Book commemorates special forces glider pilot

Operation Arnhem Garden Market will mark its 80th anniversary on 17 September

A man has written a book about his late father's involvement in the special forces during the Second World War.

Sergeant Frank Hughes was a pilot in the Glider Pilot Regiment and involved in Operation Market Garden - an allied military operation which took place on 17-25 September 1944.

Tan Hughes wrote the book "Arnhem Veteran" to pay tribute and commemorate those who fought in the nine-day battle.

Mr Hughes said his father was very private and would never mention what happened in Arnhem.

Sergeant Frank Hughes in India in 1945

In 1984 - 40 years after Arnhem and just before Tan was set to join the army - Frank spoke with neighbour, a former Royal Marines Commando, who had encouraged him to "open up" and share his experience of Operation Market Garden.

Mr Hughes said it was this conversation that resulted in his father approaching the Daily Express where he recounted his experience.

When reading his father's article, Mr Hughes said the hairs on the back of his neck "tingled" as he had "no idea" his father had been shot on his 20th birthday.

Tan (left) with his daughter and his father, Frank in 1994

The Glider Pilot and Parachute regiments were formed in the early war years following the success of the Germans' airborne force.

At the time, the Market Garden Operation was considered to be a "worthy risk" as its purpose was to try and destabilise the Germans by cutting off their supply route.

The "Arnhem Veteran" covers his father's story of what happened during the nine-day battle as only a "certain amount" of information was published in the newspaper article in 1984.

He said: "During the whole of the Second World War, 15 Victoria Crosses were awarded over six years - and five of the those crosses were given to those involved in Arnhem. That's how significant the battle was."