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
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