More than eighty years after the Battle of Arnhem, the story of British soldier Eric Booth has taken on a remarkable new chapter. A historic photograph from 1944, a painting by artist Albert Ziëck and the research efforts of Stichting Airborne Collection in Heelsum ultimately brought the past back to Booth’s family in England.
Eric Booth served during the Second World War as a sapper with the 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers. In September 1944, he took part in the Battle of Arnhem, which formed part of Operation Market Garden. During the fighting, Booth was captured by German forces and became a prisoner of war.
A photograph of the British soldier from that period survived. Eighty years later, it was this very image that inspired artist Albert Ziëck to paint Booth’s portrait. In doing so, a photograph from 1944 was given a new life on canvas.
Searching for the family
For Stichting Airborne Collection, the story did not end with the painting. Hans de Kruijf began searching for Booth’s relatives and eventually managed to get in touch with his granddaughter Cindy in England.
The painting was then taken to England and presented to her as a gift. The encounter made a deep impression. While Eric Booth may be known to many primarily as a name connected to the history of the Battle of Arnhem, Cindy saw something much more personal in the painting: her grandfather.
Documentary filmmaker Dennis Horstman-Maassen captured the special moment. His documentary follows, in effect, the journey of Booth’s image: from a wartime photograph taken in 1944, through Albert Ziëck’s painting, to the family of the British veteran.
Stories brought to life in Oosterbeek
The initiative will also continue in Oosterbeek in September. Ondernemend Oosterbeek will place ten large outdoor paintings at various locations throughout the village.
Each artwork will feature two QR codes. Visitors will be able to use them to learn more about both the painting itself and the wartime events that took place at that particular location. Albert Ziëck will explain the background to his work, while Thijs van der Laan, secretary of Stichting Airborne Herdenkingen, will tell the historical story connected to each site.
In this way, an open-air exhibition will be created across Oosterbeek, combining art with the local history of September 1944.
Passing history on to a new generation
The project is not only about looking back. The proceeds will be used to support an educational programme that introduces children from the region to Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem.
For Stichting Airborne Collection, passing these stories on is particularly important. As the number of people who experienced the war years first-hand continues to decline, photographs, personal stories and initiatives such as this one are becoming increasingly important in keeping history alive.
Eric Booth’s story shows how a memory can bridge generations. A photograph taken during the war led, eighty years later, to a painting, a meeting with his granddaughter and ultimately to a project that introduces a new generation to the events surrounding the Battle of Arnhem.
