God blesh the British Airborne Men,
For all that they have done.
In holding out at Arnhem,
We thank them--every one.
We pray for all the wounded men,
Those taken prisoner, too
The weary and the fallen,
We are so proud of you
So, when this war is over,
And wings of peace unfold
May we, with honour, remember,
Our paratroops, so bold.
---W.I. Clarke---
---Hon. Sec. British Legion, Women's Section---
---Melton Mowbray Branch--
TO THE MEN OF ARNHEM
We thank them all
White gravestones - hundreds - row by row
silently on parade. Reminders of the deathly show
of war and hate. Of duty done
A soldier resting beneath each stone.
Our hearts grow heavy with untold sorrow
for those young men - without tomorrow
our minds and souls are equally sore
for these young men - that are no more
We walk along a lawn so green
with veterans - telling what they have seen
of war and battle and fearful strife
that cost these men their youthful life
A stone with a badge. A name, a date
burried here, brothers, friends and mates
They fought their battles to free us all
till the bugle sounded their last call
We stand and listen to that silent sound
that seems to come from all around
With bowed heads we hear that call
with grieving hearts we thank them all.
Death in Oosterbeek
At the dawning he came to me again
That gentle smile and blood upon his cheek
Reminding me, for his end had come
In the dappled woods of Oosterbeek
A passing shower of german mortar bombs
Had driven me beneath a fallen tree
And when, at last I rose, prepared to go
I saw him turn his head and look at me
The wonder and compassion in his eyes
The friendship of the smile upon his face
Mocked the blood that trickled of his lips
And made me curse aloud the human race
He knew they could not hurt him any more
No longer would he feel the pains and fears
Forgiviness shone from that young soldiers face
The mem'ry brings a flood of angry tears
I wish these tears would wash away the thought
That e'en in death we humiliate them so
I saw him later at the first aid post
A label tied to his bare and lifeless toe
I often wonder who that young lad was
Who gave his life to cross the bloody Rhine
And if no loved ones have him in their thoughts
Come hount me lad, and live again in mine
......... Edmund F. Scrivener (1916—2003)........
...Served with the 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment, Air Landing Brigade, at Arnhem...
Ode to Market Garden
Close your eyes for a moment and think way back
Of the Sunday, that Arnhem's bond should crack.
Remember the soldiers, those loyal men all,
Fighting for Arnhem, where many would fall.
Now open your eyes and scan the sky,
Where they came down, like birds from on high.
Those Red Barets, so courageous, without fear,
Who strived for Arnhem and paid so dear.
Close your eyes once more and remember your gains,
For our bright world they went to great pains,
Let us all realise we are still free today,
Because they brought us freedom, they pointed the way.
Just fold your hands now, for Britons and Poles,
Beneath their white crosses and pray for their soules,
When your prayer is over, keep the memory alight,
Our city still lives because they did us right.
...........Sam Rubens..citizen of Arnhem......
Ballade van de Oorlogsgraven(ballad of the wargraves)
De Canadees, die hier werd weggevaagd,
De Pool, die na lang lijden is bezweken,
Zijn vriend, die van zijn zij niet is geweken,
De Engelsman, die God heeft aangeklaagd,
Toen snelle kogels in zijn lichaam joegen.
De dode Yankee, die men achterliet,
Geen mens omvat, wat zij aan lijden droegen.
Zovelen stierven op ons grondgebied.
De zoon, om wie een grijze moeder treurt,
De man, op wie een vrouw verlangend wachtte,
De vader, aan wiens komst de kindren dachten,
De goede vriend, wiens handdruk wordt ontbeerd,
De broeder, door wiens woord men heeft geleerd,
En allen, allen die men nu moet derven,
Geen mens omvat uit eigen klein verdriet,
Wat zij aan droefnis brachten door hun sterven.
Zovelen stierven op ons grondgebied.
Nu breidt de Nederlandse wolkenlucht,
Zich wijd en wisselend over al hun graven.
De regen komt de warme aarde laven,
De bloemen bloeien er en dragen vruvht.
De wind waait achtloos verder op zijn vlucht
En met de kracht van haar ontzaglijk leven
Verovert de natuur, die alles ziet,
De stille plaatsen waar zij achterbleven
Zovelen stierven op ons grondgebied.
Mens, die dit leest, vergeet de doden niet
Gij hebt het leven uit hun hand gekregen
Doordat zij blind zijn, zie gij zon en regen
En door hun slaap ontwaakt gij elke morgen
- Zovelen stierven op ons grondgebied
Wij moeten voor hun goede graven zorgen.
............GEERT ABER..............1945
Slag om Arnhem
Over het oude stadje heen
gierend fluiten der granaten
branden, puinhoop, groote gaten
overal gekerm, geween.
Langs den oever van den Rijn
donderend bulderen der kanonnen
slag om Arnhem is begonnen
spoedig hoopt men vrij te zijn.
Bommen, explosies, gruwelijke nachten
licht laaien er vlammen, feller een brand
strijd om de hoofdstad van 't Geldersche land
dagen van spanning, van angst en van wachten.
Tevergeefsh helaas de strijd
ondanks durend mitrailleeren
terugtocht, puin, evacueren
binnen heelen korten tijd.
Tragische dingen langs wegen gebeuren
'n stervende zieke, 'n eenzaam graf
geboorte en heengaan wisselen zich af
droeve taferelen die harten verscheuren.
Met karren, met bundels, waarheen? Onbekend
zij trekken steeds voort zonder dak boven het hoofd
Arnhemsche burgers, van alles berooft
eind'looze stoet van diepste ellend.
.............Manon van Suchtelen................
Operation Market Garden