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Battle of Arnhem: Mass parachute drop marks WW2 assault | Battle of Arnhem: Mass parachute drop marks WW2 assault |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A mass parachute drop has taken place in the Netherlands to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden in World War Two. | A mass parachute drop has taken place in the Netherlands to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden in World War Two. |
The Prince of Wales joined veterans at the commemorations to the allied assault in the Battle of Arnhem. | The Prince of Wales joined veterans at the commemorations to the allied assault in the Battle of Arnhem. |
Veteran Sandy Cortmann, 97, parachuted again over the Dutch city. | Veteran Sandy Cortmann, 97, parachuted again over the Dutch city. |
British, US and Polish forces dropped behind enemy lines in 1944 but failed in their bid to secure eight bridges and open up a route into Germany. | British, US and Polish forces dropped behind enemy lines in 1944 but failed in their bid to secure eight bridges and open up a route into Germany. |
About 35,000 troops landed by parachute and gliders in what was then the largest airborne operation in history. | About 35,000 troops landed by parachute and gliders in what was then the largest airborne operation in history. |
They seized bridges and canal crossings at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem, but were forced to retreat after German counter-attacks. More than 1,500 allied soldiers were killed and nearly 6,500 captured. | They seized bridges and canal crossings at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem, but were forced to retreat after German counter-attacks. More than 1,500 allied soldiers were killed and nearly 6,500 captured. |
The events were portrayed in Richard Attenborough's 1977 Hollywood war epic A Bridge Too Far starring Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. | The events were portrayed in Richard Attenborough's 1977 Hollywood war epic A Bridge Too Far starring Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. |
Prince Charles and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and veterans attended a service and wreath-laying at the former landing zone of Ginkel Heath. | Prince Charles and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and veterans attended a service and wreath-laying at the former landing zone of Ginkel Heath. |
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment, of which the prince is colonel-in-chief, were among the 1,500 people who took part in the commemorative parachute drop. | Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment, of which the prince is colonel-in-chief, were among the 1,500 people who took part in the commemorative parachute drop. |
'Thoroughly terrifying' | |
Mr Cortmann, from Aberdeen, made a tandem jump with a parachutist from the Army's Red Devils display team over the Ginkel Heath nature reserve as part of the commemorations. | Mr Cortmann, from Aberdeen, made a tandem jump with a parachutist from the Army's Red Devils display team over the Ginkel Heath nature reserve as part of the commemorations. |
He was just 22 when he parachuted into the same drop zone in September 1944, where he was taken prisoner by the Germans. | He was just 22 when he parachuted into the same drop zone in September 1944, where he was taken prisoner by the Germans. |
Thousands of people watching from the ground applauded as Arnhem veteran Mr Cortmann landed. | |
He described the jump as "thoroughly terrifying", and added: "When the door opened I thought, Christ, what a way down." | |
But he said it was "absolutely wonderful to see the ground so far below, my God". | |
Asked if the jump was similar to the one 75 years ago, he said: "I can't remember much about the jump in 1944, we were just a bunch of young lads out for a good time if you like, but it turned out rather terrifying in the end with the guns and mortars and things opened up. They were all aimed at us." | |
Another of the soldiers returning to the former battlefields for the anniversary is 100-year-old Raymond Whitwell, from Malton, North Yorkshire. | Another of the soldiers returning to the former battlefields for the anniversary is 100-year-old Raymond Whitwell, from Malton, North Yorkshire. |
Speaking from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's cemetery at Oosterbeek near Arnhem he recalled the moment he landed by glider in 1944. | Speaking from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's cemetery at Oosterbeek near Arnhem he recalled the moment he landed by glider in 1944. |
"I said to myself on the way out, what on Earth am I doing here? But when you're there your training takes over," he said. | "I said to myself on the way out, what on Earth am I doing here? But when you're there your training takes over," he said. |
Mr Whitwell added: "The Dutch people are really very, very nice, it's wonderful to be back." | Mr Whitwell added: "The Dutch people are really very, very nice, it's wonderful to be back." |
On Friday, the ashes of two veterans of the Battle of Arnhem were laid to rest alongside their fallen comrades buried in Oosterbeek. | On Friday, the ashes of two veterans of the Battle of Arnhem were laid to rest alongside their fallen comrades buried in Oosterbeek. |
Relatives of Pte Dennis Collier, 95, from Harrogate, and Pte Steve Morgan, 93, from Chipping Norton, travelled to the Netherlands to see their remains interred. | Relatives of Pte Dennis Collier, 95, from Harrogate, and Pte Steve Morgan, 93, from Chipping Norton, travelled to the Netherlands to see their remains interred. |
Tributes were paid before wreaths were laid and the last post was sounded by a lone bugler. | Tributes were paid before wreaths were laid and the last post was sounded by a lone bugler. |
Meanwhile, the southern Dutch town of Brunssum has bestowed honorary citizenship on 328 British soldiers buried in its war cemetery in recognition of their sacrifice to help liberate the Netherlands. | Meanwhile, the southern Dutch town of Brunssum has bestowed honorary citizenship on 328 British soldiers buried in its war cemetery in recognition of their sacrifice to help liberate the Netherlands. |