Dear Friends and Colleagues.
The last two Airborne Marches at Oosterbeek, Netherlands, traditionally held annually on the first Saturday of September were understandably cancelled because of the pandemic.
This commemorative march in remembrance of the Battle of Arnhem 1944 is held every year on the first Saturday of September in Oosterbeek. The Airborne March is a tribute to the more than 1,700 British and Polish soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Arnhem and are buried at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek.
In 1947, The Police Sports Association 'Renkum' organized the first “Airborne Walk” to honour those who fought for the freedom of their country during the September days in 1944, in and around Oosterbeek. Approximately 2,000 walkers participated in the first march, making it a success from the beginning. With the permission of Major-General Roy Urquhart, CB, DSO, commander of the 1st Airborne Division, the name of this walk was changed to “Airborne March” and the Pegasus emblem was authorised for use by the organization.
Since the beginning, the net revenues of the Airborne March have been used to enable veterans, who became disabled during the Battle of Arnhem and next of kin with poor means, to travel to The Netherlands and attend in September the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem. Until it was cancelled, the event regularly attracted well over 30,000 participants and many more onlookers.
Members and friends from Scarborough Branch completed the march in 2018 and 2019 and very much look forward to the day when we can once again travel and participate fully in the event.
Earlier in 2021, the event organising committee announced an Alternative Airborne March was planned for 2021 whereby participants could follow one of the four prescribed routes, i.e. 10km, 15km, 25km or 40km on any date between 2nd August and 26th September 2021 as individuals or family groups.
It was confirmed to me today that due to public demand, the organisers have relaxed the ‘rules’ of the Alternative Airborne March so that participants can now complete any of the prescribed distances within their own country or country of residence which means we can now participate albeit without the benefit and experience of marching with over 30,000 other people. You do not need to provide any evidence of the distance you march either. It seems that the organisers are simply wanting to continue to raise funds for their charity by putting trust in participants to claim an award for what they achieve.
If you want to participate, there is a fee of €5.00 (Five Euros) for which, upon completion, you will receive either a medal if it is your first time marching, or a set of wings (bar) if you have completed it before. For more information, please follow the link to the Airborne March website at https://airbornewandeltocht.nl/ . Please don’t delay though. The downside is that the March must be completed by 26th September to enable awards to be sent to participants.
If you do sign up and take part, please let me know.
In friendship,
Chris Charlton
Scarborough Branch Secretary