Battlefield stories and news from the WWII battlefields of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/enhttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/de-naald-airborne-monument-oosterbeek/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/de-naald-airborne-monument-oosterbeek/De Naald stands opposite the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein. The villagers of Oosterbeek built it themselves, honouring the 1st British Airborne Division that fought and fell around them in September 1944.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:47:52 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/samuel-swarts-oosterbeek/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/samuel-swarts-oosterbeek/A Jewish furniture maker who escaped deportation, Samuël Swarts died carrying water to the wounded at Oosterbeek in September 1944, and lies among the British airborne he served.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:13:44 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/lonsdale-speech-oosterbeek/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/lonsdale-speech-oosterbeek/An arm in a sling, a bandaged head, a wounded leg. Major Lonsdale climbed the pulpit of Oosterbeek Old Church and spoke to the survivors of Arnhem.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:05:32 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/temporary-american-cemetery-son/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/temporary-american-cemetery-son/For a few years after 1944, a field near the Waterhoef farm at Son held one of the first American cemeteries in the Netherlands. German prisoners dug the graves, and the dead were later moved to Margraten.Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:41:27 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/urquhart-house-zwarteweg-14/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/urquhart-house-zwarteweg-14/Zwarteweg 14 in Arnhem looks like any other terraced house. In September 1944 the commander of the 1st British Airborne Division hid in its attic while a German assault gun blocked the street outside.Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:16:03 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/barracuda-sherman-tank-bastogne/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/barracuda-sherman-tank-bastogne/Two holes in the armour and four of five crew who came home. The story of Barracuda, the Sherman that has stood on McAuliffe Square in Bastogne since 1946.Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:41:54 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/market-garden-briefing-leopoldsburg/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/market-garden-briefing-leopoldsburg/A Sherman tank outside Leopoldsburg station marks where Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks handed XXX Corps the plan for Operation Market Garden, one day before it began.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:25:45 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/thinking-he-was-safe-the-final-journey-of-flight-officer-dana-t-mudd/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/thinking-he-was-safe-the-final-journey-of-flight-officer-dana-t-mudd/On the edge of the Dutch town of Uden, the war entered a dangerous in-between phase in September 1944. Uden had been liberated during Operation Market Garden on 19 September by the Guards Armoured Division. The front appeared to have moved on, but it had not yet settled. Three days later, on 22 September, German […]Thu, 28 May 2026 06:39:20 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/waal-river-crossing-documentary/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/waal-river-crossing-documentary/WAAL RIVER CROSSING: 1944, narrated by Paul Giamatti, is now out. I served as the on-camera historian for this World War II Foundation account of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s daylight assault across the Waal at Nijmegen.Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:57 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/a-new-memorial-to-captain-lionel-queripel-vc-at-wolfheze/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/a-new-memorial-to-captain-lionel-queripel-vc-at-wolfheze/Captain Lionel Queripel VC stayed behind alone in a ditch near Wolfheze on the evening of 19 September 1944, covering his men’s withdrawal with an automatic pistol and a few grenades. A new memorial to him was unveiled in May 2026 by the Friends of the 10th opposite the culvert near where he was last […]Thu, 21 May 2026 09:48:44 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/the-surviving-german-anti-tank-blocks-at-nijmegen-bridge/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/the-surviving-german-anti-tank-blocks-at-nijmegen-bridge/On the north bank of the Waal at Nijmegen, close to where the road bridge comes down on the Lent side, two grey concrete blocks stand in the open. They are scarred, weathered, and easy to walk past without a second look. They are also among the last surviving pieces of German road defence of […]Thu, 14 May 2026 09:59:42 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/robert-cole-the-medal-of-honor-he-never-knew-he-had-won/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/robert-cole-the-medal-of-honor-he-never-knew-he-had-won/A parachute-shaped stone stands at the edge of a field in Best, in the Netherlands. The marker carries the Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, and it sits next to the ground where he was killed. The memorial was unveiled on 18 September 2009, the 65th anniversary of his death, with his […]Fri, 08 May 2026 10:35:16 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/tripadvisor-travellers-choice-2026/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/tripadvisor-travellers-choice-2026/News from last week. The Battlefield Explorer Tours has received a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Award for the fourth year in a row, placing it in the top 10% worldwide in the Things to Do category. That judgement doesn’t come from Tripadvisor itself. It comes from the people who have travelled with […]Fri, 01 May 2026 17:16:14 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/polish-parachute-brigade-banner-hartenstein/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/polish-parachute-brigade-banner-hartenstein/The banner of Sosabowski’s Polish paratroopers, smuggled out of Warsaw, anchors a temporary exhibition at the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek.Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:19:31 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/interviewed-by-tourpreneur/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/interviewed-by-tourpreneur/A couple of years ago I sat down with Tourpreneur, a platform focused on helping tour operators build sustainable, professional businesses. In the interview I talk openly about how I turned a long-standing obsession with WWII battlefields into full-time work. We cover how I got started, why I chose to focus on places like Arnhem, […]Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:38:20 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/were-a-2025-tripadvisor-travellers-choice-winner-thanks-to-you/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/were-a-2025-tripadvisor-travellers-choice-winner-thanks-to-you/We’re proud to share some exciting news: The Battlefield Explorer has been awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2025. This award is given to the top 10% of attractions, worldwide, and is based entirely on consistently strong reviews from real travelers over the past year. That means it wasn’t chosen by a panel or […]Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:51:01 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/five-key-reasons-operation-market-garden-fell-short/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/five-key-reasons-operation-market-garden-fell-short/Operation Market Garden fascinates and frustrates me in equal measure. As a battlefield guide, I’ve walked these grounds countless times, explaining to visitors how a daring plan, which aimed to swiftly end World War II, unraveled so spectacularly. Here are the five critical reasons why Market Garden ultimately failed: 1. Flawed Allied Command Structure and […]Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:27:37 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/filming-a-suicide-mission-the-extraordinary-waal-river-crossing/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/filming-a-suicide-mission-the-extraordinary-waal-river-crossing/Yesterday was an incredible day spent along the banks of the Waal River in Nijmegen, working with Tim Gray and his fantastic documentary crew of the World War II Foundation. It’s not every day that I’m asked to participate in a documentary so this was very exciting. We’re filming a new documentary, which will be narrated […]Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:22:46 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/10-surprising-facts-about-the-1st-airborne-division-at-arnhem/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/10-surprising-facts-about-the-1st-airborne-division-at-arnhem/The Battle of Arnhem is one of those legendary WWII stories that never gets old—partly because there’s always more to discover. Operation Market Garden, launched in September 1944, was an audacious plan aiming to seize vital Rhine bridges with airborne forces deep behind enemy lines. Most people know the outline: brave paratroopers, fierce fighting, and […]Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:11:00 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/mentioned-in-pattons-prayer-alex-kershaw/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/mentioned-in-pattons-prayer-alex-kershaw/In 2023, I had the pleasure of guiding acclaimed author Alex Kershaw and his friends on a detailed battlefield tour around Bastogne. We explored key sites and discussed the compelling stories from this significant World War II battle. I was delighted to discover that Alex graciously mentioned our experience together in his latest book, Patton’s […]Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:27:36 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/andy-kutlers-latest-book-the-fight-of-their-lives/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/andy-kutlers-latest-book-the-fight-of-their-lives/I’m pleased to share that I’ve been mentioned in Andy Kutler’s new book, The Fight of Their Lives. Andy is known for careful research and engaging storytelling. He joined me for a battlefield tour while researching this World War II narrative. Our time on the battlefields went beyond historical facts. It was about experiencing the […]Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:04:00 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/on-tv-world-war-ii-secrets-from-above/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/on-tv-world-war-ii-secrets-from-above/In 2023 I was featured on the National Geographic series World War II: Secrets from Above! In Episode 4, Season 2 on Operation Market Garden I was one of the talking heads. My area of focus was the Waal Crossing and the battle for Nijmegen so we spend a lot of time on the bridge […]Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:32:00 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/ww2tv-cutting-hells-highway-koevering/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/ww2tv-cutting-hells-highway-koevering/It’s been on YouTube for more than four years but I’d thought I’d post it here too. For the excellent WW2TV YoutTube channel by Paul Woodadge I hosted a Battlefield Livestream about the Cutting of Hell’s Highway at Koevering. With my wife Dorien and good friend Edwin we were able to show live footage from […]Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:00:00 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/in-the-footsteps-of-flight-engineer-alock-196-squadron/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/in-the-footsteps-of-flight-engineer-alock-196-squadron/Yesterday was one of those magical tours. With his son and wife we followed in the footsteps of Flight Engineer Alcock of 196 Sqdn RAF. He flew 4 missions in a Short Stirling to Arnhem, two towing a glider and two resupply mission. They kindly supplied me with a copy of his flight log and […]Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:15:53 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/operation-market-garden-80th-anniversary-events-near-eindhoven-and-veghel/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/operation-market-garden-80th-anniversary-events-near-eindhoven-and-veghel/This is a non exhaustive and probably incomplete list of upcoming 80th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden events that are planned in the 101st Airborne Area, between Eindhoven and Veghel: Air Assault demonstration near Veghel: On 17 September near Veghel the 101st Airborne division and the Dutch Air Mobile brigade will perform a massive air […]Sun, 04 Aug 2024 11:38:28 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/a-battlefield-tour-with-the-dutch-army-reserves/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/a-battlefield-tour-with-the-dutch-army-reserves/This battlefield tour was a nice change of pace after a number of tours with small private groups. With no less than 75 men and women from the Dutch Army Reserves we visited the Hell’s Highway area between Son en Breugel and Veghel. The day began in Son near the bridge across the Wilhelmina canal […]Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:09:15 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/three-countries-in-one-day/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/three-countries-in-one-day/This year I’m expanding my work area a bit to include the Hurtgenwald and the Battle of the Bulge. After reading and studying for months it’s time to leave the safety of the office and go out and see the battlefields in real life. Boots on the ground is always very important to figure out […]Sun, 31 Mar 2024 12:45:45 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/in-the-footsteps-of-hugh-lake/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/in-the-footsteps-of-hugh-lake/Today we visited the Arnhem area in the footsteps of Lance Sergeant Hugh Lake from 9th Company Field Engineers / 1st Airborne Division who was awarded a DCM for his actions. We began on the landing zones and then followed the footsteps of his 3rd Platoon to both the Recce Ambush and the Hotel Wolfheze. […]Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:19:21 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/we-happy-few-easy-company-tour/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/we-happy-few-easy-company-tour/What a fantastic weekend, with We Happy Few 506 we organized a Band of Brothers event in Eindhoven. Present were Mark Laurence (Dukeman), Matthew Leitch (Talbert), Tim Matthew (Penkala) and Doug Allen (Moore). We began with a Q&A session In Eindhoven at Lab-1 (highly recommend!) which was a very nice and intimate evening in which […]Mon, 02 May 2022 19:32:00 GMThttps://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/liberation-of-sint-michielsgestel-77/https://thebattlefieldexplorer.com/battlefield-blog/liberation-of-sint-michielsgestel-77/On October 23rd 1944 the village of Sint-Michielsgestel was liberated by British troops of the 7th Battalion Black Watch, part of the 51st Highland Division. The attack was part of Operation Pheasant and the men were approaching from the direction of Schijndel, and being driven in Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carriers (basically Sherman tanks without turrets) […]Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:04:54 GMT