Market Garden

In the summer of 1944 General Montgomery came up with a daring scheme to cross the River Rhine and advance into Germany. Codenamed MARKET GARDEN, his plan involved the seizure of key Dutch bridges by the 101st and 82nd US and 1st British Airborne Divisions (MARKET). Then the British 30 Corps could advance over them and cross the Rhine (GARDEN). On 17 September the airborne divisions landed by parachute and glider and eventually all the bridges were captured. The plan failed because of 30 Corps’ inability to reach the furthest bridge at Arnhem, 100 kilometres (62 miles) away, before German forces, including two SS Panzer divisions, overwhelmed the British defenders.

In fact 1st Airborne Division’s landing zones were 11 kilometres (seven miles) from the bridge at Arnhem and only one battalion reached the objective while the rest of the division was squeezed into a pocket around Oosterbeek to the west. Much of 30th Corps’ advance was along a single causeway, which was vulnerable to traffic jams and German counter-attacks that delayed the advance. Operations were also hampered by poor flying weather and communication failures. On 25 September about 2,100 troops from 1st Airborne Division were ferried back across the Rhine. Another 7,500 were either dead or prisoners. The crossing of the Rhine and the capture of Germany's industrial heartland were postponed for six months.

During the operation, Staff Sergeant George Stremes was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his gallantry on 18 September 1944, when the glider he was flying was hit by enemy fire. He and his assistant pilot were badly injured but he managed to land the craft, thus saving the lives of his passengers. Subsequently taken prisoner of war he made several escape attempts before being liberated on 6 April 1945.

Medal group (from left to right): Distinguished Flying Medal 1944; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; British War Medal 1939-45; Africa General Service Medal 1902-56, with clasp: Kenya; Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.