On behalf of the Glider Pilot Regimental Association, of which I’m a member, thankyou “Wessex Fan” for reminding others here on the forum that it’s the 62nd Anniversary of Operation ‘Market-Garden”.
I’m not an Arnhem Veteran but my Dad was. He served with ‘E’ Squadron, the Glider Pilot Regiment during the latter half of WWII and on the 18th of September 1944 took off from RAF Down Ampney in a glider bound for landing zones at Wolfheze in Holland.
He flew as second pilot to Staff Sergeant Dennis Andrews. Their glider, an Airspeed Horsa, was given the “chalk” number 228 and their load was “live” cargo in the shape of 30 men from 7th Battalion, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Dad didn’t talk very much about the battle on the ground, I think he witnessed a great amount of death and suffering but occasionally a light-hearted memory would surface. Once he told me of how his glider was “buzzed” by some cheeky, young fighter pilot on the flight over there. Spitfires and various other fighters were assigned to escort the massive stream of glider trains and troop transports and I suspect that the slow pace at which the stream travelled caused a great deal of boredom amongst those with a V12 Merlin up-front!.
It wasn’t until 1982 that Dad felt ready and able to return to the area. I went along with him and I can still remember the great sense of pride and sadness I felt when I visited the War Cemetery at Oosterbeek. I can recall the hundreds of immaculately kept white head stones all perfectly in-line as if the soldiers beneath the ground were stood to attention. The average age of those who died during the nine days of bitter fighting was twenty.
Dad managed to avoid being take prisoner and left with his life intact during the withdrawal across the Rhine. Out of the ten thousand British Airborne troops that landed at Arnhem, just 2,500 men returned. Dad’s 1st pilot comrade, S/Sgt Dennis Andrews was not one of the lucky ones – on the 21st of September he was shot by a sniper in the grounds of what is now the Hartenstein Airborne Museum, he was just twenty two.
“For you tomorrow, they gave their today” …….LEST WE FORGET!.
Cheers,
Andy
Hi Andy,
I visited the airborne cemetery at Oosterbeek some years ago; as soon as I walked through the gate it was as if I had entered a different world, very peaceful but with a very definite atmosphere!
Sadly the fact of having to fight as infantry after landing was the cause of heavy casualties in the Glider Pilot Regiment, S/Sgt Dennis Andrews fate was shared by many.
Keep the memories alive!
Regards
Eric
Sign In
