“Their sacrifice created our freedom” HRH Princess Anne the Princess Royal speaking at Arnhem on 21 Sep 2024 representing HM the King.
On 14 Sep 2024 nine members of the Reserve and Regular Army from all over the UK, set off from a beach in Essex to paddle a kayak across the North Sea to Holland and then inland on the water ways to Arnhem a total distance of 320 KM. This endeavour was conducted to commemorate the courage and bravery of the men who fought during Operation Market Garden, an audacious attempt to shorten the Second World War.
Endurance and navigation were tested throughout the journey especially overnight on the North Sea, through difficult seas and on one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
A combination of Regular and Reservist officers and soldiers, 9 in total, took part in EX PEGASUS FROST
Background:
The appropriate marking of the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden has been on the minds of everyonewithin the Parachute Regiment and Airborne forces, Reserves and Regulars for some time. Amongst many other great ideas, a plan was developed which involved paddling a kayak from Colchester (the Home of the Regiment) to Arnhem across the North Sea and then through the Dutch waterways to Arnhem with a view to arriving on the main day of the commemorations 21 Sep 2024.
The kayak crew, Brigadier Matt Cansdale CBE, Maj Frank Gargan MBE and WO1 Doug Herbert (all already seasoned paddlers), started training in June, initially on the Thames at Reading (below) and then in the North Sea just off the Essex Coast.
Training continued throughout the summer months building up the miles and developing the North Sea safety plan which involved superb support from Lt Col T Ives RE, CSgt Ash Stafford 4 PARA, SSgt Adam Hearn RE and CSM A Coy 4 PARA. We also had to develop a support crew vehicle plan from Rotterdam to Arnhem which was a vehicle with all the required spare equipment and stores, manned by reservists from A Coy 4 PARA.
The kayak crew met up twice per month and trained as a three-man crew but as we were from different parts of the country, we also trained hard on the waters around our local areas.
The majority of the planning was done via Teams meetings, and engagement with the safety boat crew, sponsors, charities and Regimental Headquarters. We wanted plenty of time to complete the journey because we had to arrive at Arnhem by 21 Sep to take part in the main commemoration activities and meet the dignitaries. We were hoping to set off on Sat 14 Sep, but everything was dependent on the weather, the sea states, the tidal conditions and the expert analysis of our safety boat crew on the good ship “40 Love”
Day 1 and 2
Day 1 Sat 14 Sep required an early start. The crew enjoyed a good carbohydrate breakfast, there was a flurry of activity on 40 Love and around the canoe and we were ready to go by 0700hrs. The kayakers were slightly anxious; we knew we had a non-stop overnight push to Holland across the North Sea ahead of us, but we were up to the task. We started at a steady pace, the water was calm and for a number of hours progress was good.
We developed an ‘on the job’ and unrehearsed resupply routine with the safety boat crew. We would pull along the port side of the yacht, grab hold of the fenders, swap water bottles, force food into our mouths and then push on, job done.
As night was beginning to fall, we noticed that the sea was getting rougher. The canoe was being pushed around a fair bit and the resupply process became more difficult with 40 Love bouncing up and down, but we wrapped up with some great equipment, we were being extremely well looked after by the safety boat crew, and we pushed on as hard as we could.
As the night went on, the canoe crew focused on the spotlight from the back of 40 Love and we kept to within 100m of her. Soon after last light we were able to see the coast of Holland.
Unfortunately, as the night progressed, and the sea state worsened progress was slow, the situation became dangerous and we took the collective decision to board 40 Love and complete Phase 1 into Rotterdam port.
We arrived in Rotterdam after first light and needed a well earned rest. On dry land we were extremely well looked after by the Road Support crew from A Coy 4 PARA. They had borrowed some accommodation by the river from a Dutch Scouting Troop, they had arranged showers for us at the marina and they had prepared an excellent meal. A big thank you was owed to the Road Support Crew CSgt Stafford and CSM A Coy 4 PARA. It was at this stage also that we sadly had to say farewell to our superb Safety boat crew on 40 Love, Lt Col Tim and SSgt Adam as they were setting sail for ‘Blighty’ on the early tide the following morning.
Day 3
By setting off on 14 Sep and arriving at Rotterdam on Sun 15, we had time in hand for the remainder of the journey and were able to aim for about 40 to 50 KM every day for the next few days on our onward route to Arnhem. We needed some time in hand because after only a few miles on day 3 whilst paddling too close to the riverbank we grounded the boat badly and in the process damaged the rudder to the extent that the boat was impossible to steer. Throughout the remainder of the day the team did a fantastic job, purchasing repair equipment and visiting Dutch marine repair companies who were very helpful, carried out much of the work for free and enabled us to be on our way early on Day 4.
Day 4 to Day 8
After the disaster of the damaged rudder, we made great progress. Apart from the North Sea, Day 4 proved to be the hardest day of the journey navigating our way through the Rotterdam main port area. Tides played their part, but we also had a number of wide rivers converging, a very busy shipping lane to contend with, and high winds, all of which made the paddling much more difficult. Early in the day we were approached by a large port authority vessel who asked us what we were doing and where we were going. They fell about laughing when we told them we were paddling to Arnhem and then laughed even harder when we told them that we had crossed the North Sea from England. They then directed us to cross the channel which we knew would be a bit of an ordeal, but we had to comply and they kindly offered to guide us across.
We then pushed hard to get through the shipping lane and the rough water. When we were nearly there, we could hear the loud hailer on the Port Authority boat open and we thought the worst, as in, they might be asking us to get out of the water because it was too dangerous. To our surprise and relief, they loudly played the music from the Battle scene of the movie Gladiator. We laughed so hard we nearly capsized.
Over the next few days, the remainder of the journey was physically demanding, into very strong head winds but it was really pleasurable paddling. We paddled all day and rested up at night, all the time being extremely well looked after by the road support crew.
On the evening of Day 7 we laid up in a Forming Up Point (FUP) to the West of Arnhem on the riverbank. ready to arrive at the famous John Frost Bridge on Day 8 at whatever time Regimental Headquarters and the dignitaries required us to be there.
Day 8 was a very proud day for all of us. There were Pegasus and regimental flags everywhere. It was sad that this great adventure was coming to an end, but it was a great feeling to arrive at Arnhem on time having completed this incredible journey from Essex.
Author: Major Frank Gargan MBE PARA – Crew Member
