PArachute Association

 

 

 

Arnhem 17th September 2009


On Thursday 17th September our Branch set of on our Pilgrimage to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem in Holland. Members and families, some who have never been on a Battlefield pilgrimage before were in for an experience they would never forget.

We arrived in Rotterdam early on Friday morning and proceeded on to Arnhem, where we checked in to our hotel. That night we traveled to the bridge where, during the war, this was their main target, on the bridge were 160 pipers followed by the Standards of the Parachute regimental Association, all this was viewed by thousands of spectators, when they all arrived at the point of the original stone of the bridge a service was held and the Veterans and their families took part in what is known as the silent march to the centre of Arnhem.

On the Saturday we set of early to Ginkle Heath, this is where the main Airborne force was droped in on the morning of the actual battle. At 10am a re-inactment started with Airborne troops from the UK, America, Holland and Germany all Parachuted in from many various aircraft, some were from the 2nd world war, all this went on until late afternoon watched by an estimated 250,00 people, after the jumps were made a church service was held on the site to honour those who gave their lives at that battle.

On the Sunday, again we set of early to the town of Oosterbeek where most of the fighting took place around the houses of that town. This is where the War Cemetery is situated, with the Cemetery lined with Veterans, Airborne men past and present along with families and friends, the Children of the school who tend the graves all year round, walk into the Cemetery with flowers for each grave, this is a moment that cannot be described, it must be seen. After a moving service every person there took time to have their own quiet moment to reflect on the men who had fallen and to thank them all for what they had done.