COMMEMORATIVE ORGANISATIONS/EVENTS
MARKET-GARDEN and Arnhem Veterans’ Associations and their links with Dutch supporting associations are extremely strong. There are a great many of them, in most towns and villages of any size along The Corridor and on The Island (many of them who also have active Historical Societies which specialise in MARKET-GARDEN research) and this list is representative but by no means comprehensive. It also contains details of annual Commemorative Events. There are also, of course, many Regimental Associations whose members are Arnhem Veterans.
AIRBORNE COMMEMORATION FOUNDATION (Stichting Airborne Herdenkingen)
This important foundation was formed in 1992 to co-ordinate commemorative events over the period of the Anniversary for veterans and pilgrims and to honour the Battle of Arnhem-Oosterbeek. Represented by it are the Municipalities of Arnhem, Ede, Heteren and Renkum, The Lest We Forget Foundation, the Arnhem 1944 Veterans’ Club, the Driel-Poland Committee, the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum, the RMP of Apeldoorn, the Airborne Forces Security Fund and the Arnhem Promotion Fund. Contact: Gemeentehuis, PO Box 9100,6860 HA Oosterbeek, Netherlands. Tel: + (0) 26 3348322
AIRBORNE FIETSTOERTOCHT. This is a cycle event, starting in Doorwerth, which covers the main sites of the Arnhem-Oosterbeek 1944 battles. There are four different routes covering 25, 40, 80 and 150kms, each with a medal for those who complete the course. There is an entrance fee and the event takes place in the last week in August. Contact: + (0) 317 317436.
AIRBORNE WANDELTOCHT. These famous marches started in September 1947 and follow a circular route from and back to the Hartenstein around the battlefield. They now attract thousands of entrants (35,000 in 2000), singly or in groups. Part of the funds go to the Lest We Forget Foundation (see below). Distances of 10,15 or 25kms. First Saturday in September. Contact: Police Sports Association Renkum. Tel: + (0) 26 3337960.
In recent years other marches have been organised in September that go from Wolfheze to the John Frost Bridge, giving the most realistic impression of just how far 1st AB landed from their objective. They are accompanied by re-enactment groups and 1940s military vehicles.
ARNHEM 1944 VETERANS’ CLUB. The Club produces a Newsletter and provides free coach travel for members to the September Commemorations in Arnhem-Oosterbeek. The President is Major-General A.]. Deane-Drummond, CB, DSO, MC. Contact: Hon Sec. Austin Brearton, 56 Highfield Crescent, Heaton, Bradford, W Yorks BD9 6HP. Tel: 01274 495472.
‘CREULLY CLUB’ (Association of the 4th/7th RDG, NW Europe 1944-1945). The Association produces a regular Newsletter, Pilgrimages to the Oostham and Elst Memorials and annual reunions. Contact: Secretary Cecil Newton Tel: 01672 540356. Fax: 01672 541221 E-mail: cnewton@freeuk.com
DEN DUNGEN MARKET-GARDEN COMITE (qv).
They have strong links with veterans (the village is twinned with Portishead and has its own website www.iae.nl/users/vandeven/portishead) and undertake considerable research.
Contacts: Jacq van Eekelen and Jos Korsten. Groot Grinsel 8, 5275 BZ Den Dungen. Tel: + (0) 73 5941687. E-mail joskorsten@netnet.nl
FIETSERSBOND enfb. The Cycling Club, founded in 1975, publishes an Airborne Route round the Son, St Oedenrode, Eerde, Heeswijk-Dinther, Veghel battlefields (35kms). Contact: Postbus 2828, 3500 GV Utrecht.
FRIENDS OF THE 101st AIRBORNE: ‘Remember September’. Like the Arnhem Lest We Forget Foundation they arrange commemorative events and battlefield tours for veterans of the 101st all along The Corridor. They have been hosting veterans since 1954 but were officially founded in 1966. They have 400 Dutch members, many of whom host veterans and their families, and have a newsletter De Wanowan. Contact: Thieu van Luyt, Postbus 25 - 5737 ZG Lieshout. Tel: + (0) 499 421711.
EINDHOVEN STICHTING 18 SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL. Contact: Secretary, Mrs M. Beeren, Pluisheuvel 5, 5685 Best NL. Tel/Fax: + (0) 49 9311101
EINDHOVEN CIRCUIT OF LIGHTS. Contact: Secretary H. Reijnen, Menelaos Laan 1, 5631 LM Eindhoven. Tel/Fax: + (0) 411 243186. e-mail: H.Reijnen@inter.NL.net. website: www.lichtjesroute.nl Details of these organisations are described on page 39/40 above.
LEST WE FORGET FOUNDATION. This faithful foundation helps with travel arrangements and provides accommodation for Veterans and their immediate Next of Kin during the September Commemorations. Funds are partially raised by the annual Airborne March. The Founder and Chairman is Tanno Pieterse, MBE, of Oosterbeek. Tel: + (0) 31 84 16869. As a 16-year-old Tanno worked as a messenger boy for the Red Cross during the battle and remembers the first groups of pilgrims arriving in September ‘46-’47 by special train from the Hook of Holland. 1969 was considered to be ‘The Last’ commemorative gathering. In 1970 there were virtually no visitors. In 1974 Tanno helped a few veterans and was created an honorary member of the Luton Parachute Regiment Association (PRA), from where the first coach load of veterans arrived in 1975 with well-known veterans Dave Morris and Tex Banwell (who for many years took part in the annual jump.) In a couple of years the Committee was formed, an article in the local paper attracting host families and funds. The ArnhemVeterans Club (Tanno is Member No 41) was then formed to ‘vet’ applicants and the Foundation went from strength to strength. It now has branches in Poland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Sadly, of course, with the passage of time, the number of veterans is gradually decreasing. Contact: UK Co-ordinating Officer: Joe Roberts, 18 Dee Crescent, Farndon, Chester CH3 6Q). Tel: 01892 270312.
NIJMEGEN FOUR-DAY MARCHES. The world-famous Marches had their origins in the 1907 Dutch Sports Days for the Field Army which in 1909 developed into a Four-Day March from Arnhem to Breda, Nijmegen being a staging post along the way. Gradually the marches became centred round the Prince Hendrik military barracks in Nijmegen, to which the participants return each day. In 1919 the first woman competitor finished the course and in 1928 the first foreigners (British, German, Norwegian and one French photographer) participated. In 1929 Spanish soldiers also joined in and the number of entrants then increased annually until in 1937 they totalled 3,900. A Four-Day Marches song was introduced and the event continued to grow in popularity until interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 in 1939.
In 1946 Nijmegen won the Marches back to its war-battered town and the tradition of accommodating civilian entrants in private homes began. Wearing discarded Canadian Army boots or borrowed shoes, 4,011 poorly trained entrants embarked on the gruelling course over the damaged roads. The British participation then grew apace and in 1955 more than 10,000 marchers reached the finish.
Over the period from the third Tuesday in July, marchers cover daily distances of 30, 40 or 50kms, which take them through forests, over hills and across rolling countryside. The weather at that time can be blisteringly hot or torrentially wet, often causing many dropouts. There are classes for groups, military, females, juniors and individuals and the prize for those who complete their four days is a 5-arm cross, in bronze, silver or gold-plated according to the number of marches completed. Many teams (especially from the British military) come back year after year and the camaraderie among participants is fantastic. The atmosphere is something like a cross between a carnival (many marching in bizarre costumes) and an Olympic Marathon. There are strict rules of conduct, however, as regards decency of clothing and the prohibition of expressing political views or unauthorised advertising.
In 2000 there were 41,093 Marchers and more are anticipated for the 85th Marches in 2001. Contact: KNLBO, PO Box 1020, 6501 BA Nijmegen. Tel: + (0) 24 3655500 Fax: + (0) 24 3655580 e-mail: 4daagse@knblo-nl.nl website: www.4daagse.nl
PEGASUS WANDELTOCHT. This march takes place every year on the fourth Saturday in October over distances of 8.5,18.5 or 28.5 kms along the route taken by the escapers of ‘Pegasus 1’ (qv). It started in 1984 on the 40th anniversary. Contact: VVV Zuidwest Veluwe, Ede. Tel: + (0) 318 614444. E-mail: info@vvvede.nl
POLAR BEAR MARS (March). This 15kms march, which started in 1988, takes place in April (on the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of Arnhem’s Liberation by the 49th West Riding Division), starting from the point where they crossed the Rhine and follows their route through Arnhem to the 1940-1944 Museum (qv). Finishers receive a commemorative book and a medal. Contact: + (0) 26 4428062
RAF DOWN AMPNEY ASSOCIATION. This was formed in 1971 on the initiative of Alan Hartley, who served as a Mechanic at the airfield. He organised reunions and instigated the erection of a commemorative stained glass window in the 13th Century Down Ampney Church. Contact: A. Hartley, 19 Staverton Close, Mount Nod, Coventry CV5 7LF. Tel: 02476 462659.
RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY Victory in Europe. Founded in 1990 the group supports many major ceremonies with their authentic uniforms and vehicles. Founded in 1990. Contact: Steve Taylor (Chairman) on www.vera.org.vic
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION. ARNHEM-NIJMEGEN BRANCH. Meetings are generally held on the first and third Friday of the month at 2000 hours in the Wijkcentrum De Klokketoren, Slotemaker de Bruineweg 272, 6532 AD, Nijmegen. Although a dwindling band, the Branch organises Remembrance Services, helps Pilgrims on cemetery visits and is active during the Poppy Appeal period. Contact: Branch Secretary Mr E. Goldie. Tel: + (0) 24 3445605].VALKENSWAARD BRANCH: Contact: + (0) 40 2013561
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM (qv). This fosters interest in, gives assistance and support to the Museum, furthers knowledge about events during the Battle of Arnhem, including its own publications. Contact: Airborne Museum Hartenstein, Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek, Netherlands. Tel: + (0) 26 3337710. Fax: + (0) 26 3391785. e-mail: hartenstein@wxs.nl website: www.airbomemuseum.com
THANKYOU LIBERATORS COMMITTEE, EINDHOVEN. Object to promote and assist WarVeterans on Pilgrimages. Contact: + (0) 70 5179775
Frank van den Bergh, Historian from the Groesbeek National Liberation Memorial with his Marchers’ Cross
Marchers on the Nijmegen Road Bridge
WELCOME VETERANS COMMITTEE, ZETTEN. They specialise in helping veterans who fought on “The Island’. Contact: Geurt and Coby de Hartog, Wageningsesrraat 110, 6671 DH Zetten. Tel: + (0) 488 451477.