Arnhem reunion for war veteran Raymond Whitwell, 92 (From York Press)

Arnhem reunion for war veteran Raymond Whitwell, 92

12:14pm Wednesday 14th September 2011 in News By David Jeffels

WAR veteran Raymond Whitwell, 92, is to meet up with fellow old soldiers from the Battle of Arnhem this week.

The former soldier, who served with the Airborne Forces and the Parachute Regiment during the Second World War, said the number of veterans has declined over the years from 12,000 to just 300.

Raymond, of Greengate, Malton, served from 1939 when he went to France. The following year he found himself in the rear guard at Dunkirk and later at Cherbourg where, he recalls, he had a great stroke of good luck.

The skipper of a Dutch fishing boat asked him and his colleague where they were heading and they replied England. “He told us to jump on board because he was going to Southampton,” said Raymond.

But shortly after returning home, he was sent to North Africa, Sicily and Italy before going to fight in the Battle of Arnmhem, one of the grimmest of the war.

“We went nine days without food,” said Raymond. He escaped capture as he crossed the Rhine and eventually made his way to Norway, a month before the end of the war.

On his return, Raymond, a widower for 17 years, went to work for Longsters, the seed merchants, before branching out on his own in Castlegate, Malton.

He has three children, a son living in the United States, a daughter in London and son who lives in Norton.

“I regularly walk to see him in Norton – it keeps me fit,” said Raymond, who was yesterday polishing up several medals ready for the big reunion in Arnhem.

“Sadly our numbers go down each year, but I’m sure we shall keep having our reunions as long as we can,” he added.