DISTINCTIVE OUTWEAR
DISTINCTIVE OUTWEAR
Free UK Shipping On Orders over £180. All Shipping Signed & Tracked.
Refer A Friend - Receive Free Shipping!
ARNHEM 80
Photography by Harry Renton
To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem - the battle where our namesake Stanley Biggs served and died - the brand has arranged a number of projects, the first of these was an authentic living history diorama.
Located at #WeHaveWays History Festival, over thirty collectors and living historians came together to achieve the display that was open to the public.
Our intention is to educate and to respectfully remember all who were involved in the battle that took place in and around Arnhem and Oosterbeek in The Netherlands from 17th-26th September 1944.
Throughout 2024, we will be releasing other projects to commemorate the people who fought and died in the battle.
Stanley Biggs Clothiers is proud to be an Official Partner of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Oosterbeek Perimeter - Intro
The Battle of Arnhem encompassed a far larger area than the city of Arnhem. The aim of the largest Airborne Operation in existence was to secure the Bridge at Arnhem, allowing land forces to continue up into Germany via the shortest route; through The Netherlands.
The reality was most of the 1st Airborne Division did not reach Arnhem but instead got caught up in fierce fighting in the town close by, Oosterbeek. As the days extended beyond their initial 2-4 days of expected fighting, the situation grew worse for the Allied Forces. All aspects of a fighting force ended up in one small area that continued to get squeezed smaller and smaller by the encroaching enemy forces. This was known as The Oosterbeek Perimeter.
The circumstances of the Oosterbeek Perimeter meant that there were fighting troops, logistical and administrative troops, medical troops, the wounded and local residents in a very condensed area. One hotspot within the Perimeter was along the street Pietersbergweg. One end came to the Crossroads where the Schoonoord Hotel was located (a medical dressing station early on). Following the road down led to another hotel, The Tafelberg ; its interior and outbuildings became the main Medical Dressing Station and focal point.
This is where Stanley Biggs was located, and where he subsequently died and was initially buried. We chose this area as our main focus for the display.
181 Airlanding Field Ambulance
Royal Army Medical Corp
Our medical team represents one of two Surgical Teams of 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance Unit, Royal Army Medical Corps. Pte. Stanley Biggs was one of seven man Surgical Team who went over by Glider. His Commanding Officer was Major Rigby-Jones who was the Surgeon. Their work began immediately, so you can imagine their exhaustion after a week of the incessant battle.
Their role was entirely to assess and operate, if necessary, on the wounded troops. Such was the nature of the Battle, they often would carry on with their medical duties while under command of German Forces as the battle swung in one direction to the other.
All equipment they had with them was taken in by Glider, including their Medical configured Jeep and trailer to carry their set up. Setting up in buildings was a forced necessity, often in insanitary conditions. Even before their Glider was lifted into the air, they would have been acutely aware of how meagre some of their supplies were. Water was a huge worry; the latter days saw a severe shortage as supplies were cut.
The Fighting Troops
With the exception of medical troops, a soldier is an infantryman first, your trade second. This could not be more true than in fighting around Oosterbeek.
It is a popular misconception that every man was a Paratrooper and that all the troops jumped in by Parachute. This is simply not the case with the majority of the Airborne Forces landing by Glider. Yes, the Parachute Regiment played a key part in the Operation, but they were one of many units involved.
It was these men from a range of Regiments and Corps like The Reconnaissance Corps, Glider Pilot Regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal Army Service Corps (plus many more) who had to defend the Perimeter and ensure it was not overrun. The area of fighting was so concentrated, you can now walk the area and pinpoint where remnants of a particular Regiment or Corps were based. It is often a front garden, or a room of a building.
With enemy forces pushing from all sides, and the Perimeter shrinking more and more, the troops caught inside the Perimeter found themselves fighting to hold onto a small narrow foothold.
It was constant, for night days instead of the expected two to four. Eventually supplies dwindled, the wounded mounted and the strategic withdrawal of remaining and able troops was ordered for the night of the 25th-26th September under the cover of darkness, across the Rhine River.
Those not able to make the escape remained behind. Walking wounded, still able to hold a weapon, swapped places with the men who would make the crossing, ensuring the Perimeter was held for the last few hours, for the withdrawing troops to reach relative safety on the other side of the Rhine.
The wounded, not able to take part in the last defence, remained at the main dressing station at The Tafelberg with a small group of medics to ensure their safe handover to enemy forces.
The Residents of Oosterbeek
The story of The Battle of Arnhem would not be complete without the residents of Oosterbeek and surrounding towns. Completely taken by surprise, the locals were the first to welcome the Airborne Forces. It is hard to imagine the elation they must have felt at seeing the tens of thousands of parachutes, the thousands of aircraft and the thousands of 'Tommies' making their way through their streets. Liberation from years of occupation was in their grasp.
When it became evident the battle became fiercer and stagnated, surrounding their homes, many residents ensured they and their families were as safe as could be. Utilising their basements as shelters, many tried to keep out of the way. But despite the dangers, many ended up looking after wounded soldiers, sharing their meagre rations with them.
Other residents, especially those with homes along Pietersbergweg, made themselves available to help in other ways. With a complete disregard for their own safety. One particular family, even the young daughters of a local general practitioner, assisted at the makeshift dressing station at The Tafelberg.
The bond of friendship forged during the battle still exists today. For many years, veterans would return to the town and stay with 'their family'. Now, families and relations return each year where commemorations, large and small, occur all over the area.
Army Film & Photographic Unit / AFPU
Much like our campaign, with Harry capturing the display with his camera, this was recognised as an incredibly important task at the time.
The small band of film and camera men of the Army Film and Photographic Unit who filmed and photographed the Battle, ensured that the war was captured for prosperity and for future generations. These were pioneers of film, working in the harshest conditions to get 'the shot'. They were acutely aware that they were documenting key historic events, they often went to great lengths to capture the events that unfolded in front of them.
The challenge of using film, keeping it from being exposed or damaged was just one small part of their role. As part of our Arnhem80 project, we arranged for our own newsreel to be filmed, using one of the models of cameras used during the Battle of Arnhem. Two-hundred feet of film, equating to around two minutes worth, will be released in September. Thanks to Nick Berry for support with this project.
The Arnhem80 Project will continue throughout 2024, with more content and information being released.
Part of the project's aim is to raise awareness and to support our Official Partner The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The brand will continue to provide donations via various means at The Biggs Collection.
If you wish to learn more about their work, to become and member or make a donation please visit the Foundation's Website.
