Posts by Nigel Leaney

At the 80th Anniversary in 2024 Hiltje van Eck gave a talk at the Arnhem Fellowship AGM about the formation of the Arnhem 1944 Fellowship. Hiltje describes her involvement with Major Tony Hibbert over many years, his thankfulness to the Dutch People, the Pegasus reunions and how from this Tony Hibbert set out to ensure…

A new website – https://www.soldiersfromthesky.co.uk/ – documents the remarkable back-stories of how south Lincolnshire hosted Airborne Forces from three nations ahead of two major World War II operations. It is part of Soldiers From The Sky, a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund gathering largely untold accounts of how Allied Airborne soldiers from…

One of Stoke-on-Trent’s most celebrated war heroes will be remembered this week, on the anniversary of his death, with a series of commemorative events in his home city. Lance Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield VC, from Burslem, was just 21 when he gave his life during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 – part of…

Dear Members, It is with deep regret and sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of one of our few remaining Arnhem Veterans, Bill Larder, who passed away on Saturday 5th April, aged 100. Bill served with the 11th Parachute Battalion at Arnhem. He was in Support Company Headquarters, and acted as…

Dear Members, We regret to inform you of the passing of Boleslaw Ostrowski, Signals Company, 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. His daughter, Barbara Ostrowski, said ‘With heaviness in my heart I’d like to inform you that my father Boleslaw Ostrowski passed away peacefully on Thursday March 13,2025 at the age of 105. He had a…

We regret to inform you of the passing of our Honorary Life Member and Arnhem Veteran Ray Whitwell on Wednesday 20th November aged 105. At Arnhem Ray served in the Headquarters, RASC at 1st Airborne Division HQ. He landed by glider as part of the second lift on 18th September. He escaped back across the…

The Arnhem Fellowship fronted the production of a feasibility study with South Kesteven District Council to create an Airborne Trail in Lincolnshire (you can still find this in the Publications area of our website);  the purpose of the feasibility study was to allow South Kesteven to make a bid for funding to deliver the trail.…

Dear Members, The Trustees would like to thank each and every one of you who attended the commemorative weekend in Arnhem-Oosterbeek. In particular we would like to thank: We would also like to thank those who weren’t able to travel to the Netherlands for their attendance and representation at various events around the UK and…

I am very sad to share with you the news that our Arnhem Veteran and Honorary Life Member, William ‘Bill’ Carter, passed away on Tuesday 17th September 2024 aged 100. Bill served in North Africa, Italy and Arnhem with 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment. At Arnhem he was in S Company, 6 Platoon under Lt…