This article was originally published in Dutch on September 27th, 2024.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem, Josien Teerlink composed a new pipe tune. The harmonies are written by Martijn Selier. The tune named ‘Utrinque Paratus’ was presented on Saturday September 21st, during a beating retreat at the Airborne museum Hartenstein in Oosterbeek and offered to Major General Ollie Kingsbury, Honorary Colonel of the Parachute Regiment. The newly written lament is named after the motto of the Parachute Regiment ‘Utrinque Paratus’, meaning ‘Ready for Anything’. This regiment played a major role during the Battle of Arnhem and lost thousands of men of whom most are buried at the Airborne War Cemetery in Oosterbeek.

During the month of September, the so called ‘Airborne Month’, the Netherlands pays tribute to the anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem, this year 80 years ago. In September 1944, allied troops attempted to capture the Rijnbrug at Arnhem. A daring plan by the British Field Marshall Montgomery that failed. The Battle commenced at September 17th by dropping more the 35.000 British, American, Canadian and Polish paratroopers nearby the villages of Wolfheze, Renkum and Ede. The British troops were part of the Parachute Regiment, established in 1940 specifically for airborne operations. Various regiments, including a Scottish Regiment, provided soldiers for the Parachute Regiment, which in turn was part of the Airborne Division. The 1st Airborne Division was deployed in the Netherlands and took part in Operation Market Garden.

Scottish Piper at The Ginkel Heath

The only Scottish Regiment taking part in the Parachute Regiment (Paras) during Operation Market Garden was The King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). The 7th (Galloway) Battalion, KOSB was originally an infantry unit, but converted to the Airborne role by 1943. On September 17th the Battalion took off to the The Netherlands and landed near Wolfheze, assigned to secure and defend The Ginkel Heath for the paratroopers that would land there in the upcoming few days. One piper joined them to keep up the morale. He played the regimental march ‘Blue Bonnet’s Are Over the Border’. This piper was Lance-Corporal Willie Ford from Selkirk.

Inspiration for a lament

“I heard the story about the Scottish piper Willie Ford a few years ago. It immediately came to mind that I had to do something with this historic event on Dutch soil. During the musical preparations for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, the idea was born to compose a new tune specifically for commemoration services. In my opinion it had to meet a few conditions. First of all it had to be a lament so that every piper can learn the tune and play it at future commemorations. It also had to be composed by a Dutch person and the composition had to have elements linking to the Battle of Arnhem. Last but not least, it was of major importance that project had to be kept secret. The new tune was only to be played by a few pipers for the official presentation during the Airborne weekend in Oosterbeek” said Kees Westerkamp, founder of Ministerie van Doedelzaken (loosly translated as Ministry of Bagpipe Affairs).
A team was formed consisting of Pipe Major Vincent de Feiter (Pegasus Pipes and Drums), liaison officer Netherlands Dennis van Asselt (Parachute Regiment) and Pipe Major Jeroen Roskam (Beatrix Pipe Band). Westerkamp: “We quickly came to the conclusion that we had to ask Josien Teerlink to compose the tune. She is the most well-known pipe major in the Dutch pipe band community, founder of The Piping School of The Netherlands and has experience writing pipe tunes. The fact that she was also born in Arnhem, completed our list.” Josien Teerlink felt honoured: “It would be a great honour if someone would like to learn my tune and play it at a memorial service.” She started playing the pipes when she was 10 years old and composed about 120 tunes, of which nine pibrochs and several marches, jigs and hornpipes. She finished writing the tune on June 6th. A special date because of D-Day and the involvement of the Parachute Regiment during the operation. Martijn Selier wrote the harmonies. Afterwards, Pipe Major Vincent de Feiter, Pipe Sergeant Harold Slump and piper Jelle Rosendal of Pegasus Pipes and Drums started studying the tunes in deepest secrecy.

New commemoration tune

On request of Josien Teerlink, the team brainstormed about the name of the new tune. After several sessions they came to ‘Utrinque Paratus’. The motto of the Parachute Regiment meaning ‘Ready for Anything’. A particular choise, as the regiment never had regimental pipes and drums or regimental marches to be played on the pipes. The Regiments quick march is ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ and the slow march is ‘Pomp and Circumstance No.4’, both pieces written for orchestras. Meanwhile, it also became clear the Utrinque Paratus would be presented to Major General Ollie Kingsbury during a special Beating Retreat at the Airborne Museum Hartenstein in Oosterbeek. As of Saturday September 21st Kingsbury has been the new Colonel Commandant and honorary colonel of the Parachute Regiment. He represents the regiment at official occasions such as commemorations.

Utrinque Paratus for all

“It would be great when Utrinque Paratus would be accepted as the Parachute Regiments official lament by the headquarters in Colchester” says Kees Westerkamp. “That’s why I think it is important we have offered the tune during the Beating Retreat at Hartenstein. This annual ceremony is organised by the Parachute Regiment and is attended by the regiments officers and invitees.”
“Ministerie van Doedelzaken will publish Utrinque Paratus on her website for all whom like to learn and play the tune. I am delighted that the three pipers of Pegasus Pipes and Drums were willing to play the tune, as their band has a strong bond with the Parachute Regiment and provides the music during the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem every year. The band is also officially permissioned to use the motto and coat of arms on the pipe banners and Drum Major baldrick. Hopefully in 2025 more pipers will play ‘Utrinque Paratus’ at Airborne commemorations in the Netherlands and Normandy”.

Utrinque Paratus is available for download below the image

Utrinque Paratus.pdf
Utrinque Paratus.bww

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