For the 5 th consecutive year Cadets and Staff from our Wing travelled to Holland to take part in the 65th Airborne “Wandeltoch”or Commemorative March. The annual march is to commemorate the anniversary of the battle of Arnhem fought from 17-27 September 1944.

The four day trip included a guided tour of the route taken by the British XXX Corps

“Hells Highway” which had attempted to relieve the 1 st Airborne Division trapped in Arhnem.

We detoured slightly to visit the final resting place of, Sgt John Henry Hollis RAFVR a former member of 1459 (Heart of England) Sqn ATC who as a crew member of a Lancaster Bomber was shot down whilst returning from a raid over Germany in 1944. OC 1459 along with a few of his Cadets laid a wreath on Sgt Hollis’s gravestone.

The tour passed through locations fought for by the American Airborne Divisions at the Grave, Son and Eiendoven Bridge’s and visited British, Polish and American Landing and Drop Zones. In addition we visited a number of memorials and actual battle sights some still bare the scars of battle and are vivid testimony to the ferocity of the fighting.

We crossed into Germany to visit the Reichwald Forrest Commonwealth War Cemetery. The Reichswald is the largest WW2 cemetery, there are many RAF and Commonwealth airmen buried here and it was for our group an emotional visit with personal tears shed. You cannot help to be touched and overwhelmed by the sight of thousands of headstones, in particular how young they were, so many only 19. They have been laid to rest in immaculately kept and tranquil surroundings these heroes’s of a passed generation looked after so respectfully by the staff of the War Graves Commission.

Saturday was March day. The Arnhem March is the largest one day marching event in Europe which attracts over 30,000 participants. The day started early with a hearty breakfast to ready us for the days march. We were aware that the temperature for that day was going to be around 25-27 degrees.

Our cadets marched in teams over the 15 kilometre route this year however we started as a complete Wing marching passed the saluting base in front of VIP’s from UK, Holland and other EU countries. We were joined by other marching teams from the ATC and ACF as well as Dutch, Danish and German military Marching Teams but most importantly thousands of locals in a massed procession through Oosterbeek and the surrounding area.

Some of the route re traced the steps taken by Battalions of the 1 st Airborne Division. We had already paid our respects the day before at the Oosterbeek Cemetery. The Cemetery is a focus point and on March day thousands of people lay wreaths and the air is filled with the smell of flowers and this place of peace and tranquillity is turned into a mass shrine to honour the sacrifices made by these young men.

We marched the last 2 kms behind an impressive Dutch marching band to applause from locals and visitors who lined the streets. Our journey concluded at the park from where we set off, situated at the rear of the famous Hartenstein Hotel, now an Airborne museum which was the last stronghold defended by British and Polish paratroops.

Cadets described the feeling has “awesome “and were overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the occasion and how the Dutch still remember with gratitude the sacrifices of the allied forces.

Thanks to Major Bob Darby (rtd) of the Parachute Regiment who was our guide. .Major Darby enhanced the tour by imparting a wealth of information in his own inimitable style.

All staff and cadets enjoyed the experience and would gladly return. I would like to express our sincere thanks to Flt Lt Lamb, Flt Lt Glyn Slade and WO D Ariss for all their hard work and effort in organising and co-ordinating the tour.

Article Submitted by:-
Sqn Ldr Bob Foster RAF VR(T) for Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing
29 Sep 11