Four cadets from 1031 Frome Squadron ATC recently attended the annual Airborne March in Arnhem.
The march commemorates the 1750 British and Polish soldiers and airmen who lost their lives at the Battle of Arnhem during the Second World War and who are buried at the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. It reminds one and all, especially the post-war generations, of the sacrifices man was ready to make for the restoration of democracy.
2016 marked the 70th anniversary of the march, which was attended by around 34,000 people drawn from uniformed services. The march passes by some memorable locations associated with the battle, including the former headquarters of the 1st Airborne Division (now the Airborne Museum), the Airborne Cemetery of Oosterbeek where the fallen are buried, the woods of the Bilderberg where a heavy battle took place and the landing areas the soldiers were dropped into.
The cadets had an escorted tour of these locations in order to understand the context of the battle and to appreciate the sacrifices made by the men who lost their lives. They also visited the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek where Corporal Jamie Easton was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion.
Cadet Louisa Naylor was awarded best team member on the 15km route, on her first participation in the march. Flight Sergeant Iona Mackenzie and Sergeant Elizabeth Allen successfully completed the 25km march for the second year.
