Page 28 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

26 The Gazette QARANC Association
3 Medical Regiment Team
Nijmegen Marches 2019
Nijmegen International four day march is the largest multiple day marching event in the world. It takes place every year in Nijmegen in the Netherlands, and its aim is to encourage exercise and sport. This march covers 100 miles over the four days.
Eleven members of 3 Medical Regiment put themselves forward for the four day event. Prior to the march itself our team had to complete a qualifier. This for us took place at RAF Cosford where we conducted two days marching 25 miles each day with a total of 50 miles covered in the two days. This confirmed our team members were capable of the Nijmegen March.
We deployed as a team to The Netherlands on the July 13, however the march did not start until July 16. We used the days prior to the march to conduct a battlefield study in the city of Arnhem. We visited several memorials and the museum. A couple of the team members were tasked to do some research and give presentations as we went around the museum. We learned the story of the Battle of Arnhem in the summer of 1944 where the British Airborne Division were given the task of securing the bridge at Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden.
The morning of the July 16 was the first day we would start our 100 mile march. We were woken at 0330 hours by music played across the camp. However, each team were given different start times and ours was at 0500 hours on the first day. Everyone was feeling a little apprehensive as they didn’t know what to expect on day one, but the civilians in Nijmegen made our walk much more enjoyable offering food and drinks throughout at the roadside and playing music and cheering us on. They were all so encouraging, and it was truly nice to see. With our first 25 miles and day one completed everyone in our team had made it. We didn’t see much of each other after doing some foot care, stretching and eating, as everyone went straight to bed exhausted but ready to start again the next day. Each day after this we had an earlier start and by day four, our start time was 0330 hours.
By this point, we had multiple blisters between us and aching joints and muscles. However as soon as we got started and the civilians of the town and other civilian and military competitors were giving us encouragement the days flew by much easier, faster and more enjoyably than we imagined.
We completed the last day and 100 miles as a team and for the last 5km every military team got together and received their medals and carried on through the city of Nijmegen together. The streets were packed full of locals and I have never seen such high levels of enthusiasm and encouragement. On arriving back to the camp, we were marched into the bar by our team leader in front of all the other teams and we were all so proud and thankful we had completed the challenge as a full team.
Lance Corporal Kennedy
3 Medical Regiment
Editor’s note – a further account of Nijmegen Marches
2019 from 34 Field Hospital will appear in the Spring 2020 edition of the Gazette.
Getting there with a little help and encouragement along the way
Inter-allied co-operation – making friends with the locals!