A veteran, who was previously based in Middle Wallop, has written a book detailing the extraordinary mission his dad took part in during the Second World War.

Tannhauser Hughes, who served for more than 20 years including tours in the Falklands and Bosnia, has published a book on the top secret mission his dad, Frank, was involved in.

A hundred days after D-Day in 1944, the mission played out 60 miles behind enemy lines, which Frank took part in as a member of the special forces.

Operation Market Garden, as it was known, saw many of the airborne forces take off from small airfields scattered around Hampshire, Wiltshire and others in the south west and Cotswold.

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Tannhauser Hughes with his new book, left, and his dad Frank, right (Image: Tannhauser Hughes) Frank flew out on September 17, 1944, and landed in German-occupied Netherlands around Arnhem. The objective of the operation was to create a bulge into Germany territory and take nine bridges to cut off their supply of food and equipment.

Tannhauser said that his dad Frank, who was a glider pilot, and the other men in the operation were ‘cut off’ with no re-enforcements was landing in Arnhem. 

He continued: “It was a merciless brutal hell, and most of them have been forgotten, but the Arnhem boys flew in 60 miles behind enemy lines.”

Tannhauser has said that his dad did not speak much about the action he saw during the Second World War, including Operation Market Garden, until around the 40th anniversary in 1984 when, after speaking to a friend, he wrote to The Sunday Express, which picked up his story and ran it in the newspaper at the time.

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Veteran Tannhauser has recently released his book Arnhem Veteran which tells the full story of his dad’s involvement in the operation.

He said: “As a veteran myself, it was precious to record his part in history as part of Operation Market Garden, which in the coming weeks will be 80 years ago.

“Arnhem Veteran is a factual record, a story in many parts comprised from dad's personal notes, memoirs and a lengthy newspaper article he wrote for The Sunday Express in 1984.

“Further detail from his war years obtained through research, together with conversations and letters shared over a generation, between father and son.

“This captivating, at times chilling account, is a rare historic document that details the life of a man to be proud of and remember.”

The book has so far received interest from across the world.

The book is now available on Amazon.