Arnhem soldier buried 60 years on

[ReadyAyeReady]

Rest In Peace

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/4374611.stm

Arnhem soldier buried 60 years on

A soldier killed more than 60 years ago at the Battle of Arnhem in The Netherlands has been buried with full military honours.

Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Private Arthur Foster, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, who was 27 when he died.
He was killed in World War Two during the doomed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem in 1944.
The ceremony was held at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on Wednesday.

The failed operation which claimed the life of Pte Foster was known as "Operation Market Garden".

Members of Pte Foster's family, including niece Margaret Sheldon, 65, of Bolton, gathered around his coffin which was draped in a Union Flag.
The service was conducted by the Rev Robert Williams, chaplain of the First Battalion of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment (KORBR), which recruits from north Lancashire and Cumbria.
Mr Williams said: "By the honour of this special event and ceremony we show no particulars or favourites. Pte Foster would not want that.
"In saluting him we salute him and all his comrades, whose lives were laid down or taken in the cause of freedom."
War veterans were also among those at the ceremony.

'All together'

After the war, Pte Foster was one of 33 soldiers from the Border Regiment with no known grave commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial near Nijmegen.

Workmen discovered his almost-complete remains early in 2003 when a barn was demolished near Oosterbeek.
Pte Foster's family were only traced in August last year.
His niece, Mrs Sheldon, said: "I think my uncle would have been highly honoured.
"It is especially good that he should be buried with his friends and comrades, so they are all together."
Mrs Sheldon said it was a "complete shock" when she found out her uncle's body had been discovered.

 

[Gunner]

 

[Whiskey_Dan]

A suitable tribute to a brave young man who gave his life to the cause of freedom.
RIP

 

[1feral1]

Interesting read.

Now finally at rest.

Wes

 

[Pieman]

Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Private Arthur Foster

It is good to see even after so many years that the Dutch have not forgotten the sacrifices made on their soil.

Makes me wonder how many more soldiers from that era are still somewhere on the battle fields of Europe, waiting to be found.

 

[rcr]

Good to see the sacrifice he and his brothers-in-arms made during that operation and throughout the war has not been forgotten.  Nor shall their sacrifice ever be forgotten.