War Stories and Myths: Revisiting the Falklands, the Denison Smock, and Arnhem’s Legacy

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In recent months, I’ve been reading a range of books and viewing a series of documentaries exploring the realities of twentieth-century conflicts. From the windswept battlefields of the Falklands to the airborne drops of Operation Market Garden, these works both in print and on YouTube challenge accepted narratives, expose enduring myths, and offer fresh perspectives on events that continue to shape our understanding of war. In this article, I combine reflections on various military history books and videos to create a narrative about how easily historical facts can become obscured over time.

The Falklands War: Personal Accounts and Broader Perspectives

Roger Field’s Scimitar into Stanley (2022) offers a first-hand account of his experiences with the Blues and Royals during the 1982 Falklands War. Initially a staff officer, Field found himself commanding a Scimitar armoured car in battle, famously leading the charge into Port Stanley with journalist Max Hastings clinging to the back of his vehicle. The book is laced with humour, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, though in today’s climate of political correctness, some may find parts of the text a little too candid. Field doesn’t shy away from naming names or calling out poor leadership, particularly criticising Brigadier Sir Tony Wilson. Yet, he’s equally honest about his own post-war struggles. The result is an open and honest personal account of modern conflict.

For those seeking a broader view, Hugh Bicheno’s Razor’s Edge (2007) steps back to examine the origins of the conflict. Bicheno, a former British spy in Argentina, foresaw the coming war, but his warnings fell on deaf ears in Whitehall. He spares no one in his critique, lambasting the Foreign Office, Civil Service, and politicians. The book is notable for its inclusion of the Argentine perspective, often overlooked elsewhere, and for its detailed descriptions of the campaign’s battles from both Argentine and Allied viewpoints. Bicheno highlights the role of chance in victory and defeat, and his unsparing criticism is directed at all parties in what he sees as an avoidable conflict. Interestingly, his book is used as a text at Argentina’s war college, a testament, perhaps, to its thoroughness.

If you want the soldier’s view, read Field. For the bigger picture, turn to Bicheno. Both are well worth your time.

Justice Denied: The Welsh Guards and the Sir Galahad Cover-Up

Another recent read, Too Thin for a Shroud by Lieutenant-Colonel Crispin Black (2023), delves into the bombing of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Sir Galahad by the Argentine Air Force on 8 June 1982, the British Army’s deadliest day since 1945.

The Book's Claims

Black documents how 48 men died when Argentine A4 Skyhawks bombed Sir Galahad at Port Pleasant, Fitzroy. The ship was in the wrong location and lacked proper air defence. Packed with Welsh Guardsmen, Sir Galahad sat exposed in broad daylight for over six hours.

Using newly declassified Board of Inquiry documents from The National Archives, Black demonstrates that no direct orders to disembark were given to Major (later Colonel) Guy Sayle and the Welsh Guards. For 40 years, he was wrongly blamed for failing to disembark the troops. The inquiry proves this false. Black argues that senior Royal Navy and Royal Marines commanders made cascading failures: wrong location, defective landing craft, no air defence, and poor communications. The inquiry’s findings were classified until 2065, 83 years after the event.

The declassified files state, “At no time was a direct order to disembark given to Major Sayle by a superior officer.” Colonel Guy Sayle’s daughter has spoken to the media about how her father was made a “scapegoat” for the disaster, and now the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said it “in no way blames” the Welsh Guards for the losses that day. Colonel Sayle died in 2022. According to Emma Sayle, her father died “haunted and penniless”.

Critical Reception

Unsurprisingly, reviews of Black’s book split sharply along service lines. Welsh Guards veterans and families praised the book as vindication. Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel frequently criticise it as biased. The conservative Daily Telegraph called it “a repository of damning facts.” The Spectator acknowledged it “shows the Welsh Guards in a new light”, but questioned broader claims. In the court of public opinion, Amazon reviews range from five-star praise for the book's formidable detective work to one-star criticism for an inaccurate rewriting of history.

Senior commanders mounted coordinated rebuttals. RUSI Journal published responses from Major General Julian Thompson, Rear Admiral Jeremy Larken, and other Falklands officers. They challenged Black's interpretations whilst acknowledging errors in the original inquiry. Rear Admiral Larken contacted Black's publisher before reading the book, claiming the Welsh Guards were “unprofessional.” The Mirror reported that Larken claimed the Welsh Guards were an unprofessional and poorly led unit responsible for “pilfering” on his ship. Personally, if true, I think this statement says all we need to know about Larken.

On the flipside, General Sir Michael Rose supported Black's findings, suggesting a “cover-up” on national television.

Political Fallout

The book triggered parliamentary debates. On 25 March 2024, MPs pressed for the release of the documents. Sir Iain Duncan Smith stated: “There is now no question but that some kind of cover-up took place.” Defence Minister Andrew Murrison formally exonerated the Welsh Guards: “The board of inquiry is quite clear...the Welsh Guards were absolutely exonerated.” You can read the full transcript of the House of Commons debate on the Hansard website.

In May 2024, the MoD released 62 pages of previously classified documents. These largely confirmed Black's central claims: no orders were given to the Welsh Guards to disembark, the ship was sent to the wrong location, inadequate landing craft were available to offload the vessel, and no air defence was established.

Luckily for the families of those lost, the wounded and veterans, Black's credentials proved difficult to ignore by the Government, MoD and Navy. After all, he was on board Sir Galahad that fateful day, worked for the Cabinet Office as an intelligence adviser, and received an MBE for his work with the Defence Intelligence Staff during the crisis in the Former Yugoslavia. He is also a frequent contributor to the BBC and major British newspapers on terrorism and intelligence matters.

Crispin Black's book focuses on the bombing of RFA Sir Galahad, the subsequent cover-up, and the release of documents that prove the Welsh Guards were not to blame. He successfully campaigned for the declassification of these documents, which led to the official exoneration of the Welsh Guards after 42 years. While some critics question his interpretation of the events during the Falklands War, they present little counter-evidence. Many fundamental questions remain, and numerous documents will stay classified until 2065. Furthermore, no public inquiry has been announced. Black's work has challenged the previously accepted “official” narrative that unfairly scapegoated the Welsh Guards, turning it into an ongoing controversy.

Unravelling the Myths: The Denison Smock

On a lighter note, my recent purchase of a reproduction 1972-pattern Denison smock led me to a fascinating YouTube video by David Willey, formerly of The Tank Museum: “So you thought you knew about Denison Smocks…” The Denison smock, with its distinctive “brushstroke” camouflage, became iconic among British airborne forces, the SAS, and commandos. Yet, as Willey and Jon Baker (Curator at the Airborne Assault Museum) reveal, much of what we think we know is myth. There’s no evidence the smock was named after Major Denison—indeed, there’s no proof such a person existed. The famous “beaver tail” wasn’t designed to stop the garment riding up during jumps, as is often claimed. Willey’s video is a reminder of how easily repeated stories can become accepted fact.

Market Garden Revisited: Myths and Realities at Arnhem

Turning to Operation Market Garden, I recently watched two videos that challenge established narratives about the battle for Arnhem. The first was Niall Cherry’s Some Arnhem Myths... and a dose of reality! Part 2 on WW2TV, hosted by Paul Woodadge. Cherry, a former Royal Army Medical Corps senior NCO, has written eleven military history books. He is secretary of the Arnhem 1944 Veterans Club, a member of the 23 Parachute Field Ambulance OCA and Secretary of the Arnhem 1944 Fellowship. In the video, Cherry addresses specific myths and misconceptions with documentary evidence. Perhaps one of the most commonly held misconceptions about Market Garden is that because the radio equipment failed, the operation failed. On radios, Cherry explains that the 68 sets had known range limitations in wooded terrain. Tests in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy confirmed this. Commanders knew the Arnhem operational area exceeded set capabilities. In John Frost’s book, A Drop Too Many, he states that the failure of radio equipment was a perennial problem for Britain’s airborne forces.

Regarding the arming of British medics during the operation, establishment tables indicate that each parachute field ambulance was equipped with 123 pistols, 12 rifles, and 31 Sten guns. Of the 630 medics, only six were conscientious objectors. Photographic evidence confirms that most medics carried sidearms. As for the 21st Independent Parachute Company, the nominal rolls reveal that there were eleven foreign personnel among a total of 886 men, disproving the claim that there was a significant number of German Jews, which has become something of a myth.

In terms of planning failures, Cherry argues the 1st Air Landing Brigade should have seized the bridges at Arnhem. Air landing battalions had 750 men versus 550 in parachute battalions, formed up in seconds rather than forty minutes, and possessed superior firepower with four rifle companies, additional mortars, machine guns and anti-tank weapons. He examines General Browning’s influence on Jim Gavin at Nijmegen, where securing the Groesbeek Heights took priority over the Waal road bridge. Browning subsequently blamed Polish General Stanisław Sosabowski in a damning letter before departing for the Far East. Sosabowski's military career never really recovered from Browning’s unfounded criticisms.

During the WW2TV video, Cherry mentioned a short documentary film produced by Anglia Television on the 25th anniversary of Operation Market Garden in 1969. A quick search of YouTube, I found the programme in question, The Battle of Arnhem, directed by Harry Aldous. The programme is largely a collection of documentary interviews with many of the key protagonists and some local witnesses to events during the fighting for Arnhem and Oosterbeek.

In the documentary, Major General Roy Urquhart explained his 36-hour absence from divisional headquarters. He claimed wireless failures prompted his forward movement on the first afternoon. German opposition then trapped him with Brigadier Lathbury near St Elisabeth's Hospital. Lieutenant Colonel John Frost described reaching the Arnhem bridge intact on Sunday evening with over 500 men. Fewer than 200 remained alive and unwounded when resistance ended on Thursday morning. Brigadier John Hackett recounted arriving on Monday afternoon into active combat. His disagreement with Brigadier Pip Hicks over troop deployment at the Hartenstein reflected command confusion during Urquhart's absence.

Major General Allan Adair, Guards Armoured Division, blamed the terrain for his formation’s slow progress up the central axis of advance. The single-road approach prevented flanking movements, and the marshy Dutch polder land between Nijmegen and Arnhem, an area known as the Island, prohibited armoured manoeuvre.

SS General Wilhelm Bittrich assessed British troops as an “absolute elite” and commented on his troops' respect for their enemies. Housewife and mother, Kate ter Horst, described caring for the many wounded who packed her Oosterbeek home. Casualties filled every room. In the final segment of the programme, General Urquhart read from his 1945 report stating all ranks would willingly undertake similar operations again. Frost believed that most men who served at Arnhem, if asked, would accept another “invitation to the party”.

The Anglia Television documentary is an interesting, if uncritical, oral history filmed before later narratives worked their magic on the public imagination. The inclusion of a German perspective remains unusual for a 1969 British production. Both videos offer valuable source material. Cherry challenges operational assumptions with documented evidence. The Anglia TV program features first-hand accounts from key figures who planned, executed, and fought in the Battle of Arnhem. However, time and concerns about preserving their own reputations likely influenced the accuracy of their memories.

From the windswept South Atlantic to the battlefields of Holland, these books and documentaries reveal the enduring power of personal testimony and the importance of challenging received wisdom. Whether exposing cover-ups, debunking myths, or simply telling it as it was, each work adds a vital thread to the tapestry of military history. In revisiting these stories, we honour the lived experience and also ensure that the lessons, whether bitter or inspiring, are not forgotten.

Amazon Affiliate

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase books through these links, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the ongoing research and content on The War Years.

References, Justice Denied:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-the-bombing-of-sir-galahad-have-been-prevented/

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/63723/falkland-islands-war-rfa-sir-galahad-the-whiff-of-a-cover-up

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03071847.2024.2444114

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-03-25/debates/584D525C-3E70-4380-87AD-AEB171BED087/RFASirGalahad

https://en.mercopress.com/2024/05/18/falklands-war-partly-released-documents-on-welsh-guard-losses-trigger-more-controversy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispin_Black

The Author's Trap: How Book Club Scams Really Work

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In recent months, I’ve started to receive emails claiming to be from book clubs. Typically, the sender begins the email with a paragraph of glowing praise about my book, A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945. Next, they inform me that their particular club has thousands of loyal members just crying out to read a review of my book, or have me appear as a guest in an online “meet-up” (a bit like a Zoom call). The emails always seem to come from the USA or Canada. All very flattering. All very suspicious.

A couple of weeks after I received my first invitation to be reviewed by one of these so-called book clubs, the Society of Authors (SOA) issued a warning about various author-targeted scams currently circulating. I’m naturally suspicious of unsolicited emails, especially when they make unsubstantiated claims and promise the earth. I usually report them as spam, block them and forget about them. But I was a little curious about how the scams worked, why they targeted authors, and who got paid.

A Google search returned a very informative article by Victoria Strauss, co-founder of the Writer Beware® website. Based in the USA and sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association ( SFWA®), the stated mission of Writer Beware® is to “track, expose, and raise awareness of the prevalence of fraud and other bad practices in and around the publishing industry.” A very laudable endeavour. Published in September 2025, Victoria’s article is titled, Return of the Nigerian Prince Redux: Beware Book Club and Book Review Scams. It makes fascinating reading.

In one day, I received two suspicious emails offering to promote my book. Instead of simply deleting and blocking the senders, I thought I'd do a little digging of my own. What I found shows exactly why authors need to be careful about unsolicited outreach. (Note: I've changed the names and email addresses to protect privacy, but all other details are accurate.)

The first email claimed to be from “Andy Smith,” organiser of a book club in Washington, DC, with “4,000+ members.” The second purported to be from “Charlotte Doe,” claiming to be a bestselling author. Both were fake, and examining their email headers revealed why. Despite claiming to be from Washington, DC, and Sydney, Australia, respectively, both emails showed a +0100 time zone—indicating they originated in the UK or Western Europe. Someone in Washington would use US Eastern Time (-0400/-0500), not European time. And someone living in Sydney, certainly wouldn't be sending emails on UK time either.

The technical details provided more clues to the fraudulent origin of the emails. Both used free Gmail accounts with names like “bookclub.readers1@gmail.com” and “charlottedoe1@gmail.com” (note the “1” suffixes, suggesting someone already had those names). A legitimate book club with thousands of members is likely to have a professional, branded domain. I think the same is true for an established bestselling author. The “book club” email linked to a music journalism archive with no connection to book clubs. The author’s impersonation included Amazon links tagged with “utm_source=chatgpt.com,” suggesting that the content was generated by AI. Both emails contained tracking pixels to monitor whether I opened them, marking me as an active target for future scams.

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The way the emails were written was suspicious. One email opened with “Hi,” missing my name entirely. Both offered generic praise that could apply to any book, without providing specific details about my work. The book club email made vague promises to “explore how we might spotlight” my book without any actual dates or plans, while the author’s message had an incomplete sentence: “I also wanted to share a recent discovery that might interest you”, followed by nothing, like the template was never finished.

The lessons learned are straightforward. Legitimate opportunities come through professional channels with verifiable credentials. They use proper business email addresses, include specific details about your work, and do not usually require tracking pixels. When you notice red flags, such as free email accounts, inconsistent sender locations, generic comments about your work, broken templates, unusual links, and tracking technology, it is a scam. These operations harvest author information, build email lists to sell, or set you up for future “promotional service” fees. If something feels wrong, follow your gut instincts, report the email as spam and block the sender.

Zero Trust: Your Digital Defence Against Social Engineering

At present, none of these fake emails have come with an attachment or specifically asked me to click a link, but some might. Whatever you do, and I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT OPEN any file or click on any link. At best, it will be an attempt to harvest your credentials and at worst, your computer or mobile device will be infected with malware or ransomware.

Cybercriminals are extremely good at devising new scams and manipulating their victims: it’s called social engineering. Their whole raison d'etre is to trick you into making a mistake and giving them access to your personal data or hijacking your computer and everything on it. This means you have to be ultra-suspicious of unsolicited email, text, voice, and any other sort of communication.

In the tech world, “Zero Trust” is a security principle that says “never trust, always verify” and assumes that no user or device can be trusted by default. Taking a zero-trust approach to your communications might seem bleak, but with AI tools making social engineering attacks and scams more sophisticated, it’s better than the alternative.

Book Club Scams - Key Points: Red Flags Every Author Should Know

According to Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware®, many of these scams originate in Nigeria. The scams involve emails that appear to be from book clubs offering to feature a book, but there's a catch: you must pay a “spot fee” or “participation fee” ranging from USD $55 to $350.

How the scams work and red flags:

• Gmail addresses instead of professional email domains

• Some of the book clubs simply do not exist and have no online presence, while others impersonate real book clubs that do exist on platforms like Meetup.com

• The emails are personalised by using AI to scrape data from sites like Amazon, and reference specific details about the target book and author

• Over-the-top fluff and flattery about the author and their work

• Payment is typically requested via a PayPal friends and family account (which cannot be reversed) or through an Upwork contract from third parties in Nigeria

• Real book clubs do not charge fees to authors for appearances or features

The good news is that the scammers may be sabotaging themselves by sending so many emails that authors are getting rightly suspicious and sharing warnings on social media. Remember, zero trust: if a book club or any group asks you to pay for the opportunity to be reviewed or interviewed, it’s a scam.

Why Traditional Publishing Mostly Fails Military History Authors

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Disclosure: As of January 2026, this blog contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase books through these links, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the ongoing research and content on The War Years.

According to Richard Godwin, a columnist for The Guardian, around 200,000 books are published in the UK each year.1 Most military history books sell only 200 to 300 copies before going out of print. The competition for readers' attention has never been more intense. However, many first-time authors will find that their publisher does very little, if anything, to actively promote their book.

Publishing military history requires more than just research and writing; it also involves navigating the submission process, securing image licenses, and collaborating with editors, each of which presents its own set of challenges. In recent months, I have gained a better understanding of these practical realities as I have submitted my second manuscript and worked through the complexities of traditional publishing.

Manuscript Submission and Image Licensing

In January 2025, my first book, A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945, was published by Pen & Sword Military. In July 2025, I submitted the manuscript for my second book to Fonthill Media. My submission included the manuscript, 18 photographs, 2 diagrams, 1 map, and a comprehensive list of captions. The manuscript needed to be formatted according to the publisher's 20-page Submission and House Style Guide. Formatting the manuscript proved to be a surprisingly tedious and time-consuming process. Publishers also require the completion of multiple forms and questionnaires for marketing and sales purposes. This seems odd, since they rely heavily on authors to promote their own books. Overall, the administrative burden accounts for a significant portion of the submission process.

The Cost of Illustration

Finding suitable photographs to illustrate military history books takes time and money. For my latest book, the average copyright licensing fee was around £50 per image. Authors are responsible for these costs, as publishers do not cover image licensing expenses.

The final licensing fee per image is based on several factors. Cover images generally incur higher fees than those used inside the book because of their greater visibility. Additionally, the print run size, distribution methods, and other considerations influence the final price. Different jurisdictions have varying regulations regarding public domain materials and the expiration of copyright.

In the UK, copyright typically expires after 70 years, though exceptions exist. The Imperial War Museum (IWM) provides an excellent source for Second World War imagery. However, Crown Copyright applies to many photographs, allowing the institution to charge perpetual licensing fees that support its operations.

Some images are free to use, including those with Creative Commons licenses, public domain materials, and content from free stock photography sites. However, it is important to properly attribute the image creator.

If an author wants to include maps and diagrams in their book, they will either need to create the artwork themselves or hire an illustrator. Hiring an illustrator is an additional expense for the author, not the publisher. I hired a qualified graphic designer to produce the maps that appear in my first book, for example.

An author may choose to take their own photographs to illustrate their book; however, institutions often require licensing fees for images of artefacts in their collections, even if the photographs are original. Don't assume you can take a picture of a military vehicle on public display and simply publish the image. Always request permission and check whether fees apply before proceeding.

The Financial Reality: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

The economics of military history publishing become stark when examined systematically. Based on my own experience, the following table illustrates author expenses against realistic earnings for military history books:

Expense Category	Typical Cost Range	Notes
Image licensing (15–20 images)	£750–£1,200	£50 per image average from IWM, TNA, Getty
Archival research (multi-day visits)	£400–£800	Travel, accommodation, document fees (TNA, IWM)
Professional map design (2–3 maps)	£300–£600+	Graphic designer/illustrator fees
Marketing and promotion	£200–£500+	Website hosting, social media ads, review copies
Professional memberships	£100–£250	SAHR, RHS, SOA, HWA annual fees for credibility
Total Author Investment	£1,750–£3,350	Before any research and writing time is invested

Against the costs outlined in the diagram above, typical returns for military history books remain modest. Advances have become increasingly rare in military history publishing. Typically, only established and successful authors receive advances. In my case, I received a small advance, which was then deducted from my royalties until paid off.

The majority of first-time authors receive no advance whatsoever. Royalties of 7-10% on net receipts represent the industry standard for traditional publishers. Based on a retail price of £25 and a typical print run of 500-1,000 copies for specialist military history, selling 300 copies generates approximately £525-£750 in total royalties. For authors who received no advance, this represents their complete earnings from the book. Many authors will receive less. This calculation excludes the time investment required to research and write a history book.

A typical military history book requires 400-800 hours of research, writing, and editing. At even a modest £15 per hour, this represents a labour value of £6,000- £12,000. The financial reality is unambiguous: traditional publishing of specialist military history operates as a subsidised endeavour, with authors effectively paying publishers for the privilege of seeing their work in print. If you are in it for the money, you would be better off taking a job with a supermarket chain, as you will earn more than most authors and the money is guaranteed.

Why Most History Books Fail

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that most military history books do not provide a return on investment. The military history publishing sector reflects a broader crisis identified by James McConnachie, editor of the Society of Authors Journal. He observed that "far more books are published than could ever succeed" because publishers are "underinvesting in editing or marketing while outsourcing much of the risk to authors".2

For military historians, this imbalance is particularly severe. Authors face significant upfront expenses, including an average of £50 per image for copyright licenses, commissioning map and diagram costs, and fees for conducting archival research at institutions such as The National Archives. At the same time, they are expected to manage their own marketing campaigns with minimal support from publishers.

The Marketing Burden

The promotional workload expected of authors has expanded dramatically. Since my first book was published in mid-January 2025, I have invested approximately 2-3 hours weekly in marketing activities. This includes maintaining a presence across Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, with occasional posts on Instagram and TikTok.

Content production involves creating posts, video material, and occasional blog articles analysing military history topics to maintain audience engagement.

I have also worked with a local journalist who wrote several articles about my book and my family history research services for local residents. This generated regional awareness but required coordination time for interviews and fact-checking.

My publisher's contribution consisted of a single press release distributed to their existing mailing list and inclusion in their seasonal catalogue. A couple of social media posts, no review copy distribution to military history journals, no outreach to specialist bookshops or military museums. The expectation was clear: authors handle their own promotions, or their books disappear without a trace.

As McConnachie pointed out in an article in The Guardian, "traditional authors are doing much of the marketing anyway." This is concerning, especially given that the median income of full-time authors has dropped by about 60% since 2006, to just £7,000 per year.3 The figures are stark: Hundreds of hours spent in archives, thousands of pounds invested in illustrations and permissions, and extensive time devoted to social media promotion—all for books that most publishers acquire cheaply and produce with minimal investment, often with ineffective promotion.

This situation transforms what should be a scholarly pursuit into a struggle for financial stability, where authors end up subsidising publishers' profits while grappling to recover even their direct research costs, let alone receive fair compensation for years of specialised historical work.

Alternative Publishing Routes

Given the economic realities of traditional publishing, authors should evaluate alternative routes to market. Each approach presents distinct advantages and limitations. There is no perfect route to market here; everything is a compromise. And steer clear of websites and organisations that promise to do all the heavy lifting in terms of marketing and sales. If it seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. New authors should be wary of any company that demands upfront fees for vague services.

Academic Publishers

University presses such as Cambridge and Oxford remain the gold standard for scholarly credibility, but their commercial model has fundamentally shifted away from author earnings. Typical print runs for specialist military history monographs now range from 100 to 500 copies, down from approximately 1,500 in the 1980s.4 Oxford Historical Monographs, for example, publishes just 6-8 titles annually.5 Royalties typically sit at 8% of net receipts, not the cover price, meaning an author might earn approximately £1,008 total from a £70 monograph selling 300 copies after distributor discounts.6 Advances, when offered, are minimal: first-time academic authors report receiving "hundreds of pounds" rather than thousands. Pricing reflects the library-focused market, with British Academy Monographs ranging from £55 to £100 depending on length.

Authors considering open-access book publishing face high costs. Book Processing Charges at major presses include Cambridge and Oxford (£8,000-£12,000), Palgrave Macmillan (£10,000), and Routledge (£10,000+).7 Academic publishers prioritise scholarly rigour over commercial appeal, which suits detailed military analysis, but authors sacrifice broader public engagement for credibility within historical research communities.

Specialist Military History Publishers

The UK specialist military history market is dominated by three publishers: Pen & Sword, Helion & Company, and Osprey. These offer substantially better terms than academic presses whilst maintaining professional trade distribution.

Pen & Sword Books (Barnsley) publishes over 350 titles annually across multiple imprints.8 Documented author contracts show 10% royalties on all print sales and 15% on eBooks, calculated on net price received rather than cover price. When books sell at trade discounts of 50% or more, effective royalties drop accordingly. The company accepts submissions from new writers but expects authors to do most of the marketing.

Helion & Company (Warwick) has carved out the specialist-academic niche, publishing approximately 100 titles annually and holding 1,200 books in its catalogue. Pricing ranges from £24.95 to £35 for paperbacks and from £35 to £45 for larger academic titles. Helion organises titles into period-specific series and provides US distribution through Casemate Publishers.9

Osprey Publishing (Oxford), currently owned by Bloomsbury, dominates the illustrated reference market with 3,100+ titles and a monthly output of 10-12 books. Osprey typically operates a work-for-hire model for series contributors rather than standard royalty contracts.10

Self-Publishing via Amazon KDP

Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform offers the highest per-copy margins but creates significant barriers to physical bookshop and library distribution. The royalty structure changed in June 2025: print books priced at or above £7.99 receive a 60% royalty (minus printing costs), whilst those priced below £7.99 receive only a 50% royalty. Ebooks qualify for a 70% royalty within the £2.99- £9.99 price band.11

Print production costs for a 300-page black-and-white military history paperback are approximately £3.85. At a £14.99 list price with 60% royalty, author earnings would be £5.14 per copy sold—substantially higher than traditional publishing's £1-2 per copy.

Professional service costs for self-publishing a military history title in the UK typically include: developmental editing (£1,300-£4,000 for an 80,000-word manuscript), copy-editing (£950-£2,400), proofreading (£350-£800), cover design (£250-£600), interior formatting (£250-£500), battlefield cartography (£300-£1,200 per map), and ISBNs (£89 single or £164 for ten from Nielsen).12

The distribution limitations are severe. KDP titles are not eligible for UK Public Lending Right because Amazon uses ASINs rather than ISBNs licensed for library systems. Most independent bookshops refuse to stock KDP publications, viewing Amazon as a direct competitor. The Expanded Distribution option reduces royalties to 40% whilst still failing to match traditional trade terms.

Hybrid Publishers

The Society of Authors issued its landmark report, Is It a Steal?, in April 2022, investigating 240 authors across 91 hybrid publishing companies. The conclusion was unambiguous: hybrid/paid-for publishing is "the worst option a writer can take" because sales are insufficient to justify the author's investment, and there are concerns about aggressive marketing tactics and opaque contracts.13

Troubador Publishing (Leicester), operating the Matador imprint, represents the more reputable end of the UK hybrid market. As an Alliance of Independent Authors Partner Member, Troubador offers bespoke pricing: eBook-only (approximately £650); print plus eBook with 200 copies (approximately £3,000); full service with 500 copies and marketing (approximately £6,000); and premium with website and digital marketing (approximately £7,500).14

Troubador's royalty structure pays authors 85% of net receipts on eBooks (after retailer discounts) and manages print royalties after a 15% commission for distribution and fulfilment. Crucially, Troubador operates selectively, rejecting manuscripts that don't meet quality standards, and provides genuine trade distribution through its own warehousing.

Key red flags of vanity press operations include accepting all manuscripts regardless of quality, aggressive cold-calling tactics, pressure to purchase immediately, vague distribution claims, and hidden costs that appear after signing. The Independent Book Publishers Association Hybrid Publisher Criteria establishes 11 standards for legitimate hybrids, but these criteria are voluntary and non-binding.15

Practical Advice for Aspiring Military Historians

Based on my experience navigating military history publishing, the following recommendations may help authors avoid common pitfalls and establish realistic expectations. I want to specifically acknowledge the Society of Authors for their invaluable advice and practical assistance as I approach the publication of my second book.

Questions to Ask Publishers Before Signing

Publishers should provide clear answers to specific questions before authors commit to contracts. Essential enquiries include:

• What editorial support will be provided? Request details about structural editing, copy-editing, and proofreading processes, including whether these are included in the contract or represent additional author expenses.

• What marketing activities will the publisher undertake? Obtain specific commitments regarding review copy distribution, social media promotion, and outreach to specialist retailers and military history platforms.

• Who covers image licensing costs? Clarify whether the publisher provides a budget for photograph licenses or whether authors must fund these expenses independently.

• What is the expected print run and pricing strategy? Understanding initial print quantities and retail pricing helps establish realistic sales projections and royalty calculations.

• What rights revert to the author if the book goes out of print? Ensure contracts specify clear conditions for rights reversion, enabling authors to pursue alternative publishing options if the publisher ceases promotion.

Building an Online Presence Before Publication

Publishers increasingly expect authors to arrive with an established social media presence. Beginning author-brand development 12-18 months before manuscript submission provides several advantages. A research blog demonstrating expertise in your subject area builds credibility with both publishers and readers. Regular social media posts analysing primary sources, discussing historiography, or exploring archival discoveries establish your authority whilst generating content for promotion. Social media engagement with military history communities, museums, and fellow historians creates networks that support book launches. Publishers view authors with 2,000+ engaged social media followers as lower-risk investments, though the quality of engagement matters more than follower count.

Identifying Low-Cost Image Sources

Image licensing represents a significant expense, but several strategies reduce costs without compromising quality. Wikimedia Commons hosts substantial collections of military history under Creative Commons licenses, particularly for pre-1945 material. The U.S. National Archives offers extensive Second World War imagery in the public domain. The UK's national archive provides free images for non-commercial use. In contrast, other national archives, such as the Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands), offer some images that are out of copyright. Regional museums and regimental archives may also waive fees for authors who give prominent credit to the institution. Additionally, building relationships with military vehicle preservation societies and re-enactment groups can grant access to contemporary photography of historical equipment. However, it's essential to obtain written permission before using any of these images. Your publisher might help you find license-free images or negotiate prices with stock libraries. For example, Pen & Sword Books offered to search for license-free images while I was working on my first book.

Creating Your Own Maps and Diagrams

Professional map production costs £150-£250 per map, but several tools enable authors to create acceptable alternatives. QGIS, an open-source geographic information system, provides sophisticated mapping capabilities for battle maps and campaign movements. The learning curve is steep but worthwhile for authors planning multiple books. Inkscape offers vector graphics editing suitable for organisational charts, order-of-battle diagrams, and tactical illustrations.

For authors lacking design skills, commissioning university geography or design students provides high-quality results at reduced rates, typically £50- £100 per map. Always retain source files and copyright for any commissioned work to enable reuse in future publications. These approaches require time investment but reduce direct costs and provide valuable skills transferable across multiple projects.

You can find freelancers on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. However, based on my own experience, the quality of work can vary greatly, and prices can escalate quickly. If you need to redo work because the quality is poor, the cheap option can end up costing more.

Conclusion

Like many first-time authors, I approached the publication process with expectations shaped more by optimism than by reality. I anticipated that my publisher would guide my manuscript through substantive editing, using their expertise to transform my first draft into a commercially viable history book. Unfortunately, that professional support never materialised. I received little editorial help, which left me to figure out the complexities of historical storytelling and pacing mostly on my own. Because of this, I now see that my book didn't reach its full potential. It wasn't due to a lack of research or hard work, but rather because I mistakenly thought that professional editing would be part of the publishing process.

My second book shares a different experience. While working with a new publisher, I have received valuable editorial support and guidance. This shows what good collaboration in publishing looks like. I have received helpful feedback, suggestions for the structure, and expert advice, which I hope will turn solid historical research into an interesting, engaging story. This time, I am hopeful that the final product will highlight my research skills and reflect the quality that comes from a strong editorial partnership. This shows that support greatly improves the quality of the final work.

However, my new publisher has been absorbed by a larger industry player, which will undoubtedly impose its own rules and cost-cutting measures, leaving minor authors with little support and minimal expectations. For me, personally, it means books that I’d planned to write on the Falklands War and Operation Market Garden have been shelved.

The fundamental tension in military history publishing lies between credibility and compensation. Academic presses offer institutional validation for scholars, but financial returns are measured in hundreds of pounds. Specialist trade publishers provide professional production and bookshop distribution at royalty rates of 10-15% on net receipts. Self-publishing through KDP maximises per-copy margins whilst sacrificing access to physical retail and library channels. For military historians, the reality is that Pen & Sword and Helion dominate the accessible trade market. This means that most pre-production costs and the ongoing marketing responsibilities fall on the author, who is very unlikely to ever see a return on their investment.

References

1. Godwin, R., 2025. More are published than could ever succeed: Are there too many books? The Guardian, 21 March. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/21/more-are-published-than-could-ever-succeed-are-there-too-many-books [Accessed 6 January 2026].

2. McConnachie, J., 2024. The Crisis in Book Publishing: Why Authors Are Paying the Price. The Guardian, 15 October. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/15/book-publishing-crisis-authors [Accessed 6 January 2026].

3. Society of Authors, 2024. Authors' Earnings 2024: A Survey of UK Authors. London: Society of Authors.

4. Thompson, J.B., 2023. The Future of the Monograph in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Publisher Perspectives on a Transitioning Format. Publications, 11(1). Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9946702/ [Accessed 6 January 2026].

5. Wikipedia, 2025. Oxford Historical Monographs. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Historical_Monographs [Accessed 6 January 2026].

6. Oxford University Press, 2025. Royalties and payments for UK Office Agreements. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/pages/authoring/books/royalties/royalties-uk [Accessed 6 January 2026].

7. Cambridge Core, Publishing an open-access book. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/authors/publishing-an-open-access-book/ [Accessed 9 January 2026].

8. Pen and Sword Books, Blog, About. Available at: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/blog/about/ [Accessed 9 January 2026].

9. Helion & Company, 2025. Military History Books. Available at: https://www.helion.co.uk/ [Accessed 9 January 2026].

10. Wikipedia, 2025. Osprey Publishing. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey_Publishing [Accessed 9 January 2026].

11. Dibbly, 2025. Amazon KDP Royalty Changes 2025: What to Know and Do. Available at: https://dibbly.com/amazon-kdp-royalty-changes-2025-what-to-know-do/ [Accessed 9 January 2026].

12. Ex Why Zed, 2025. How Much Does It Cost to Self Publish a Book in 2025? Available at: https://exwhyzed.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-self-publish-a-book/ [Accessed 9 January 2026].

13. Society of Authors, 2022. Is It a Steal? An investigation into ‘hybrid’ / paid-for publishing services. Available at: https://writersguild.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/is-it-a-steal-an-investigation-into-hybridpaid-for-publishing-services.pdf [Accessed 9 January 2026].

14. Troubador Publishing, 2025. Pricing. Available at: https://troubador.co.uk/pricing [Accessed 9 January 2026].

15. Independent Book Publishers Association, 2022. IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria. Available at: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/hybridpublisher [Accessed 9 January 2026].

Operation Market Garden: Bridges and Cemeteries

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In July 2025, I spent four days in a coach full of like-minded individuals as we travelled from Dunkirk to Brussels and then followed the 64-mile route from Joe’s Bridge, Neerpelt, Belgium, to the famous John Frost Bridge at Arnhem, Holland.

 Joe’s Bridge was the starting point of our Operation Market Garden tour, just as it had been the start line or centre line of advance for the Guards Armoured Division back in September 1944.

Operation Market Garden promised to end the war by Christmas 1944. Field Marshal Montgomery's audacious plan would drop 35,000 paratroopers (Three airborne divisions: the American 101st Division, the American 82nd Division, and the British 1st Airborne Division) across the Netherlands to capture key bridges. At the same time, British ground forces (30 Corps, spearheaded by the Guards Armoured Division) would advance 64 miles up a single highway, linking up with the airborne forces as they advanced. Furthest north, at the top of what would become known as ‘Hell’s Highway’, was the 1st Airborne Division, dropped and airlanded to the west of Arnhem. The British airborne troops expected to be relieved by the forward elements of 30 Corps within 48 hours of landing. Instead, what unfolded was nine days of desperate fighting that exemplified both the courage of ordinary British soldiers and the brutal, chaotic realities of war.

Joe's Bridge

Our battlefield tour began at Joe's Bridge in Lommel, Belgium, where Lieutenant Colonel John Ormsby Evelyn “J.O.E.” Vandeleur's Irish Guards achieved one of Market Garden's early victories. On 10 September 1944, a full week before the main operation, the 3rd Battalion Irish Guards launched a surprise assault that captured this strategic canal crossing intact.

The German defenders had prepared the wooden pontoon bridge for demolition, with two 88mm anti-tank guns positioned nearby and explosive charges wired for detonation. In his memoir, A Soldier’s Story (1967), J.O.E. Vandeleur recounts what happened:

At Exel, we found an unfinished road running due north to the Escaut Canal. It approached the canal in the shape of a “T”. The left half of the top of the “T” could not be seen from the Escaut Bridge. Halfway down the left half of the “T” stood a tall factory. We hid the head of the column behind the factory and ran upstairs, where we obtained a perfect view of the bridge. Incidentally, a large staff car full of German officers tried to cross us on the way up. We killed them and captured their maps. From the top window of the factory, every detail of the German defences could be clearly seen. At the top left corner of the “T”, there was a ‘jink’ in the road. This ‘jink’ was very important, because it denied the German 88 mm. guns a clear view of us until we were within 100 yards of the bridge. The problem now was, would the Germans blow the bridge or not?

We therefore decided to put it to the test. The plan was a very simple one. David Peel’s squadron was to send one troop of tanks commanded by Duncan Lampard up to the corner of the jink. This was to be accompanied by a platoon of the 3rd Battalion, commanded by John Stanley-Clark. This was to be the assault force with Michael Dudley’s company and the remainder of David Peel’s squadron engaging the enemy with point-blank fire for twenty minutes. It was to be a shooting match of twenty minutes’ duration. If, at the end of the twenty minutes, the bridge had not been blown, John Stanley-Clark and Duncan Lampard were to charge, followed by Hutton (R.E.) and six Guardsmen immediately to remove the explosive charges. We had no artillery support and were fifteen miles north of brigade headquarters, so there was no wireless touch. The signal for the assault was to be a green Very light.

It came off perfectly.

The structure, today known as Joe’s Bridge, was rebuilt after the war. The Irish Guards Memorial is situated on the northern bank and adjacent to Barrier Park.

Advancing up Hell’s Highway

On 17 September 1944, the seven-mile advance from Joe's Bridge to Valkenswaard, became the first test of Operation Market Garden's ambitious timetable.

The Irish Guards faced a brutal tactical reality: advance on a single road through terrain generally unsuitable for tanks. Dense woodland and marshy Dutch polder made deploying tanks off-road extremely difficult, and forced the Irish Guards to advance on a ‘one tank front’. The terrain proved a gift to the German defenders, who prepared a devastating ambush. In just two minutes, nine British Sherman tanks were knocked out.

Once again, J.O.E. Vandeleur describes what happened:

Zero hour was to be at 1435, and the start line was the Escaut Bridge. For this battle, we were supported by 350 guns and eight squadrons of Typhoon fighters of the Royal Air Force, who were to maintain a cab-rank of three aircraft immediately above us, ready to strike. The artillery was to fire a barrage, rolling at a speed of 200 yards a minute. Our tanks were marked with yellow streamers to identify them to the airmen. I was provided with an armoured signal tender for direct communication with the pilots in the sky. We were also given purple smoke shells to fire and identify targets for the airmen.

J.O.E. Vandeleur continues:

At zero hour, Keith Heathcote, commanding the leading tank, gave the order ‘Driver-Advance’ and he drove up to the edge of the barrage. Twenty-five minutes later, the rear half of the leading squadron (Mick O’Cock) and the leading half of No. 2 Squadron were knocked out, leaving Mick isolated and alone on the road. Luckily, Sergeant Cowan knocked out a self-propelled gun which had Mick in its sights. We had an armoured bulldozer high up in the column, ready to push aside knocked-out tanks and to help us cross a ditch just south of Valkenswaard.

No. 2 Squadron then took the lead, and Squadron Sergeant-Major Parkes was immediately killed. Duncan Lampard, who had distinguished himself at the Escaut Bridge, was wounded at the same time. I placed my headquarters behind the 2nd Squadron, which was fortunate on this occasion, as it gave us a ‘cushion’. Previously, we always moved at the tail of the leading squadron. I had a complicated wireless net to deal with. I had to speak to the pilots in the sky, telling them when to come in with their rockets and explaining targets to them. I had to keep my pulse on the artillery plan and call the barrage back when things were going badly. We had to issue orders to both battalions and feed information back. I insisted on the Air Force officer keeping the door of his tender open so that I could speak to him. He had never seen a ground battle before, and the afternoon’s affair must have been an eye-opener for him.

Division asked us how the battle was going. Denis lifted his microphone and merely said ‘Listen’. The noise was as if all hell had been opened; the crash of bursting shells and the screaming of the rockets as they left their cradles in the attacking aircraft.

Walking through Valkenswaard War Cemetery, I found the graves of Squadron Sergeant Major William Parkes and his comrades, men who died in those opening moments of the ground assault. Six unidentified Irish Guards lie within the cemetery. For those unfamiliar with the realities of tank warfare, when a vehicle was hit and caught fire, the crew usually had only seconds to escape the conflagration. Those crewmen who failed to escape were usually burned beyond recognition.

The cemetery, nestled in a pine forest between Valkenswaard and Westerhoven, contains 220 graves. The peaceful setting belies the violence that brought these soldiers to their deaths. Local Dutch families have adopted individual graves through the ‘Foundation Stichting 40-45’ program, decorating headstones and ensuring the soldiers’ sacrifices are not forgotten.

The ambush at Valkenswaard caused the first of many delays in the ‘Garden’ element of the operation. The Guards arrived in town during the evening instead of the planned early afternoon. Had the Irish Guards continued to Eindhoven in darkness, Market Garden’s timetable might have been preserved. Instead, the decision to spend the night in Valkenswaard contributed to delays that ultimately doomed the operation. However, it was a standard operating procedure that tanks ‘harboured’ overnight for maintenance, refuelling and rearming.

According to A History of the Irish Guards in the Second World War (1949), the first day’s fighting cost the 2nd Battalion nine tanks, eight men killed and several wounded. The 3rd Battalion lost seven killed and nineteen wounded. In the little cemetery outside the town are buried S.S.M. Parkes, Lance-Sergeant J. Waters, Guardsmen McD. Ackers, M. Delaney, W. Moore, J. Johnson, N. Malton and T. Watson.

The Day I Met Jackal

Our tour itinerary next took us to the vast German War Cemetery at Ysselsteyn before visiting the impressive Overloon War Museum. Within the museum resides a very special vehicle, an Mk. V Churchill tank of B Squadron, 4th (Tank) Battalion, Coldstream Guards, nicknamed Jackal. The tank was abandoned after hitting a mine during Operation Aintree (Battle of Overloon, 30 September to 18 October 1944). Two of the five crew were killed, Guardsmen Gordon Wright and Robert Silman, who are buried in Overloon War Cemetery, not far from the museum. Bob Dare, the tank’s driver, helped the other two crew members to safety. Bob and Jackal’s story is retold in my book, A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945.

The Bridge at Grave

On 17 September, Lieutenant John “Jacko” Thompson of Easy Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division achieved one of the operation’s greatest successes when his small group of 16 men captured the strategically vital bridge over the Maas River at Grave. Although his company had been scattered during the parachute drop and landed far from their target, Thompson decided not to wait for reinforcements and immediately stormed the bridge, achieving complete surprise and capturing it undamaged. Thompson was wounded twice during the war and was decorated for his bravery with both the Bronze and Silver Stars. After the war, he returned to a career as a professional baseball player. The bridge remained crucial for Allied logistics throughout the war. In 2004, the crossing was renamed the John S. Thompson Bridge in honour of his decisive leadership and courage.

The Capture of the Nijmegen Road Bridge

For anyone who has seen the film, A Bridge Too Far (1977), you would be forgiven for believing Hollywood star Robert Redford captured the impressive Nijmegen road bridge, almost single-handedly, in the guise of Major Julian Cook. The truth is somewhat different, as any Grenadier Guardsman will happily tell you.

The war diary of the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Grenadier Guards for 20 September 1944 recounts the day’s events more prosaically than Director Richard Attenborough’s film:

Plan arranged with AIRBORNE FORCES to clear part of the town near the main road bridge, 1Bn AIRBORNE (AMERICAN) and the Bn Gp. Progress slow but sure and vicinity of bridge eventually reached at 1700 hrs with light casualties mainly through snipers. At 1900 hrs, a Tp of tanks was successfully rushed across the bridge, encountering at least one 88mm and passing through infantry on the far side, losing two tanks, one only temporarily, eventually linking up with AIRBORNE FORCES on the other side. Bridge consolidated by 2200 hrs.

The film is intended as entertainment rather than a historical documentary, so it glosses over the fact that the Americans had not secured either the road or rail crossings at Nijmegen by the time the Guards Armoured Division arrived. As a result, instead of passing over the road bridge and continuing to advance the ten miles to Arnhem, the Guards found themselves embroiled in the intense fighting that was ongoing in the town. In John Frost’s book, A Drop Too Many (1983), he cites the failure to secure the Nijmegen bridge on day one of the operation as perhaps the worst mistake of a tactical plan that was riddled with holes.

Crossing the Waal

The Grenadier Guards’ capture of the bridge required a coordinated attack with American paratroopers in one of the war’s most daring river crossings. Supported by the Irish Guards’ guns, Major Julian Cook’s 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment made a daylight crossing of the 400-yard-wide Waal River in 26 flimsy canvas boats. The first wave suffered over 50 per cent casualties as German machine guns and artillery poured fire into the boats. Major Cook, a devout Catholic, recited “Hail Mary” prayers to encourage his men as they used rifle butts for oars.

Meanwhile, three columns of Grenadier Guards attacked from the south. Lieutenant Colonel Edward Goulburn’s forces coordinated with the Americans in a complex pincer movement. At around 1800 hrs, after the 504th PIR had secured the north end of both bridges, Sergeant Peter Robinson, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, led four Sherman tanks in a desperate charge across the road bridge. For his bravery, Robinson was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and, later, a grateful city granted him the Freedom of Nijmegen. Lieutenant Colonel Giles Vandeleur, commanding the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, and cousin of J.O.E. Vandeleur, witnessed the ‘Waal Crossing’ and remarked that it was one of the most courageous sights he had ever seen.

Standing on the Nijmegen road bridge today, you can imagine Robinson’s gunner engaging the German 88mm anti-tank gun in a brief but decisive duel. But by the time the bridge was secured, Market Garden was already 36 hours behind schedule. Early the next morning, Lieutenant Colonel John Frost would surrender his hold on the north end of the Arnhem bridge.

Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery

On the third day of our tour, we visited some of the Drop Zones and Landing Zones near Arnhem, seeing Ginkel Heath and the memorials there, the Glider Memorial at Wolfheze, and the original Airborne monument at Heelsum. Next, we stopped at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, where the dead from Arnhem are buried.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery contains the graves of most of those killed during the September landings, and many of those killed in later fighting in the area.

There are now 1,684 Commonwealth servicemen buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 243 of the burials are unidentified, and special memorials commemorate two casualties. There are also 79 Polish, three Dutch and four non-war (including three former Commission employees) graves in the cemetery.

For Valour

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth personnel for acts of extreme valour. Notably, the cemetery includes the graves of Flight Lieutenant David Lord, Captain Lionel Queripel, and Lieutenant John Grayburn, all of whom were posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery during the battle. The cemetery also commemorates Lance Sergeant John Baskeyfield.

While defending the Oosterbeek perimeter three days into the battle, Baskeyfield commanded a pair of anti-tank guns that destroyed several enemy tanks before the crews were killed. Baskeyfield subsequently fired the guns alone before he, too, was killed. His body was not identified after the war, and he has no known grave. The last paragraph of his VC’s citation states:

The superb gallantry of this N.C.O. is beyond praise. During the remaining days at Arnhem, stories of his valour were a constant inspiration to all ranks. He spurned danger, ignored pain and, by his supreme fighting spirit, infected all who witnessed his conduct with the same aggressiveness and dogged devotion to duty which characterised his actions throughout.

Every September, a joint Anglo-Dutch Service of Remembrance is held at the Oosterbeek War Cemetery, where local school children each lay a flower on the grave of a serviceman.  

The General is Missing

In the afternoon, we travelled to the Hartenstein Hotel, Airborne Headquarters in 1944. Here we toured the superb museum with its extended displays and life-size recreations of the battle. A handful of us also walked the Oosterbeek defensive perimeter with battlefield guide Andy Ingham. For those not familiar with how the battle unfolded, when the attempt to capture Arnhem Bridge failed, Major General Roy Urquhart, commander of the 1st Airborne Division, ordered his forces into a defensive perimeter around Oosterbeek village, which is located about seven miles west of Arnhem. For six days, the airborne troops held this shrinking perimeter against overwhelming German forces in what became known as “the Cauldron.”

Next, we visited Oosterbeek Church and St Elisabeth’s Hospital. We also walked the nearby streets, retracing the steps taken by the “missing general”. At the start of the Battle of Arnhem, General Urquhart and Brigadier Lathbury went missing for some time. This created a dangerous command vacuum during the critical early stages of the operation, from Monday, 18 September, to the early hours of Tuesday, 19 September. Urquhart left his headquarters and went forward to assess the situation after radio communications failed. Lathbury was wounded, and Urquhart took refuge in the attic of a house near the hospital. As you approach Arnhem from Oosterbeek, the area around the hospital forms a bottleneck with the river and railway lines forming the sides, and where, in 1944, the Germans were quickly able to form blocking lines. The proximity of the railway marshalling yards meant that German reinforcements arriving from the Reich could immediately be fed into the battle. However, John Frost and a composite force of the 2nd and 3rd Parachute Battalions, Reconnaissance and Airborne Engineers made it through to the north end of the Arnhem road bridge before the Germans put a stopper in the bottle.

The John Frost Bridge

Our tour ended at the iconic Arnhem road bridge, or the John Frost Bridge (John Frostbrug) as it is known today. The actual road bridge defended by Frost’s 2nd Parachute Battalion was destroyed by the Allies a month after Operation Market Garden. Initially, the airborne troops held the north end of the bridge into Arnhem town and the surrounding buildings.

For three days and four nights, the lightly equipped airborne troops held off a superior German force that was armed with tanks, heavy artillery, and mortars. Eventually, the defenders' ammunition, food, and water ran low, forcing them to surrender, although some managed to evade capture. Of the 750 men who reached the bridge, 81 were killed, and virtually all the rest were wounded.

In 1977, the bridge was renamed for John Frost, despite his initial reluctance. He felt it was “too much of an honour” since they had lost the battle. Veteran Freddie Gough convinced him the accolade was deserved. Today’s bridge, rebuilt in 1948, closely resembles the original. However, due to urban development in the Arnhem area, the John Frost Bridge was not used in the filming of A Bridge Too Far. The scenes set around the Arnhem bridge were shot in Deventer, northeast of Arnhem.

The Cost of Market Garden

In all, the British 1st Airborne Division took just under 12,000 men into Arnhem. By Monday, 25 September, 1,485 men were dead, and around 6,500 were taken prisoner, and many of them were wounded. The RAF lost 68 aircraft shot down and around 500 aircrew killed. Due to incomplete records, German losses can only be estimated, and numbers vary between 2,500 and 5,000 casualties for the fighting around Arnhem. The evacuation of the Oosterbeek pocket saw 2,398 men escape capture. Around 450 Dutch civilians were also killed during the operation. Another 100,000 Dutch civilians were forcibly evicted from their homes in the Lower Rhine area by the Germans immediately after the fighting concluded. It is estimated that an additional 18,000 Dutch civilians died from malnutrition due to German reprisals, which included cutting the population's rations during what became known as the “Hunger Winter” of 1944/45.

Field Marshal Montgomery claimed that Market Garden was ninety per cent successful. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands said that his country could ill afford another Montgomery success. In truth, for all the heroics and loss of life, the operation was a strategic failure.

The Irish Guards’ swift capture of Joe’s Bridge, their costly advance along Hell’s Highway, the Grenadier Guards’ seizure of the Nijmegen road bridge, and the doomed but heroic defence at Arnhem represent the finest traditions of British military service.

Final Thoughts

Today, these sites are accessible to anyone seeking to understand pivotal moments in European history. Museums provide context, cemeteries offer reflection, and the surviving bridges and battlefields let visitors walk in the footsteps of a remarkable generation.

The courage of the airborne forces, aircrew, and soldiers of 30 Corps during those nine days in September 1944 deserves to be remembered not just for their tactical achievements but for their embodiment of duty, courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie under the most extreme circumstances.

These historic sites remind us that behind every strategic decision and tactical manoeuvre were ordinary people, many barely out of their teens, who answered their nation’s call and paid the ultimate price in the fight against Nazi tyranny. In visiting these places, we hope to honour their memory and ensure their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Further Reading

Much ink has been spilt on the subject of Operation Market Garden and the reasons for its failure. Amongst the books I have recently read on the subject are Arnhem by Major General R.E. Urquhart (1958), A Drop Too Many by Major General John Frost (1983), A Tour of the Arnhem Battlefields by John Waddy (1999), Arnhem 1944 by William F. Buckingham (2002), and Arnhem Black Tuesday by Al Murray (2024). I would also recommend It Never Snows in September: The German View of Market-Garden and the Battle of Arnhem September 1944 by Robert Kershaw (2008) and The Last German Victory: Operation Market Garden 1944 by Aaron Bates (2021).

Photographs & Sketches

Items in order of appearance

Gallery 1: Joe’s Bridge

Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel John Ormsby Evelyn “J.O.E.” Vandeleur, Irish Guards.

A Sherman tank of the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion Irish Guards, Guards Armoured Division, crossing the Meuse-Escaut Canal, Neerpelt, during Operation Market Garden, September 1944. George Rodger, Photographer, LIFE Magazine Archives.

Joe’s Bridge, July 20215, by the author.

Irish Guards Group memorial, Joe’s Bridge, July 2025, by the author.

Gallery 2: Hell’s Highway

IWM (Imperial War Museum), BU 925, Sherman tanks of the Irish Guards Group advance past others which were knocked out earlier during Operation 'Market-Garden', 17 September 1944.

IWM, BU 926, A Sherman Firefly tank of the Irish Guards Group advances past Sherman tanks knocked out earlier during Operation 'Market-Garden', 17 September 1944.

Guardsman William Gill Moore died during the ambush of this tank. The Sherman commanded by Lance Sergeant Dave Roper was struck by a Panzerfaust on 17th September 1944 during Operation Market Garden. Copyright “De bevrijding in Beeld" / "Vantilt fragma”.

IWM, BU 927, Squadron Sergeant Major William John Parkes of No. 3 Squadron, 2nd Irish Guards, killed when his Sherman tank was knocked out during the advance towards Eindhoven as part of Operation Market Garden. Photo taken on 17th September 1944 by Sergeant Carpenter, No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Front page of The Illustrated London News of September 30, 1944. The village square of Valkenswaard, Sherman tank, “Snow White”, Brigade HQ, 5th Guards (Armoured) Brigade. Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

Gallery 3: Valkenswaard War Cemetery

Headstones:

• Guardsman W. Ackers, Irish Guards

• Guardsman, Michael Dee, Irish Guards

• L. Cpl. M.J. Delaney, Irish Guards

• Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) William John Parkes, Irish Guards

• L. Sgt. John Watters, Irish Guards

Unidentified Irish Guardsman, known only to God.

Irish Guardsmen, Valkenswaard War Cemetery, all photographs by the author.

Gallery 4: Jackal

IWM, B 10809, A Churchill tank of 6th Guards Tank Brigade supporting infantry of 3rd Division attacking Overloon in the Netherlands, 14 October 1944.

IWM, BU 1232, Churchill tanks of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade lay a smokescreen during the advance on Venraij, 17 October 1944.

Charlie Trumpess with Mk. V Churchill tank of B Squadron, 4th (Tank) Battalion, Coldstream Guards, 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade, named Jackal, Overloon War Museum, July 2025, by the author.

British Churchill tank named Jackal formed part of the staff platoon, 2nd Squadron, 4th Battalion, Coldstream Guards, 6th Guards Tank Brigade that supported the infantry attack on Overloon – by the author.

Gallery 5: Grave

VIRIN: 440917-A-ZZ999-791, U.S. Department of War, US Army paratroopers are dropped near Grave, Netherlands, while livestock graze near gliders that landed earlier. Operation Market Garden.

John S. Thompsonbrug over the river Maas at Grave, July 2025, by the author.

Sketch of the Grave Bridge, September 1944, Sergeant Charles Murrell, Welsh Guards. Courtesy of the Welsh Guards.

Cyclists on the John S. Thompsonbrug over the Maas River at Grave, by Havang(nl).

The 82nd Airborne Memorial, beside the John S. Thompson bridge over the Maas River between Grave and Nederasselt, Netherlands, July 2025, by the author.

Gallery 6: Nijmegen Bridge

Cromwell tank of the Welsh Guards, Guard Armoured Division passes the "Schoonoord" corn mill in Alverna, Wijchen municipality near Nijmegen during Operation Market Garden. Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

American paratroopers advance while being attacked by German anti-aircraft fire. According to the caption, the location is Arnhem, but it is more likely Nijmegen. The photograph is dated 10 September 1944, which must be a mistake. The picture is attributed to the US Army Signal Corps. Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

IWM, EA 44531, tanks of the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Irish Guards, Guards Armoured Division, British XXX Corps cross the road bridge at Nijmegen during its capture. Operation Market Garden.

Battalion crosses the Nijmegen Bridge, 22nd September 1944, sketch by Sergeant Charles Murrell, Welsh Guards. Courtesy of the Welsh Guards.

Two sketches of the Nijmegen Bridge or Grenadiers Bridge by Sergeant Charles Murrell, Welsh Guards, 3rd November 1944. Courtesy of the Welsh Guards.

The Waalbrug or Nijmegen Road Bridge over the River Waal, July 2025, by the author.

Gallery 7: Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery

The memorial on Ginkel Heath, Drop zone “Y”, where the 4th Para Brigade landed on Monday, 18th September 1944, during Operation Market Garden, by the author.

Gravestones of the fallen, Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, by the author.

In the centre of the photograph, Lt. Col. Sir William Richard De B. Des Voeux, BT, Grenadier Guards, 156th Battalion, 4th Para Brigade. Household Brigade Lodge No 2614 website.

The gravestone of Lt. Col. Sir William Richard De B. Des Voeux, BT, Grenadier Guards, 156th Battalion, 4th Para Brigade, by the author.

John "Jack" Grayburn was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions with the 2nd Parachute Battalion at the Arnhem Bridge.

The gravestone of Lieutenant J.H. " Jack" Grayburn, VC, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, by the author.

Lance Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield, VC. Gun Commander, 2 Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment,  Battle of Arnhem. His body was never identified. Digitally enhanced portrait by the author.

Gallery 8: The General is Missing

IWM, BU 1136, Major-General Roy Urquhart DSO and Bar, commander of the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden, plants the Airborne flag outside his headquarters (Hotel Hartenstein). By Smith, D M (Sgt), Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Rear of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein, Oosterbeek, July 2025, by the author.

A diorama of the 1st Airborne Division HQ and signals featuring a depiction of Major-General Roy Urquhart, Airborne Museum Hartenstein, Oosterbeek, July 2025, by the author.

Original wallpaper from the battle for Arnhem, inscribed “Never Surrender, Fuck the Gerry’s, 1st Airborne Division” and showing a tally of German soldiers killed. The photo also shows a No. 4 Lee Enfield rifle with a telescopic sight. Airborne Museum Hartenstein, Oosterbeek, by the author.

IWM,  British paratroopers prepare for yet another attack on the Oosterbeek Perimeter.

Photo of a 3-inch mortar team, 1st Borders, defending the Oosterbeek perimeter, 200m from the Hartenstein Hotel (photo taken on the spot where the original was taken), by the author.

The ter Horst family home, which served as a Regimental Aid Post, inset, a picture of Kate ter Horst and her MBE medal, Oosterbeek. Known to the British as the “Angel of Arnhem”, she famously tended to hundreds of wounded and dying airborne troops during the Battle of Arnhem. By the author.

The Old Church (Oude Kerk) in Oosterbeek dates back to the 10th Century and is possibly the oldest church in the Netherlands. As the Oosterbeek Perimeter shrank, the church became a stronghold for the airborne troops, by the author.

A view of the Arnhem railway bridge from the rear of the Old Church, July 2025, by the author.

Our tour group outside the former St Elizabeth Hospital in Arnhem. The site was used as a military hospital by both sides during the fighting. Famously, Major-General Urquhart became trapped in the attic of  No. 14 Zwarteweg, which is located to the rear of the hospital. Our battlefield guide, Andy Ingham, took the photo in July 2025.

Gallery 9: The John Frost Bridge

Girders, the John Frost Bridge, July 2025, by the author.

IWM, MH 2061, aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge.

Lieutenant Colonel John Frost led the 2nd Parachute Battalion to capture the northern end of the Arnhem Bridge and was later promoted to the rank of Major General.

IWM, HU 2127, the Arnhem Bridge after Frost's force had been overrun and the road cleared. Notice the destroyed buildings on the right.

Photo of the steps leading down to the riverbank, the north end of the Arnhem road bridge. Battlefield guide, Andy Ingham, holds a picture taken from precisely the same spot after the battle, showing the surrounding devastation. By the author.

Arnhem. War damage 1944/1945. View from the Sabelspoort towards the Grote Kerk (Great Church), 1945, Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

The destroyed Rhine bridge (Arnhem road bridge) is seen from under the nearby temporary Bailey bridge, 1945, Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

On 7 October, the Arnhem bridge was bombed and destroyed by B-26 Marauders of the 344th Bomb Group, USAAF. The buildings of Arnhem were bombarded by the Allies over the next few months and suffered further during the Liberation of Arnhem in April 1945.

Aerial view of the devastation in Arnhem's city centre. Above, the Rhine Bridge is under construction; the temporary Bailey Bridge has already been removed. To the left of the church is the town hall, partially preserved, 1946, Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

The John Frost Bridge from the north bank of the lower Rhine, July 2025, by the author.

Charlie Trumpess standing on the north ramp of the John Frost Bridge, Arnhem, July 2025.

The Bridge, July 2025, by the author.

Gallery 10: The Cost of Market Garden

The temporary graves of two British paratroopers at a kilometre marker with the inscription “Arnhem 6”, 1945, Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

Commemoration on 17 September at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. The graves of the British paratroopers who fell in September 1944 are being specially cared for by Oosterbeek schoolchildren, 15 September 1955, Nationaal Archief (National Archives of the Netherlands).

Since the end of the war, school children in Oosterbeek, specifically primary school children, have participated in what has become an annual tradition of laying flowers at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery to honour the heroes of the Battle of Arnhem.

References

Airborne Assault: ParaData - A living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces

J.O.E. Vandeleur, A Soldier's Story, privately printed for the author by Gale & Polden, 1967

Major D.J.L. Fitzgerald, History of the Irish Guards In the Second World War, published by Aldershot Gale and Polden Ltd, 1949

National Army Museum, Archive Reference, 2016-10-23-76, Papers of Lt Col Sir James Newton Rodney Moore, War Diary, 2nd (Armoured) Bn Grenadier Guards, 20 September 1944

Major General John Frost, A Drop Too Many, published by Pen & Sword Military, Kindle Edition, 2019

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2024, A Visitor's Guide to the Best Arnhem WW2 Sites, URL: https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/blog/a-visitors-guide-to-the-best-arnhem-ww2-sites/, Accessed 15 August 2025

Cornelius Ryan Collection of World War II Papers (Digital), Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 115, folder 36: Giles A. Vandeleur, page. 2

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2023, Lance Serjeant John Daniel Baskeyfield VC, URL: https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/lance-serjeant-john-daniel-baskeyfield-vc/, Accessed 16 August 2025

Imperial War Museum, The Story Of Operation 'Market Garden' In Photos, URL: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-story-of-operation-market-garden-in-photos, Accessed 19 August 2025

WartimeNI, Scott Edgar, Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far, URL: https://archives.wartimeni.com/article/operation-market-garden-a-bridge-too-far/, Accessed 12 September 2025

Operation Anthropoid: Heroes Who Refused to Surrender

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Authors: Martina Gregorcová, Art of Your Travel, and Charlie Trumpess, The War Years

On 30 September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned to Heston Aerodrome brandishing a piece of paper and declaring he had achieved “peace for our time.” This followed the Munich Crisis, when the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolph Hitler, threatened to invade Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain visited Germany three times in an attempt to avert war. The resulting Munich Agreement, signed by Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, gave Hitler the Sudetenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia containing about three million ethnic Germans.

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British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, after landing at Heston Aerodrome following his meeting with Adolf Hitler and the signing of the infamous Munich Agreement. This photograph , D 2239, comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

The agreement represented the climax of Britain’s appeasement policy, which sought to avoid war by making territorial concessions to Nazi Germany. Czechoslovakia was entirely betrayed in this process, with Czech diplomats excluded from the negotiations and barred from the conference room at Hitler's insistence.

Czech leader Edvard Beneš warned that losing the heavily fortified Sudetenland would leave his nation defenceless. Nevertheless, Britain and France forced Czechoslovakia to choose between resisting Germany alone or submitting to territorial dismemberment. Hitler claimed the Sudetenland was his “last territorial demand in Europe,” but these promises proved worthless.

On 15 March 1939, Nazi Germany violated the Munich Agreement and occupied the remainder of Czechoslovakia, establishing the Protectorates of Bohemia and Moravia. Slovakia became a puppet state under the leadership of pro-Nazi Jozef Gašpar Tiso. Britain’s appeasement policy had disastrously failed, and a full-scale European war began when Germany invaded Poland.

Into Exile

On 5 October 1938, Beneš was forced to resign. He went into exile in Britain, where he organised the Czechoslovak National Liberation Committee, which declared itself the Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia the following year. In July 1940, the UK officially recognised the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, with Jan Šrámek as prime minister and Beneš as president. Beneš started working with British military intelligence in return for concessions to his government-in-exile.

In 1941, Edvard Beneš and František Moravec, working with MI6 and the Special Operations Executive (SOE), planned Operation Anthropoid to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, the Deputy Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.

Three Parachute Drops, One Priority: Payback

On 29 December 1941, a freezing night over occupied Bohemia and Moravia, three parachute teams dropped from a Halifax bomber toward their homeland. Operations Silver A and Silver B were tasked with restoring underground communications, supporting the resistance and sabotage. A third team carried the top-priority mission, Operation Anthropoid, a direct strike at Reinhard Heydrich, Hitler’s executioner in Prague. The brief was brutal and clear: payback for Nazi terror.

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Reinhard Heydrich in the uniform of an SS-Gruppenführer ca. 1940/1941 by Heinrich Hoffmann. Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1969-054-16, recoloured.

The Target

On 28 September 1941, Reinhard Heydrich arrived at Prague Castle. He was replacing Konstantin von Neurath, whom Hitler and Himmler agreed had been too lenient in his approach to the Czechs. Within five days of his arrival, Heydrich proclaimed martial law and ordered the execution of 142 people. Known by various nicknames such as the “Blonde Beast” and “Butcher of Prague”, SS-General Reinhard Heydrich ruled the Protectorate through a calculated campaign of fear. Backed by Hitler, he moved to crush the Czech resistance, decapitate the leadership, and break the nation’s spirit. He banned the Sokol movement and sent its leaders to the Mauthausen concentration camp.

The Sokol movement was a popular gymnastics movement that promoted health and well-being, and it was also linked to the promotion of Czech patriotism and nationalism. The movement was brutally suppressed and later banned during the Nazi occupation. According to Heydrich: “Czechs need to know who is the boss here… Those who adapt will be Germanised; those who won’t will be sent to concentration camps.” Anthropoid set out to end the experiment.

A Mission to Live in History

From London, the operation’s planners demanded more than an assassination; they wanted to make a statement that would resound in history. The Munich Agreement remained in effect, and the exiled government needed dramatic action to prove that the Czechs and Slovaks were contributing to the Allied cause. The operation had to break the perception of Czech passivity and defeatism and show the world that resistance continued. More crucially, it aimed to make it politically impossible for Britain to forge another peace deal with Germany and betray Czech interests once again.

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Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík in Britain, 1941—photographed before deployment on Operation Anthropoid.

A Belated Christmas Gift

After being dropped by parachute into occupied Bohemia, the SEO trained Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš moved to Prague. In preparation for their attack, weeks of surveillance were conducted: routes were timed, corners were measured, and rehearsals were repeated. The local resistance opened safe houses, passed messages, forged papers and whispered, with pride, that the paratroopers were a “belated Christmas gift that fell from the sky.” Hope had returned to a beaten city.

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Heydrich’s Mercedes 320 Cabriolet after the blast at Libeň—shattered windscreen and torn bodywork from the 27 May 1942 Anthropoid attack.

Heydrich’s Curve

On the morning of 27 May 1942, Heydrich started his daily commute to his headquarters at Prague Castle. During the journey, Heydrich’s open-topped Mercedes 320 Cabriolet had to slow down at the tight bend in Libeň, known today as Heydrich’s Curve. Jozef Gabčík stepped into the road with a Sten submachine gun. At point-blank range, Gabčík could not miss, but when he squeezed the trigger, the weapon jammed and failed to fire. Rather than accelerate out of danger, Heydrich ordered his driver to stop. As Heydrich drew his pistol, Jan Kubiš hurled a hand grenade, which exploded by the rear wheel. The blast sent shards of metal and horsehair fibres from the car’s upholstery into Heydrich’s body. As shots cracked across the cobbles, driver Johannes Klein chased Gabčík on foot, leaving his mortally wounded boss prone in the street. The assassins slipped away. Despite the odds, the mission had succeeded.

A City Under the Jack Boot

Prague slammed shut, raids, curfews, and mass arrests swept the streets. The parachutists reached the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and took refuge in the crypt, a stone chamber with a single vent. On 4 June, Heydrich, after appearing to recover, suddenly died from infection and trauma. The men who had struck at the head of the Nazi oppression still lived for now.

10 June 1942 — Lidice

To terrorise the nation, the occupiers erased Lidice, a village with no connection to the assassination. One hundred seventy-three men were executed by firing squad. Most women were deported to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Children were torn from their families; 82 were murdered in gas vans at Chełmno, while a few were selected for Germanisation. Homes were burned and bulldozed, the rubble scattered. The Nazis intended the name of Lidice to vanish forever. Instead, it became a worldwide rallying cry against Nazi tyranny.

The Last Stand in the Crypt

On 18 June 1942, the church was surrounded by German troops. Karel Čurda betrayed the network for Nazi blood money. At dawn, about seven hundred SS and Wehrmacht troops sealed off Resslova Street and launched their assault. Seven men stood ready inside the church. Upstairs, Adolf Opálka, Jan Kubiš, and Josef Bublík defended the nave and choir loft until two lay dying, and the last took his own life rather than surrender.

Down in the crypt, Jozef Gabčík, Josef Valčík, Jaroslav Švarc, and Jan Hrubý fought in near-total darkness as fire hoses flooded the chamber and tear gas choked the air. After seven hours of battle, with ammunition exhausted and water rising around them, they faced their final choice. They chose death over surrender. Witnesses would remember their defiant cry echoing from the stone chamber: “We are Czechs! We will never surrender!”

Why History Matters

This courage cost many lives; the alternative would have cost a nation’s future. Had Heydrich lived, terror in Prague would have tightened and resignation spread. Instead, Lidice showed the world the regime’s true face. Public outrage in Britain mounted; Britain terminated the Munich Agreement, France followed, and the revival of Czechoslovakia after the war moved from hope to commitment.

Operation Anthropoid still echoes at Heydrich’s Curve, at Lidice, and in the crypt on Resslova Street where, when reason said “submit,” seven men chose to stand for what they believed.

Historical Amnesia

Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Just a week ago, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met to discuss a possible settlement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the summit. In an echo of the Munich Betrayal, it seems Ukraine might be forced to trade territory for a peace agreement that no one expects Russia to respect.

Today, we see that despite widespread knowledge of Munich's consequences, historical awareness alone is not enough to prevent conflict. Each generation must actively choose to learn from the past or be doomed to repeat it.

Martina Gregorcová and Operation Anthropoid Tours

This guest blog was co-authored by Martina Gregorcová, Managing Director at Art of Your Travel agency, and a tour guide. Czechoslovak Resistance Tours, part of Art of Your Travel, is a specialised tour company that focuses exclusively on Czechoslovak World War II resistance history, notably the 1942 assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. The company offers private, custom-made historical tours throughout Prague and the surrounding areas, including significant sites like Lidice, Ležáky, Pardubice, and Terezín.

The company’s tours follow the actual footsteps of the resistance fighters involved in Operation Anthropoid and related missions, providing immersive historical experiences with expert local guides. The company positions itself around telling the “untold truth” of these resistance efforts, covering everything from the planning and execution of the assassination to the brutal Nazi reprisals and the lasting legacy of these acts of defiance. To learn more, visit the company’s website:

• Art of Your Travel

• Operation Anthropoid Tours

References:

BBC: Chamberlain returns from Munich

IWM: How Britain Hoped To Avoid War With Germany In The 1930s

Radio Prague International: Anthropoid: Czechoslovakia’s greatest resistance story

Radio Prague International: How the Sokol movement helped Operation Anthropoid succeed

Further Reading:

You’ll Be Hearing From Us!: Operation Anthropoid - the assassination of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich and its consequences (2019), by Niall Cherry (Author), Tony Moseley (Contributor), Jonathan Saunders (Contributor), John Howes (Contributor)

The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich: The True Story Behind Operation Anthropoid (2007) by Callum Macdonald

Images in order of appearance:

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, after landing at Heston Aerodrome following his meeting with Adolf Hitler and the signing of the infamous Munich Agreement. Ministry of Information official photographer. This photograph, D 2239, comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Heydrich, Reinhard: as a SS-Gruppenführer, Leiter des SD, Chef des Reichssicherheitshauptamtes (RSHA), Deutschland. Author: Hoffmann, Heinrich. Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1969-054-16, Recoloured.

Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík in Britain, 1941—photographed before deployment on Operation Anthropoid.

Heydrich’s Mercedes 320 Cabriolet after the blast at Libeň—shattered windscreen and torn bodywork from the 27 May 1942 Anthropoid attack.

Gallery

Libeň’s “Heydrich Curve” — the bend where, on 27 May 1942, his Mercedes slowed and Gabčík and Kubiš struck.

Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Prague). Author: Yair Haklai

National Monument to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, underground crypt of the Baroque Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius. The refuge of the Czechoslovak parachutists from 27 May to 18 June 1942 after the attack on Reinhard Heydrich.

Busts of Josef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš in the National Memorial of the Heroes of the Heydrichiada (Prague, Czechia). Author: Ondřej Žváček.

Kobylisy memorial—the 1942 execution ground where hundreds of Czech patriots were shot; a quiet lawn that holds a besieged city’s memory.

Legasee's Mission to Record Britain's Berlin Airlift Veterans

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In 1982, the TV series Airline appeared on our screens. The series was set in post-war Britain and followed the exploits of Jack Ruskin (played by Roy Marsden), a former RAF pilot who starts his own air transport business. In the final episode of the series, Too Many Promises, the Berlin Airlift offers Ruskin an opportunity to save his fledgling company from financial ruin. Unfortunately, the planned second series of Airline was cancelled, and the viewing public never got to find out if Jack Ruskin succeeded.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift of 1948-49 represented the first major confrontation of the Cold War, yet this pivotal humanitarian mission has faded from the public consciousness. The only feature film on the subject, The Big Lift (1950), which starred Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, is a curious piece of cinema history, also forgotten. The film, shot on location in Berlin, offers a rare, authentic glimpse of the city’s devastation, resilience, and Cold War realities.

Today, the UK’s Legasee Educational Trust, a registered charity dedicated to preserving the stories of British military veterans through filmed interviews, has returned to the subject of the Berlin Airlift.

The Forgotten Crisis of 1948

The Berlin Blockade emerged from mounting tensions following the Yalta Conference of February 1945, where the USA, Great Britain and USSR discussed the reorganisation of post-war Europe. Perhaps inevitably, Berlin proved a flashpoint in the developing Cold War.

Since the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Germany had been divided into four zones of occupation, each controlled by one of the Allies. The German capital, Berlin, lay inside the Russian zone and was also divided into four zones of occupation. Access to Berlin for the Allies was by way of road, rail and canals, and via three specific air corridors.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak and use it as a buffer zone between the USSR and the West. The Western powers saw things differently. Learning lessons from the Treaty of Versailles, they did not want to see Germany financially crippled again. This meant introducing a new, stable currency and more jobs for workers in the Western sectors.

The crisis escalated when the Western Allies began using Marshall Aid funds to rebuild the German economy, introduced stable currency, and created 'Bizonia' by joining the British and American zones in 1947. On 24 June 1948, Stalin responded by cutting all land access to Berlin, leaving the city accessible only by air and creating critical shortages - West Berlin possessed merely 36 days' worth of food supplies.

The Berlin Airlift represented the first practical test of American containment policy to prevent the spread of communism. Rather than forcing passage by land and risking another war, the Allies chose to supply their sectors through air corridors. This operation continued for eleven months until the blockade's conclusion in May 1949.

Operation Plainfare: Britain’s Contribution

Despite the scale of the operation, the British contribution has often been overlooked. At the airlift's height, aircraft landed at Berlin's Templehof Airport every minute, with the operation costing the USA $350 million and Britain £17 million. The Allies initially aimed to transport 4,500 tons of supplies daily, increasing this target to 5,000 tons by autumn 1948, with coal comprising a substantial portion of the tonnage required for the city's energy needs.

British forces mobilised the Royal Air Force and contracted twenty-five additional charter companies to transport primarily oil and gasoline into the city. Beyond their approximately 23 per cent share of total freight tonnage, the British assumed responsibility for the majority of passenger transport during the blockade.

Legasee's Archive of Service

Legasee was founded by Martin Bisiker, a videographer whose personal mission began when his grandfather passed away without sharing his experiences as a Desert Rat. The organisation has created the largest freely available film archive of British military veterans online, conducting filmed interviews that capture stories in veterans’ own words.

Between 2012 and 2013, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Legasee captured fifty interviews with British veterans who participated in the airlift - pilots, ground crew, engineers, and support staff. Working alongside the British Berlin Airlift Association, the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, and Bungay High School, the project created a permanent exhibition commemorating the 65th anniversary of the airlift.

Individual Stories of Service

The recently launched podcast series The Veterans' Voice: Berlin Airlift draws from these archived interviews. The four-episode series chronicles the progression from rising tensions through ultimate victory in the skies:

Episode 1 features Terence Crowley, Jean Eastham, Tom Holland, Tom Henshaw and Fred Danckwardt recalling the uncertain atmosphere of post-war Germany and early signs of the looming blockade. Episode 2 covers the immediate response to the June 1948 blockade, with veterans Jean Eastham, Leo Hatcher, David Edwards, Len Hurst, Tom Holland and Fred Danckwardt describing the chaos, pressure and resolve of those initial days.

The third episode documents the winter escalation, as John Eddy, Dick Arscott, Leo Hatcher, Larry Lamb, David Edwards and Fred Danckwardt recount the operation's massive scale, dangerous flying conditions, and essential camaraderie. The final episode features Tom Holland, John Curtis, Dick Arscott, Fred Danckwardt, Freddie Montgomery and William Ball reflecting on the airlift's ultimate success and their later welcome back to Berlin by the people whose lives they had helped preserve.

Dick Arscott's Legacy

Among these voices stands that of Dick Arscott, whose story exemplifies both the operation's human dimension and the challenge of preserving veteran testimony. Arscott was one of the RAF pilots flying Dakotas into Berlin's precarious corridors, enduring freezing conditions, constant Soviet harassment, and relentless pressure while maintaining professionalism and determination.

Arscott passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions meant only his children and their partners could attend his funeral. His granddaughter Kate discovered the full extent of his service through his 2013 Legasee interview. She noted: “To us, he was just Grandpa... Family was at the heart of his life, and gatherings were filled with his steady presence, gentle humour, and stories that rarely touched on his wartime experiences”.

The interview revealed previously unshared details of Arscott’s character, including an incident where “he once flew a Meteor jet under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, an act for which he was 'severely reprimanded', but which brings a smile to the family.” Kate Arscott observed: “He also used to borrow an aircraft just to fly home and see my grandma for the weekend. It's typical of the devotion and quiet daring that defined him.”

Watch A Veteran Interview with Dick Arscott. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 9 Nov. 2012.

West Germany and the Soviet Collapse

The Cold War nation of West Germany, officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany, was established on 23 May 1949, by a declaration of the German Parliamentary Council, which represented the former zones of occupation held by the United States, Great Britain, and France after World War II. West Germany was an essential part of the American and Western European economic and military shield against the Soviets and their Eastern European satellites during the decades of the Cold War.

Forty years and six months later, the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union. Soviet-occupied East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic, was reunited with West Germany on 3 October 1990. The Soviet Union collapsed a year later. Regrettably, the initial optimism that surrounded the collapse of the USSR quickly dissipated in a storm of economic instability, corruption, political, ethnic and nationalistic tensions and violence.

Preserving Historical Memory

Martin Bisiker, Legasee's founder, emphasised the broader significance: “Dick was part of one of the greatest logistical efforts in modern history, but the individual stories of those men and women who served are rarely told.” The Berlin Airlift succeeded without military force, resolving the first Cold War crisis through logistical means, though not without casualties - at least 78 people died in aircraft accidents, their names engraved on the Airlift Memorial in Berlin's Tempelhof district.

Legasee's mission remains essential: these stories represent “primary source material that offer unique insights into military service, personal resilience, and the social history of their times.” As the generation that lived through these events passes away, organisations like Legasee provide the crucial link, ensuring their experiences continue to educate and inspire future generations.

The project received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, reflecting recognition of the urgent need to “record and share the lived experiences of British veterans before they are lost to time.” Through their work, individual voices like Dick Arscott's continue speaking to new audiences, preserving both the operational history and human dimension of this defining Cold War episode.

The Veterans' Voice: Berlin Airlift podcast series is available on major platforms, accompanied by the complete digital archive of filmed interviews at www.Legasee.org.uk.

References:

• Airline (1982) ITV Drama series

• The Big Lift (1950), 20th Century Fox,  a drama war film that tells the story of “Operation Vittles”, the American codename for the 1948–49 Berlin Airlift

• Legasee: The Berlin Airlift (1948-49) 50 interviews with British veterans who took part in the airlift

• The Allied Museum, The Berlin Airlift 1948/49 – statistics and timelines

• West Germany Established

• German Reunification