Sunflowers at Arnhem

I had never associated Sunflowers with Arnhem before, only the flowers laid on the graves in Oosterbeek by the Dutch schoolchildren which never failed to bring a lump to my throat. Yesterday at the Colchester Service commemorating the Battle Of Arnhem local schoolchildren and Students from Colchester Institute laid Sunflowers on the War Memorial an act no less moving than that of the Dutch children who were doing the same in Arnhem. The pictures of sunflowers at Colchester and DZ-x in Arnhem all those years ago.(Glider borne troops of the Border Regiment.

 

The history behind the reason of sunflowers being used for the soldiers graves at Oosterbeek Commonwealth cemetery is because those were the only sort of flowers that were found growing after the devastation of the area in 1945.

It was in 1945 that the first commemoration service was planned by the British Army in Oosterbeek. At that time there was no intention of involving the the Dutch nationals. The reason being was that as we had lost the battle and the city had been devastated, the remaining civilian occupants expelled by the Germans and many had starved in what became known as the 'hunger winter' we believed we would not be very welcome back there.

Word got around and a prominent local to the area physically stood in front of a British Officers vehicle forcing him and his party to stop. It was then expressed that the locals would like to be included in remembering our dead soldiers.

The bond that was formed on that day endures.

 

Serious question? Looking at your disclaimer suggests... whatever...

Period photo! It was just the right time to see the sunflowers in full blossom.

 

Just to add that I don't think these are Border lads, the After the Battle book has them as "C(lines) section of Divisional signals" and names the individuals, the bit that is confusing is that the man on the right (named as Signalman Nicholl) is described as removing a Bren from its cover but if you look closely its a Vickers he has and I'd guess he is making a bit of a pigs ear of chucking it up onto his shoulder - although not sure why a Signaller would have a Vickers

 

Stan 50
Thank you interesting comment.
AB 64.
You could be right I did not go to source of picture but picked it up elsewhere.

I reckon the guy on the right was just hamming it up for the camera.
The guy immediately behind the sunflower appears to have cocked his sten?

 

The US "handy talky" was not standard issue - or was it?

 

hi I have been trying to do some research on my grandfather who died before I was borne I knew he was in the army and a part of the first airborne division signallers he never spoke about his war time to any of his children which is understandable,i have been trying to peace together he’s war time whereabouts i have a few of his things from the war, medals a beret and a cap badge (royal corps of signal) pow dog tags also I have this photograph ,signalman nicoll is my grandfather, can you confirm where you have got this information from and can you share it with me ? This is the first time I have seen his rank and name brought up anyway regarding this picture and have done search on online with forces war record but it only brings up his RAF career which he joined well after the war

 

Hi,Its in this book OPERATION MARKET-GARDEN THEN AND NOW - VOLUME 1 (afterthebattle.com) which has the photo and a write up

 

Thank you