MareGaea: However, I never see that many Polish former paratroopers join in the procession.
The Poles are generally over the river in Driel,away from the areas of the most hellish fighting,the so called hexenkessel of Oosterbeek and the western suburbs of Arnhem. Some polish troops did manage to get where they were meant to be,ie linked with the bulk of 1st airborne and did take part in the heroic defence of oosterbbek and the bridgehead accross the rhine and so you will occasionally see one or two veterns in the larger parades. The other reason would just be down to numbers. The Polish contribution ,on the ground,was less than a Brigade in size,a matter of hundreds of men rather than the thousands that were in the Full British Division so of course there will be less Polish veterns visable,but they are there if you look. I know here in Yorkshire there are,or were,many polish veterns of the battle,many of whom I was lucky enough to know as I grew up and know for a fact that anyone who studies the battle,or has a vague interest in it knows full well the fine contribution made by the 1stpipb.
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