Beechcroft Care Home resident 96 year old WW2 veteran Paratrooper Peter Watkins, 75 years ago jumped along with lots of his pals out of an aeroplane into what would become one of the hardest battles of WW2.
Operation Market Garden was meant to take the bridge at Arnhem by the Paratroopers. Little did they know that a large German force had parked close to the bridge. Many of the Paratroopers were killed or taken prisoner after a long and hard fought battle. Numbers of them that avoided capture harassed the enemy until forward troops could relieve them and capture the bridge.
Peter received the 75th Anniversary Battle of Arnhem Badge from Arthur Norman and Paul Scott of Ilkeston RBL Branch to say thank you for his service.

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