Princess Anne attends emotional service for brave Battle of Arnhem soldiers who lost lives 80 years ago

The Airborne Memorial Service is held annually at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 1,750 allied troops from the 1st Airborne Division and the Polish Parachute Brigade

Princess Anne today attended an emotional service honouring the brave soldiers who lost their lives 80 years ago during the Battle of Arnhem.

The Airborne Memorial Service is held annually at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 1,750 allied troops from the 1st Airborne Division and the Polish Parachute Brigade.

The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Second World War veterans, their families, and members of the public gathered to pay their respects to the heroes of the Greatest Generation.

A local school child for every fallen soldier laid to rest in the cemetery quietly entered the cemetery and placed flowers on each grave.

The ‘flower children’ tradition was initiated in 1945 was intended to bring a touch of colour and life to the then barren and sandy gravesites.

The service was preceded by a procession with musical elements provided by a British Army band from Catterick and standard bearers from both the Parachute Regiment Association and the Royal British Legion.

The order of service, unchanged since it was designed by Commander of the 1st Airborne Division Major General R. E. Urquhart in 1945. It included readings by British Army padres, wreath layings, and the Last Post and Reveille. The Royal Netherlands Air Force then conducted a flypast with three historic aircraft.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Today we honour the veterans of Arnhem, and we honour those who fought and died to help liberate our allies. 80 years on, we remember the huge price paid for our freedom and commit to defending peace and security today.

“I’m proud that members of our Armed Forces are at the heart of the commemorations in the Netherlands this week.”

Defence Minister Lord Coaker said: “Our Armed Forces continue to be inspired by the service and sacrifice of that great generation, which fought so we may live in freedom today. I was proud to join members of the Armed Forces to pay our respects to those who served and died 80 years ago. We remain hugely grateful to all those who gave their lives to defeat Nazi tyranny.”

The Battle of Arnhem, part of an allied plan to liberate the Netherlands and to force a route into Germany, raged between 17 and 25 September 1944. By the end of the week, Arnhem remained in Nazi hands and nearly 2,000 Commonwealth and allied soldiers had been killed.

Although its objectives were not achieved, Operation MARKET GARDEN remains a remarkable feat of arms due to the determination and courage shown by the soldiers. It also led to the liberation of a large part of the Netherlands at a time when many civilians were close to starvation.

The Airborne Memorial Service is part of a series of commemorative events held to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.

Last Wednesday two recently identified British soldiers, Private Henry Moon and Lieutenant Dermod Green Anderson, were buried with full military honours also at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

Soldiers from The Royal Yorkshire Regiment and the Army Air Corps, the modern equivalent units of those being laid to rest, carried the coffins and performed military rifle salutes.