PARATROOPERS from Colchester’s own 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team jumped out of the skies to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.

The Battle of Arnhem was part of Operation Market Garden, the World War Two allied operation to liberate the Netherlands by securing a string of bridges.

After failing to secure one of the bridges, the subsequent fighting around Arnhem saw more than 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers killed, nearly 6,500 captured, and five Victoria Crosses awarded.

Among the small group of World War Two veterans, a crowd of some 60,000 spectators and senior officers from all over the world in Arnhem last weekend was the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell.

Honoured - Lesley was thrilled to represent Colchester in the Netherlands, and enjoyed meeting the Pegasus mascot. Mayor - Lesley was honoured to represent Colchester in the Netherlands, and enjoyed meeting the Pegasus mascot. (Image: Lesley Scott-Boutell) Lesley said: “I’m still processing it, as it was such a blur—it was a massive, massive event.

“It was an honour, a real honour to be able to lay the wreaths and to recognise the people that chose to go back to finally rest there, to recognise David Lord.

“The King of Holland attended, and Princess Anne was there—and she is one awesome woman.”

Lesley visited the Airborne Cemetery on Saturday to inter the ashes of war heroes who chose to rest at Arnhem, and laid a wreath at the David Lord monument, for the RAF officer who received the Victoria Cross for flying resupply missions in support of British paratroops during the battle, among many other “magical, special” engagements.

Amazing - Paratroopers dropped from the sky to commemorate the Battle of Arnhem. Amazing - Paratroopers dropped from the sky to commemorate the Battle of Arnhem. (Image: Cynthia Leiwakabessy (FunCkSterrShoots)) Lesley was accompanied by her daughter and Deputy Mayoress, Jess, and spent much of the weekend with Mayor of Renkum Agnes Schaap, who she gifted with a symbolic bronze Pegasus.

Lesley said: “It was wonderful to meet our opposite numbers and realise we’ve got a lot in common—both sides want to strengthen the links.

“Colchester is the home of the paras now, they’ve been here 25 years.

“It was so nice that Colchester was seen, recognised, and welcomed,

“When I laid the wreath at the Airborne Museum, Agnes and I stood together—and I just thought, what a great message.”

Lesley continued: “It was a really powerful getting together, and we must not forget this battle.

“It was the experience of a lifetime.”