The Neder Rijn Engineer Park building is named for the Neder Rijn River where 23rd Field Company, RCE, evacuated soldiers from the 1st British Airborne Division during the ill-fated capture of the Arnhem Bridge in September 1944.
Allied Forces launched OPERATION MARKET GARDEN on 17 September 1944 with the aim of capturing major bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Arnhem and points in between. The capture of bridges at Eindhoven and Nijmegen was successful but encountered stiff opposition, delaying the relieving force from reaching Arnhem and the 1st British Airborne Division. With limited elements across the Neder Rijn (Lower Rhine) River at Arnhem, by 21 September the 1st British Airborne Division could no longer hold on and began withdrawing their soldiers across the river. By the night of 25 Sept, a more robust withdrawal plan was put in place- OPERATION BERLIN. Through the efforts of 260 and 553 Field Companies, RE and the 20th and 23rd Field Companies, RCE, close to 2500 soldiers of the 1st British Airborne Division were evacuated by boat, from the far bank of the Neder Rijn River to a landing point near Driel. As the result of their conduct during this operation, Major M.L. Tucker received the Distinguished Service Order, Lieutenant R.J. Kennedy the Military Cross, and Sappers H.D. Thicke, D.J. McCready and R. Lebouthillier received the Military Medal.
