Stanley’s Story

This website is dedicated to my relative (Alfred) Stanley Hope and the men of the 1st British Airborne Division, who fought to liberate the occupied world from the tyranny of Nazism.  Many like Stanley left their families and home towns, never to return and were unable to tell their tales. In Stanley’s case I have managed to piece together enough details to tell the story on his behalf.  I can only hope my efforts do him justice.

To view operation “Market Garden” from a distance of over 70 years does not diminish the audacious, truly epic and ultimately tragic tale that unfolded in Holland in September 1944.  Never were the words heroism, gallantry, duty or sacrifice more apt.  To understand the story of Arnhem is to be inspired in what ordinary men of the free world attempted to accomplish against all odds.

In “Stanley’s Story an Odyssey to Arnhem” I expressed my gratitude to a number of individuals who helped me along the journey to complete the book. That gratitude is ongoing.  Since the book was completed another aspect to the Arnhem story has evolved and throws an echo from the past to myself, my family and my friends from those terrible 10 days in September 1944 when the inhabitants of a quiet Dutch town, found themselves at the epicentre of death and destruction, which initially brought the glimmer of a light of freedom but ultimately resulted in the loss of a great number of their lives, their homes and their hopes.  Liberation was a long time coming to Arnhem and its people.

Sixty three years after Stanley’s death at the bridge, I attended the ceremony to honour the men of the 1st British Airborne Division in the Oosterbeek Arnhem War Cemetery.  The ceremony is unique, poignant, touching and moving in equal measure. I left a small token of a box of sweets on Stanley’s grave for the child laying the flowers. This gesture set in motion a chain of events I did not foresee or predict. The box of sweets were picked up by a young pupil, Max Ferrando, who handed the box to his teacher, Rob Gerritsen. Rob had attended the Airborne Ceremony, accompanying the children of his class, for over 20 years. Rob kept the box, unopened, until the next school day when he allowed the young pupil to open it in front of his school friends. Luckily there was plenty of sweets to go around and also a copy of “Stanley’s Story”. Rob translated and told the children the outline of how one young British soldier fought, died, and found his last resting place in Oosterbeek, Holland. Upon returning home from my trip to the ceremony a few days later I received a card from Max’s mum and dad (Tony and Reina) with a photo of Max opening his box of sweets surrounded by his school class.  The letter outlined how this modern day young Dutch family held Stanley and all the other members of the Allied forces in the greatest of respect and that their sacrifice would never be allowed to be forgotten, they wrote

“We will never forget what they have done for us”.

I replied by letter and thanked them for their card and they insisted that at next year’s Anniversary ceremony I must meet them. So began a friendship that does not just span the geographical distance between their home in Renkum, Holland to Edenfield, Lancashire. The friendship is a bond through time, first formed in 1944 between Allied soldiers occupying buildings, houses, cellars and foxholes and civilians sheltering from the destruction of the battlefield that Arnhem had become. Soldiers shared rations and civilians shared meagre food supplies whilst the battle raged, as conditions worsened, soldiers and civilians alike endured unimaginable hardships together as one, as friends.  Outside the Airborne museum in Oosterbeek, the Hartenstein stands a memorial stone, it states

To the People of Gelderland

50 years ago British and Polish Airborne forces fought here against overwhelming odds to open the way into Germany and bring the war to an early end. Instead we bought death and destruction for which you have never blamed us. This stone marks our admiration for your great courage remembering especially the women who treated our wounded. In the long winter that followed your families risked death by hiding Allied soldiers and Airmen while members of the resistance helped many to safety. You took us into your homes as fugitives and friends. We took you forever into our hearts. This strong bond will continue long after we are gone. 1944 September 1994

The friendship I now share with Rob (the teacher) and Gerry (Rob’s wife) Gerritsen and Tony, Reina, Max and Sem Ferrando is intertwined with the very strong bond formed so long ago between complete strangers thrown together in the most traumatic event. It has come about through a most unique circumstance and for me, is most humbling. Both our families were affected by the battle for the Bridge over the lower Rhine long before we were born and yet after 70 years, due to that unspoken bond, we can somehow share that pain and celebrate the eventual triumph of good over evil. As the memorial tablet stated, “the bond will continue long after we are gone”.

I cannot fail to mention another Dutch friend who, when Dot Orrell’s health was fading assured Dot that each year he would carry on her tradition  of placing flowers on  Stan’s grave. Through that gesture Stan and Tich (her husband), hit by the same bullet so many years ago, are still linked.

You are only able to read this electronic tribute to Stanley Hope due to another person to whom I must express my gratitude. After giving a talk to a small church gathering on “Stanley’s Story” Gordon Hall and his son Josh offered to create this website. Gordon runs a web design company and was kind enough to create this website as an everlasting tribute to Stanley, without his skill and expertise it would not now be out on the world wide web.

Thank you Rob, Gerry, Tony, Reina, Max , Sem and Axe. Thank you Gordon and Josh.

The Battle of Arnhem
17th -26th September 1944

“Not in Vain may be the Pride of those who have survived and the Epitaph of those who fell” – Sir Winston Churchill