Arnhem ranks amongst the Second World War’s most famous actions – inspiring innumerable books and Sir Richard Attenborough’s epic 1977 film, ‘A Bridge Too Far’. However a forthcoming book by


T


Sibford old scholar Dilip Sarkar, titled ‘Arnhem 1944, The Human Tragedy of the Bridge Too Far’ provides a fresh narrative and approach. Instead of looking at the battle, Dilip (at Sibford 1973 ~ 77) concentrates on the tragic stories of individual casualties including: Private Albert Willingham, who sacrificed his life to save civilians; Major Frank Tate, machine-gunned against the backdrop of blazing buildings around Arnhem Bridge; family man Sergeant George Thomas, whose anti-tank gun is displayed today outside the Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’; Squadron Leader John Gilliard DFC who perished flying his Stirling through a hail of shot and shell during an essential re-supply drop; and footballer Sapper Sid Gueran, a paratrooper killed by Arnhem Bridge.


During the course of his


research, Dilip made numerous trips to Arnhem and Oosterbeek, travelled miles around the UK, and spent countless hours


he airborne battle for the bridges across the Rhine at


communicating with the relatives of casualties – achieving their enthusiastic support. This detailed work, conducted sensitively and with dignity, ensures that these moving stories are now recorded for posterity. “The new book focusses firmly on the stories of casualties and how the effect of these tragic losses reverberate down the generations even today, affecting families all these years later,” Dilip told The Rocket. “I am sure that my outlook on war has to have been formed owing to my father’s Quakerism and my time at Sibford.”


Dilip adds: “In the film ‘A Bridge


Too Far’, Liv Ullman plays a Dutch lady called Kate ter Horst, whose home was turned into a field hospital. Over 300 casualties were treated there and Kate became known as the ‘Angel of Arnhem’ for her kindness towards the wounded and dying. Kate is now deceased, but her daughter, Sophie, who was aged five during the


A fresh look at a bridge too far battle and who sheltered in the cellar with her siblings, is also a philanthropist and has written the book’s foreword. It was no surprise to me to learn that although neither Kate or Sophie were/are Quakers, there are Quakers in their family and so, like me, they very much identify with the Quaker way.”


Dilip visited Sophie at the famous house in Oosterbeek. They are pictured above outside the house with a visual of the book’s cover. • ‘Arnhem 1944, The Human Tragedy of the Bridge Too Far’ will be out early in 2019. Published by Pen and Sword books it is currently available to pre-order.


Photos and medals of Sapper Sid Gueran, as featured in Arnhem 1944.


The Sibford Rocket / 15


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