CWGC hosts 75 year anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem

This September marks the 75-year anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem. To pay homage to those who died, a special ceremony was held this weekend at CWGC’s Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, the final resting place of 1700 Commonwealth servicemen who lost their lives.

The Battle of Arnhem, code-named “Operation Market Garden” was launched on 17 September 1944. It was the largest airborne assault in history, and one of the most controversial and daring actions of the Second World War with 15,000 allied casualties. The reality of their service and sacrifice is all too evident in many of the CWGC cemeteries and memorials throughout the Netherlands, including our Arnhem WW2 sites.

Alongside the ceremony, the CWGC will be marking the historic anniversary through its Voices of Liberation project. “Voices of Liberation” is a global project which seeks to capture veterans’ and the public’s reflections on the Second World War and CWGC sites of remembrance, for a unique online sound archive.

The recordings capture the voices of veterans who served in battles during the war, such as Les Fuller who survived losing an arm during bitter house to house fighting in the Dutch city of Arnhem. Les served as a tank driver in North Africa before volunteering for service with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He parachuted into the Netherlands on 17th September and lost his right arm after being hit by a mortar as his unit advanced on the bridge at Arnhem.

After landing in Arnhem, over the next few days Les and his comrades attempted to hold out against overwhelming German forces.

“I got wounded coming out of the Rhine Pavilion on the Tuesday morning just before daybreak. …. Bill Pettit, my pal, gave me a quick shot of morphia and put some bandages on me and I was bleeding like hell. And then he took my Bren gun and off he went. He went to cross the road where the other chaps had gone and he only got halfway. There was a tank just up the road and they just drilled him – so he was killed there.”

Seriously wounded, Les’s life was saved by a German act of kindness which moves him to this day.

“Our Corporal Medic stumbled across me. Brave fella. He went up the road shouting Red Cross and got a German tank crew. Two of them came back with him and they put me in a truck and took me up to the hospital. The hospital was chock-a-block. They took one look at me and gave me priority. Anyway, they took my arm off.

“A little while after they wheeled me off in a trolley to another room and there was a wounded German soldier already in there on another trolley. They put my trolley alongside his and there was this wooden box between us that was going tick-tock-tick-tock and it was a blood transfusion pump and they gave me a transfusion. The next morning, Les Harrison, a pal of mine who also lost his arm at Arnhem, came to see me. He said, “How do you feel?” I said, “I feel alright.” And he said, “You know the German they gave you the transfusion from? Well he’s still in there but he’s dead.” They didn’t need to do that for me. They could have ignored me. They saved my life.”

Lieutenant General Sir Bill Rollo,Vice Chairman of the CWGC, said:

“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is privileged to host this service at our cemetery. The event is in memory of all those who served and died during Operation Market Garden. We are particularly honoured to be joined at this event by veterans of the battle. We hope that our stewardship of the graves and memorials to your comrades and friends is a fitting tribute to their achievements and their memory, and of comfort to you."

Peter Wilson the British Ambassador to the Netherlands said:

“The moving service was a poignant tribute to the sacrifices made by so many 75 years ago as they fought for our freedom. We will continue to honour them. And we must remember the price of peace.”

The Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Johnny Mercer, who attended the commemorations said:

“I’m honoured to attend events marking the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and to meet some of the veterans that displayed such immense courage and determination on this ambitious operation. We must ensure that the legacy of that special generation lives on by continuing to share their stories and remembering the sacrifices they made.”

Alongside the sound archive the CWGC has launched its new podcast series “Legacy of Liberation”, the six-part series explores the key moments of the Second World war conflict, and the historic cemeteries and memorials which commemorate those who fought and died. Historian Dr Glyn Prysor and Dr Lucy Kellett explore the unique experience of visiting these sites of memory and mourning, taking a fresh look at events which have become almost legendary, and examining the artistic, architectural and social legacies of these iconic places.

You can contribute to Voices of Liberation and listen to the podcast.

As the 80th anniversary of pivotal WW2 moments approaches, join us to commemorate the fallen during our Legacy of Liberation campaign.