Judy Urquhart, whose father commanded airborne forces in the battle for the bridge at Arnhem in WWll, is visiting the district to give a talk at Fulbeck on 12 October.
Her talk ‘My Father’s Road to Arnhem’, is a personal reflection on Major General Robert Urquhart, who led 1st Airborne Division in one of the largest ever airborne assaults in September 1944 – Operation Market Garden.
He set up his Divisional HQ at Fulbeck Hall as divisional units gathered in the district to prepare for the operation.
Maj Gen Urquhart flew to Holland by glider, fighting alongside his men in increasingly desperate circumstances to secure the bridge over the river and portrayed by Sean Connery amidst an all-star cast in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far.
Admission to the talk is free, but organisers are asking for donations to the Army Benevolent Fund and tickets must be booked in advance from jfane22@outlook.com
An Arnhem75 exhibition , created for Lincolnshire’s Heritage Open Days, is still open in St Vincent’s Church in Caythorpe, spiritual home of Airborne Forces after close links were formed with 1st Airborne Division Signals. Some exhibits will be moved to Fulbeck for the talk.
It tells the story from different angles, including the American airlift of troops to Holland from Saltby and Barkston Heath from 17 – 21 September, with a special focus on Major General Urquhart.
When the order was given to evacuate forces from north of the river, his was the planning that rescued more than 2,000 troops back to safety across the Rhine under cover of darkness from under the Germans’ noses, using lessons learned at Gallipoli in WWl.
He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and, for his handling of the Division during the battle for Arnhem, the Dutch Bronze Lion
‘My Father’s Road to Arnhem. Fulbeck Village Hall. 12 October 7.30. Donations to Army Benevolent Fund. Ticket are free but must be booked in advance due to limited numbers
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