THE BATTLE

The Battle of Arnhem took place in World War Two at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. The British 1st Airborne Division and Polish Parachute Brigade fought an outstanding and heroic battle over 9 days, from 17 to 26 September 1944, in and around the city of Arnhem. Through circumstances outside of their control they found themselves heavily outgunned and outnumbered. Hence they failed in their main mission to capture the vital bridge over the river Rhine. However their outstanding fighting spirit prompted the Commander of the opposing German Forces, SS General Wilhelm Bittrich, a WW1 and Stalingrad veteran to comment: "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard". The battle was immortalised in the film “A Bridge Too Far”.

THE TEAM & THE TASK

Between 14 -20 Sep 24 this team successfully tabbed 248 miles from Aldershot, the spiritual home of Britain’s Airborne Forces, to the site of the battle in Arnhem. Each man coverered between 12-16 miles per day, carrying a 36lb bergan, for 6 days on the trot!

Pic 1. The Team assembles at the Airborne Statue Aldershot

Pic 2. The team step off at the start of 248 miles from the site of Montgomery Lines.

Pic 3/4. The team phot at the Dakota in Merville Barracks Colchester

Pic 5. En Route by the DZ on Ginkel Heide

Pic 6/7/8. The team reach the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem

Pic 9. Laying a wreath at the Silent March Ceremony. The Bear Pit

Pic 10/11. The DZ Ginkel Heide

Pic 12/13/14/15/16/17. The Memorial Service Oosterbeek Cemetery

THE AIM -

1. To commemorate and pay tribute to all those who fought, were wounded or captured, and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the Battle of Arnhem.

2. To raise money for 3 three very worthy causes. Support our Paras, Turn to Starboard and Bradbury House Adult Care Centre.

THE CHARITIES -

SUPPORT OUR PARAS – Provides relief from need, hardship and distress to members of the Airborne community past and present including families.

TURN TO STARBOARD - Helps serving and retired Armed Forces personnel, and their families, readjust after operational tours and assist them in meeting the unique demands placed on them by Service life. The focus is on resettlement, reintegration and reinforcing a sense of value and belonging. Support also extends to frontline NHS staff and Emergency Services staff impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

BRADBURY HOUSE ADULT CENTRE - Bradbury House provides a respite service to families who have a family member with severe learning disability and physical needs. In this case one of our marching veteran team members has an adult son who requires 24 hour a day/365 days a year care. This service is not “just a break” but absolutely vital to the family’s wellbeing. Small establishments like this can only survive with charitable support.