A war veteran who took part in the infamous Operation Market Garden offensive has been honoured by the Queen for his work with the Arnhem Veteran's Club.

Austin Brearton, 83, was recognised with an MBE in the Birthday Honours last year for 20 years of service as secretary of the club, known fondly by its 600 members as The Airborne Brotherhood.

It was set up 21 years ago and members meet each year in Arnhem, the Dutch village where one of the most historic battles of World War II took place in 1944.

Mr Brearton's regiment was one of the first to arrive and he remembers the enormity of the battle.

He said: "We were euphoric because we thought it was going to be easy but the enemy had been underestimated and it went badly wrong.

"Light guns and rifles are no match for tanks so we knew we were in big trouble very quickly, but we just got on with it."

Of approximate 10,600 men who fought at Arnhem, only 2,398 returned 1,500 were killed and the rest were captured.

"There were 73 men in my unit; only seven returned to the UK with me, the rest were killed or captured," he said.

Mr Brearton, of Highfield Crescent, Heaton, Bradford, who was enlisted to the Royal Artillery's parachute section, at the age of 18 in 1941, said it was not until years after the war that they thought to set up the club.

"We were all too busy sorting out our careers and having families," said Mr Brearton who went on to become a head teacher in Bierley. "When our children grew up, that's when we gave it more thought and started to round up the lads."

As secretary he wrote the club's twice-yearly newsletter and kept members up to date with news of comrades and events. "It's still very upsetting when I hear news about the death of old comrades," he said.

Mr Brearton will travel to Arnhem again in September. "The village welcomes us and we have a great many friends there," he said. "I will continue to make the trip as long as I am fit and able."

Mr Brearton was presented with his MBE by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, in front of his large family at a special ceremony at Bradford Grammar School.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk