26/09/2026
From a Dutch Newspaper - Translated by AI to English....
British bikers honour ‘forgotten’ corporal
Lienden – The 30-year-old William Norbert Leech became a victim of Operation Market Garden on September 25, 1944.The young corporal of the British army met his death in the Rhine. Friday afternoon, there was a special tribute to him at the Old General Cemetery on Oudsmidsestraat in Lienden.
A number of troops received, during the Second World War, during the Battle of Arnhem, the order to withdraw to the south side of the Rhine. During this evacuation, ‘Operation Berlin’, a number of them drowned while crossing the river. Others were shot by German soldiers.
Leech did not survive the crossing either. He is buried in Lienden. Since 2014, former motorcyclists from the Airborne Forces Riders have come here every year from England on their motorcycles. As ‘Arnhem Riders’, the veterans, accompanied by motorcycle club De Rijnrijders from Wageningen, make a commemorative journey along the banks of the Rhine and visit the graves of ‘forgotten’ victims of Operation Berlin.
“Impressive. I think that is the right word for how they commemorate their fallen comrades with all respect,” says Lienden resident Gert van Schaik. “This corporal gave his life for our freedom. It is only a good thing that this is commemorated, because that must not be forgotten.”
Van Schaik had already attended the tribute twice before and was partly for that reason involved in the ceremony. Leo Verhaar of the Buren veterans was also brought in by the municipality. “This year the municipality has taken it up. Actually, there should be even more attention for it, because very many people from Lienden do not know the story. That is why it is good that this is being done and that there is attention for it.”
Deputy mayor Sander van Alfen welcomed the British ‘bikers’. Moreover, he addressed them briefly. For the municipality of Buren, attending the ceremony was a trial.“Next year they want to – together with the veterans from Buren – also give more attention to Maurik, because a British paraglider pilot is buried there,” according to Van Schaik. “Also a serviceman who otherwise would be forgotten because of the larger commemorations.”
Gert van Schaik is a retired teacher and would like it if the commemorations were also brought to the attention of the schools. “That happens elsewhere too, but let’s first just make a beginning.”
