Arnhem corner at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church, Donington

Donington remembers

Donington is set to remember some of the World War Two veterans who passed through the village this weekend.
The 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers Arnhem Service is being held at 10.30am on Sunday (September 26) at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church.
This memorial service includes the presentation of the colours and the names of the fallen soldiers are read out.
In the church Arnhem corner (pictured) is a book of Remembrance with the Battle Honours earned in France, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Holland, where there is the laying of the wreaths followed by a bugler playing The Last Post.
The service then moves outside to the churchyard where wreaths are laid at the memorial beneath the Arnhem oak tree brought back as a sapling from the battlefields of Holland.
One of the organisers, Eddie Finch said: “Everyone is very welcome to attend the service and refreshments are then served in the church hall.
“There is a display of photos and information about the soldiers who were billeted in Donington undergoing intensive training for the nine months before Operation Market Garden depicted in the film A Bridge Too Far.
“Many of the soldiers did not return and are buried in the Common Wealth War Grave Cemetery in Oosterbeek near Arnhem, those with no known grave are remembered on the memorial panels at Groesbeek War Cemetery.”
If anyone has any stories or photos of the Parachute Regiment veterans to share can they please contact Edward via email at edward.finch@outlook.com or phone 01775 822091.

Leave a Reply