Arnhem Commemorations 2024
There is usually lots going on in September and no doubt this year, being the 80th Anniversary, there will be even more.
We will try to provide a list of events that we think will be of particular interest to Arnhem Fellowship members but if you are aware of other events not already listed within the official programmes, please let us know and we will add them to this page.
Events in the UK:
There are many events taking place between now and September in the UK in relation to Operation Market Garden. Some you will be familiar with but others less so, like the 4-day event in Fife, Scotland 22nd-25th August in relation to the Polish Parachute Brigade and the Arnhem Lecture Day at IWM Duxford arranged by our colleagues at the Airborne Assault Museum and the event this weekend at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum.
Here is a list of events that we know about and the links to them. If you know of any more then please let us know!
29th May – 10th November – Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life
https://www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org/
3rd August – Arnhem Day at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum:
https://staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/mep_cat/events-programme/
22nd August, 6pm – Lecture: Operation Market Garden by Ret. Maj. Gen. Adrian Freer OBE:
The Royal Scots Club, 29 – 31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE.
Free Entry, Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lecture-operation-market-garden-by-ret-maj-gen-adrian-freer-obe-tickets-952586671377
Polish Commemorations, Fife:
23rd-24th August:
25th August:
24th August – Polish Club, Kirkcaldy:
Details and Booking: info@polishclubkirkcaldy.co.uk
IWM Duxford:
17th – 27th September – Arnhem Objects Display
https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/arnhem-80-objects-behind-the-battle
21st September – Theirs is the Glory Screening
https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-presents-theirs-is-the-glory
28th September – Arnhem Lecture Day
https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-lecture-day-arnhem-80
And then there’s everything going on in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire:
7th / 8th September
Caythorpe – 216 Signals Parachute Squadron Arnhem Reunion
Saturday has a publicly accessible village fete on the playing field, with significant 216 Signals presence and heritage displays.
Sunday – High Street Parade and commemorative service in St Vincent’s Church
14th / 15th September
Folkingham Remembers Operation Market Garden. Folkingham will be turning back the clock with a free 80th anniversary commemoration of Operation Market Garden against a stunning Georgian architectural village backdrop.
American military heritage will be a key focus as RAF Folkingham was a US-operated airfield, occupied by the United Stated Army Air Force 313th Troop Carrier Group.
7th September
Friends of the Tenth 10th Battalion Memorial, Burrough on the Hill – annual ‘At the Going Down of the Sun’ Remembrance Service around 17.30. Marquee hospitality with entertainment, a bar and food before and after service.
8th September
Leicester Branch Parachute Regimental Association will host parade, march, and church service in Somerby village
14th September
Heritage Tour of Melton Melton Mowbray became home to ‘Red Devils’ when hundreds of paratroopers made the town their home after returning to England from fighting in North Africa and Italy. Whilst in Melton they were based at both the Vet Camp and local houses/lodges in town whilst training for D-Day and Arnhem. Join Brian Fare for a two hour walk (10am-12noon) visiting some of the locations in Melton Mowbray used by Paras as billets, for training and where the enjoyed downtime relaxing when off duty.
https://historyfare.co.uk/events/airborne-commando-general-tour/
5th October
‘Arnhem Lecture Day’ One Day Conference – Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, Carlisle:
‘Off at Last’: Creating Identity and Cohesion in 7 KOSB prior to Operation MARKET GARDEN
Gerry O’Neill & Peter McCutcheon
From Home Defence to Airborne: A consideration of the factors that contributed to the battlefield performance of the only Territorial battalion at Arnhem. Led by the second oldest man in 1st Airborne Division and an unlikely choice on paper, 7 KOSB’s identity and cohesion during the battle owed much to a deeply embedded sense of history, place, and family.
Nearer My God to Thee: The experience of Airborne Chaplains at Arnhem, September 1944
Dr Linda Parker
Fifteen British army chaplains landed with the airborne forces at Arnhem. Nine became prisoners of War, one was sheltered by the Dutch until liberation, two died of wounds and three escaped during Operation Berlin. This is the story of their ministry of courage and devotion to the men of the airborne division.
“Questions, Questions”
Peter Green
Interrogating men captured at Arnhem – what the questioning reveals about German attitudes to the war in Autumn 1944
Glorious Arnhem?
Peter Collins
In the immediate aftermath of the Operation Market Garden, was referred to as ‘Glorious Arnhem’ an achievement to be celebrated. However, over the subsequent year’s revisionist arguments have seen this differently. This lecture will look at how Operation Market Garden has been depicted in the media since those events of September 1944 and draw conclusions of how the operation is seen today.
Tickets £25.00 including lunch from the Museum or online at
https://www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org/events/arnhem-lecture-day/
Events in and around Arnhem:
Airborne Commemoration Foundation
The Airborne Commemorations and Airborne Events programmes for 2024 have published by the Airborne Commemoration Foundation.
This programme will be updated from time to time and you can always find the most up to date programme by following the link below which will take you to their website.
https://airborne-herdenkingen.nl/programma/2024/SAH_ACF-program-2024.pdf
Places to visit
Eusibius Church
There is information on the battle in the church and a glass viewing platform that allows you to see Arnhem from a different perspective.
There is information on the battle in the church and a glass viewing platform that allows you to see Arnhem from a different perspective.
https://eusebius.nl/en/plan-your-visit/
Military Platform Ede
The Platform Military History Ede is housed in building 27 on the former Arthur Kool barracks. The monumental building from 1908 has a beautiful military history and is located next to the horse stables and associated warehouses. ‘De Smederij’ contained a workshop for the sword sweeper and two workshops for the farriers (blacksmiths), with a batter shed for the two squadrons of Hussars who were housed in the cavalry barracks.
Wolfheze glider museum
This museum introduces you to the gliders and the brave people who participated in Operation Market Garden, which was carried out around and in Arnhem from 17 to 25 September 1944.
Historical Museum Wolfheze (Wolfheze Asylum)
The place that we all know as the ‘Wolfheze Asylum’ continues to be a place that provides specialist mental care in Gelderland. In the centre of the site, and quite difficult to find, is a small museum that covers the history of the ‘Wolfheze’ facility, the history of the care of patients, the impact of events in September 1944 including the bombings, landings and the treatment of wounded British soldiers. If you can find it it is a great place to spend an hour.
It has limited opening times so it might be best to check first.
Contact details can be found at the link below
https://www.propersona.nl/Over-Pro-Persona/Geschiedenis/Museum/
Information Centre in Driel
The Information Centre: The Poles of Driel provide insights into the battle fought by the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade in the village of Driel during Operation Market Garden. The focus here is the way the Brigade came into being, the inexplicably dishonourable way the Poles were treated after the failure of Operation Market Garden and the friendship that subsequently developed between the people of Driel and the Polish parachutists.
The Information Centre is at the back of the Roman Catholic Church in Driel and is open daily to visitors from 9.00hrs to 17.00hrs. Kerkstraat 27, 6665 CE Driel. Entrance is free.
There is a bus stop directly in front of the church and there is sufficient parking space for cars and buses.