Liberation Commemoration and Fundraising Appeal

Dear Members,

Please find below an invitation to the commemoration of the Liberation of Arnhem in April 1945 and a fundraising appeal to support a veteran of the battle to attend the commemoration.

The Arnhem Fellowship will be attending the commemoration and laying a wreath.

Dear Arnhem1944 Fellowship Members

On behalf of the Forgotten Liberation Committee in Arnhem, The Netherlands, we would like to invite you to the second annual commemoration of the Forgotten Liberation.

In April 1945, members of the British Polar Bear Division under the Command of Major-General Stuart Rawlins, with the support of the Canadian artillery and armour, fought to liberate the empty city of Arnhem.

As many of you are aware, because Arnhem was empty of civilians, our liberators were not met with grateful crowds, waving banners, and the throwing of flowers; instead, they engaged in brutal house-to-house fighting at the cost of 66 Allied lives (4 of whom were Canadian). Prior to the operation starting, the Allies deployed a massive bombardment, obliterating much of the city, leaving the civilians who had previously been evacuated (in September 1944) unable to return home for several months after the end of the war. Housing and infrastructure were rebuilt well into the 1960s.

This year, 81 years after these brave men sacrificed to liberate our city, we will take the time to remember and commemorate their hard-fought success and ask that you join us on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The commemoration will take place at 13:00 hours, followed by a small reception.

Arnhem City Hall
Koningstraat 38
6811 DG Arnhem
The Netherlands

We would appreciate your attendance and participation at this important event. You are also welcome to participate by laying a wreath, if you wish.

Kindly RSVP by Friday March 20, 2026, to Mr.M_Slotboom@hotmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,

M. Slotboom
Maikel Slotboom
Committee Chairman
+31 (0)6 237 16 193
Mr.M_Slotboom@hotmail.com

Fundraising Appeal

As some of you know, we, The Forgotten Liberation of Arnhem 1945 organise the commemoration in honour of the men and in memory of the liberation of Arnhem, known as Operation Anger.

Arnold Walton is a veteran of the Hallamshire Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, 146th brigade of the 49th West Riding Division, also known as the Polar Bears.

We would like to bring Arnold over to the Netherlands for the April commemoration but as a small committee do not receive gifts, grants or funds of any kind, so as much as we would like to, we can’t fund Arnold’s trip ourselves.

We are crowdfunding and hoping that people will to assist, even just a little, to make this trip happen for Arnold.

Lets bring back Arnold to the places he fought for and the people he liberated.

Click here for the fundraising page