The bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Arnhem will be commemorated at a special service on Wednesday, 17 September, at the city’s War Memorial.
The annual event will mark the 81st anniversary of Operation Market Garden, a daring Allied attempt to seize a series of bridges in the Netherlands in September 1944. The battle was a pivotal moment in the war, and the British 1st Airborne Division suffered heavy losses.
In 2019, Colchester City Council established a bond of friendship with Renkum, the Dutch district including Oosterbeek, where soldiers landed and made their final stand. This connection underscores the shared history between Colchester and the British Army’s airborne forces, with 16 Air Assault Brigade based at the city’s Merville Barracks.
To honour this historic event, the Dutch flag and Pegasus, the emblem of airborne forces, will fly from Colchester Town Hall from 17 to 25 September, symbolising the nine days of intense fighting 81 years ago.
The service will include a reading from a soldier from 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and a two-minute silence, followed by the reading of the Kohima Epitaph and the laying of wreaths. Local schoolchildren and cadets will lay sunflowers grown by Abberton Rural Training, mirroring the Dutch tradition of children placing flowers on graves during the main commemorative service at Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
The Reverend Gavin Smith CF, Senior Chaplain 16 Air Assault Brigade, and the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Terry Walker, will lead prayers. A bugler from British Army Band Colchester will play The Last Post and Reveille.
The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Michael Lilley, said: “The Battle of Arnhem remains one of the most poignant chapters of our shared history. It was an operation marked by extraordinary courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds.
“As we gather to remember those who fought and fell, we also celebrate the enduring friendship between Colchester and Renkum, a bond forged in the darkest days of war and strengthened through decades of peace.
“I invite everyone to join us in honouring the memory of these brave soldiers and ensuring their legacy continues to inspire future generations.”
Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said: “Operation Market Garden was always an ambitious mission, but it was a flawed plan that ultimately failed. However, the determination, endurance, and selflessness shown by the airborne soldiers who fought against overwhelming odds in September 1944 continues to serve as an example. Their conduct set standards we expect from today’s soldiers, as we stand ready to fight alongside our Polish, American, and Dutch allies in the cause of freedom, just like our predecessors did 81 years ago.
“It is hugely important that Colchester’s military and civilian communities come together to honour the bravery and sacrifice of all who fought at Arnhem and mark our shared links with the Netherlands.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
A temporary road closure will be in place in the vicinity of the Colchester War Memorial for the duration of the 12.30pm commemoration service, to ensure the safety of attendees and participants. Members of the public and motorists are advised to plan accordingly.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS:
Civic party arrives at War Memorial. The service will begin at 12.30pm.
War Memorial:
The annual event will mark the 81st anniversary of Operation Market Garden, a daring Allied attempt to seize a series of bridges in the Netherlands in September 1944. The battle was a pivotal moment in the war, and the British 1st Airborne Division suffered heavy losses.
In 2019, Colchester City Council established a bond of friendship with Renkum, the Dutch district including Oosterbeek, where soldiers landed and made their final stand. This connection underscores the shared history between Colchester and the British Army’s airborne forces, with 16 Air Assault Brigade based at the city’s Merville Barracks.
To honour this historic event, the Dutch flag and Pegasus, the emblem of airborne forces, will fly from Colchester Town Hall from 17 to 25 September, symbolising the nine days of intense fighting 81 years ago.
The service will include a reading from a soldier from 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and a two-minute silence, followed by the reading of the Kohima Epitaph and the laying of wreaths. Local schoolchildren and cadets will lay sunflowers grown by Abberton Rural Training, mirroring the Dutch tradition of children placing flowers on graves during the main commemorative service at Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
The Reverend Gavin Smith CF, Senior Chaplain 16 Air Assault Brigade, and the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Terry Walker, will lead prayers. A bugler from British Army Band Colchester will play The Last Post and Reveille.
The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Michael Lilley, said: “The Battle of Arnhem remains one of the most poignant chapters of our shared history. It was an operation marked by extraordinary courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds.
“As we gather to remember those who fought and fell, we also celebrate the enduring friendship between Colchester and Renkum, a bond forged in the darkest days of war and strengthened through decades of peace.
“I invite everyone to join us in honouring the memory of these brave soldiers and ensuring their legacy continues to inspire future generations.”
Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said: “Operation Market Garden was always an ambitious mission, but it was a flawed plan that ultimately failed. However, the determination, endurance, and selflessness shown by the airborne soldiers who fought against overwhelming odds in September 1944 continues to serve as an example. Their conduct set standards we expect from today’s soldiers, as we stand ready to fight alongside our Polish, American, and Dutch allies in the cause of freedom, just like our predecessors did 81 years ago.
“It is hugely important that Colchester’s military and civilian communities come together to honour the bravery and sacrifice of all who fought at Arnhem and mark our shared links with the Netherlands.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
A temporary road closure will be in place in the vicinity of the Colchester War Memorial for the duration of the 12.30pm commemoration service, to ensure the safety of attendees and participants. Members of the public and motorists are advised to plan accordingly.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS:
Civic party arrives at War Memorial. The service will begin at 12.30pm.
War Memorial:
- Welcome, opening prayers and scripture reading by The Reverend Gavin Smith CF, Senior Chaplain 16 Air Assault Brigade, and the Reverend Terry Walker, Mayor’s Chaplain.
- Read by a serving soldier and a schoolchild, the story of Trooper William Edmond, who was killed on 17 September 1944, and Willemien Rieken, a Dutch woman who tended his grave in Oosterbeek for more than 75 years.
- The Ode to the Fallen
- The Last Post played by a bugler from British Army Band Colchester
- Two-minute Silence
- Reveille
- The Kohima Epitaph, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers
- Prayers including The Airborne Forces Collect led by The Reverend Gavin Smith CF, Senior Chaplain 16 Air Assault Brigade
- The Blessing given by The Reverend Gavin Smith CF, Senior Chaplain 16 Air Assault Brigade
- The service will last 25 minutes
Page last reviewed: 11 September 2025