Any resemblance to Hollywood dramatizations of classic British war operations is purely coincidental. The following is based on real life events.

It was dark (ish), overcast and bitterly cold, but something had to be done. Under ominous circumstances the 1st Welford paratroop began their assault to take the Arnhem bridge head and thus end the league by 6 months. It was to be the largest cricket orientated airborne assault in history, pads and all. At approximately 1:10 (1:12 by Pauls watch) operation market garden/ Welford assault on Peppard began. 

“We shall seize the wickets. It’s all about the wickets” Proclaimed Col John Westbrook (Though actually he’s our captain). The plan was to seize the Arnhem Bridge and Victory in 90 overs time, ending the league early. After close air reconnaissance by Lt Herro, it was noted the pitch was green, and that we were only 10 wickets from Arnhem and Victory. However the fates began in favour of the Peppard units, the toss was lost and The Welford paratroop was put into bat, aggressive from the off Sgt Isaac and Col Westbrook took the fight to the enemy. Westbrook leading in flamboyant fashion and Isaac playing solidly, the fifty partnership came in quick time, the Peppard arsenal only seemed to have one worrying bowler, their captain bowling a good line and pace. Isaac losing himself stuck his head above the parapet and fell to a miss timed shot and sniper fire, to be caught at long off, regretting the lack of follow through on the shot, initial momentum to Welford, 1 down for 56, first blood to the Peppard.

It was to Cpl Bala, who replaced the Sgt, now entering the fray to support the Col. Bala played with intent as did the Col (still actually the captain) who dealt hefty blows to enemy morale and scorecard with his outrageous offensive manoeuvres. Bala fell in the assault on the first bridge, characteristic aggressive shots getting him a handful of runs and dealing a few casualties he was replaced by Lt Herro, experienced from many previous wars, he looked confidant. Westbrook and Herro maintained a noble attack on the first bridge to claim the first points before Herro was down. Wounded? Dead? Was there actually a nick there? There was no time to stop as we needed the momentum and Our John carried on. All I know is that it said out in the score book. It was Lt Felton who had to fill the breach. The Col Westbrook maintained his assault on the bridge and bowling taking his 50 but taking a hit on 56, skying a top edge to fall to the Peppard captain. Sniper fire again, somewhere amongst the cows, The park paratroop were now leader less and under heavy fire. Enter Nanny, sporting lip wounds from previous engagements (not his fault apparently) he swaggered in.

Lt Felto and Nanny put on a good attack, Felto suffering in the cold, bullets ricocheting off his helmet. Surely his fingers shouldn’t be that colour? But the Peppard bowling had seemingly waned, and the Welford paratroop cashed in. It was as things were going well that a stray bullet hit Felto, leaving him wounded and to dragged back to the pavilion for tea, shelter, warmth and some normal blood circulation again. Sgt Jake filled the gap in command, riding in his tank he knew how to take the first bridge, hang about and let the destructive Nanny take it for you. This was a good plan, another fifty partnership came about and the Peppard spirits fell. Nanny claimed his fifty, Jake avoided a plum Lbw appeal and shelling, somehow, and the first bridge was ours and all with out Anthony Hopkins or Robert Redford in sight.

Joy was short lived, Jake fell to more fierce fire, getting tangled in barbed wire and followed quickly by young private Will “unjust” Herrington, the mad man dashed in front of machine gun fire, driven mad by the cold, edged one behind and showing good character walked. Joe Brown seeing this charged into the wicket, taking the second bridge clearly his objective. Nanny led the assault to the second bridge, able supported by the brash young Private Brown he saw the park well passed 200, himself into the eighties and the second bridge looked easy. Here again the cricketing gods on this bitterly cold day took pity on the Peppard fielders, who were slowly turning into ice sculptures in the out field, and delivered them the wicket of  Nanny. Falling short of what would have been a superb 3 figures and surely a medal, sadly he gets neither.

The pairing now stood as Privates Brown and Tom Herrington, Alone they had to take the second bridge and see park past the 250. This they did, passing 250 at 40 overs the top brass left them out to bat a few overs more. Before declaring at 267 on 43 overs on a partnership of 49, the two young soldiers had brought the park their second bridge. The end was insight.

 Part 2

After a much needed tea break and restoration of body temperature The Welford paratroop entered the frozen wasteland of the outfield, craters from shelling everywhere. Arnhem, the final bridge and 35 points in clear sight, a galvanized Lt Felto opened the bowling. Aided by tea healed Sgt Isaac at the opposite end, Felto’s left arm bowling pined down enemy positions and between the two the run rate was kept low. After the first 14 overs Felts had claimed 2 Peppard wickets to Isaacs 1, Felton storming a machine gun post and getting mentioned in dispatches. Ending their opening spells with the Peppard 3 down, it was now apparent they could not reach the Welford score; they were going to dig in and fight tooth and nail for Arnhem. This was what they didn’t want, it was going to be difficult for the lightly armed Park to destroy tanks and heavy defensive positions, tanks were not meant to be involved, just not cricket.

Never the less the Welford paratroops decided to press on, death (probably frostbite) or glory. The bowling attack changed to Lt Herro with his spinning demolition charges and the rejuvenated Jake. The gun hoe attitude worked, excusing a few wild ones Jakes surprise attack claimed a Peppard scalp, meanwhile the solid march of Lt Herro and his spinning grenades were causing severe worry in the Peppard ranks. It looked like it could be done, runs were not an issue, it was only time. Would we have the bridge before their reinforcements arrived? Jake suffered a shrapnel would and had to be dragged back by a gallant Olly Sopp, leaving Nanny, to step forward once more, rifle in hand.

Knowing time was against him Nanny put on a fierce spell to claim a wicket and pressure the batsman well before the Peppard captain began to hit back, every shot cross batted filth. But effective. Herro meanwhile picked off Peppard wickets one by to reduce them to 9 down and claim 4 himself. Note. Grenades are effective at removing bails but are against the spirit of the game. Things looked up, the rain stayed away, victory insight, but things turned. Nanny trod on a mine and slightly grazed his knee, crying off the younger Soppy having to take up the attack. A young Peppard batsman put on determined display of dull straight batted defence against the solid bowling. His tactic for the Welford Paratroopers to yawn them selves to death, cunning, vicious and very nearly worked, the business end of the battle had arrived. The weather was bitter and biting, the bridge was practically ours, and all without the Americans.

 One last charge was in order, chins were up, bayonets fixed, the bat was crowded. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, but sadly he did not arrive. Lt Herro took shrapnel to the leg and was briefly replaced by Felto and young Unjust Will fought hard but nothing materialised. The overs ran dry and The Park had no more ammunition, spent and chilled to the bone we had secured a winning draw, good, but it should have been more. The Peppard were joyous, Arnhem was still theirs as the panzer divisions rolled in to reinforce them. It had cost Welford 9 points and numerous casualties, but pride remained. Those who remained headed down to the pub, only Sgt Isaac, Col Westbrook and General Paul Bowers (Like all generals he made the decisions that affected life and death of the mere squaddies, but never faced the dangers). This is shortly to be made into a feature film. Suggestions for casting are welcome.

A note to those KIA or MIA
The entire Peppard team-
Peppard captain – Iron cross (47)
Young Peppard straight bat – Blue maxim

Welford Park Paratroop – Citation for bravery

 Nanny- MIA , MM, MC (1 wicket) (84)  - lip wound, leg wound
 Lt Herro- DGM (4 wickets) + leg wound
 Col Westbrook (actually the captain) -MM bar (56) + tongue wound (how else do you explain the accent?)
 Lt Felto- QGM (2 Wickets) + finger wounds – should pull through
 Sgt Issac – QGM (1 wicket) KIA Deceased pending availability for next week
 Jake – DFC ( 1 wicket) + slightly tired
 Pvt Olly Sopp – DSO, barely even a scratch, possibly a hand wound
 Pvt Joe Brown – TFC  (38) + Hands never out of pockets so clearly injured somehow
 Cpl Tom Herrington- MC (Didn’t drop a thing behind stumps) + unharmed
 Will “Unjust” Herington – GC- + chest would – probably over exaggerating? 
 Cpl Bala – DSO + 17 wounds, decided not to mention them thought he could walk them off.