Market Garden Commemmorations 2008

I’ve been to Arnhem three times now, twice for the official celebrations, the 60th was something else. As a brit I am truly humbled at the way the Dutch people remember the event. Anyone who has seen the flower children at the Service in the cemetry cannot fail to be moved. I will return another year.

Having been involved with testing military parachute systems the photo of the Maldrop was interesting especially if they were part of a single stick from the Dakota. I can’t help asking questions such as; How was the exit cadance controlled? and were the jumpers at the same all up mass.
Its also nice to see the LLP being used for double sticks from the Herc 4 – they really ought to do it at the minimum drop height one year, but that would mean most of the crowd on Ginkel Heath wouldn’t see them. :diablo:

Good to hear, thanks for the addition, and welcome to the forum. By the way, are you the same Jumposaurus as on the re-enactmentforum?

Yes, The one and only.

Not a major anniversary? Some figures…….

Somewhere in the region of 500 Dutch civilians were killed and injured during Operation Market garden.

The combined British, Polish and American casualties (dead, wounded and missing) was somewhere 15 and 17,000.

The German casualties were said to be between 7,500 and 10,000.

Might I ask you how many people you require to become casualties for an action to become significant and be accepted as a major anniversary? As an example, D-Day casualties for the Allies were estimated to be around 10,000 with 2,500 of those being killed.

I suggest, in the run up to the next Remembrance Day commemorations you stop the little old chap in the street wearing his Airborne Beret (with immense pride, might I add) and tell him that Operation Market Garden and the battle to hold the Bridge is not worthy of being considered to be a ‘major anniversary.’

On another note, thanks for posting such wonderful and evocative images. If there are more, perhaps of any of the Memorial events on the ground, I would be very eager to see them.

Regards,

kev35

Kev35

May I just clarify my comments earlier in this thread, I was merely making the point that these type of commemorations still take place even though it’s not the 65th, 70th anniversary etc which unfortunately needs to be the case for such commemorations to take place in this country. Apart from a few low key events that took place September 15th passed by unnoticed by the majority of the population. I’m sure you are aware of the number of military and civilian casualties suffered during the Battle of Britain.

I am fully aware of the casualties suffered during Market Garden as I am currently helping a friend research his Uncle’s participation with 30 Corps. He was to pay the ultimate sacrifice shortly after the evacuation of the Airborne troops.

Therefore I support any commemoration to remember those that payed for our freedom with their lives and I certainly do not see them as unworthy.

Regards,

Nick

Arjan.

Wonderful photo’s there from the Dutch forum you linked to. The Dakota passing over the road as the jeep drives past is a superb catch.

With my interest in Memorialisation it is nice to see these photo’s from the commemorations. There are of course two that stand out. Those being the veteran in front of the Memorial and the Veteran being assisted back to his wheelchair. I’ve been in similar situations myself and you have to record the moment but it still sometimes feels as if one is intruding. Then of course they come and ask you for a copy.

We can never fully understand what is passing through the minds of such men, all we can do is offer them our appreciation, our gratitude and our respect.

Thanks for the link. I have to admit one or two of those shots bought a tear to my eye.

Regards,

kev35

Well kev35, good to hear this message from you. My family has been host to Arnhem vetererans attending the annual commemmorations twice (in 2002 and 2004). So I have heard a lot of stories from veterans from first hand. It’s truly incredible what some guys have been through. I will never forget how these stories changed my opinion about war in general and the role of the service men.

I will try to cover some more Arnhem commemmoration events next year.

Arjan.

Wonderful photo’s there from the Dutch forum you linked to. The Dakota passing over the road as the jeep drives past is a superb catch.

With my interest in Memorialisation it is nice to see these photo’s from the commemorations. There are of course two that stand out. Those being the veteran in front of the Memorial and the Veteran being assisted back to his wheelchair. I’ve been in similar situations myself and you have to record the moment but it still sometimes feels as if one is intruding. Then of course they come and ask you for a copy.

We can never fully understand what is passing through the minds of such men, all we can do is offer them our appreciation, our gratitude and our respect.

Thanks for the link. I have to admit one or two of those shots bought a tear to my eye.

Regards,

kev35

Not a major anniversary? Some figures…….

Somewhere in the region of 500 Dutch civilians were killed and injured during Operation Market garden.

The combined British, Polish and American casualties (dead, wounded and missing) was somewhere 15 and 17,000.

The German casualties were said to be between 7,500 and 10,000.

Might I ask you how many people you require to become casualties for an action to become significant and be accepted as a major anniversary? As an example, D-Day casualties for the Allies were estimated to be around 10,000 with 2,500 of those being killed.

I suggest, in the run up to the next Remembrance Day commemorations you stop the little old chap in the street wearing his Airborne Beret (with immense pride, might I add) and tell him that Operation Market Garden and the battle to hold the Bridge is not worthy of being considered to be a ‘major anniversary.’

On another note, thanks for posting such wonderful and evocative images. If there are more, perhaps of any of the Memorial events on the ground, I would be very eager to see them.url]

Regards,

kev35

This year was the 59th anniversary. This was more or less the standard version of this event. Every 5 years the event is much bigger. There are more activities, the BBMF sends an aircraft, veterans attending the commemmorations then, get their travel costs refunded etc. So there will be such an event next year. I’ve made some pictures of teh memorial service at the air despatch monument yesterday. You will them find on this Dutch forum: http://www.stiwotforum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=9263

Not so sad as you think. Both para’s are good friends and they stayed calm talked to each other and managed to get it right. Paying a lot is just what we do’nt mind but we want to keep the costs as low as possible that’s why the cost is split between the jumpers. For these jumpers the jump wasn’t spoiled at all.
This jump was very special, for it was the first time after ww 2 that DZ was touched by para’s again.

Jump

Good to hear, thanks for the addition, and welcome to the forum. By the way, are you the same Jumposaurus as on the re-enactmentforum?

Kev. I’m sure this isn’t quite what you meant, but here is my image from four years ago on the sixtieth anniversary, building a 120 euro + bar bill with my friend and Arnhem veteran Derek ‘Tom’ Bowden in the Schoonord ‘Number One Parachute Regiment pub’

Tom was wounded at Arnhem and captured.

I will forever remember that visit for the friendliness of the local people even though the battle had demolished their town and led to most being exiled to the woods through the awful winter of 1944, and for the size of the hangover I suffered the next morning. Those veterans can drink.

Moggy

Great photo’s. It’s good to see that the date is still commemorated even though it’s not a major anniversary.

Cheers

Nick

Not a major anniversary? Some figures…….

Somewhere in the region of 500 Dutch civilians were killed and injured during Operation Market garden.

The combined British, Polish and American casualties (dead, wounded and missing) was somewhere 15 and 17,000.

The German casualties were said to be between 7,500 and 10,000.

Might I ask you how many people you require to become casualties for an action to become significant and be accepted as a major anniversary? As an example, D-Day casualties for the Allies were estimated to be around 10,000 with 2,500 of those being killed.

I suggest, in the run up to the next Remembrance Day commemorations you stop the little old chap in the street wearing his Airborne Beret (with immense pride, might I add) and tell him that Operation Market Garden and the battle to hold the Bridge is not worthy of being considered to be a ‘major anniversary.’

On another note, thanks for posting such wonderful and evocative images. If there are more, perhaps of any of the Memorial events on the ground, I would be very eager to see them.

Regards,

kev35

The foot of one paratrooper became entangled in the others risers. Luckily they managed to solve the problem a couple of seconds before they touched down. In fact a sad situation. The paratroopers have to pay a lot of money for a jump which lasts about 20 seconds. If you spoil 13 seconds of that, it’s not good value for money.

Thanks all for the kind comments.

Not so sad as you think. Both para’s are good friends and they stayed calm talked to each other and managed to get it right. Paying a lot is just what we do’nt mind but we want to keep the costs as low as possible that’s why the cost is split between the jumpers. For these jumpers the jump wasn’t spoiled at all.
This jump was very special, for it was the first time after ww 2 that DZ was touched by para’s again.

Jump

The foot of one paratrooper became entangled in the others risers. Luckily they managed to solve the problem a couple of seconds before they touched down. In fact a sad situation. The paratroopers have to pay a lot of money for a jump which lasts about 20 seconds. If you spoil 13 seconds of that, it’s not good value for money.

Thanks all for the kind comments.

Great pics,thanks for posting.
What is happening in pic 3 ??
Look like a slight ‘tangle’

cheers baz

Great photos. I think you have caught the atmosphere of the event. Some of your pics have a ‘real thing’ look about them. My favourite is the third last.

Thanks for posting.

Martin

Great photo’s. It’s good to see that the date is still commemorated even though it’s not a major anniversary.

Cheers

Nick

yes amazing photos, to know the history of the battle and then to be standing in the back of the aircraft waiting to jump must send a chill down the spine.

Fantastic photos!