On this day exactly seventy years ago, the largest airborne
assault in history, to that time, occurred. Operation "Market Garden" commenced,
and the ensuing Battle of Arnhem, began on 17 September 1944. As is
self-evident the principal focus of this blog is on that battle.
The most significant portion of that courageous and
magnificent failure was the action of the British 1st Airborne
Division in the cities of Arnhem and Oosterbeek, The Netherlands. It is deemed fitting and proper that on this occasion their heroic and enduring feat of
arms should be recalled and commemorated.
The British Army, based upon verified
multiple eye-witness accounts and resultant recommendations, saw fit to
acknowledge five specific individuals (four posthumously) for that nation's
highest award for bravery, The Victoria Cross. The criteria for earning the
Victoria Cross are virtually identical to those of the United States Medal
of Honor. For those interested, more details can be found in this blog at; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/09/heroes-of-arnhem-in-miniature.html
"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. We will remember them."
