A Birmingham Squadron is going to Holland to take part in the annual Airborne March, Cadets from 2504 ( Archbishop Grimshaw School ) Sqn, Air Training Corps were joined by cadets and staff from neighbouring 1459 (Heart Of England ) Sqn to meet a real Arnhem veteran.

Sapper Tom Carpenter who is the grandfather of CI Gemma Carrpenter visited the unit to meet the cadets and give them an insight of his part in the battle.

Sapper Tom Carpenter flew to Holland in the first wave of gliders, which landed in an area which is now a golf course near to the village of Wolfheze . He along with his comrades from 9 Airborne Engineers then made their way to the railway bridge. Tom recalled how he and his team entered the bridge quickly, gained 45 yards and then exited at ‘double double time' when the German engineers blew the bridge to prevent its capture.

He then told the cadets of his exploits, whilst holed up near the town centre, he was sent back to a fortified house to pass a message, he lost count of the number of fences he had climbed, entered the wrong house to find it occupied by Germans, who he is accredited with capturing.

Wounded three times in the battle, Tom was left behind during the retreat. He was captured and spent the rest of the war as a POW in a camp next door to the infamous Bergen Belsen concentration camp.

Tom gave a wonderful insight into the battle, and gave the cadets extra reason to remember the fallen on their visit. A list of all 9 Regt RE has been obtained and the cadets will seek to remember them with tributes on Toms behalf on their visit.

Pictured are 10 of the 2504 cadets who will be travelling to Arnhem along with Sapper Tom Carpenter.

During the trip, the cadets followed the route taken by XXX Corps as they attempted to break through into Arnhem . Their guide, Maj Bob Darby took them to many of the landing sites, and major scenes of the battle.

Whilst at Arnhem itself, the cadets were shown the area where Tom and his colleagues fought bitter house to house combat.

Following their battlefield tour, the cadets attended the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Oosterbeek. Whilst there, the cadets found the graves of all Toms compatriots and laid memorial crosses.

The cadets took part in the annual Airborne march on Saturday 4 September, which was preceded by a special Cadet 150 presentation

This is the first time, that cadets from 2504 Sqn have been involved in such an activity, which Cpl Mulvey described as ‘Awesome', and Sgt Pearn reflected on how much she and the other cadets had been inspired. Even now, some 3 weeks after the event, the cadets are still on a high about their experience.

Flt Lt M Aftab Officer Commanding 2504 ( Archbishop Grimshaw School ) Squadron said, “This was the unit's first overseas venture since I took command at 2504, and I would like to pass my thanks to the staff who organised the event”.

Article Submitted by:-
Flt Lt M Aftab Officer Commanding2504 (Archbishop Grimshaw School) Squadron
02 Oct 10