Upcoming Battlefield Tours 2022

Dear Members,

We are pleased to announce our intention to hold an Arnhem Fellowship Battlefield Tour in 2022, the details of which are set out below.

Date: Friday 20th May (afternoon only) to Sunday 22nd May 2022

Location: Oosterbeek

Itinerary:

Friday (Afternoon 1400 – 16:30)

for those who wish to Graham Francis will conduct a walking tour around the Arnhem-Oosterbeek Cemetery covering the development of the Cemetery in 1945 and biographies of some of the men buried in the Cemetery with particular focus on those holding gallantry awards for actions prior to Operation Market Garden. It will take us from Malta to Monty's HQ, from Norway to Normandy, from Northern France to North Africa and uncover some of the details the Arnhem books miss out.

Saturday/Sunday (10:00 to 16:30 each day)

Bob Hilton -  will conduct a full day tour covering the actions of the 1st Parachute Battalion along the Utrechtseweg and into the lower Oosterbeek area. This will be followed by a look at the actions and photos of the German Forces in the attacks on the ‘British Perimeter’ in the Weverstraat area. After lunch there will be a further look at some of the photos of the German Forces and a look at the positions and the actions of the 250th Airborne Light Composite Company, R.A.S.C. (Morning Approximately 3km/2mils; Afternoon 1km/0.6miles).

Robert Voskuil – this will be a half day tour visiting the gun areas of all six Troops of the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment RA in the area near the Old Church and discuss their actions. This unit had the task to give artillery support to the different units of the 1st Parachute Brigade, the 4th Parachute Brigade and 1st Airlanding Brigade. . From 19th September onwards, the whole unit was concentrated and in action on open fields situated in Lower-Oosterbeek. The tour will visit the Regimental Aid Post established in the house of Kate ter Horst and the loaction of the mass grave dug for the British Soldiers who died there. All being well we will also visit the Old Church which contains a Plaque with the names of the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment killed during the battle. (Approximately 1.5km/1mile).

Alex Junier -  (co-author of By Land, Sea and Air) – This will be a half day tour focusing on the southeastern part of the perimeter that  was defended by an ad hoc force called "Lonsdale Force"(named after Major 'Dickie' Lonsdale, the Second in Command of the 11th Parachute Battalion),  which comprised of the remnants of four battalions namely the 1st Battalion, 3rd Battalion and 11th Battalion the Parachute Regiment together with the 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment and a unit of the Glider Pilot Regiment.

Throughout six days they were subject to continuous mortar and artillery fire and numerous German infantry and tank attacks. The tour will look at the actions that took place where the blocking force was established on the Benedendorpsweg through to the defensive locations and actions in the south east area around the Old Laundry, Old Church and Weverstraat areas. (Approximately 2km/1.3miles).

Maximum Numbers

In order to ensure that people are able to hear what our presenters have to say and that we do not place people in positions of danger on busy roads the maximum number of people will be 40.

The tour will be split into two groups of 20 on Saturday/Sunday and will do the Bob Hilton tour one day and the Robert/Alex tour another day. We will all come together on both days for lunch.

Mobility/Weather

This is a walking tour and the distances involved are as set out above. Be prepared for inclement weather. We have toured in horizontal freezing rain before!

Expressions of Interest

If you would like to attend the tour then please let me know by 1700 on Sunday 6th March

That you will be attending.
The names of all the people who will be in your party.
The Tour is ONLY open to Fellowship members (If you wish to attend with non-members then we will require that they become members of the Arnhem 1944 Fellowship)

If the tour is over-subscribed then we will have to draw names from the hat, which is why it is important to know your party size.

Travel Arrangements and Cost

All travel, accommodation and food will be at your expense and for you to arrange.

There is no cost to attend the tour. A tour guide will be available for which we ask for a suitable donation (this covers the cost of producing the tour guide and our Tour Guides expenses).

In order that the tour keeps to time and that the group does not get split up lunch will be provided on both days at the Concert Hall in Lower Oosterbeek. There will be a total charge of €40 per person [cost to be confirmed] to cover this (payable in advance).

Questions

If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact the Fellowship Secretary by email.