Barrett Steel has proudly contributed to the 46th annual Double Hills Arnhem Commemoration in Somerset by donating two new statues – a Glider Pilot and an Airborne Engineer – fabricated in Corten steel and precision 2D laser profiled at our Centre of Processing Excellence in Rotherham.
These statues represent the 23 men — 21 Airborne Engineers of 9 Field Company and 2 Glider Pilots — who tragically lost their lives when their glider crashed at Paulton on 17th September 1944, the opening day of Operation Market Garden, remembered by many as “A Bridge Too Far.”
The event was attended by over 200 people, including serving soldiers of the 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, wreath-layers, and community representatives. Despite stormy weather forcing the service from the meadow into Holy Trinity Church, the day retained its poignancy and dignity, with children reading poems and more than 35 wreaths laid at the altar.
Barrett Steel’s connection to the memorial also carries a personal dimension through Peter Yeates, who served 27 years with Barrett Steel and retired as Managing Director of Lilleshall Steel in 2004. An active veteran of both the Royal Airforce Reserves and Royal Navy, Peter has been tirelessly involved in the Double Hills Memorial, championing remembrance projects with passion and dedication. His work aligns with the government’s Armed Forces Covenant and reinforces the vital role of veteran inclusion in industry. Peter remains proud of his enduring connection to Barrett Steel and continues to ensure that all remembrance promotion reflects positively on the company’s commitment.
Brigadier Ian McGill CBE QVCSI paid tribute: “The two Corten Statues, very generously donated by Barrett Steel, are a striking and enduring enhancement to Double Hills. The Memorial commemorates the loss of twenty-one sappers from 9 Field Company (Airborne) and two glider pilots tragically killed when their glider fell out of the sky en route to Arnhem on 17th September 1944.”
Major General John Clark CBE, President of the Arnhem Memorial and a serving NATO Deputy Chief of Staff, also added: “The generous and magnificent gifts of Barrett Steel Ltd to the Double Hills and Lancaster Memorials pay fitting and lasting tribute to the brave warriors who gave their lives for our freedom.”
Barrett Steel’s association with Double Hills has deep roots, including a memorial plaque added in 2023 to honour tour late MD James Barrett. The new Corten statues - created with the expertise of Goodman Steel Services and our Rotherham profiling team - stand as a lasting testament to courage, sacrifice, and community remembrance.