The bench has been commissioned.
On 13 June 2026, the board of Remember The XIth formally authorised the commission of a memorial bench for the men of the 11th Parachute Battalion. The order has been placed with Roll and Scroll of Grantham. The memorial is being built.
A milestone reached
The 11th Parachute Battalion fought at Arnhem in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden — one of the most celebrated and costly airborne operations of the Second World War. The men who served in the Battalion have no memorial in the United Kingdom. Remember The XIth was founded to change that.
At our board meeting on 13 June 2026, the directors formally resolved to commission the memorial bench and place the order with our chosen supplier, Roll and Scroll of Grantham. That order has now been placed. For the first time, a physical memorial to the 11th Parachute Battalion is being made.
The unveiling: 8 May 2027
We are currently working hard to realise our important goal of unveiling the bench in its final home at Egerton Lodge War Memorial Garden in Melton Mowbray. We have set a provisional date of 8 May 2027; this would commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the day the 11th Battalion moved into Welby Lane Camp, and is also Liberation Day across Europe. We very much hope you will join us.
We know we have set ourselves an ambitious target, but we believe our efforts amount to nothing compared to the sacrifices given by all of the men of the 11th Parachute Battalion.
How you can help
Our fundraising target for the full programme is £8,000 to £10,000. This covers the memorial bench and its installation at Egerton Lodge, commemorative publications, a UK–Netherlands schools programme connecting young people with the history of the 11th Battalion, and the costs of running the organisation as we build toward the unveiling.
We have made a strong start. But there is further to go, and every donation — however large or small — brings the memorial closer to reality.
You can also support us through our online store.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. This milestone belongs to you as much as to us.