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Oosterbeek War Cemetery, The Netherlands (i)

I couldn’t visit Arnhem without going to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery near Oosterbeek, the place where many casualties of the attempt to capture the John Frost Bridge during Operation Market Garden are buried.

The cemetery is in a quiet location off a side road up a side road.

The path from the car park takes you past the cemetery identifier:-

Oosterbeek War Cemetery Identifier

Beside that is this domed pillar marking local children’s annual commemoration of the battle:-

 

Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Children's Dedication

This plaque beside the entrance informs us that 1754 soldiers or airmen are buried within:-

Battle of Arnhem Plaque, Oosterbeek War Cemetery,

War Graves Commission information board. More than 90 Polish members of the Parachute Brigade are buried here. I also noted three Dutch graves while walking round:-

Information Board. Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Battle of Arnhem

View of cemetery from gates, Stone of Remembrance to fore and Cross of Sacrifice behind:-

View from Gates. Oosterbeek War Cemetery

Cross of Sacrifice. British poppy wreaths with Netherlands wreath on grass:-

Cross of Sacrifice. Oosterbeek War Cemetery,

As in most Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries the gates are flanked by two buildings which usually contain lists of the buried and the locations within the cemetery of their graves:-

Entrance Building Oosterbeek War Cemetery

Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Entrance Building

On the wall of one of these were two plaques describing the Arnhem Battle and its place within the wider campaign to liberate Western Europe:-

Liberation Plaque 1, Oosterbeek War Cemetery

Liberation Plaque 2, Oosterbeek War Cemetery

Sculpture, Architecture and an Oddity, Arnhem

Public sculpture seems to be a feature of The Netherlands. This sculpture lay to the east of John Frost Bridge:-

Sculpture to Est of John Frost Bridge

Just to the northeast of the bridge this building had a model cow on its roof:-

Cow on Roof, near John Frost Bridge

Closer View:-

Arnham, Cow on Roof, Closer View

This building was very 1950s-60s in style:-

Building near John Frost Bridge, Arnhem

An impressive looking church in Arnhem:-

A Church In Arnhem

 

Airborne Monument, Arnhem

This is by the River Rhine near the John Frost Bridge and consists of an artillery piece plus a photo of the original Rhine Bridge:-

Airborne Monument, Arnhem

Arnhem, Airborne Monument

Dedication:-

Dedication, Airborne Monument, Arnhem

Commemoration plaques:-

Airborne Monument, Arnhem, Commemorations

Photo of original Rhine Bridge:-

By Airborne Monument, Arnhem

John Frost Bridge, Arnhem

John Frostbrug in Dutch, this is the famous bridge too far, except it’s a replacement for the original Rhine Bridge fought over in the Second World War during Operation Market Garden. It’s somewhere in The Netherlands I’ve always wanted to visit.

John Frost Bridge, Arnhem

Arnhem, John Frost Bridge

I must say the River Rhine looks not very wide here – not as wide as the Clyde at Dumbarton certainly. Still an obstacle to an army though:-

John Frost Bridge and River Rhine, Arnhem

Eastern guard post. Slight Deco styling.  I assume this is original:-

John Frost Bridge East Guard Post, North Side

Western guard post. Note groove up the middle of steps, for wheeling bicycles up and down.:-

John Frost Bridge West Guard Post, North Side

Reverse view of bridge:-

Reverse View, John Frost Bridge, Arnhem

 

John Frost Bridge over River Rhine

Roadway:-

John Frost Bridge, Roadway

Commemorative plaque with inscription to John Frost by roadway on north side of bridge:-

John Frost Bridge Memorial Inscription

 

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