Two soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War have been honoured on the anniversary of a pivotal battle.
Robert Bondy, from Billingshurst, and Graeme Harrison, from Rustington, both served at the Battle of Arnhem, which took place from September 17 to 26 in 1944.
Mr Bondy, a jeep driver who transported supplies to the front line, was flying to Arnhem on a glider which crashed on September 17, leading to his death at the age of 28.
The veteran was the son of Charles and Florence Bondy and left behind his wife, Ivy.
READ MORE: Meet the Second World War pilot who was honoured for gallantry
Mr Harrison, a wing commander of 190 RAF Squadron who flew around 100 troops as well as supplies into battle in its first five days, was also tragically killed when his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters.
He was a decorated officer who had completed missions in the Pacific and over Germany and was reburied in the same cemetery as Mr Bondy, alongside his crew, in October 1945.
Now, the two men have been honoured in a ceremony by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the 80th anniversary of the battle, in which 1,500 Allied soldiers died.
On Friday the Torch of Commemoration, which was also used to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, arrived in Arnhem, where it was handed to British veteran Geoff Roberts and Caroline Frost, the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel John Frost, who was the commander of the Allied forces during the battle.
“The CWGC’s Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery has been a focal point of commemoration for the Battle of Arnhem since the end of the Second World War, with the sacrifice of nearly 1,500 wounded and killed soldiers at the heart of our mission to protect their legacy and educate future generations.
“Today, we call on our communities to join us in our duty to ensure the commemoration of the war dead continues, and share their memories and stories. Many of the stories of what the soldiers went through during the Battle of Arnhem are truly inspiring, and we hope they encourage younger people to honour them for evermore.”
It strives to share the stories of those who lost their lives in the world wars.
The Battle of Arnhem
Operation Market Garden was a plan conceived by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery to hasten the end of the Second World War by opening up new routes as the Allies advanced towards Germany following D-Day.
The allied forces adopted a bold strategy: seize a series of crucial bridges in the Netherlands through a combination of airborne attack and ground advances.
The Battle of Arnhem - the centrepiece of the operation - exemplified both the daring and the pitfalls of the allies’ approach.
British paratroopers were tasked with capturing and holding the bridge at Arnhem until reinforcements could arrive. But what unfolded was a harrowing saga of bravery met with a great loss of life for the allied forces.
The paratroopers faced fierce resistance from the well-prepared German forces, including elite Panzer tank divisions that had been underestimated by allied intelligence.
Ground forces struggled to advance as planned, leaving the airborne troops isolated and vulnerable.
But throughout the protracted and bloody engagement shone countless tales of courage and sacrifice.
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