Two British Second World War soldiers laid to rest in Arnhem ahead of 80th anniversary

Photo: Crown Copyright

Two British soldiers killed during the Battle of Arnhem in the Second World War have been laid to rest with full military honours 80 years after their deaths.

The services for Private Henry Moon of Filey, North Yorkshire, and Lieutenant Dermod Anderson who was born in South Africa, were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC),

The services were held at the CWGC Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in The Netherlands on Wednesday 18 September 2024.

Both soldiers fought during Operation Market Garden, a major airborne offensive aimed at securing strategically-important crossings over the Rhine.

The Battle of Arnhem, part of an allied plan to liberate the Netherlands and force a route into Germany, raged between 17 and 25 September 1944.

By the end of the week, Arnhem remained in Nazi hands and nearly 2,000 Commonwealth and Allied soldiers had been killed.

Although its objectives were not achieved, Operation Market Garden remains a remarkable feat of arms due to the determination and courage shown by the soldiers. It also led to the liberation of a large part of the Netherlands at a time when many civilians were close to starvation. 

Modern-day British Army personnel from The Royal Yorkshire Regiment and the Army Air Corps – the modern-day equivalent units of the men being buried – carried the two coffins to their resting place and fired a military rifle salute.

Photo: Crown Copyright

Minister for Veterans and Personnel Al Carns said:
“The burial of two Second World War soldiers in Arnhem this week reminds us of the price paid to restore peace to western Europe. I’m grateful that members of today’s Armed Forces were present at the ceremony as they continue the traditions of service and sacrifice. Efforts to remember all those who served and died during the Second World War must never stop.”

Claire Horton CBE, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said:
“As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of one of the most daring Allied operations of the Second World War, it is both fitting and poignant to honour the bravery of two men who fought in Arnhem – Pte Moon and Lt Anderson – who now rest in our cemetery. The CWGC’s Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery has been a focal point of commemoration for the Battle of Arnhem since the end of the Second World War, with the sacrifice of nearly 1,500 wounded and killed soldiers at the heart of our mission to protect their legacy and educate future generations. We will care for their graves, and those of their comrades, in perpetuity and to ensure their legacy will never be forgotten.”

When the remains of British service personnel from historic conflicts are discovered, the Ministry of Defence Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre attempts to identify the deceased through research and DNA testing and will attempt to contact living relatives so that they can be involved in the burials and memorials which follow.

MOD war detective Tracey Bowers said:
“It has been a privilege to identify these fallen soldiers and to give them the dignified burials they deserve while offering closure to their families. I am grateful to the Dutch Recovery and Identification Unit for their dedicated work, and for the help many local people have given us. It is lovely having so many family members present today to make these services truly personal.”

On Saturday, around 700 paratroopers from eight NATO member countries (Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the USA) will jump on to Ginkel Heath from 12 aircraft in two waves as part of Exercise Falcon Leap.

The exercise is run by the Royal Netherlands Army’s 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade to bring together NATO airborne forces to plan and execute large-scale parachute operations.

Some 90 paratroopers from 16 Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force, will jump from an RAF A400M transport aircraft alongside The Red Devils, the British Army’s freefall parachute display team.

On Sunday, members of the public will join Second World War veterans, HRH The Princess Royal, senior UK defence officials, and UK Armed Forces personnel at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in a commemorative event featuring military musicians and moving tributes.

The order of service remains unchanged since the first Airborne Memorial Service took place in 1945.

Private Henry Moon (24 December 1922 – 1 October 1944)

Private Henry Moon was born on 24 December 1922 in Speeton, Filey, North Yorkshire. He was one of four sons born to Herbert Moon and his wife Ann. Before enlisting into The Green Howards in March 1942 Henry was working as an apprentice joiner.

Following his training at No. 5 Training Centre at Richmond Barracks, Private Moon was posted to 10th Battalion The Green Howards on 22 July 1942. On 16 January 1943 he embarked for the Middle East and disembarked in Egypt on 20 March 1943. He was posted to 7th Battalion The Green Howards on 13 May 1943. On 10 July 1943, the battalion took part in the invasion of Sicily landing near Avola. Private Moon was wounded in action in Sicily on 18 July 1943. On 9 October 1943 he rejoined the battalion which returned to the United Kingdom the following month.

On 6 June 1944 – D-Day – 7th Battalion The Green Howards took part in Operation Overlord, landing at Gold Beach at 0800 hours. They remained in North West Europe, advancing across France and Belgium that summer. On 17 September 1944, Operation Market Garden was launched, and 7th Battalion The Green Howards crossed the Dutch border and fought their way to the Nijmegen bridgehead.

Following the end of Operation Market Garden on 26 September 1944, 69th Infantry Brigade, of which 7th Battalion The Green Howards formed part, took up positions around the village of Bemmel. On 1 October 1944, the enemy attacked and their positions were infiltrated. By 0700 hours the enemy advance had been halted, but the battalion was engaged in close combat for the rest of the day. At 1530 hours the enemy attacked again, but this was repulsed. Private Moon was reported to have been killed in action that day. He was 21 years old. 

Lieutenant Dermod Green Anderson (4 November 1914 – 25 September 1944)

Lieutenant Dermod Green Anderson was born on 4 November 1914 in Durban, South Africa. He was born to Irish parents, John Anderson and his wife Mary. He grew up in South Africa and was educated at the Bishop’s Diocesan College in Rondebosch, before studying at the University of Cape Town and the University of Liverpool. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was employed as an assistant to the Architect Edwin Lutyens. On 17 February 1940 he married Caroline Ann Cooke.

Dermod was commissioned into The Gloucestershire Regiment on 15 March 1940. After training he was posted to 41 Traffic Control Company before on 19 December 1940, being posted to 2nd Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. He returned to traffic control work in 1941 and was promoted to lieutenant on 15 September that year. On 9 April 1942, Lieutenant Anderson joined 1st Battalion The Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps at Tilshead in Wiltshire and on 10 June 1942 began flying training. On completion of his training, he was posted to 2nd Battalion The Glider Pilot Regiment. On 12 February 1944, he joined B Squadron 1st Wing and first saw action on 6 June 1944 when it took part in D-Day operations.

On 18 September 1944, the second day of Operation Market Garden, No. 4 Flight, in which Lieutenant Anderson was a section commander, took off from RAF Manston. They reached their landing zone outside of Arnhem at around 1500 hours. The glider pilots of Nos. 3 and 4 Flights headed towards the town of Oosterbeek. They took up positions covering the guns of 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Royal Artillery. They remained in action around Oosterbeek embroiled in heavy fighting until 25 September when the evacuation order was given.

On the morning of 25 September 1944, Lieutenant Anderson was positioned in a trench close to the Ter Horst vicarage. The enemy attacked in force and Lieutenant Anderson was killed when an enemy shell exploded close to his trench just three hours before the evacuation order was given. He was 29 years old.

For more information on Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, please use the link below: