Local residents, army personnel and even a Paulton wartime evacuee were amongst one of the largest crowds seen at the 37th annual service to mark the 72nd anniversary of the glider crash at Double Hills, where 21 sappers of the 9th Field Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers and two glider pilots from the Glider Pilot Regiment, 1st British Airborne Division, were killed on their way to the Battle for Arnhem on 17th September 1944.

A memorial was built at the site in Paulton in 1979, with an annual service to remember the lives that were lost. This year, wartime evacuee, Bob McGuinn was in the crowd, paying his respects to the men, having witnessed the gliders pass overhead all of those years ago. He had been evacuated to Paulton at the age of seven from the East End of London in 1939 and spent seven years in the village.

Sadly the planned poppy drop was unable to take place, but there was a flypast by an Auster of the Army Air Corps Historic Flight, with wreaths laid and local children placing crosses and flowers at the memorial.

The service, which was led by Rev. Guy Edwards, also saw performances by the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band, accompanied by members of the Mendip Male Voice Choir and Westfield Ladies Choir.

The standards were lowered during the Last Post, by members of the Buglers Association of the Light Division and Rifles and the procession also saw vintage jeeps on site to mark the occasion. Whilst some of the veterans who attend every year were unable to make this year’s ceremony due to ill health, Lt Colonel Nick Nicholls, President of GPRA and Reviewing Officer, Major General Christopher Tickell, were two of many who were representing those in our armed forces who have kept us, and continue to keep us, safe.