This next nine days, marks the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, also known for being part of Operation Market Garden, an ambitious but ultimately disastrous attempt by the Allies in WWII to establish a route across the Rhine by snatching a series of 7 bridges from the Germans all at once.
The battle at Arnhem has always fascinated me. From reading Con Ryan's book, A Bridge Too Far, to the Attenborough film of the same name, to actually obtaining an autographed copy of Col. Frost's book A Drop Too Many. The final radio transmission, (which was only heard by the German forces,) from the British forces that held the north end of the bridge at Arnhem has stayed with me. "Out of ammunition. God save the King." Of some 12,000 troops who parachuted in or landed by glider around Arnhem, only some 3,900 escaped capture or death.
This morning, I came across a previously unknown-to-me video on Youtube. It is Jeremy Clarkson's War Stories, which details the history of the VC, the Victoria Cross for Valor, and its awarding to a Major Robert Henry Cain of the South Staffordshire Regiment. Major Cain was at Arnhem. The video is long, nearly two hours in length. It is well worth your time to watch.
And because I love this piece of music, from the film...
So many things you know . . I'm certainly grateful you share with us.
ReplyDeleteThank You, Thank You!