Lecture | The Battle of Arnhem: Operation Market Garden

Tuesday 17th September
6.30pm-8.00pm

The 17 September this year is the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, Operation MARKET GARDEN, Montgomery’s plan to outflank the Seigfreid Line and to attack the Rhur from the North.

Maj Gen Adrian Freer will talk about how Montgomery envisaged the task could be undertaken by the British 2nd Army with the 1st Allied Air Army under command.  Montgomery’s single thrust did, however, run contrary to Eisenhower’s broader approach, whereby equal effort was to be given to Bradley’s 12 US Army Group and Patton’s 3rd US Army towards the Saar and Frankfurt in the south.  Operation MARKET GARDEN comprised the 1st British Airborne Division, the 82nd & 101st US Airborne Divisions and, principally, 30 (UK) Corps as the ground element.  The lecture will cover the formulation of allied strategy north of the SEINE and south of the LOIRE following the breakout from Normandy towards the end of August 1944, the actions of the 1st Airborne Division at the Arnhem road bridge and at Oosterbeek, a brief summary of the 82nd & 101st US Airborne Divisions actions between Einhoven and Nijmegen, the problems which faced 2nd British Army and, principally 30 Corps, and, finally, the German perspective followed by the lecturer’s perspective on what went wrong.

Maj Gen Adrian Freer served a full career in the British Army during which he commanded a parachute battalion, a training brigade and an airborne brigade.  He saw operational service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and Kosovo.  After leaving the Army he completed a number of diverse security projects in the Middle East and Africa and held senior roles within the Office for Nuclear Regulation.  Outside his military and security careers he was chairman of trustees for the Airborne Forces Museum for 12 years.

6.30pm Drinks Reception (Drink included in ticket price), 7.00pm Lecture Commences

£11 non members | £9 Friends

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Why not Stay for a post lecture supper in the Castle Bistro (See menu)