Memorial services for wartime paratroopers to be held at Burrough and Somerby

It will be held at the memorial to the The 10th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, who were billeted in nearby Somerby before being dropped into the Battle of Arnhem in The Netherlands in September 1944.

Nearly 100 of the 582 paratroopers who parachuted 60 miles behind enemy lines were killed in the battle – 404 were taken prisoner by the Germans and 86 were evacuated.

Saturday’s service, which will be led at 2pm by the Rev Jane Walker, marks the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, known by the Allies as Operation Market Garden, which was portrayed in the 1970s Hollywood movie, ‘A Bridge Too Far’.

Family members of veterans from the Battalion will join the Friends of the Tenth, the charity which created the sculptured stone memorial, at the event.

A reception will be held from 12.30pm at a marquee at the Get Busy Living Centre, the HQ of the Matt Hampson Foundation.

Food and drink will be served there and there will also be performances after the service by Second World War music tribute act, The Ladidahs.

The day before, on Friday, there will be a presentation entitled ‘Last Stand of the Tenth’ at All Saints’ Church, at Somerby.

It will be given by Grahame Warner, of Friends of the Tenth and the author of 'Arnhem: Eight days to oblivion’.

The bar opens at 6.45pm and the talk begins at 7.30pm with all proceeds going to the All Saints’ Church Restoration Fund.

Tickets cost £10, email Chris Rooney of All Saints Church direct at [email protected] to reserve a place.

Sunday will see the annual Arnhem service and commemoration parade in Somerby, organised by the Leicester branch of the Parachute Regimental Association.

The parade will form at the village memorial and start at 10.30am, before making its way through Somerby towards the church, led by pipes and drums.

A remembrance service will take place at 10.45am with refreshments served afterwards at the Somerby Memorial Hall on Main Street.