Friends of the Tenth

Every year since the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, a commemoration service and parade has been held in the village of Somerby, but there has been a great desire among many associated with the 10th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment to do more.

What transpired then, was the formation of Friends of the Tenth by relatives of Battalion officers and servicemen, members of the Parachute Regimental Association, Leicester Branch, and people from both Somerby and surrounding villages.

The group was formed with the intention of creating a legacy and lasting memorial to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice at Arnhem through the design and installation of a commemorative sculpture in the parish of Somerby.

The 10th Battalion had been stationed in and around Somerby in the lead-up to their parachute drop 64 miles behind enemy lines in Holland.

What many villagers who were around at that time will never forget is that 582 men left on that fateful mission on September 18th, but only 36 survivors returned there two weeks later following the end to the Battle of Arnhem.

Friends of the Tenth’s mission now is to ensure their place in history, their bravery and their sacrifice is remembered by so many more.

 

Committee

President                                       Jennifer, Lady Gretton DCVO JP

Patron                                             Air Vice Marshall Ranald Munro CBE TD VR DL

Patron in the Netherlands      Dr Robert Voskuil

Padre                                               The Reverend Brian McAvoy MBE MA RAF (retd)

Chairman                                       Alec Wilson

Vice Chairman                               Tim Hall-Wilson

Treasurer                                       Neil Thorley

Trustees                                          Alec Wilson, Jeanie Holland, Grahame Warner, Tim Hall-Wilson

Battalion Historian                     Grahame Warner

Editorial & Media Consultant Prosper Keating

Military Advisor                            Ian Chick

Parachute Regiment Liaison   Major Sandy Rowell (OC ‘D’ coy 4PARA)

10PARA Liaison                            Terry Lowe

Veterans & Families Liaison    Jeanie Holland

Special Projects                             Tina Cooper, Martin Wyke

Sales & Merchandising               Terry Lowe

Social Media                                     Terry Lowe & Alec Wilson

Somerby                                           Davina Bates

Burrough on the Hill                   Flo Batt

The Netherlands                            Arjan Vrieze, Liset Vos

Charity Development Advisor  Asgoo Pirbhai

Education Officer                          Vacant: overseen by Grahame Warner

Auditors                                              Somerby’s Accountants Leicester