Honours for war veteran

Military: Sandy presented with medal and 350 cards from Dutch children

A war hero who recently parachuted into Arnhem – 75 years after being captured there – has now received further recognition for his accomplishments.

Sandy Cortmann, 97, was presented with the Arnhem 50th Anniversary medal by Colonel Clinton Hicks, Parachute Regiment and Airborne Alliance chairman yesterday at his care home in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

He was also handed a

“Dear Sandy, I want to thank you so that I can live free”

special 70th anniversary plaque from Roger Beets, chairman of the Airborne Commemoration Foundation Arnhem.

And as well as the military recognition, Mr Cortmann also was moved when he received a sackful of postcards from children in the Netherlands.

Dick Plekkenpol from Gelderland TV travelled to Aberdeen to attend the ceremony and present the veteran with the 350 notes – by tipping them all on to his lap.

Viewers of the Dutch TV station sent the cards to thank Mr Cortmann for attending the Arnhem 75th anniversary commemoration in

September and praised him for performing a tandem parachute jump.

One read: “Dear Sandy, I want to thank you so that I can live free.”

Mr Cortmann said he would “wear his glasses out” trying to get through them, and said receiving the medal felt “terrific”.

“There’s lot of guys that aren’t here that should be sitting here,” he added.

Lord Provost Barney Crockett, who pinned the medal to Mr Cortmann’s jacket, said: “Sandy is a massive inspiration for everybody. To see the depths of public appreciation for him is amazing.

“He’s a huge celebrity in the Netherlands and we appreciate him here as well.

“It is absolutely fantastic for Sandy and the whole of Aberdeen.”

Care assistant Alana Davidson accompanied Mr Cortmann on his trip.

She said: “Today he’s been amazing, he’s been back in his room the past few weeks since Arnhem and he’s had quite a lot of visitors. But I think this ceremony, getting the medal and seeing the paratroopers again is bringing it back, what it was like across there.

“He’s been taking it all in his stride and since he’s been back in the home he’s loving getting letters every week.”

Photograph by Paul Glendell PRESENTATION: Sandy Cortmann, 97, enjoys his big day with his two nieces Irene Campbell and Pat Duthie.