During the Eighty Years War, the city of Leiden was under siege from 1573 until 1574. Almosthalfthe town’s population died of starvation or disease. During the night of 2nd October, 1574, the enemy troops retreated. The next morning, the relieving rebels or ‘Sea Beggars’ brought herring and white bread to the townsfolk.

Each year, a festival is held in Leiden to celebrate the liberation of the city. This year, Emma will sing during the remembrance service in the Pieterskerk. She will perform the ‘Sanctus’ from Gounod’s “Messe solennelle de Sainte-Cécile” with the orchestra of the Dutch Royal Air Force (De Kapel van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht) and the Leidse Cantorij, with conductor Sergeant Major Remco van Viersen.

Wednesday, 3rd October, 10:00, Pieterskerk, Leiden, the Netherlands.

On Sunday, 30th September, Emma will sing as a guest soloist during a Royal British Legion concert at the Civic Hall in Nantwich, England. She will perform a range of songs focusing on the First World War, together with the Band and Drums of the Cheshire Constabulary, with conductor David Woollam, and the Jedburgh Pipes and Drums.

For more information and tickets, please follow this link.

Sunday 30th September, Civic Hall, Nantwich, UK

The Airborne memorial service is held annually to commemorate the airmen who participated in Operation Market Garden. The CWGC cemetery at Oosterbeek has over 1,500 British, Commonwealth, Dutch, and Polish airmen who participated in Operation Market Garden.

Emma will lead the hymns and sing during the wreath-laying, with the Royal Harmony Orchestra of Oosterbeek under conductor Jurgen Nab.

Sunday, 23rd September, 11:00, CWGC Oosterbeek, Van Limburg Stirumweg, 6861 WL Oosterbeek

The story of Dakota FZ626 shows the fortitude and self-sacrifice of the servicemen of the Second World War.

On 19^thSeptember, 1944, Dakota FZ626 flew to Drop zone ‘V’ near Arnhem, the Netherlands, to deliver supplies to British and Polish ground troops. She was part of a group of planes consisting of 101 Short Stirling Bombers and 63 Dakotas. 97 planes were shot, and 19 did not make it back home.

Dakota FZ626 was shot down as she approached the drop-zone. Instead of turning the aircraft away from the guns, Pilot Officer John (Len) Wilson flew directly towards them. The plane hit one of the fours gun and the explosion when she landed caused panic amongst the gun crews. Len Wilson, Herbert Osbourne, Reginald French, James Grace and Richard Newth were killed in the crash. Les Gaydon, Vince Dillworth and Wilfred Jenkinson cleared the burning aircraft in time by parachute. They were taken prisoner by the Germans.

For more information about incredible story of FZ626, please visit this informative website.

To commemorate the crew of Dakota FZ626, a private sponsor has commissioned a monument. It will be unveiled on Friday, 21^stSeptember. Emma will sing “Abide with Me” and lead the national anthems during the ceremony.

Friday, 21st September, 15:00 Bakenbergseweg 264, Schaarsbergen, the Netherlands.

On Friday, 21st September, the Airborne Monument in Renkum will be unveiled by Glider Pilot Frank Ashleigh and parachutist Steven Morgan. Both fought during the Second World War in Operation Market Garden and both were taken prisoner of war by the Germans.

For more information about the monument, please follow this link.

Friday, 21st September, 12:30, Telefoonweg 2, Renkem, the Netherlands

The Stichting Nederland-Amerika (Dutch-America Association) organises annual visits to the Netherlands for Second World War veterans from the US, Canada, and the UK. This year, the veterans will visit Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, the largest CWGC cemetery in Germany. Around 7,500 commonwealth servicemen are buried in the cemetery, as well as some Polish servicemen.

Those buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery fought in various campaigns. Many of the soldiers of the land forces died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February, 1945. The airbourne forces landed in nearby Hamminkeln and crossed the Rhine. There are also bodies of airmen recovered from air attacks over Germany.

Thursday, 20^thSeptember, 11:15, CWGC Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grunewaldstrasse 47533, Kleve, Germany

On Saturday, 15th September Emma will sing as a guest soloist during the Alphen aan den Rijn Tattoo. The tattoo features the bands Crescendo, METRO, the Band of Liberation and Pipes, Avendo, and Con Brio. Emma will sing with the Band of Liberation with conductor Simon Dubbelaar.

20:00, Alphen aan den Rijn City Hall, Castellumstraat, Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands