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I recently found out that grandad was in the Battle of Arnhem, and I want to share his events through World War II —

My grandad started off in a Scottish regiment. At 18 he was flown into Arnhem as part of 1st Air landing brigade, 7 Kings Own Scottish Border Regiment, in gliders. Basically they were towed behind bombers from England, then over the DZ (Drop zone) the tow was cut and they crash landed. He fought there, and was part of the, stay behind force who covered the withdrawl. He was captured with hundreds of others. The Germans were pretty annoyed with the airborne troops and marched them across Europe, in what was later referred to as the Death March, because Allied troops were dying along the way. He was a POW and forced to work in the lead mines in Poland. He escaped from them during an air raid and ended up fighting with partisans in Yugoslavia in a Guerilla war. After the war he was transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment. In the early 1950's, he served in Malaya, fighting communist insurgents in the jungle. He operated in small patrols with native trackers. During this time he was awarded a Mentioned in Dispatches for some outstanding act out there. My dad never did find out what it was, but it meant he wore an oak leaf cluster on his medal ribbons. My Grandad left the Army in mid 60's after 22 years which also included a tour of the Caribbean in the late 50's/early 60's. Even though i didnt know my grandad it makes me feel proud, knowing his contribution to the the Second World War.

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