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Escape from Arnhem cover Signed General Sir J. Hackett plus 3 and Richard Todd. 17. IX. 84 Arnhem 35 Postmark on Netherlands 60c Stamp. 40th Anniversary of Battle of Arnhem. Escape from Arnhem. Cover depicts Airborne forces landing by parachute and gliders at Arnhem, Royal Star and Garter badge and Medal. On 17 Sep 1944 the Battle of Arnhem began. 5000 Allied Aircraft took part in the landings in which the British 1st Airborne Division ( which included Polish Units) of 10095 landed 7605 were lost. The Dutch Arnhem Resistance Group performed miracles to keep escape routes open after the surrender and helped some 250 evaders to safety. One of those was Brigadier ( now General Sir John ) Hackett. Flt Lt David Lord, a Dakota pilot of 217 Squadron was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Blue flown cachet on the reverse Cover, flown in RNAF Fokker F27 Troopship NAF34 from RNAF Soesterberg over the Arnhem battle area during the 40th Anniversary ceremony. Personally Signed by General Sir John Hackett G. C. B, C. B. E., D. S. O. M. C. and 3 resistance members Dr. Elsa Caspers, Koos Meyer, Hen Idenburg and Richard Todd Actor. General Sir John Hackett G. C. B., CBE., D. S. O., M. C. when he took part in the disastrous parachute landing on Arnhem in Holland, where the Germans were waiting. On the day before the survivors of the 1st Airborne Division were pulled out of Arnhem, Hackett was severely injured internally by a shell splinter. He was taken to a German military hospital and operated on by a captured Allied surgeon, but was regarded as a hopeless case and marked down for kindly hypodermic euthanasia. On the first day he sat up to eat, a member of the Resistance told him that unless he could walk out in the next 15 minutes, he might not be able to get out at all. He escaped with his head in blood-soaked bandages to suggest a civilian air-raid casualty, and was hidden by a Dutch family at risk to their lives. Later, he escaped by bicycle to freedom, his skill at languages enabling him to pass challenges from guards en route and 3 resistance members who helped the Brigadier. Dr. Elsa Caspers Resistance member of cell whose task was to sabotage and work for an intelligence service. After the War had to go back to school for another year. Koos Meyer joined the Albrecht Group made trips for liberated South Netherlands to the occupied North made 29 trips the group made 374 and Hen Idenburg member of the Resistance Brigadier Hackett stayed at Idenburg family safe house. Enclosed detailed inserts cards. Richard Todd portrayed Guy Gibson in the Film The Dam Busters. And during the War Captain Richard Todd was with 6th Airborne Pegasus Bridge 6th June 1944. During the Second World War, Todd joined the British Army, receiving a commission in 1941. Initially, he served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry before joining the Parachute Regiment and being assigned to the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion as part of the British 6th Airborne Division. On 6 June 1944, as a captain, he participated in the British Airborne Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings. Todd was among the first British officers to land in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. His battalion were reinforcements that parachuted in after glider forces had landed and completed the main assault against Pegasus Bridge near Caen. He later met up with Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge and helped repel several German counterattacks. As an actor, Todd would later play Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day, while Todd himself was played by another actor. Certified copy No 532 of 1171 signed Project officer. Very Few issued with additional Signature. Details and Certificate of Authenticity on Behalf on Buckingham Covers. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
