THE bravery and sacrifice of British and Polish airborne soldiers who fought at the Battle of Arnhem, and the enduring bonds formed between troops and the Dutch people, have been celebrated in Colchester.

The Second World War battle’s aim was to break into Germany by a combined airborne and armoured advance, striking a decisive blow that would bring the war in Europe to an end.

Expecting to be relieved within 48 hours of landing, the soldiers held out through nine days of prolonged and brutal street fighting before withdrawing across the river.

Gazette: Service - a crowd gathered at the War MemorialService - a crowd gathered at the War Memorial (Image: LBdr Mills, British Army)

More than 1,500 British soldiers were killed at Arnhem and nearly 6,500 captured, while five Victoria Crosses were awarded.

Wednesday’s service of commemoration, at the War Memorial, in High Street, was organised by Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade and Colchester Council to mark the battle’s 79th anniversary.

Gazette: Dignitary - Colchester mayor John Jowers laid a wreathDignitary - Colchester mayor John Jowers laid a wreath (Image: LBdr Mills, British Army)

Schoolchildren laid sunflowers replicating what Dutch children do at the main commemoration service in the Netherlands.

Gazette: Tradition - schoolchildren laid sunflowersTradition - schoolchildren laid sunflowers (Image: LBdr Mills, British Army)

The service was themed around the experiences of Sgt Eric ‘Herbie’ Atkinson, who trained at Colchester Garrison.

Sgt Atkinson was flying to Arnhem in a glider which crashed short of the objective and he was rescued by the Dutch resistance.

After the war, one of the resisters - Jac van Someren - became an artist, and he got in contact with Sgt Atkinson and presented him with a sculpture.

Gazette: Donated - a statue was unveiled at The MinoriesDonated - a statue was unveiled at The Minories (Image: LBdr Mills, British Army)

Sgt Atkinson passed away in 2012 and his family has now donated the sculpture to The Minories gallery.

His son-in-law Mark Hurrell said: “He always said that he wasn’t a hero and it was the ones who didn’t come back who were the heroes.

“It’s wonderful to have the statue on public display – but I think Herbie would be surprised and probably a bit embarrassed by all the fuss and attention on him.”

Gazette: Remembered - Sgt Eric ‘Herbie’ AtkinsonRemembered - Sgt Eric ‘Herbie’ Atkinson (Image: MoD)

The sculpture was unveiled at the gallery, in High Street, after the service.

Sergeant Sam Gosling, of 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, said: “For me as a sergeant in an airborne artillery unit, the same as Sgt Atkinson, it has been humbling for me to learn about the experiences a soldier in my position went through in the Second World War.”