Wick veteran Kev Stewart feels ‘truly blessed’ after completing 300km charity cycle on Netherlands Liberation Trail
Wick veteran Kev Stewart has returned from an “emotional” 300km journey across the Netherlands, cycling the historic Liberation Trail in tribute to those who gave their lives during Operation Market Garden in 1944.
The route, which traces the Allied advance during one of the most ambitious operations of the Second World War, took Mr Stewart and fellow participants to key battlegrounds, memorials and cemeteries — including Arnhem, Groesbeek and the Reichswald Forest.
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“One of the most memorable moments for me was crossing the Arnhem Bridge, made famous in the film A Bridge Too Far,” he said. “But that bridge also represents a tragic cost.
“Of the 10,000 British airborne troops who landed near Arnhem, only 2000 made it back. That’s an 80 per cent casualty rate — a shocking figure.”
The event was organised by the Royal British Legion as the latest of several annual “historic cycle” events inviting endurance cyclists to blend long-distance pedalling with a chance for reflection.
Mr Stewart, who serves as a standard bearer and committee member of the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion, has taken part in several similar commemorative events in recent years.
He previously completed the Pedal to Ypres and Pedal Normandy Beaches rides, each combining physical challenge with remembrance and raising awareness of the experiences of servicemen past and present.
A former soldier himself, having served in Afghanistan, Mr Stewart said the experience resonated on multiple levels.
“As someone who has experienced the harsh realities of war, trips like this hit deeply — emotionally, mentally and spiritually,” he added.
“At the British Airborne Cemetery, we paused to reflect, laid a wreath, and I had the privilege of leading a short service of remembrance and gratitude for those who gave their lives — those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against tyranny and evil.”
Among the hundreds of graves, one pair stood out.
“Two graves struck me more than any others: they were side by side, twin brothers. Same surname, same date of birth, same date of death.
“They were born together, lived together, died together, and now rest together. I can’t begin to imagine the pain their mother must have felt receiving that news.”
The trip included stops at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Mook War Cemetery, the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division memorials, and the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, where Mr Stewart reflected on the weight of history.
“Standing before the large swastika flags, Nazi equipment and weapons, I felt a deep and unsettling sense of absolute evil,” he said. “Yet at the same time, I found it profoundly important and thought-provoking.
“This dark chapter of history must not be forgotten — it’s part of our shared past, and it carries lessons we must continue to learn from.”
Despite the heavy subject matter, Mr Stewart said he returned from the experience feeling uplifted by the people he met and the opportunity to pay tribute.
“I feel truly blessed after this experience — blessed by the new friendships made, and deeply thankful for the opportunity to honour the heroes who fought, and those who fell, for the freedom and democracy we so often take for granted today.”
But he also left with a sense of sorrow that echoes beyond the past.
“There is a sadness in my heart that humanity still hasn’t fully learned from history,” he added. “I look at the conflicts in the world today and I pray to God for an end to war, for an end to the bloodshed of the innocent, and for world leaders to soften their hearts and embrace forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace — for the good of all humanity.”
