Issue 87 - NWRFCA - Northwest Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

cumbria
acf
Arnhem visit
Twenty-nine army cadets from all over
Cumbria, led by their Commanding Officer, Col
Tom McMullen, travelled to Holland to attend
the sixty-seventh anniversary of the Battle of
Arnhem. The aim of the visit was to remember
the members of the Border Regiment who
fought in the battle as glider borne infantry.
Arriving in Holland early on Saturday
morning, they were met by WO1 Geert Jonker
of the Dutch army and travelled to the military
cemetery at Oosterbreek to visit the graves of
British and Polish servicemen who fell during
the battle. There the cadets had the privilege
of meeting veterans of the battle and relatives
of those who did not return including Patricia
Summers whose father, Edward Hartley, was
Keswick cadets LCpl Jessica Marsden and LCpl Robert Atkinson
at the Border Regiment Memorial at Westerbowing Helents Hotel
overlooking the River Rhine.
WO1 Geert Jonker of the Dutch army talking to the cadets at the graves
of members of the Border Regiment at Oosterbreek Military Cemetery.
a soldier in the Border Regiment and whose
body was only found and laid to rest in 2006.
There were several such moving moments as
members of the party identified the graves of
relatives.
Following a visit to the Airborne Museum
at Hartenstein, the cadets were
conducted round the positions
held by the Border Regiment
and given a full account of the
part they played in the battle
by WO1 Jonker and Mr Martijn
Cornelissen who are expert
battlefield guides. The cadets
laid a poppy cross at the site
where the most recent body
was found and a wreath at the
Border Regiment Memorial at
Westerbowing Helents Hotel that
overlooks the River Rhine. This
position was held by B Company
of the First Battalion the Border
Regiment towards the end of the
battle and their action allowed
many of the airborne troops to
escape across the river.
After spending the night at Oranje Kazerne
(Dutch Army Barracks) as guests of the Dutch
army, the party returned to the Oosterbreek
Military Cemetery for the annual remembrance
service. This was attended by vast numbers of
veterans and their families, representatives
of the Dutch and allied governments and
servicemen from all the allied nations who
took part in the battle. After prayers had been
said for the fallen, at each grave a Dutch child
laid flowers; the Exhortation was given and Last
Post and Reveille sounded. The service ended
with the British, Polish and Dutch national
anthems, by which time it was clear that the
cadets were quite emotional and had clearly
realised the sacrifice made by those who fought
at Arnhem and, indeed, how grateful the Dutch
people are for it.
Cumbria Army Cadet Force are grateful to
the Cumbria County Council Neighbourhood
Forums, Keswick Lions, and the parents of the
cadets whose contributions to the cost of the
visit made it possible for the cadets to take
part in this valuable educational experience.
First Gurkha cadet
Dibash Gurung, the first Gurkha
to join Cumbria Army Cadet
Force, has just completed his
first annual training camp at
Barry Buddon, near Dundee.
Dibash settled with his family
in Carlisle after his father had
completed a full career in the
Royal Ghurkha Rifles.
As is only to be expected from
a member of such a martial
race, Dibash has excelled in his
basic and continuation training
and fitted in well with his
Cumbrian comrades. During
his two weeks at Barry Buddon
he enjoyed every minute of
his military training which
culminated in a twenty-four
hour field training exercise. As
part of their training the cadets
slept in improvised shelters,
cooked their own 24 hour ration
packs and faced a number of
challenging tactical problems.
He was also very keen to sample
the adventure training package
which included canoeing, rock
climbing and skiing on the
Royal Marines dry slope at
nearby RM Condor.
Now fully skilled, Dibash
is looking forward to the new
training year and hopes to gain
his first promotion before next
year’s annual camp at Ripon.
He certainly has the potential
to gain the highest cadet
qualifications on offer and reach
a high cadet rank.
Cdt Dibash Gurung talking to Col Tom McMullen, Commandant Cumbria ACF
during a break in training.
32 the volunteer www.nwrfca.org.uk