A request for volunteers to uncover and celebrate the largely untold history of airborne military forces in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, has been issued. The South Kesteven District Council is initiating the ‘Soldiers from the Sky’ project, which includes a free event to attract would-be historians to explore this significant aspect of local heritage. Councillor Bridget Ley, the council’s armed forces champion, has stated her ambition for these volunteers to seize and share these valuable stories before they are lost to time.
The event is due to take place at 10:00 BST on Saturday 7th June, located at the Wyndham Park Visitor Centre in Grantham. Organised to coincide with the 81st anniversary of D-Day commemorations, the event offers attendees the chance to research and relay the experiences of British, American, and Polish paratroopers trained in this very region in preparation for critical encounters such as D-Day and Arnhem. These paratroopers tackled exacting training, jumped from C-47 Dakota aircraft, and immersed themselves in local life through pub socialising and staying in requisitioned residences.
Councillor Ley highlights the abundance of yet-to-be-unearthed information concerning South Kesteven’s military past and the allied forces involved. The council envisages that the chosen ‘ambassadors’ will not only share their research via local talks, but will also disseminate their knowledge through village websites, parish councils, and into educational establishments. This endeavour is strengthened by financial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
(Following content is based on original reporting available at www.bbc.com).
