It was thought that Operation Market Garden would deal Germany a blow from which it could not recover, potentially ending the war by Christmas 1944. But it would be prove to be anything but a quick advance to victory.

If are you related to these people, or in contact with their descendants, the Memorial would love to talk to you.

Zoe George always knew that her family had a proud history of military service. What she didn’t know was that her great-grandfather John Leeson fought in the battle of Amiens.

Erin Vink’s great-uncle John Henry Sharpe enlisted for service during the Second World War at the age of 35, but he had a secret.

George Bingley was one of three brothers who enlisted during the First World War. They would all serve on the Western Front, but George was the only one who came home.

It was affectionately known as “the pig” for its ability to fly low and fast during bombing runs, but to pilot Geoffrey Talbot the F-111 was simply “magnificent”.

Eighty years after the start of the Second World War, Ian Hutchison still considers himself lucky.

This is the fourth in a series of articles on the Memorial’s tattoo project and tattoo collections.

The four Colenso brothers enlisted together during the Second World War, but only two made it home.