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Ceremony will honour pilots of key WW2 operation

Alexander Stevanovic
BBC News, Essex
MARKSHALL A man stands by a plinth at Markshall, with a microphone surrounded by a crowd commemorating an event. Some of the crowd are standing, some are sitting down. The event is held on grass with a stone monument present. Small American and British flags can be seen, sticking out from the ground.MARKSHALL
Guests will be taken on a scenic 35-minute walk to the memorial site

Managers at a country estate are preparing to host a special commemorative service to honour pilots who flew on a major World War Two mission.

The ceremony at Markshall Estate near Braintree in Essex will mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Varsity.

The mission on 24 March was the largest single airborne operation in history, with more than 16,000 men dropped into western Germany.

A total of 102 glider pilots lost their lives and another 102 sustained injuries.

Sam Gentry, head of operations and visitor engagement at Markshall, said: "It is a privilege to stand together and pay tribute to those who played a vital role in this historic mission."

MARKSHALL Service men and women stand at a commemorative event. Many are dressed in light brown military attire. About 100 people in total can be seen, standing on grass at Markshall. There is a tall stone monument and high rise trees in the background.MARKSHALL
Sam Gentry, from Markshall, said: "It is a privilege to stand together and pay tribute."

The invite-only ceremony on Monday will feature a walk to the memorial site, readings, a wreath-laying and moments of reflection.

During World War Two, Markshall served as the headquarters for RAF Squadrons 296 and 297 which were based at nearby Earls Colne Airfield.

More than 1,500 aircraft and 1,300 gliders - carrying British, American, and Canadian airborne soldiers - participated in the operation.

Sixty of those gliders were flown from Earls Colne.

The forces captured crucial bridgeheads across the Rhine, paving the way for the final advance into Nazi Germany.

Getty Images Allied planes fly over a shattered German town on their way to drop paratroopers over the Rhine in March 1945. The black and white images shows planes in the sky. Below are roofs with their struts showing, and on the right is a heap of roof struts exposed to the sky. On both sides are leafless tree branches.Getty Images
A total of 102 glider pilots lost their lives during the mission and another 102 sustained injuries

The Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society will be at the ceremony, showcasing equipment that would have been used during the operation.

Markshall is a registered charity which manages 200 acres of arboretum and gardens, as well as a further 2,000 acres of ancient woodlands and tenanted farmland.

The untold story of Operation Varsity

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