- Contributed by听
- COLEFAM
- People in story:听
- JOHN HENRY COLE AND FRIENDS
- Location of story:听
- ARNHEM
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2562743
- Contributed on:听
- 25 April 2004
My name is Dougie and I have three brothers Ray,Peter,and Roger the youngest
We first got involved with Arnhem/veterans and friends back in 1994 when Roger and Rog and I first attended a Aldershot reunion with dad and his mates, I鈥檓 ex army so I was very impressed and proud a lot of the vet's still had that old swagger and a twinkle in their eyes.
Dad was called John Cole and he served with 156btn
When he died his wish was to have his ashes scattered over the famous drop zone on the heath
So we arranged with les another veteran and well known because he always appeared to organise the veterans annual jump over the heath to have a Para carry out his last request (we later met our Sgt Major who said he had been proud to have done this last thing for our dad)
So it was arranged for dad to have his last jump
Rog, Pete and myself went over to Arnhem and met up with dads friends in the Oosterbeck cafe/pub.
Next day, Saturday we went to the heath and Dad came down on the chest of a Sgt Major and just above the monument he had his last jump. I filmed it and just like dad he hung around for a few seconds just to make sure we saw him and then he floated off.this has been one of the most rememerable days of my life which I will never forget and was very proud to be there
Since then we three brothers (Ray not being able to cope very well with it) have been back each year to carry on the friendship he found and which we now have.
I have taken my children so they can learn the meaning of respect and see what their Grandad did and what people thought of him
We have a good number of friends in Holland now and I always look forward to going because we meet someone new, find out more about our dad things he he never spoke about (because as he said once we just did it)
We were also very proud when his photo was published in the Para magazine holding onto a young childon the heath..old and new generations together in peace.
I would in this coloumn like to thank all the friends we have in Holland and the friends we now have here in England for their friendship and i/we will go on visiting as long as i/we can
Dougie (or as we are known by some in Arnhem the "three Cole brothers")
Ps anyone who knew our Dad please reply
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