Storm Boat Kings

The epic battle of the British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem in 1944, has been told many times, but so far the story of how they were evacuated across the Rhine River has only been merely touched upon. This is the story of how the Royal Canadian Engineers not only supported the Royal Engineers, but ferried the lion's share of the Airborne troops across the flooded river under less than ideal conditions.One unit in particular, the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers would find fame because of their expert handling of the Storm Boats and for their bravery. Unfortunately, glory came at a high cost to a unit that would soon earn the nickname, `The Storm Boat Kings'.This article tells their story during Operation Berlin and is the second story in the book, `Boats at Arnhem and Other Stories'. The paperback version contains maps and photographs. Also, the full version of the story is, `Storm Boat Kings: the 23rd RCE at Arnhem 1944' and is available in paperback.