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Hants & Isle of Wight Wing

Cadets from 413 Aldershot and 2407 Yateley & Eversley Squadrons took part in the ‘Airborne Wandeltocht March at Oosterbeek near Arnhem in The Netherlands on the weekend of 31st August to the 2nd of September.  The march has been held every year since 1947 and is now the largest one day march in Europe with over 30,000 participants.  The purpose of the march is to commemorate Operation Market Garden, the battle for Arnhem and Oosterbeek in September 1944.  The Dutch people also refer to it as their Liberation March. 

The cadets, aged between 15 and 18 years and all members distances of 10, 15 or 25 kilometres according to their ability.  Each received a commemorative medallion to mark their success.

The Commanding Officer of 413 Aldershot Sqn, Flt Lt Maurice Clark said, ‘Fortunately none of the cadets suffered blistered feet which was no doubt due to the hard work they put into their preparation training’. 

Cadets from Aldershot have been taking part in this march for over 13 years and plan to keep doing so for the foreseeable future should local sponsorship permit.  Further information about the March can be found at www.airbornewandeltocht.nl/home/

Background to Operation Market Garden

In 1944 Airborne troops from the UK landed around Arnhem to capture the bridge over the river Rhine.  The theory was that ground forces could then battle their way to the bridge and attack Germany bringing an early end to the war.  The bridge was held for 4 days before the Germans overrun the airborne soldiers.  RAF crews dropped supplies to the remaining airborne forces in the town of Oosterbeek nearby allowing them to fight on.  RAF pilot Flt Lt LORD won a posthumous Victoria Cross during such a re-supply mission.  Sadly the ground forces were not able to reach Oosterbeek so after 9 days of bitter fighting the UK forces withdrew leaving behind many dead, wounded and prisoners of war.  Of 10, 000 that flew in, only 2,000 returned

Date last updated Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:10 AM

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