Arnhem

From where he lay, next to a gaping hole that had once been a window, Curtis could see what was coming next. ‘Further enemy reinforcements were mustering, powerful, long-barrelled SS tanks armed with armour-piercing shells. Occasionally, an airborne man would break cover to stalk the enemy, and would be met by shell bursts and machine-gun chattering.’ He heard the squeak of tracks and then caught sight of a self-propelled gun trudging nearer. It stopped from time to time and its gun turret traversed ominously, seeking out a target. It blasted some anti-tank guns in the grounds, then turned its attention to the hotel building. ‘It stopped 100 yards away. I went cold. The gun slewed round until its gargantuan barrel was pointing right at me. As it bellowed out, I shut my eyes. I don’t know where the shell went exactly but I felt the draught as it came though a hole in the wall and sailed by.’

The Tafelberg shook to its foundations, and so did Curtis. ‘The place was an absolute shambles, the floor littered with debris, blood and glass, plus the acrid smell of smoke and gun-cotton. I thought the entire building was going to tumble down. There were pitiful cries coming from a room that had taken the brunt of the attack and a medic came out cradling someone in his arms. I saw the medic falter, his eyes red, face drawn and dust covering his whole frame, which cried out with gross fatigue. Bracing himself, he picked his way through the forms on the floor. Unwittingly, his foot came in contact with an Airborne’s hand. “Sorry, lad,” I heard him say and the soldier on the floor muttered, “That’s all right,” before sinking into a coma. There was another resounding crash of bombs, followed by men’s voices loudly cursing the Boches.’ But those accusing voices were mistaken this time. A medic informed them that the last salvo had come from British guns – Second Army artillery was joining in all the way from Nijmegen. So that’s all right then. Curtis breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I thought they were Jerry shells, but they were ours!’ he told himself, though whether excitedly or sarcastically was difficult to tell.

And, in truth, if men were encouraged by the thought that there were long-awaited reinforcements out there at last, it was not for long. Distant guns, however accurate, could make no difference now, with the Tafelberg surrounded and enemy tanks not miles but just feet away. The battle was lost, and, as those inside now realized, the only alternative to surrender was to prepare to die.

Anje’s father chose life for her and for his patients, as did his British counterparts. ‘Daddy goes with an English doctor to the German headquarters to seek an armistice,’ she noted. ‘He carries an enormous red cross flag and wears a red cross helmet and a white coat. I catch a glimpse of him as they leave. Aunt Anke is afraid that he won’t come back. While they are away there is a terrible lot of shooting and we think he must have been hit. But then they all come back unhurt. They have had a terrible walk to the German headquarters but a truce has been agreed and for an hour there will be no shooting. This turns out to be nonsense as everything goes on as before and the Tafelberg is hit again and again.’

There is worse to come. ‘Suddenly, the Germans are at the door. The monster has come back! I thought we were free and now we are occupied again, back under the German boot. The battle, the blood, the wounded, all the unbelievable courage, all the devotion, it has been for nothing. This was the worst moment of the war. Our British friends have to go and so do we. We say our goodbyes. I see Ken but all I can do is to squeeze his hand and smile.’ She never knew his surname, never saw him or Stan again and had no idea what happened to them.