and I arrived at Schihol at about 23.000 hrs on a cold February night till in tropical shorts and t-shirt. It was effing cold and we still had a long way to go to Nijmegen.

Enough for now
Greetings from
OLd Colonial Frankie

Yesterday,BOHICA

Yesterday, Andre sr. picked me up and brought me to the birthday party of Marc Seutter. I enjoyed that, as I knewam=bout 90% of people there; mostly friends from Vasus Belli.(hereafter abbreviated CB). I took the opportunity tO yhrash out some details with Marleen, Marc's wife and long-suffering editot of the Casus Belli Newsletter. wE QUICKLY DETERMINED WHICH ARTICLES SHE ALREADY had recieved, and which must be finished quickly and sent on their way. As at thi time I am suffering from a condition of ärticle diarrhoea", writing one after another.This never was a problem in the past, but might become one in the future, if I am not careful. yut all can find my old stuff on the Vasus belli websi"(wwww.casusbelli.nk)te, under"Nieuwsbrieven"and "THe Frank Files"(now, that's a scary title).
I have just finished my breakfast herring sandwich. It tasted very good.this afternoon, I am off to CB agsin. I CAn't wait and will spend the meantime working on another article.
Greetings,all, from the working FRank











in short, we determined

Saturday morning

Yesterday evening, to m great joy, Esthewr brought me most if the titles on my list of longing. So I awole rther happy, had a herring sandwivh (thank you, Mum, for the herring) annd am cpntentedly reading.

Greetings from
Happy chappy Frankie

t.V.

The psdt few days T.V was interesting.On tuesday evening there was nothing, on Wednesday Planet Dinosaurand Who do you think you are, yesterday nothing and tonight Digging for Britain. I am so looking forward to tonight.

Historical Frank

P.S.I also miss the five volumes of "Van nul tot nu", a history of the Netherlands in vpmic form. They saare in my study.
P.P.S I also miss little MukMuk the cat.


frank

The strangecase of the vanishing herrings

As you all know, mother regularly brings me herring. But often, ehen Iask for it at breakfast next morning, it is gone. I do not know what has happenedd to the herring, but I want it to stop.The heering id for me and nobody else.

Angry frank (sounding like rge title of a computer game)

The list of longing

On mornings like these I long for my books, games and magazines, whichare still in my flat. To be specific:
Books
Military unifoms in America, four volumes *The revolutionary War period, Years of Growth, THecivil War period,Modern Period. All in dark blue dust jackets in the library.
Jose M.Bueno, Soldados de Espana, paperback , white back, red letters. In the library,.
R.Hagger, Bob Marriott,cuirassies abd Heavy Horse, Hussars and Lancers, Dragoons and Mounted Rifles, uniforms of the German CavalryAlmark publications. In the study.
games(all in the syudy or the library): Unhappy King Charles, Gustav Adolf yhe Great. With God and victorious Arms, Army of Ireland.
Magazines:
Airfix Magazine, Wargames Illustrated 100-200(in the cellar).
Finally, one request:Can anybody take me to Casus Belli on Sundays?
Thanks in advance

Frank

I am practising getting in and out of bed under mynown power. Ellen was amazed.things are going well and there is progress.

Franl

Ewading

luckily, yesterday mathieu returned my external harddisk. I can read books again! Yay!

Frank

looking forward to

I hsve a lotof things to look forward to:
to start toniht on thw CCC Planet Dinosaur, followed by who do you think you are.
in a few weeks my leg brace will be here. I am curious to see hoe it will feel.
The days to come:I look forward to more walking.
October 8th: Duzi.Wonderful Duzi.

Greetings

Frank

I amsooo bored
Frank

troubles

i am having a problem communicating wirhthe staff. i cannot rest when I want (like right now). They are afraid I won't fall asleep in the evenings.Furthermore they are like the Police:never there when needed, always disturbing when I am doing something nice. So all I can do is listen to stupid music on Radio Gelderland and stupid Dutch music from the room across the corridor. Dumb Sieneke withSha la lie. can't somebody shoot the bitch.

Angry Frank

suriname memories

Morememories of my stay inParamaribo:Our nrighbours across the street with their own private zoo. it ncluded a "tapijtslang", the most economical pet I've ever seen.a few dead rats per month and it was content. i remember going into the bush with neighbour boys and coming out welll stung by every mosquito for miles.I remember the wreck of the German freighteer Gotha, which the crew sank in May 1940.I also remember playing in Fort Zeelandia, where Boutrse had his opponents shot many years later I fondly rememberan escaped turtle by the-ide of the road abd a/swimming teacher who was so strong he could lift us kids over his head and throw us in the pool. We loved that!. I retain many fond memories of that land....
Dad warning us not to get any scraped off ice cream("Thypoid on a stick" were his2ords). Andbgoing inland. My sweet sister Esther, having seen too many Tarzan films, trying out a vine to sling from, andcrashing to the ground with twenty yards of vine!

very nostalgic Fra k

yesterday's T?v.

Yesterday I watched some Dutch TV. On Net 2they had part of a series of documentaries on the history of slavery.in all honesty, the makers spent a lot of time reading up on their subject and it shows! Meticulously researched, th junior version was about the importance of sugar.when I was un Suriname in the early'70's, I saw a lot of it, including decaying plantatoon houses along the Commewijne river.all those memories came flooding back yesterday evening.

Greetings from melancholic frank

yesterdayYesterday thE two plundererers Mathieu and Walter were here and had a goodlook of what they wanted to plunder. No plundering took plce, to my great joy. I am sure thry'll be back sooon, though.

Frank

i am awaiting my plundering friends and would really like to go shoppingnin. Town

frank

i am awaiting my plundering friends and would really like to go shoppingnin. Town

frank

oNE OF THE THINGS i AM mRS.cREEMERS GRATEFUL FORIS THAT THE POSESSED a pre-WW1 grace, charm and style, trhat I could not help but adore. It was a great influence on my life.


Frank

EOUTUBE TO THE RESCUE

This morning I have been watching Cats 101 a lot on Youtybe as well as FREDERICKIAN STUFF. go TO yOUTUBE ANF TYPR IN fREDERICK THE gREATOR fEHRBELLINER rEITERMARSCH! IMust confess Cats 101 makes me go weak. There all soooo cuute!

Sincerely yours

Frank

Visit, gratitude

Well, Mrs. Creemers was here this afternoon. It was absolutely delightful to see her again. She had a profound influence on my development. When I was a teenager i visited her regularly. She had inherited an absolutely wonderful collection of tin figures from her father plus th eGerman collectors magazines (Die Zinnfigur, Alte ubd Neue Zinnfiguren) that went with it.I used to borrow the magazines and translate uniform articles on sheets of school notebooks. these I stored in see-through holdalls in binders. This was the beginning of the Big System.
This all stimulated my interestin history through hmy imagination. And all that translating helped my German in school aswelll.I grew up with Napoleon and Frederick the Great. Today I wasable to thabk her for that.


GratefulFrank

Welll, I have woken up and am watching a programme abou cats. life's good. I am soo lloking forward to Mrs Creemr's visit this sfternoon. When I was younger she had a great influence on my fascination with military history, which I appreciate to yhis very day.

Frank

Check these out!
Celtic Boast Battle Song (rap)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXgtZbrcxBQ&feature=relateand and
anad for Goth magazine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3VZWjUVvw&feature=related
Sparta, the school musical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmK6LUavR0&feature=related

enjoy, my friends

Frank

Horrible histories

one of the best and most interesting and funny things on T.V. is Horriblr jistoris in the BBD(mostly CBBC on BBC 1). lAST WEEK THEY HAD A pROM PARTY (H.H, at the Proms amd yesterday they broadcast the best songs again, And now I've found them on Youtube. So, enjoy!
Cleopatra song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU2ixWRTfMc&feature=related
Boudicca songhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL7YZVenxMI



Chsrles IIraps to Eminemhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2kyNbZc7oc&feature=related

King Richard III complains abou how his reputation has been savaged by Tudor propaganda and Skakespeare:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6JczvS1PL4&feature=related/

This is a good way to stimulate an interest in history smong kids.Better than anything I've ever seen on Dutch T.V!!



Historically minded Frank

Mates

Thinking back a little bit on yesterday, I have to think o Rense, who is becoming a real good mate.. I can fool around with him, play a game and have a serious conversation.Things cannot get better! When, during the wreathlaying, the poem:"Asprcial plce"was read, I came close to tears, and could lean on Rense. Furthermorem the fact that we share intersts makes me cherish our friendship all the more.

Enough sappy writing for now.

Greetings
Frank

Arnhem Sunday

Yesterday Esther took me and Rense to OOsterbeek to attend the wreathlaying at the Ai Despatch Memorial. It was wonderful. I was dwlighted to see so many people of the Air Despatch Association again, and the wrethlaying went really well. Ronald vanMaanen had taken ovwe my duties as "compere"and did so really well.
Evn better, at times during the sevice I was able to stand up and even walk a few steps, with the support o Esther and Rense.
All in all, I returned to Kalorama, much happier. The fact that theAir Despatch association and the lads of 47 Air Despatch Squadron are thinking of me is a terrific morale boost for this week. it also rubbed my nise in an old fact:"You're gonna reap just what you sow (Lou Reed, A perfect day)". THis day gave me a great feeling of empowerment and I cherisheverybody who helped to make itpossible.Thank you.

Greetings to all my readers

Frank

Sunday

Well,
all dressed up and ready to go to Oosterbrrk.

but I will only be pickrd up at 15.00jrs. I look forward to seeing as many old friends as possible and sprinklig some whisky on the sites where the ashes of two of them are buried. I remember their friendship with profound gratitude, I want to behave in such a way that my current friends remember me similarly.


Weather is good

Green on!

Frank

Good day

I have just returned from the museum by taxi where I witnessed the hsnfing over of the last four standards of branches of the Market Garden VeteransAssociation, A moving ceremony.
Rense was there as well and I noticed a lack of ready knowledge on WWW2 detai (badges, insignia, medals, e.a,. I have promised mysrlf thst in the months to come I will do my best tocorrect that situation!PoorRense will be bored out of his skullm but there is no hrlping that.
another bit of good news:themissing GHS bag was at the museum, and niw is here. I'd like to do nothing better than lie ub=n bed ab=nd read, butthey won't let me...

Greetings


Frank

I do not feel well, probably çause I caught a flu or the effubg cold. I am hyperventilating;do not feel good at a;lll.

Frank

Yesterday evening, I did not feel well. Astrong pressure on my left chest , over my heart When I alerted the staff, they saud:"It is nothing, waitfor your pills, go to sleep"t made me doubt what (if any) they ;earned in med school. because such chest pain is one of the symptoms of a heart attack. But it coulf not have been one, as my bloodpressure was good (they checked) and my temperature likewise. This morning, much the same.


Frank

This morning

This morning everything went pear-shaped. The staff was supposed to get me out of bed read to be pivked up by Esther ar 08.15. When Esther arrived at that time I was stilll gathering ZZZzzz's. I do not know what went wrong, but neither esther or O could see the humour of it, so off we went. Now I am back in my room,

Greetings
Frank

Dynusars

yesterday evening I watched Planet Sinosaur on BBC 1, followed by Who dou you think you sre. All in all, a good solid nights vieuwing. OnPlanet Dinosaur they showed reconstructions of two nre species, the Spinosaur sn the Carcharedototodonsaurus.A beast 17 metres long and weighing several tonnes! I am glad they ar exrinct by now, because if they were around today, I at most would make a tasty snack fo them. This reminds me of a1930'sboys adventurenovel, called Voyage to Mars I used to have. In it, ouintrepid heros travel to Mars by balloon and find there theremnants of an old civilisation. However, it is beset by wilddinosaurslike I have just described. But men would not be men if they did not remember the fomula for gunpowder.Bye, bye, dino's!
all of this gives me time to wonder: What is it good for? Has anything I have done in my life been worthwhile? I'd like to think severeal thingswere, but I'd like to hear your commrnts. I only hope I have not beenboring evereybody out of their skulls.

In closing:at 4.00 hrs. I will walk again!


Greetings

Frank

TV good, TV bad

Yesterday evening was interesting on T.V. AT 21.00 hrs there was James May's Toy Stories on Discovery, all abot model trains> James wanted to build a midel railway fromBarnstaple to Bridepor and almost succeeeded. To me it was another bout of nostalgia, as I started off with model railways before going on to kits. In all honesty, the most beautiful and impressive model railway I ever saw was the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg(thanks for the tio, Sef!), This m.orning all there was was that dreary RTL koffietijd, withh thoseoild tarts Loretta Schrijver et al. There also was a soi-disant painter and some goodwill ambassadors of charity. all in all, my mood changed, I felt myself echoing the words ofthe papal legate at the siege ofToulouse:"caedite eos. novit enimDominusqui sun"teius". loosely trandlated:"Kill them all, lrt God sortém out".I got so sick of RTL I turned to JabBlokker's"Het Vooroudergevoel". I blogged about this before: it is a very well written book and it is a joy tonread. I can hearitly recommend it to all my readers.

greetings from Kalorama

historical Frankie

Arnhem weekend request

Coming weekend is the big commemoration of market-gargen. I long to go and attend the ceremonies, but clearly, in a wheelchair I am not getting far. Therefore I would like to ask if somebody can take me there )preferably on Sunday)/ M any thanks in advance

Greetings
sFrank

Adapting

I am slowly realising what the stroke has done to me. I try to regain as much as I could as possible, withthe help of the staff here at Kalorama.

Greetings


Frank

Tuesday

Yesterday evening was no much, T.Vwise. Howeverthe bbc RODE TO THE RESCUE WITH THE FIRST IN SERIES ABOUT ROYAL PALACES in Britain. This time it was all sbout Buckingham palace. Yhey have a lot of beautiful artworks thereÏt's good to be the queen(with apologies to MelBrooks). Antiques Master was interesting also. this Morning I woke up with a programme about kittes..aaaawwwww....cuuuuute!!!!Happy zFrankie is going for breakfast now

Greetings from me


Frank

IT IS MONDAY MORNING

iT ISmONDAY MORNING AND i FEEL PRETTY GOOD BECAUSE i HAVE PLENTY TO reAD:BOOKS, TWO AGAINST the Odds and luckily the latest Vae Victis((number 100!) sadly, it came without a game, but I have plenty to sink my teeeth imto eith the Against the Odds. I feel like I have to write a new artivle for the C.B. NEWSLETTER. iN SHORT, I alwayshave to keeep mysrlf busy. Writing stuff for Marleen is a large part of it. THe readers of the C.B nresletter is abig fanclub of mine and I cannot afford to keep them waiting. Furtermore, eriting gives me the opportunity to pass on all the informaton I gathered over the years.I flatter myself with the thought that somebidy, somewhere down the line will profit from having read my stuff, now, is'nt that arrogace for you? Ot is just my internal history teacher coming out...


Greetings from my bureau..


FRANK WHO IS ON THE VERGE OF MORE WAKING THERAPY.

amersfoort

i have been to the Ducosim gaming meet inAmersfoort, courtese of Han Heidema , who Picked me uo here and brought me back, and Mathieu de Hingh, who got me back to Kalorama.The hunt was succesful and the gods were pleased(many new games were added to the collection).. i boughtKarelia'44' Jours de GloireCampagne Allemagne 1813' 'the latest C3I abd the lst two Against the Odds, Hungarisan Nightmare en The Lash of the Yurk.met name dat laatste onderwerp interesseert mij zeer:de expansie van de Ottomane! Tot aan Webeb. Veel overgelezebn en gezien. Can' wait to play it.


Content. frank

Memoriesyesterday I

Yesterday I was watching Megafactoriesin NatGeo TV. It all was about Pierce , anAmerican factorynof big ladder trucks for FireDepartments. It reminded mr I used to have a Dinky Toy of such a truck , and how I did play with it! I remember it stimulated my fantasy, and in my imagination I saw it all happening. The same process takes place in my brain when I am wargaming, which makes sufferingnlosses less attractive. Now you will say:"It is only cardboard and cardboard does not bleed", but Ii have been close to tears when I lost a crucial unit or my ship in W S&IM.oh, well. Itbis one way of stimulating an interest innhistory. Yesterday mothwr lent me another way.:Jan Blokker's Het Vooroudergevoel. I brgan to read itvyesterday and by noew am deep in it. The book is injteresting and well written, to sayvthevvery least.
Thebook was not thebonly hibg mum broughtvyesterday.there also were two herrings, which meantbherring for dinner and breakfast. yYum! Thanks , ma!
In closing a message for Marleen fomk Casus Belli. I do have email now, so stand by for new articles!

A.ontented Frank

Hsd a good Nights sleep. I am looking forward to the herring mother brought yesterday. One bit of good news. It now looks as if Han Heidema will collect me ob Saturday to go to Ducosin in Amersfoort. i am looking foward to it!!

Wargame-writing Frank greets you from behind his computer and should get back to workmon a new articleASAP.

Waking, morning T. v

After a good nights sleep, dreaming of cats,i awoke and checked animal planet.they had a programme about A merica's Cutest Cats. Th cutest cat was the surprised kitten Attilla. This was followed by cats101 about kittens. My serotonin level went through thevroof thid morning.

Happily purring Frank

Visit

Yesterday my sister Marieke came to visit to discuss some financial matters. She brought her son Sef along. sef is doing very well at s.ccer and has been selrcted fo G competition inAmsterdam! I amsef is a delightful nine year old boy and I love seeing him. Marieke had brought an original present fo my fifty fourth birthday: a German desk calendar for 2012 with photo's of cats. lovely, to say the least. Sef and I went out and visited Ginger and together fed Ginge cat bonbons.because Sef has just had his birthday and is saving for an I-psd of his own, I made a nice donation to that goal. It was soooo nice to see Esrher, Marieke and Sef again. I care so much for them.

Greetings fromk my bed

Frank in a fuzzy morning glow.

airborne March disaster

Yesterday I went on the Airborne March inOosterbeek with my friebnds louis and Mathieu. We did not even get halfway before things went wrong. InOn a2wooded trackthe left front wheel of my wheeelchair broke. The spokes broke off st the axle a an I could notmove. i Itnymore.it turnsout the whheels were mase ofshoddy plastic instead of metal. Louis and Mathieu and Rense got me to a first aid podst. There I was picked up by a minivan of the Renkum fire department who brought meback to the parking lot where Louis had parked his car. All in all, by 17.0000hrs I was back at Kalorama.
There were severeal light points yesterdy.1)The help by the Renkum Fire Department. my hat is off to them. are truly wonderful professionals.
2) the prsence of Door an Roeland, daughter and son of my friend Louis Kolkman. These are teo delightful kids, and to me it was sheer pleasure to have them around. At times I nnoticed I was wishing they were my kids instrad of Louis'. last week they were active with thr Limburg Gestival in Nijmegen as well. i take great pleasure in lending them my Terry Jones DVD oN the Middle Ages and my Funcken books on the same subject. To me passing on what I have learnt or collected to others who are interested is one of the great plraessures of life (that includes you, Zaagstra!). Ifvthe kids of a good friend can profit by this, I feel so much better and richer!

Greetings fron my room at Kalorama

airborne March disaster

Yesterday I went on the Airborne March inOosterbeek with my friebnds louis and Mathieu. We did not even get halfway before things went wrong. InOn a2wooded trackthe left front wheel of my wheeelchair broke. The spokes broke off st the axle a an I could notmove. i Itnymore.it turnsout the whheels were mase ofshoddy plastic instead of metal. Louis and Mathieu and Rense got me to a first aid podst. There I was picked up by a minivan of the Renkum fire department who brought meback to the parking lot where Louis had parked his car. All in all, by 17.0000hrs I was back at Kalorama.
There were severeal light points yesterdy.1)The help by the Renkum Fire Department. my hat is off to them. are truly wonderful professionals.
2) the prsence of Door an Roeland, daughter and son of my friend Louis Kolkman. These are teo delightful kids, and to me it was sheer pleasure to have them around. At times I nnoticed I was wishing they were my kids instrad of Louis'. last week they were active with thr Limburg Gestival in Nijmegen as well. i take great pleasure in lending them my Terry Jones DVD oN the Middle Ages and my Funcken books on the same subject. To me passing on what I have learnt or collected to others who are interested is one of the great plrasures of life (that includes you, Zaagstra!). Ifvthe kids of a good friend can profit by this, I feel so much better and richer!

Greetings fron my room at Kalorama

Chasser la misere

Yesterday, to my great joy, Esther brought mr my foWargames Foundry books and a box o Airfix magazines. Enough for a nice evening , comfortably wallowing in nostalgia. Now I am on the verge of going to OOsterbeek. i am curious tosee what it will be luie.

Wallowing nostalgic Frank

yesterdays TV;this morning

Well, it is September 2, my birthday. I now am fifty-four. Yesterday's TV was interesting. Megafactories was all about Lego. It reminded meof when I was young.I used to make galleys out of Lego and ram them intobeach other. Thenthe crews (Airfix Romans and Ancient Britonds)Britons)would fight it out, usind Don Featherstone's Ancient rules.that is what comes from watching BenHur too much. Blissful memories.this morning I hsd the proverbisl shit, shower and a shave.

ramming speed Frank

Tomorrow 2 september birthday FRANK

Between 14.30-16.30 tea, coffe, cake is served celebrating Franks Birthday,
Welcome if you want,
Esther

Dreamtime

Once moreI dreamt of all the2argames and magazinrs I miss. The list is too long to give itvhere.


.homesick Frank

still not doing much. WatchingTV (Battlefield Britain on DVD) and doing a bit of writing on a new article for Marleen.The article is coming along fine.

Frank

I have justawakened and had breakfast. Idreamt ofvthecwargaming magszines I still misss. I am now watching Bsttlefield Britain and working on a new article for the C B Newsletter.


Frank

Sick

I am feeling very homesick at the moment.i miss my books, magaInes and wargames like hell. I think a lot of Wargames illustrated, Vae Victis, the Arquebusier, command, Strategy and Tactics, and books likw War Games by Donald Featherstone, Solo-Wargaming ang Wargaming, ancient and Medieval Periods by the same author, and many more. I remember them, and Imagine what I read in them. i learnt so much from them.
A homesick Frank

Yesterday'BBCyesterday eveningbthe

Yesterdaybevening BBC 1 suprised me with a special in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was stunningly beautiful. There were so many bands. The highlightdswere the Dutch Trompetterkorps Bereden Wapens, disguised as the band of the Regiment Wielrijders in the thirties.I was especially impressed with the pipes, drums and band of the Brasilian Fusileiros Navais (Marine Corps) who went sambaing with their bsgpiprs. a sight to see, indeed. Then I watched The Far Pavillions and went to sleep, dreaming of books and wargames I long for, but which are still in my flat. Drat!!I long to share all my books with my good friends. Already I have given quite a bit away, and more await. One rhing, though. Last weekend Walter Zaagman remarked that all I have done is turb the Frankish Sucession Wars into the Frankish Successor Wars. My good friends will fight amongst each other for who gets2what. This was never my intention.. I just want to see my friends and others happy! I am looking for the best way to do this. With regard to the Airborne Walk, I am looking forward to it and bring a booklet witg ltyrics of wrong songs to sing along the way.like, for example, "Leprosy", sung to "yesterday by the Beatles."Leproy, I'm not half the man I usrd to br, Little bits keep falling off of me, Oh, Leprosy came suddenly".
it looks like we'll have a lot of naughty fun on Saturday....

Frank who is busy working on new stuff for Marleen.

Airborne march, coming weekend.

Dear all,

I just talked to Frank about the Airborne march, coming weekend. Frank and I ,and my two kids, will be going to Oosterbeek at around 8:15 hours, and we expect to arrive there around 9:15 hours. I plan on dropping Frank off at the start, park the car and then enter us as individuals for the 10 km march, after which we will probably start at about 10:15 hours. If there are any others who would like to help me push the wheelchair, and spend a few hours with Frank, do some light walking, enjoy the scenery, and watch lots of people, then Frank will be waiting for you at the beginning of the admission stands from about 9:15 hours until 10:00 hours. My kids and I will also be there.
Hope to see you there.

Louis Kolkman

Bhitor

I have just awakened and am watching The Far Pavillions on DVD. I remember reading the novel when I was a lot younger.they filmed it well.the uniforms are correct, as far as I an tell. The book and the movie have fuelled my fascination for India.

Greetings

frank

GHS bag question

Has anyone seen Frank's black and white GHSbag, he's very proud of it, and was very pleased by the gift. But somehow it seems to have disappeared. I've no clou were it can be, so if anyone has an idea, please let us know!
Esther and Frank

progress

This afternoon All went qell with walking in Fysio. Rense was there and was duly impressed. My fysiotherapist also told me that on Thursday at 16:00hrs somebody will come fromthe St. Maartsensklibiwk POM to measure me up for a brace on my left leg.


Greetings


Frank

More on yesterdsy

One thing that was noticeable yesterday was the nearly constant procession of little knights and princesses past the CB stand, sometimes accompanied by rheir parents. In th big patade at the end there was also a little girl gooseherding real geese. They all looked adorable. One of the delights of manning a stand inthe centre of Nijmegen. Now to see what thappens today. More therapy, no doubt.


Frank

Today, thanks to rhe unstinting help of andré Steenveld and Mathieu de Hingh, I was able to visit the medieval festival in Nijmegen.it wqs really good. Casus Belli had anice stand that drew in a lot of passers.- by. I have good hope some of these will become members in due time. It was all very atmospheric and amusing. I manGed to acquire a bottle of herbal wine. Good stuff. In short, I am very content with this day.

Medieval Frank

Off we go

In few hours I will be picked up to go to Nijmegen.there is a Middle Ages festival and CB is trying to tecruit new members. i am looking forward to iy.

Frank

visits

This afternoon I was visited by Mathieu de Hingh and Walter Zaagman. i gave Walter two books and about a dozen brochures on various obscure subjects of military history. Strange as it soundsmay sound, I felt really good to give all that away.it feels good to give away what I have collected. it is not worth much if I can not share it with good friends I care deeply for.

Frank in a generous mood

Saturday morning

I have just awakened after a good night sleeping. I am looking forward to what I can do today. I just transferred out of bed into the chair and thrn onto the toilrt for my morning dump. All went well and I am back in my chair again.

Cheerful Frank

Yesterday, tomybgreat joy, Esther brought me some of my favourite things. Th DVD set o Charles II, the poer and the passion, a dramatized biography of king CharlesIi and his ladies. The interestinf thing is that the actors and actresses look renarkably like the hidtorical countrrparts, or their portraits, anyway. Anither thing I am enjoying at the moment is Simon Schama's A History of Britain, the complete sereies, a set of six DVD's. The last thing Esther brought me was a wargame, Imperium Romanum II. This is a very intersting game to study and play, and i intend to do a Newsletter article on it.


Busy,busy

Frank

i have just rsturned fromFysio, where I walked again. I walked with a four legand a simple walking stick. All the walking went well.more walking tomorrow.


Frank

Yesterday's TV

Yesterday's T V was very interesting,indeed. First off, at 08.30on BBC 1 there was National Trasures Live,.this time it was about an archaeological dig at Shakespeare's house in Stratford upon Avon. In addition, there was an item on the Industrial Revolutionin Preston.this was followedbothon BBC andTLC by Who do you think you are, very interesting indeed. On TLC Brooke Shields discovered
This morning into her family past aNd disco she isis related to th French kings HenriIV and Loyis XIV. In between there was Village SOS on BB.c1.
This morning I awoke with Cats101' a lovely programme about different cat races.
One viiewing tip:Saturday,BBC1at 20:10 hrs:the beginning of the new series of Dr. who! Keep an yeye out, guys. It will be worth it.

greetings

Frank

Intromarkt HAN

I have just returnEd from the HAN introduction, where CB hsd a stand. I was collected and transported by andre sr. It all qent very qell. The transfers into and outvof the car and back went aell-oiled.it was vreat to be at an introduction again and see so many known faces.this opens perspectives for the future, when rhere are other things to visit. Coming Sunday the Limburg Brothers festical in Nijnmegen. I am looking forward to it.

A contentFrank

Wednesday

It now is Qednesday morning. In a few hours I will see the revalidation Doctor about a frame for my left leg, and then I am off to the HAN introductiob to visit the CB stand and lend a hand.

Greetungs


Frank

Monday evenibg visits;

On Monday evening Esther paid me a visit and she brought a brick wrapped in silk.This deacription applies to Burmese cats, but also cats in general. In this case it was little MukMuk, who was at his most adorable bwhaviour. How sweet a cat can be, and how relaxing they are. Unfortunatelyhe brought some unwelcome guests.i was bitten all wvening by, they were fleas. My suggestion: Get some anti-flea stuff for pets, like Frontline Combo. apart of that Muk'muk's visit was a great joy. Cats are quite wonderful creatures and my fondnrss for cats increases exponentially. This morning I practised a lot if tranafwrs from bed to chair and vice versa and all qent vwry well. So I am satisfied with that.

A content and bitten
Frank

Monday morning

Well, it is Monday morning . I am watching xena on DVD and Cats 101 on Animal Planet. The cat programme was very interesting.
Greetings from
Catty Frank

Sunday fternoon

This sfternoon, I was visited by niek van Diepen and Mathieu de Hingh. We nearly played a wargame. it was very good to see such old opponents and friends again.

Greetings

Frank

Prospe ts

I am curious to see how therapyvwill go next week

Frank

Wake

Well I have awakened. yesterday walking did not go well. I am curious to see how it willgo next. Stay tuned.

Yesterday

Yesterday's TV was very interesting, indeed. On the BBC first of all we had National Treasures Live, featuring H!S Warrior in Portsmouth. This was followed by Who do you think you are, about J.K rowling. it turned out some of her anceztors lived in Alsace and first were French and aftwr 1870-71 they were German. Another ancestor fought in World War I in the French Army at Fort vaux, Verdun in 1916. Fascinating stuff, all in all. So much better than what Dutch TV had on offer!

i am looking forward to what today will bring.


Frank

Movement day

Yesterday was movement day for Frank to a spare room, at last! It's in the same department, the first room on your right if you enter Kastanjedal. There's a sign on the door, you can't mis it. And Mathieu, Rense, Andre and I did some decorating last evening. For a nursing home room it's quite cosy and the Frank atmosphere is gradually growing, you'll understand what I mean if you enter the room. And the best part, Frank helped moving, trippling with his wheelchair up and down the hallway with his toilet stuff, books etc. He looks happy to me there. Thanks folks for helping out last night,
Ciao Esther

Airfix

JamesMay's programme was very good it reminded me of what I owe Airfix. For starters., it helped mr learn English and military history? It alo improved my motor skills and hand-eye coordination.it aldso kept me busy.


Franl

Therapy

i have just returned fromFysuotherapy.the Nres is good:I now am walking with a ealking stick, not a four-leg stick. This is progresss and I am happy with the progresd. Morw ob Thursday!
Frank

Wat hto ight

I havw an unteresrinf tup foe wvweybodt:tonifht, on discovwey Channel, at 21:000hrs:James may's Toy Stories, about Airfix. Be prepared for an evening of nostalgia for a m(says he who has completesets of Airfix Magazinr from the 1960's to1983 in bis fla. A. Ice goldmine of information....



Modelling Frank(who will watch!)