3:50pm Monday 10th August 2009
By Catherine Pye
THE son of a Darwen man killed in a Second World War battle has invited survivors to a special film screening to mark a landmark anniversary.
The film A Bridge Too Far tells of the failed Allied attempt to break through German lines at Arnhem in the occupied Netherlands on September 17, 1944.
It will be shown at a special event at Darwen Library Theatre on September 15.
Roy Lee whose father, Richard Edward Lee was killed at Arnhem, will be displaying rare war mem-orabilia at the screening.
Mr Lee, of Glenshiels Avenue, Hoddlesden, was only four years old when his father was killed. He was 24.
On the 65th anniversary of the battle, where 8,000 men were killed or captured, Mr Lee wants the last remaining soldiers from the battle to come together for the last time.
He said: “My father was the only lad from Darwen at the battle, and was a popular singer in the town.
“I think that with the 65th anniversary coming up, it is right that he and the other soldiers who fell at the battle should be recog-nised.
“I don’t know how many are still about, but this could be the last time they will get together anywhere. They will be in their eighties and nineties now.
“I’ve often thought of doing something like this before. I wanted to do something for the 50th anniversary, but we didn’t have a library theatre then.
“I hope that we can also invite members of the Brit-ish Legion to the screening and perhaps some children.
“We need to educate people so that this sort of thing never happens again,” he added.
Mr Lee will be taking along an original piece of glider plane from the battle that his mother was pres-ented with shortly after his father died.
He will also be taking along an army newspaper from the time, detailing the battle.
For more information on attending the screening, call the library theatre on 01254 706006.
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