The Tenth Battalion Trail is not merely the title of this book – the trail really exists.

Some time ago we began the installation of several maroon heritage plaques to mark the locations where the 10th Battalion was billeted during 1944, before leaving in September for the disastrous Operation Market Garden or Battle of Arnhem. These locations are in Somerby, The Burrough Court Estate, Thorpe Satchville and Owston.

We then set about linking these various locations by a trail – in fact more than one  trail, routes that can be negotiated either by foot, on a bike or in a vehicle. The walking trail is 15 miles and takes in some quite glorious countryside. The walk takes you to the summit of Burrough Hill Fort which boast one of the finest panoramas in Leicestershire. You will visit the villages of Burrough on the Hill, Thorpe Satchville, Somerby and Owston and along the way are a number of places to eat and drink, also the village shop in Somerby. The walking trail is marked with 10th Battalion way-markers – keep your eyes peeled for these.

In order to find your way, whether you are walking, cycling, motor-cycling or driving, the guide book is invaluable. But not only does it point you in the right direction, it also offers information on places to stay, to eat and drink. There is a concise, yet comprehensive, history of the Battalion, as well as detailed information and history about the various locations, including the departure airfield – RAF Spanhoe, some 20 miles from Somerby.

BUY THE BOOK and WALK THE TRAIL, you will be helping Friends of The Tenth.

This project has not been cheap, the installation of plaques and way-markers and the production and cost of the guide book has cost just short of £10,000. You can help us to recover some of the cost merely by buying a copy of this terrific little book, which at £15 is excellent value. You can also, of course, make a donation to our charity on the home page of this website.

With 115 pages and more than 90 illustrations, mostly in full colour, the Tenth Battalion Trail is available to buy in the shop section of this website.

‘The Tenth Battalion Trail’ guidebook

We are delighted to announce that Prosper Keating has agreed to join Friends of The Tenth as our Editorial and Media Consultant. He has a similar role with the Parachute Regimental Association.

Prosper served with 10 PARA for many years and is a highly respected author, journalist and editor with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field.

I’m sure that no-one who witnessed the Pegasus Display Team drop onto the DZ behind our Memorial on the day of the unveiling ceremony will ever forget that magnificent spectacle – as Prosper rightly says – ‘A living Memorial’ to those brave young men who fought and died at Arnhem and in many other conflicts.

FOTT fully support the campaign to bring back to the UK – ‘Military Parachuting for the Public’ as so admirably demonstrated on that unforgettable occasion.

This is Prosper’s latest article which can be found on the Parachute Regiment Website

A LIVING MEMORIAL

A recent tree planting session, in the garden of the 10th Battalion Memorial at Burrough on the Hill, marks the start of the joint venture between charities, ‘Friends of The Tenth’ and ‘HighGround’

Left to right David Greaves from David Greaves Landscaping, Alec Wilson Chairman of Friends of The Tenth, Andy Wright of HighGround, Jane Taylor of HighGround and a patient from DMRC Stanford Hall

Horticultural charity, HighGround, who are based at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, Loughborough, together with David Greaves Landscape Design and Construction, have very generously offered to complete the design, construction and maintenance of the garden surrounding the new memorial to the World War 2, 10^th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. The memorial is sited at the entrance to the Matt Hampson Get Busy Living Centre, who are also working with both charities.

On Tuesday, the team from HighGround planted three specimen trees. Along with hundreds of maroon tulip bulbs, the trees were donated by former 2 Para, Alan Staff from Great Bowden. Unfortunately, Alan was not well enough to attend the planting.

The garden will ultimately include parachute regiment maroon roses, named ‘Friends of The Tenth’ especially propagated and donated by David Austin Roses. As well as heather from Ginkel Heath near to Arnhem in The Netherlands, this is where the parachute battalion dropped in September 1944. From the 582 men who dropped into Holland, two weeks later only 36 returned to their HQ in Somerby.

Work in the garden will be carried out by patients from Stanford Hall as part of their rehabilitation programme organised and aided by the Friends of HighGround:

https://highground-uk.org/support-us/how-to-get-involved/

Sculptor, Graeme Mitcheson, is currently constructing two stone benches which will soon be installed in the garden, facing the memorial and looking over and across to the valley where the battalion practised parachute drops and training exercises in 1944 prior to The Battle of Arnhem, the battle for ‘The Bridge too Far’

Find out more by visiting the websites of the two charities: –

www.friendsofthe tenth.co.uk

www.highground-uk.org/