In 2026, we will commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of the 82nd Airborne Division’s arrival in England, where they prepared and trained for two of the most significant military operations in modern warfare. Operation NEPTUNE in June 1944 and Operation MARKET GARDEN in September 1944 stand as pivotal moments in the Division’s history, and each year, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during these campaigns are honored by the nations they helped liberate.
However, there is a lesser-known reality: many comrades who tragically lost their lives in training or accidents while stationed in England are seldom remembered for their vital contributions. Their stories often go untold simply because their deaths did not occur in direct combat with the enemy.
Co-founder of this project is Adam Berry, who in 2013 campaigned and raised funds for permanent memorials to the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and 507th Parachute Infantry Regiments close to their former campsites in Leicestershire and Nottingham. Adam is a published historian on the 82nd Airborne Division, with a particular interest in the Divisions time spent in the UK.
For the past eight years, Co-Founder Darren Bond has dedicated himself to arranging memorials at various locations across England. These memorials honour the men of the Division who died during training and mark key embarkation points for the “All Americans,” work that has brought the names of men rarely mentioned in history books to light, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered.
READ ON for more information.
