Arnhem Marches 2008 6 Sep 08 In September 1944 during The Second World War, Operation MARKET GARDEN was a daring allied airborne operation to capture a series of bridges crossing the River Rhine in Holland to allow allied armoured forces to thrust into Germany to shorten the war and free Europe. The Arnhem Bridge, deep behind enemy lines, was key to the success of the operation. The task was to capture the bridge and hold it for up to two days. However fate was to play a critical part. Only days before the start of the operation, two German armoured divisions had moved into the area for ‘rest and recuperation’. Through very stiff opposition, the only allied troops to reach the Arnhem Bridge were elements of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (2 PARA). They achieved their objective, captured the bridge and held it against overwhelming odds for nine days. Out of ammunition, medical supplies and food, the surviving troops withdrew by swimming across the treacherous Rhine at night. Since that time, the Dutch people have remained grateful for the determined efforts of the British and Allied troops. In September every year people come from all over the world to take part in an event called The Arnhem Marches. The event commemorates the brave and determined efforts of the soldiers of all nationalities and the people of Arnhem. They accompany British and Polish military veterans and participants from 15 different countries and march through the battlefields and drop zones of Operation MARKET GARDEN of September 1944. The routes are laid out through the several villages of the municipality of Renkum in the Netherlands, starting and finishing in the sports park Hartenstein (behind the Airborne Museum) at Oosterbeek. This year twenty five cadets and adults from Wiltshire ACF took part in the marches. We entered and took part in the 15km march on Saturday starting with a formal march past at around 1115hrs, follow by a walk around the remainder of the course. The weather was overcast and sunny and all cadets made it around the course in good time. The cadets mixed well with the locals laughing and joking with the Dutch Army Soldiers and civilians around the course. A good time was had by all and preparations have now started for Holland 2009 where we hope once again to take a number of Cadets to take part in this event. Text prepared by Lt Malcolm Freebody.