A Donington resident who joined the Paras after seeing members of the elite force stationed in the village during the Second World War, read names of the fallen at a special service.
Tom Gilks encountered the soldiers in 1944 and he read from the roll of honour at the Donington Arnhem service on Sunday.
Capt Jordry Clifton and serving Gurkhas from 51 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and 70 Para Sqn RE were joined on parade by several veterans who served in the Falklands.
A total of seven Standard Bearers were in attendance as Alan Canham, Lincolnshire British Legion County Standard Bearer, organised other branches to attend. The Standards of the Airborne Engineers and Parachute Regiment Standards were among the parade from the Market Place to the church, led by a piper.
Parish councillor David Hawkins read the lesson and after the service a wreath was laid by Dave Gillies at the Arnhem Oak Memorial in the churchyard.
Military equipment from Ady Thorold and an archive of photos by Edward Finch were also on display in the church hall.
Arnhem was the final objective in Operation Market Garden, an Allied operation in the war lasting from September 17 to 25 1944.
The operation was not a success and became the subject of the film A Bridge Too Far.
- Breaking News
