A Bridge Too far for Region Cadets

A trip into Holland to visit Arnhem and the John Frost Bridge was one of the highlights of a week long summer camp at JHQ Rheindahlen in Germany for cadets and staff from across S&NI Region.

John Frost Bridge is the road bridge over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem and is named after Major-General John Dutton Frost who commanded the British forces that reached and defended the bridge during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The bridge was one of the main and last objectives during Operation Market Garden when British, American and Polish paratroopers and Gliders carrying additional troops and supplies landed behind German lines to capture a number of key bridges.

The group also visited the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek where over 1700 allied soldiers and airmen killed during the operation are buried. One of the graves visited was that of Flt Lt David Lord VC.

David Lord was 30 years old, and a Flight Lieutenant with 271 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

“On 19 September 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem in the Netherlands, the British 1st Airborne Division was in desperate need of supplies. Flight Lieutenant Lord, flying Dakota III KG374 through intense enemy anti-aircraft fire was twice hit and had one engine burning. He managed to drop his supplies, but at the end of the run found that there were two containers remaining. Although he knew that one of his wings might collapse at any moment he nevertheless made a second run to drop the last supplies and then ordered his crew to bail out. A few seconds later the Dakota crashed in flames with its pilot and six crew.”

Only the navigator, F/Lt Harold King survived, becoming a prisoner of war. It was only on his release in mid 1945 that the story of David Lord's action was known and he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. David Lord is buried alongside his crew in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

There are plans for a new bridge over the Lower Rhine at Oosterbeek, to be named after Stanisław Sosabowski who was the Polish general who was commander of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Regiment at the Battle of Arnhem.

The week was rounded off with another trip into Holland to visit the Dutch National War and Resistance Museum at the Liberty Park in Overloon. The Museum tells the story of the occupation of Holland, the persecution of its people and other nations during WWII. It also records the Dutch Resistance Movement, D-Day, the Battle at Overloon and the liberation of Holland by the Allies.

A trip to the local swimming pool, Go Karting, High Ropes, various sports activities and a cultural visit to Cologne were among the many activities in an action packed week.