AN 84-YEAR-OLD war veteran shed a silent tear yesterday exactly 60 years after one of the most famous battles in the Second World War.

But it was not seeing hundreds of his former comrades proudly marching past which stirred the emotion for veteran Arthur Sobey. It was the story of a mentally ill Dutch girl.

He was on the John Frost Bridge at Arnhem, for the 60th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, which was his objective after parachuting into Nazi-occupied Holland six decades ago.

He admitted the day had been emotional for him, but when local resident Ronald Smit (45) thanked him for what he had done for the Dutch people, Mr Sobey could not hold back the tears.

Mr Smit said he had travelled the 55km from his hometown of Amersfoort, because he felt it was important to remember the anniversary.

“It’s very important,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to say thank you to the veterans who gave us our freedom.

“Also, because I have a daughter who is mentally ill, and Hitler was not very nice to the mentally ill.”

He added he had recently visited the former concentration camp at Dachau, near Munich in Germany, where shocking pictures on display upset him.

“They had just murdered people and that could have happened to my daughter if the Nazis had won. She is only 10, I believe the veterans saved her life. I can’t say this without crying.”

Mr Sobey explained why he could not help but cry himself and said: “It’s the way he put it. If it hadn’t been for us, she wouldn’t be alive. Hitler would have killed his daughter.”

He added this was why he fought during the war, not for ‘King and Country’, but for his family and those of people like Mr Smit.

Mr Sobey travelled from his Barton-upon-Humber home on a special trip, organised by P &O Ferries and the Arnhem and Nijmegen Regional Tourist Board, to honour veterans.

He added he had not expected so many people at the event, and was surprised so many veterans of the campaign were able to attend.

“It near enough brought a tear to the eye,” he said. “It’s beyond all expectations. It’s a different bridge, but it is the spot we were heading for.”

He was serving in the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment under the command of Lt Col John Fitch during Operation Market Garden, and they were ordered to capture the bridge over the River Rhine.

But they came under heavy fire from two divisions of German tanks, which the troops had not expected to be there. They took refuge in Dutch houses, but had to surrender because the enemy attack was too fierce. They were only half-a-mile from the bridge.

He said: “I am glad to come here this year, at least I didn’t miss it.”

Veterans marched shoulder to shoulder across the bridge as part of the commemorations and some were driven over the Rhine in restored Second World War military vehicles.

All were greeted with loud applause from the grateful Dutch people, who recognised what the former servicemen had tried to do during the campaign.

Hank Bresser, was only four-years-old during 1944, and lived only 100 metres from the bridge at the time. “I’m very emotional,” he said. “I think it’s very important to see the old veterans who tried to liberate us. They didn’t know how many Germans there were.

“We always thank them because they tried. Every year I want to say it, it’s very important for me.”

Erik de Gans, of the tourist board, felt the occasion was important because of the freedom enjoyed by Dutch people today was thanks to the veterans.

“We like to show the gratitude to these men who risked their lives when they were dropped behind enemy lines,” he said. “They had terrible experiences.

“We welcome them and show gratitude. Perhaps this is the last time we can do this.”

Memories flood back on the bridge

ARTHUR Sobey (84) spoke about travelling back to the bridge he was told to capture 60 years ago.

Ahead of the return he said: “Yes, I am looking forward to it. It will bring back a few memories. I will be able to honour my fallen comrades — that’s the main thing.”

Talking about the march across the new John Frost Bridge he said: “It will be emotional. It’s a new bridge now, they made a bit of a mess of the other one. The last time I was there, that was emotional. I went quiet — I just went quiet. I had not been there for 50 years which is a long time.”

But he will not take part in the veterans’ parachute jump and said: “The last time I tried to get on the parachute jump but the doctor wouldn’t let me. I wish I could do it this time. I feel like I could but my legs won’t let me.”

And he has mixed emotions about his visit to a ceremony. He said: “I spoke to one or two of my old colleagues in the cemetery last time. It takes you back to the day’s events. I was one when he was shot. I knew him and I found his grave.

“It is a good thing to mark the occasion and I’m still young up here in my head. It’s the rest of me which is the problem — I’m a young man in an old body.

“It’s going to be nice to go back and see the area, especially the cemetery. It was packed on the 50th anniversary. There were quite a few people I knew. It’s sad the numbers get fewer every year.”

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Friday, September 17, 2004.