Yahoo News Heroes 'lived in hole for five weeks' as they 'fought for their lives'
It's now been 80 years since the Battle of Arnhem took place - an Allied plan to create a route into northern Germany from the Netherlands during the Second World War. Part of Operation Market Garden, in September 1944 the plan involved seizing key bridges with a combination of airborne and ground forces.
But the element of surprise was lost as the airborne forces’ landing zones were around nine miles from the bridge at Arnhem, giving the Nazi troops time to build blockades. Not securing the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem, a defensive battle was fought until the order to withdraw was given on September 25.
Among the troops was Raymond 'Ray' Boyce Moore, born in 1924. Growing up in Maghull, as a youngster Ray joined St Andrew’s Choir and attended Maghull C of E Junior School, before working at J Bibby’s soap manufacturers in Liverpool as a trainee sales representative at the age of 16.
READ MORE: Warehouse transforms into Christmas wonderland every year
In 1941, he handed in his notice and was accepted into the RAF, but weeks later was sent home because he was too young by a couple of months. In May 1942, Ray was then 18 and enlisted into the Second Battalion Highland Regiment Territorial Army as an eighteen year old soldier.
He later volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and was then transferred to the Army Air Corps before being posted the 10th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in April 1944. By the age of 20, Ray found himself in Arnhem.
His son Robin Boyce, originally from Ormskirk, told the ECHO: "There was about 600 men in the 10th Battalion. But in total, there were 10,000 men that were parachuted into Arnhem.
"At the time, they were trying to do it on September 17, September 18 and he was on the 2nd list. And by the time he dropped into the heathlands just surrounding Arnhem, the Germans knew they were coming and they were firing up into the air.
"It was just chaos - it was absolute chaos. They lost the equipment, they lost the means of communication and he managed to find some of his unit and they ran into the woods.
READ MORE: Liverpool's first ever girl band that proved John Lennon wrong
READ MORE: Liverpool factory closed for decades where 'everyone got on'
"My dad had become detached from his unit and he and eight other men hid in a hole made in the ground in woods situated on the outskirts of Arnhem." Robin said from there, his dad and others spent weeks in hiding.
Robin, 65, said: "I think the first night, they just got as much rest as they could. The next day, they were told that rather than maintain the route in Arnhem they had to actually get into Arnhem itself now because the plans went badly wrong.
"They went into Arnhem on the main road and they came across what was called a German blocking line, which effectively cut their battalion in half. My dad went in on the wrong side into enemy territory rather than the other way, which meant he could have escaped it.
"But he was really fighting for his life with others and he went into a hole in the ground very near a German military base. They could hear the Germans speaking, but they managed to dig a hole and that's where they lived for almost five weeks."
During this time, Ray went searching for food and came across farmhouse, where the local farmer named Theo Braafhard "saved his life," supplying food and blankets were he could. Robin said: "He saw this guy coming down, this big tall guy, my dad.
"He immediately knew he was British as he was walking down the hand side of the road. He gave him food, blankets.
READ MORE: Inside Alma de Cuba before it transformed into much loved institution
READ MORE: Trailblazing family empire at the heart of Wirral for 97 years
"They really did starve - I mean, my dad came back a shadow of himself. They had to really forage and scavenge for food as best they could.
"They smoked literally anything they could with leaves. He always told me that he always shaved every day for some reason."
Ray escaped from Arnhem on October 22 in the operation Pegasus 1, which involved over 100 men who had evaded capture after landing by parachute on September 17 and 18 being collected from different locations and led across the Rhine to safety. Ray died in 1993, but the following year, Robin and his brother made the trip to Arnhem to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.
The visit involved meeting some of my Ray's comrades and some of the Dutch civilians who helped save him and others during those weeks behind enemy lines. Now 80 years on, Robin said it's "crucial" for the story of his dad and others to not be forgotten.
He is also writing a book about his dad's fascinating life. He said: "My dad, he loved his sport, he loved football and cricket He was just such a giving person.
"I've got kids and I can't imagine a 20 year old son of mine flying over the English Channel to jump out of a plane from thousands of feet and engage with a German army. There's so much that's been written about this, but I think it's the intimate stories that matter.
"It's personal details. It's important because these little stories contribute to a greater story."
