Agenda item

In accordance with the Constitution, motions on notice must be signed by at least two Members and be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the Melton Borough.

 

The following motion was received from Councillor Higgins (Seconded by Councillor Allnatt).

 

80th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden

 

From the 17^th to 25^th of September 1944, Operation Market Garden took place in the German-occupied Netherlands. Today we mark the 80th Anniversary but also pay tribute to those involved in the operation, many of whom were based in the Borough.

 

The 10th Battalion was centred on the villages of Somerby, Thorpe Satchville, Burrough on the Hill and Twyford. The 11th Battalion was billeted in and around Melton Mowbray, as was the 156th Battalion, with their HQ at Staveley Lodge, now the Pera business park, with its four companies spread between Newport Lodge, Scalford Hall, and The Spinney.

 

Market Garden's objective was to create a 64 mi (103 km) salient into German territory with a bridgehead over the Lower Rhine River, creating an Allied invasion route into northern Germany, it was to hopefully shorten the war and liberate Europe. This was to be achieved by two sub-operations: seizing nine bridges with combined US and British airborne force ("Market") followed by British land forces swiftly following over the bridges ("Garden").

 

The airborne soldiers, numbering more than 41,000, were dropped at sites where they could capture key bridges and hold the terrain until the land forces arrived. The land forces consisted of ten armoured and motorised brigades with a similar number of soldiers.

 

Today the village of Somerby host an annual parade commemorating those who fought so bravely 80 years ago. Near the village of Burrough on the Hill is a magnificent memorial to the Parachute Regiment and recently the USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group.

 

I would like the Council to join me to:

 

1)    Pay tribute and thank those who made the great sacrifice who fought in Arnhem and the wider Operation Market Garden;

 

2)    Thank historians, local and national, along with individuals and communities who not only detail the history of the Battle of Arnhem but equally importantly how the Melton Borough community remember those stationed here.

 

3)    Acknowledges the great work the Friends of the Tenth and the Parachute Regimental Association do, and will continue to do, within the Melton Borough and Arnhem.

 

4)    Thank the village of Somerby for hosting their annual remembrance event.

 

5)    That the Mayor and all councillors write collectively to the Mayor of Arnhem and Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to the United Kingdom to express our continued and unwavering friendship between the people of the Borough of Melton and Arnhem in remembering the sacrifice by those 80 years ago in the cause of freedom.

At 7:22pm, prior to the consideration of this item, Councillor Browne left the meeting.

 

The following motion was received from Councillor Higgins (Seconded by Councillor Allnatt).

 

80th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden

 

From the 17th to 25th of September 1944, Operation Market Garden took place in the German-occupied Netherlands. Today we mark the 80th Anniversary but also pay tribute to those involved in the operation, many of whom were based in the Borough.

 

The 10th Battalion was centred on the villages of Somerby, Thorpe Satchville, Burrough on the Hill and Twyford. The 11th Battalion was billeted in and around Melton Mowbray, as was the 156th Battalion, with their HQ at Staveley Lodge, now the Pera business park, with its four companies spread between Newport Lodge, Scalford Hall, and The Spinney.

 

Market Garden's objective was to create a 64 mi (103 km) salient into German territory with a bridgehead over the Lower Rhine River, creating an Allied invasion route into northern Germany, it was to hopefully shorten the war and liberate Europe. This was to be achieved by two sub-operations: seizing nine bridges with combined US and British airborne force ("Market") followed by British land forces swiftly following over the bridges ("Garden").

 

The airborne soldiers, numbering more than 41,000, were dropped at sites where they could capture key bridges and hold the terrain until the land forces arrived. The land forces consisted of ten armoured and motorised brigades with a similar number of soldiers.

 

Today the village of Somerby host an annual parade commemorating those who fought so bravely 80 years ago. Near the village of Burrough on the Hill is a magnificent memorial to the Parachute Regiment and recently the USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group.

 

I would like the Council to join me to:

 

1)    Pay tribute and thank those who made the great sacrifice who fought in Arnhem and the wider Operation Market Garden;

 

2)    Thank historians, local and national, along with individuals and communities who not only detail the history of the Battle of Arnhem but equally importantly how the Melton Borough community remember those stationed here.

 

3)    Acknowledges the great work the Friends of the Tenth and the Parachute Regimental Association do, and will continue to do, within the Melton Borough and Arnhem.

 

4)    Thank the village of Somerby for hosting their annual remembrance event.

 

5)    That the Mayor and all councillors write to the Mayor of Arnhem and Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to the United Kingdom to express our continued and unwavering friendship between the people of the Borough of Melton and Arnhem in remembering the sacrifice by those 80 years ago in the cause of freedom.

 

During the debate, the following comments were made:

• It was recognised that Operation Market Garden wasn’t just British operation but an international one too including the involvement of a Polish Brigade and that it was right to recognise this.

 

RESOLVED

 

Melton Borough Council agreed to:

 

1)    Pay tribute and thank those who made the great sacrifice who fought in Arnhem and the wider Operation Market Garden;

 

2)    Thank historians, local and national, along with individuals and communities who not only detail the history of the Battle of Arnhem but equally importantly how the Melton Borough community remember those stationed here.

 

3)    Acknowledges the great work the Friends of the Tenth and the Parachute Regimental Association do, and will continue to do, within the Melton Borough and Arnhem.

 

4)    Thank the village of Somerby for hosting their annual remembrance event.

 

5)    That the Mayor and all councillors write to the Mayor of Arnhem and Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to the United Kingdom to express our continued and unwavering friendship between the people of the Borough of Melton and Arnhem in remembering the sacrifice by those 80 years ago in the cause of freedom.

 

(Unanimous)

 

At 7:33pm, following the conclusion of this item, Councillor Browne returned to the meeting.