On 17 September The Veterans Charity met children from Marazion School, in Cornwall, who had painted pebbles as poppies, some with the names of fallen Airborne troops that had taken part in Operation Market Garden. These crimson cobblestones, were laid alongside the appropriately named “Red river” that runs into Mounts Bay. opposite St Michaels Mount.
This was the first element of our Arnhem 80 event on the day 80 years earlier Operation Market Garden commenced in the Netherlands.
As the evening approached a sunset service commenced, thanks to the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose Corps of Drums who played an impressive piece, before setting a Drum head Altar. Poopy wreaths were laid by the new Executive Officer of HMS Seahawk and the Station Commander of RAF St Mawgan.
A Royal Navy veteran commenced the service with a history of the build up to Op Market Garden, before handing over to Wg Cdr Simpson, Royal Air Force who mentioned the role of various units of the RAF including the only Victoria Cross awarded to a pilot of Transport Command, Flt Lt Lord.
One of the inspirations to host an event opposite St Michaels Mount was to remember Lt Piers St Aubyn MC of the Parachute Regiment, his Military Cross citation was read by his Grandson Felix in the shadow of the Mount.
This was followed by the Padre from RNAS Culdrose, who led a moment of reflection as the sun set over Penzance. The Last Post sounded as at 1944hrs (a tribute to the year of the operation) the Mount was illuminated maroon in honour of the famous red berets who fought so hard, for so long at the Bridge Too Far.
After words of thanks from a Trustee to the gathered crowds which included service personnel, dozens of Army Cadets from across Cornwall, veterans and local residents. A piper from the Kernow Pipe and Drums played a lament he had played on the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem previously. Before the crowd was invited to follow the piper to join the team on the beach as poppy petals were sent down the Red river to the sea, cascading over the crimson cobblestones placed alongside the banks of the river to remember the fallen and the river crossing undertaken at the end of Operation Marker Garden.
It was a most wonderful setting as the sun had set the super moon rose over the iconic St Michaels Mount, St Michael is the patron saint of paratroopers.
A few weeks earlier we had handed over to the Cornish Parachute Regiment team a special hand made wreath, made from shells from Mounts bay, which was carried to Arnhem by land and sea, to be laid at the service of remembrance. However, we felt it was fitting if a number of wreaths could arrive in Holland by air, in the slipstream of the airborne forces of WW2. The charity would like to give a huge thank to Mark Briggs for organising the air drop element. The wreaths even gained their own log book for the drop!
A special hand crafted wreath left Cornwall at the end of our Bridge too Far tribute to head to another famous crossing, the Bridge over the River Kwai. More on that route of remembrance in our next update.
