Pictures Dated 24th August 2004

British Sentry keeping watch on Nijmegen Bridge; Second Worl

Photograph showing aan Irish Guardsman keeping watch on the Bridge at Nijmegen, September 1944. On 17th September 1944 Operation 'Market Garden' was put into action; a bold plan devised by Field-Marshal Montgomery to drop thousands of airborne troops into Holland to capture an invasion route into Germany. The British First Airborne, American 81st and 101st Divisions took part in the plan, which was ultimately unsuccessful. This photographed was staged (for the Illustrated London News) and the soldier is James Lawler of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. The sentry box was previously manned by Germans and a picture of the Fuhrer can be seen, still pinned to the side of the wooden position. Apparently the ILN correspondent had to be encouraged to make the high ascent to the box by ladder as he was scared of heights!!

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Soldiers of the International Brigade; Spanish Civil War, 19

Photograph showing two soldiers of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion firing at Nationalist positions on the Morata Front, during the Spanish Civil War, 1937. The men are pictured firing their rifles from a well sand-bagged trench. The Abraham Lincoln Battalion was part of the International Brigade, a volunteer force which supported the Republican Government during the Spanish Civil War. Volunteers came from all over Europe and North America; the Abraham Lincoln Battalion had men from Cuba, Mexico, the Philippines, Canada and the USA.

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

British Major and Lieutenant, near Arnhem; Second World War

Photograph showing a Major (on left) and Lieutenant of the British First Airborne Division in the woods near Arnhem, Holland, September 1944. The original caption for this image said that the Lieutenant was giving orders to a machine-gun crew. On 17th September 1944 Operation 'Market Garden' was put into action; a bold plan devised by Field-Marshal Montgomery to drop thousands of airborne troops into Holland to capture an invasion route into Germany. The British First Airborne, American 81st and 101st Divisions took part in the plan, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans