As the allied forces moved across Europe those men who had been captured at Arnhem and become POW’s were liberated from the POW camps.  Some had been made to work in harsh conditions and then forced to march west away from the Russian advance.  Not untypical is the story of Harry 'Flash' Gordon who when released from captivity by the Americans had lost over 120 kg in weight and was so weak and undernourished on his return to the UK he was hospitalised for months. (Until he escaped, but that is another story)

After the war the British Army soon began de-mobbing its soldiers, many of the men were glad to leave but others were reluctant to return to the lives they had led before the war and many decided to remain in the Army, many of those rose through the ranks and had distinguished careers. 

Bill Grantham decided he had seen enough of Army life and left as soon as he was able.  Bill joined the Metropolitan Police and when he retired he took  work abroad as head of security for a large oil company, Bill found that he missed the Army life and regred leaving when he did.

Whatever their decision all must have found it difficult to carry on with their lives without at times thinking about the friends they had lost, in particular those lost in the Battle of Arnhem-Oosterbeek.  Many of the men suffered the after effects of the continual mortaring and shellfire, what we would now recognise as post traumatic stress.  Each have their own story to tell of their war, their own horror stories and nightmares.  Eric McCoy, because he could drive a bulldozer, was transferred and given the of job at Bergen-Belson concentration camp clearing and burying the remains of the victims.

Some of the Squadron were decorated for their actions at Arnhem.  Major Perkins (Later Lieutenant Colonel) Mentioned in Dispatches, Captain Nigel Beaumont-Thomas MC Mentioned in Dispatches, Captain (Later Major) Harry Brown Military Cross (Later OBE), Sapper Phil Hyatt Military Medal, Sapper W. Coulsting, Dutch Bronze Cross.  Others were recommended for awards but did not receive them.

The men of a wartime Airborne Engineer unit carried out an amazing diversity of work from road building, marking airfields, vehicle repairs, bridge building, carpentry, demolitions, explosives, boat repairs, vehicle repairs, rafts, river crossing, mine laying, mine detection and lifting through to infantry tasks, and at Arnhem basic infantry fighting.  

Many of the men returned to work of a practical nature, coal mining being a common example, but their skills were diverse, many of them looked for a better life abroad and emigrated.
Some of the Squadron remained in touch or met again by chance after the war, but it was not until 1982 that it was decided to have an annual re-union.

So the story ends as it began, in the village of Glaston where every year an ever dwindling number of the Squadron veterans return.  They meet not only to talk about the past and to be among old friends but also to pay homage to their comrades who did not return, they hold a short but poignant service in Glaston Church.  Some of them tell their stories while others have their own private memories and find it difficult to talk of the friends they have lost.
It is heartening that in recent years as the veterans fade away their relatives now carry on the tradition of remembering the Squadron.

The driveway into Bisbrook Hall now has more trees. There are four silver birches that Stan Holden brought over from Holland and planted in memory of the Squadron and the friends he has lost.  

Bill Grantham left the Army and joined the Metropolitan Police serving for twenty-two years before taking a job with an oil company in Bahrain. He eventually returned to the UK and settled in Grantham, Lincolnshire. He played a large part in ensuring that the men of 4 Para Squadron stayed in touch and met every year. He loved to visit Oosterbeek, to meet his friends and visit the graves of others
Sadly Bill died on 7^th  May 2002

George Reid was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He joined the Squadron at Glaston. He had been in the Territorial Army and was only 17 years of age when he lied about his age and became a regular soldier. He first  served in North Africa and after volunteering for parachute training was offered the chance to train back in the UK, he leapt at the chance.
He was injured during his parachute drop at Ginkel Heath and after several days in the cellars of one of the hotels at the crossroads taken prisoner at Oosterbeek. He was sent to a POW camp in Czechoslovakia, he worked in a  coal mine and had to live and work in very poor conditions. He left the Army after the war and in 1952 emigrated to Canada and continued his trade a builder. He returned to Scotland in the 1960's and now lives in Dunblane.  George enjoys relatively good health and retains his boyish sense of humour. He loves meeting his old comrades and returns to Oosterbeek whenever he can. He has not missed the annual re-union at Glaston and Uppingham in 25 years.
Sadly George died on March 31^st 2007 at the age of 85. He was a dear friend and will be deeply missed by his family and all those who were fortunate enough to know him. He was a very special person whose warmth touched those around him.
Click for Sound File
The tune was composed by Andrew Warren as a tribute to George Barnes Reid. The title marks a significant period in George's life as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers when he was parachuted into the battle of Arnhem. The tune is played by Addie Harper Jnr and was recorded on the Isle of Skye in July 2008. It is an upbeat 6:8 march dedicated to George and the 4^th Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers.

Lawrence Hanlon, an ex member of the wartime SAS, was wounded and captured at Oosterbeek and spent many months in a POW camp. He still lives in Barnsley, Yorkshire

Jimmy O'Donnell returned  from Oosterbeek and was another regular at the Squadron re-unions.  Originally a Scot, after the war he went to work in the coal mines of Yorkshire and lived in Barnsley.  He was extremely proud of his time with the unit but mourned the friends he lost in the war.
Sadly Jimmy died in March 2004 at the age of 90 after suffering poor health.

Eric McCoy crossed the river and returned from Oosterbeek.  After the battle he was promoted and given the job of convoying and escorting troops from the UK into Europe as Germany began to fall.  On one such trip, as he could drive a bulldozer, he was told to go to Belson Concentration Camp and was given the task of burying the bodies of the victims, a memory that stays with him today.  After the war he went back to work in the quarries of Derbyshire until a serious accident forced him to change work. Once more he used his driving skills and he began driving lorries and coaches.  Today he lives with his Wife in the town of Buxton.  Eric lost touch with the Squadron until 2001when he attended his first re-union at Uppingham.
Sadly Eric died in April 2006 at the age of almost 85 after suffering poor health.

Stan Holden was taken prisoner near Oosterbeek.  He now lives in the Liverpool area and is turning his memoirs into a book about the events at Arnhem.  He remains a lively character, full of life with a typical Liverpudlian sense of humour. He attends every reunion and is a staunch supporter of his wartime colleagues.

Jack Standen, a veteran of Dunkirk and Arnhem lives in Norfolk and prefers to keep most of his memories private. He though does talk of the good times he had with the Squadron and some of the tricks that they got up to. He is a regular at the annual re-unions.
Sadly Jack died in February 2006 at the age of 91. He had continued to enjoy life to the full.

Gordon Stones married a local Rutland girl and they still live quietly in Oakham Leicestershire.  Few among the small local community would look at this quiet modest man and think that he once belonged to an elite fighting force.  After the war he worked as a Building Inspector before once again taking up his profession of Carpenter/Joiner.
Sadly Gordon Stones died in January 2007

Bill McKenna lived just around the corner from Gordon Stones in Oakham.
Sadly Bill died in 2005

Harry 'Flash' Gordon returned to his native London and became a lecturer in Art and now lives in Belsize Park, he prefers not to talk about his experiences.

Vic Capper lives not far from Glaston Village. More recently he has moved into a care home. He too rarely talks about his experiences, though when he does he prefers his tales not to be put in print!

Harry Faulner-Brown  received the MC for his part in the battle of Oosterbeek.  He remained in the Army and rose to the rank of Major, later receiving the OBE. He changed his name to Faulkner-Brown and became a renowned architect and now lives in the north of England. In 2006 he published the book 'A Sapper at Arnhem'. His account of his recollections of the Battle of Arnhem / Oosterbeek.
Sadly l died on 10^th February 2008 after a short illness
See the below link for his obituary
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4068462.ece

Cyril Brown returned from Oosterbeek and married a local Uppingham girl at the end of 1944.  He remained  in the Army until the wars end and then returned to civilian life and immersed himself in his work.  He now lives near Purbrook in Hampshire, he has never returned to Oosterbeek but is planning a visit in 2004.
Sadly Cyril died in August 2004.

Toby Thomas swam the river after the battle of Oosterbeek.  He now lives in a village near Taunton.  Like many others he rarely talks of his war memories but has kindly taken time to give to the story.  He suffers increasing hearing difficulties from the 'near-miss' mortar bomb that landed on the edge of his trench in 1944.

Arthur Ayers a veteran of Dunkirk as well as Arnhem lives near his family in Sussex.  He was taken prisoner and like so many others suffered much deprivation as a prisoner of the Germans before escaping from a work party helped by a German Army deserter.  He has written a full account of his time at Oosterbeek and his time in captivity and hopes to one day to have it published.

Bob Temple left 4 Para Sqn in 1944 when he transferred to the Intelligence Section of 4th Parachute Brigade Headquarters.  He went to Arnhem where he was taken prisoner. He now lives on the Isle of Man

Alan Aldcroft who met and married a local girl while billeted at Glaston, lives with his family in nearby Stamford.  Another regular at the re-unions.

Bill Coleman is a regularly attends the re-unions at Uppingham and Arnhem. He is yet another example of the now quiet, modest men that made up the Squadron.
Sadly Bill died in January 2006.

Alan Gauntlett lives in Northamptonshire and attended his first re-union at Uppingham in 2005.

Frank Peacock who lives near London used to attend the re-unions but stopped after the death of his close friend Ted Cardwell. In 2005 he again attended the re-union.

Jimmy Wilson was born in Edinburgh in 1919 and served an apprenticeship as a Marine Engineer. In 1938 he joined the Army fully intending to make a career of it. After basic training. in Chatham  he was posted to 23 Field Coy. R.E. at Aldershot. He was sent to Lille as part of the BEF and was awarded the Military Medal for service at Dunkirk. He was later sent to Haifa where he maintained Palestine Railways  until he was accepted for parachute training at Kabrit near the Suez Canal. After gaining his wings he was posted to 4 Para Sqn RE which was based near Cairo. He also served at El-Alemein, Italy, and Arnhem. He was wounded at Arnhem  where he lost the tips of his fingers on his left hand and was returned to the UK and posted to Halifax. He was discharged from the Army as a S/Sgt and was home for Christmas 1944. In 1945 he travelled to Buckingham Palace where he received his Military Medal from King George V1.
Jimmy still attends the bi-monthly meetings of the Edinburgh Branch Airborne Engineers Association.

There is no doubt that the Battle of Arnhem-Oosterbeek was the finest hour for the Squadron despite the resultant losses.  It is still possible to walk the areas that they defended and see the signs of slit trenches they occupied and the spent ammunition.  As the area develops and grows the signs of war slowly disappear. Every September many veterans return to visit their old battle ground and the graves of their comrades bringing back to life the story of The Battle of Arnhem-Oosterbeek and those who were members of the units of the 1st Airborne Division.