Memorial Wiltshire Regiment Arnhem Schuytgraaf

The Monument Wiltshire Regiment in Arnhem Schuytgraaf is a tribute to the 4th and 5th battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. They fought in this area in September and October 1944. The names of the fallen men of both battalions are mentioned on both sides of the monument. During the explosives investigation prior to the demolition of the De Laar farm and the construction of the new housing estate, a few missing bodies were found. After identification, they were reburied with military honor on the Commonwealth War Cemetery Arnhem Oosterbeek. To this day, a few men from the Wiltshire Regiment, who died in the fighting around farm De Laar, are still missing.

The front of the Memorial states:

'"THE BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND"

IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF
4TH AND 5TH BATTALION THE WILTSHIRE REGIMENT
WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS
SUSTAINED DURING THE BATTLE

22 SEPTEMBER TILL 6 OCTOBER 1944"

The monument is a design by visual artist and designer Tirza Verrips (1945). It is made of red Corten steel and stands on a pedestal of natural stone. The monument represents a wave of steel and thus symbolizes the wave of war violence that the battalions of the Wiltshire Regiment were confronted with in September and October 1944. The Germans tried to push the Allies from their positions east of the railway line in the direction of the Waal.

The monument is located at the Buitenplaats in Schuygraaf. This building is located on the site of the former De Laar farm, near the positions of 'A' Company of the 5th battalion Wiltshire Regiment. This farm burned down in 2001.

The unveiling of this monument took place on April 28, 2010 with a great gathering of the local population. This was done by the then mayor of Arnhem, Mrs. Pauline Krikke and veteran of the Wiltshire Regiment Ray Hare.

The monument was created as a result of an initiative of the developers of the new-build district Schuytgraaf, the municipality of Arnhem, the explosives detection company Van den Herik and KondorWessels Projecten.

The Wiltshire Regiment no longer exists today, but has been merged into The Rifles. They continue the traditions of the Wiltshire Regiment and have adopted the monument.

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Source

• Text: Jeroen Niels
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze

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