Sixth Formers retrace the Battle for Arnhem, Operation Market Garden
A group of Sixth Formers spent part of their summer analysing some of the most defining days of World War II …from an unusual perspective.
17 boys and girls from Ashford School in Kent travelled to Arnhem in Holland to complete their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. They used the country’s extensive cycle network to travel more than 250km while investigating the brutal, yet heroic warfare associated with Operation Market Garden.
“The initiative, leadership and self-sufficiency shown by this group of young people was simply outstanding,” said DofE Manager, Simon Burke, who led the expedition.
Operation Market Garden saw some 35,000 paratroopers land in Arnhem from 17-25 September 1944 in a bid to accelerate the end of the war in Europe by capturing several strategically important bridges.
The students worked in groups to plan their routes each day to retrace the steps of some of the famous military units of the period. They set themselves the aim of deciding whether high level strategy was ultimately defeated by tactics on the battlefield, or whether it was simply luck or misfortune that decided the outcome of the fighting. They will present their finding to members of the school’s Senior Leadership Team in the next few weeks.
“Completing my Award in such a beautiful place with such an interesting aim will be one of the most memorable experiences of my school career,” said Nathan C, who is hoping to go on to study Design at Loughborough university.
“Camping in the woods and learning to work together and make our own fun without mobile phones was a really special experience. I’ve made new friends and discovered a new sense of self-achievement and independence.”
Jack C is a member of Ashford School’s Combined Cadet Force and, for him, the expedition was of particular interest. He said: “Every day we visited at least one important battle site or bridge that was linked to Operation Market Garden. Everywhere we stopped, we learnt something new. It was absolutely fascinating.
“We cycled miles of countryside, through woods, over bridges and various rivers. We stopped together for lunch and made the most of the hot summer weather. The evenings were spent cooking toget
her on portable stoves, playing cards and exploring the local area on foot. It was one of the best experiences and I have so many happy memories.”
The Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award requires participants to complete a four-day, three-night expedition in unfamiliar territory. The young people are expected to be completely self-sufficient during that time without the use of technology and to plan routes and navigate themselves. This expedition saw a mix of proficient cyclists and others who had never cycled before.
Participants completed a four-day training phase before embarking on their expedition which ended with a sobering visit to the Commonwealth War Graves at Oosterbeek War Cemetery near Arnhem.
