Airborne Assault MuseumTHIS BOOK BELONGS TO
W.F. Chadler. Tpr.
P.O.W. Nbr, 118711. Army Nbr, 6091692.
1st Airborne Recce Squadron. [C-Troop, 9 Section]
Taken prisoner at Arnhem, Holland. 1944.
Highlights of my Army life.
Beginning as a Territorial in August 1939. Joined the 2nd/7th Battalion, of the Queen’s Royal Regiment, ending - ?
August 1939.
Fortnights Camp at Falmer, near Brighton. Weather conditions very bad. Pay 14/- per week. Gave me some idea of the British Army. Little did I know what was ahead of me then. Just a kid named (Bill) not Joe.
Sept 3rd, 1939.
Outbreak of war with Germany. Called up, at the age of 17 years, 3 months. Missed the bus to France, as having an infected toenail and sent to hospital for removal of same. Returned to civilian life, for a period of some 9 months approx.. Called up again at 18 years & sent to St John’s College, where the 12th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment was stationed. Learnt my elementary lessons in firing and my first guard was patrolling Battersea Bridge for a period of 2 hours on, 4 hours off. Blitz of London was then at its beginning.
Oct 1939.
Unit moved to a V.P. (Vulnerable Point) near Kingston. Mor guarding. Some very sleepless nights. Period or length of duty = 48 hours. Sometimes two 48 and one 12 hour guard in a week. Meaning, two nights in bed per week.
Nov 1939.
Unit changed its station. Now guarding Croydon aerodrome. Bombs like rain sometimes. Scent factory hit nearby. Plenty of free soap, and scent, amidst the bodies of women, and girls, to be had if one wanted former articles.
Dec 1939.
Now stationed at Odiham, the unit now being 70th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment. Some characters I shall never forget, Sgt. Fox, CSM. Moore, and my buddies, Len Skinner and Tom White, plus Bob Hensman. First leave, 7 days spent at home. A memory to be cherished.
Jan 1940.
Moved to Devon, guarding ‘dromes. Learnt to drink beer, becoming well and truly what, I thought [was], an old soldier.
August 1940.
Many a good time spent at Chivenor, Devon, till me moved to Teignmouth , South Devon. Batt HQ. Extensive training every day. Fit as a fiddle. Run six miles and laugh at same.
Nov 1940.
As from there, to many a V.P. location and training area. Pretty fit and full of high spirits. Dancing I learnt, and many a girl I got to know. Nothing serious. A few places I saw in my travels were Bolt Head, Watchet, Minehead, Weston-Super-Mare, Exeter, Kingston, Kingsbridge, Dawlish, Warren, Exmouth, Plymouth, Denbury Barracks, Paignton, Bridgewater, Star Cross, newton Abbott, Blackdown, Aldershot, Worthing and Torquay. All these in 1940 and thereabouts.
1941 concluded with these places. I was made A.U.L. L/Cpl, meaning Pte. Chandler. W. was promoted to the rank of ‘Acting, Unpaid, Local, Lance Corporal’, in this year of war, etc. I had wangled many a leave. Conditions in the Army up till about this time were pretty bad. Food, etc, was again poor. But equipment was steadily improving, and also our grub. By the end of 41, things in general was and have remained in good standard.
1942.
I was then, in the early months of, the above year a fully paid L/Cpl. My, the jobs I got through that rank. My Battalion was still the 70th Queen’s Royal Regiment, but around September of the same year, 42, we were disbanded. Not because of us not being any good, but just the opposite. We were a Youth Battalion [Young Soldiers]. Lads of [a young] age running around 18 to 23’s. So being bloody well fully trained, we were split amongst the ranks of English 1st Class Bn’s going abroad. As to this laddie, was sent with a few of my ‘muckers’ to Northern Ireland – Ballykinler, to train and form recruits in a PT.C. (Primary Training Centre).
1943.
Ireland remained a very pleasurable memory to me, one which will take a life-time to forget. Incidentally had a 48 hours leave in Belfast, and on my two leave’s to England, I found out that I am no sailor.
Jan 1943.
Being of young blood and youth, I thought I’ll join the Paratroops and prove to myself that I could do it. My transfer came in February, and packed my kit, and said goodbye, and I was away. The chaps who transferred with me were ‘Darkie’ Bolton, [1] ‘Bob’ Smith [2] and Michael Gassett. [3] We all reported to the 1st Air Landing Recce Squadron at Bulford, Salisbury in early 1943. Given a Red Beret and some special equipment, I became an Airborne soldier of the King. Training followed, some very shaky glider trips around Salisbury, I kissed ‘terra firma’ the first time I touched down! Pay went up in my pay-book by one (1) shilling (Glider Pay). Formerly I should have stated this unit was a glider unit.
In May 1943 I departed out from Liverpool, my stomach still digesting 11 days leave, for that land of wogs, and tomb smells, plus the French continental fragrances of North Africa. I was, as I expected, sea-sick. I was green 3 days solid!
July of the year 1943, found me browned off in colour and in my innards. I had tasted and eaten melons, pomegranates, figs, catus pears and collectively passed through my stomach. Dysentery, diarrhorea, and some eastern fever. Thank goodness for a scientific pill called ‘M & B’, which cured scores of my chums. In these short months of my stay through His majesty’s pleasure in the land of wogs I had visited, passed through Oran, Bizerta, Cape Bon, Bone, Blida, Tunis, Algiers, Mascara, plus dozens of Arabic villages, and the countries of Algeria, Morrocco and Libya. In this period of my Army life I did 4 daylight Dakota parachute jumps and 1 night jump, all of which were successful, and no injuries. [4] Letters from home were frequent and were valued highly to all of us.
Sept 1943.
In this eventful month of the war my unit landed in Italy at Taranto by ship. It was a very beautiful country, to me it was a land of grapes and grouses. The former also after a while made me ill. Another experience to my list. My unit lost approx. 1 man in every 4, ‘God bless their souls’. Mosquito’s were worse than fleas and they were as thick as waves on the sea. Bitter [cold] day and night. Foggia was my furthest point of going North. Italian women? Dark, swarthy, good looking, and very gesticulating with their hands.
Nov 1943.
Embarked at Taranto again for Africa, passed Sicily, Malta, Pantelleria, and arrived at Phillipville. The orange season and tangerine time was on hand. Our teeth turned yellow! Embarked once more aboard a comparatively large ship. Set sail for good old England in Dec 43. Disembarked at Liverpool docks on Dec 14th and spent Xmas, and New Year at home.
Jan 1944.
This year was to see many events of my Army life. Returning with my pals to Lincoln, our place of abode, found it very cold, but not as extreme as I expected it to be.
Feb 1944.
Moved to Ruskington, nr Sleaford, where we settled down to a comparatively quiet, mixed, village, Army life. I made many friends there. I loved that little place in many ways. From Feb to Sept had and spent quite some short leaves at home. In the summer months was posted to do a refresher Para Course at Ringway, nr Manchester. 6 jumps in all. 1 Balloon, 2 Whitley’s, and 3 Dakota’s, making a total of 11. Eleven Parachute Jumps. Since, then added 5 jumps more, on schemes and exercises. Also (one) 1 Operational jump, on Holland.
Sept 17th, 1944.
This bright and clear morning, the 1st Airborne Division landed around ‘Arnhem’ in Holland, young Bill included.
All I will write of the events, ‘bloody’ events, which took place is:-
Firstly the landing part of the operation was magnificent, and it was cushy. Some ack, ack, slightly.
This was the first day. (I add reports from my comrades, that it was [much] hotter, on the following two days).
I was wounded middle afternoon, first day, and hit four (4) times. One bullet the ear, and three in the back. Was taken prisoner in a civilian house in Oosterbeek, nr Arnhem.
The lads gave them hell for approx. 9 to 11 days. We were not relieved, but not through the 30th Corps fault. They being the force, plus the Guards Armoured, who were supposed to have relieved us.
Sept 1944.
See’s me a POW in German hands. Taken to Apeldoorn in a Jerry ambulance. Stayed or rather laid in a German barracks made temporarily into a hospital. From their to a hospital train to Germany. Firstly Stalag XIB. In dock for 5 weeks, and sent down to the ‘lager’ (POW Cage) to some of my pals. Incidentally, ‘Midge’ Miles, [5] aided by my MO, [6] plus an Orderly pulled me to safety, whilst we were under fire from MG’s, mortar, and sniper bullets. ‘Midge’ lost part of (3) three fingers, and hit in his ’private’ with mortar shrapnel. ‘Bob’ Smith, I mucked in with at Stalag XIB. Afte approx. two weeks I was very much better. Food their was very bad. We had 1 ½ Red Cross parcels per man in 7 weeks.
Posted to Oflag 79 in Nov 1944, where went with ‘Charlie’ King, [7] a pal of mine. Conditions were very much improved and received a Red Cross parcel each. Was we happy. This is where this finds me at present. Have sent numerous letters home, and pray we may all be liberated shortly.
Dec 4th, 1944.
As A Diary.
Dec 4th, 1944.
Our Xmas store we made up today, out of Red Cross parcels. We have received three half parcels since entering the gates of this Oflag. Up to date we have saved:-
Three tins Rowntrees Cocoa (3)
Two tins Biscuits (Peek Freans) (2)
One packet Prunes (1)
Two blocks granulated sugar (2)
One tin of Nestle milk (1)
Two tins of jam (Gooseberry/Strawberry) (2)
Two tins of margarine (2)
One tin of egg powder (1)
One tine of compressed oats (1)
Two packets tea (Lyons/Brook Bond) (2)
45 Cigs, Cravens.
Dec 5th, 1944.
Snowed today. Very cold. Work as usual. Jerry broke up all the blowers. We succeeded in hiding ours. Benny gave me a shirt.
Dec 6th, 1944.
Rain most of the day (nuff I said).
Dec 9th, 1944.
Issued one Canadian Red Cross parcel this day.
Dec 10th, 1944.
Capt. Hay, [8] came to this place of places. Arm in a sling. Miserable he seemed. C.K. [‘Charlie’ King] and I saw him in the Camp Hospital. He was to be moved to another camp or hospital, to have an operation on his arm.
Dec 11th, 1944.
Today sees the first snow this part of Germany.
Dec 12th, 1944.
Tasted the first German Ertzats beer. Sweet and a most conspicuous taste of black treacle in it. My, my!! Visted ‘Butch’ [Capt. Hay] again.
Dec 14th, 1944.
‘Sweet fanny Adams’. In other words, just another day. Time marches on, hurrah!
Dec 15th, 1944.
???, cold, dry weather. Roll on the Army and liberate the ‘Liberators’.
Dec 16th, 1944.
Issued a Canadian Red Cross parcel again.
What it contains is:-
1 tin of powdered milk.
4 oz packet of tea.
1 packet of biscuits.
1 tin jam (1 lb)
1 tin of pure butter (1 lb)
1 packet of raisins.
1 tin of ‘bully’ [corned] beef.
1 tine of another sort of meat (Spam).
1 bar of chocolate.
1 bar of soap.
1 tin of sardines.
1 tin of salmon.
1 packet of best cheese.
1 packet [of] sugar.
1 packet [of] salt.
God Bless the Red Cross.
17th Dec, 1944.
Credits to end of 1944.
Credits amount to approx. £60.
20th Dec, 1944.
Xmas cake made, cooked, and iced. ‘Fix bayonets and mount guard’, till Monday, 25th at 8 p.m. same day.
Dec 21st, 1944.
Attended a ‘show’ this day, called ‘Christmas Pie’. I did enjoy it very much.
Dec 22nd, 1944.
Frost, and very cold weather. Also paid a visit to ‘Butch’ (Capt. Hay) in hospital.
Dec 23rd, 1944. (Sat).
Last issue of Canadian Red Cross parcel stock. Lets pray more arrive soon.
Dec 24th, 1944. (Sun).
Scrubbed our table (‘white’), also prepared our Xmas spread. Was given 41 cigs by the officers in the camp. Washed my white shirt for Xmas day. Also no ‘roll calls’ at all on Xmas Day. A Merry Xmas Bill!! Thanks, Bill. Oh well, I’ll be home sometime.
25th Dec, 1944.
Xmas Day:-
Breakfast. Egg on toast, bread & butter, tea.
Dinner. Pea soup, spuds, tea.
Tea. German stew & English plum duff [pudding], Cocoa.
26th Dec 1944.
More duff, and we ate our iced cake. Very rich, was partly sick. Had some German beer as well.
27th Dec 1944.
Snow clouds are getting thicker, the winter has begun here.
28th Dec 1944.
Feeling groggy, no wonder. Must go sick tomorrow.
29th Dec 1944.
Felt better, so, no sick. Snow, and very cold weather.
30th Dec 1944.
Parcels arrived, ‘Bona [fide]’ issue of an English Red Cross. My first sausage’s since I left Old Blighty. I remember the times, when I said “what sausages, again”.
31st Dec 1944.
Frosty, hard and cold. Midnight came, and a new year appeared. So here’s to a brighter future. Everyman’s thoughts, “when?!”
1st Jan 1945.
Got up early and made a cup of English cocoa.
3rd Jan 1945.
Saw an English spoken film in this camp, ‘Meet the Stewarts’. Have since attended same 4 times.
6th Jan 1945.
Issued a Canadian Red Cross [parcel]. Had a haircut. Bit drafty up the back.
7th Jan 1945.
Thaw set in by day, but frozen again tonight.
13th Jan 1945.
Issued again 1 Canadian red Cross parcel. Very tasty, very sweet. Thaw has come again, snow and ice still about. Took Capt. Hay a shirt. ‘Jerry’ pinched our ‘blower’. (A BLOWER is a handle-wheel contraption for promoting draft, into a bucket, thus making stronger heat for brewing tea and cooking tinned food). Had a shower as well this day.
15th Jan 1945.
I’m now the owner of 2 blankets (German Issue). Much better at night now, cuddle up a little closer.
Jan 16th, 1945.
Had a ‘Spar Up’ with a fellow called ‘Charlie’. Intend to have same nearly every day. He’s married, and his age (20) lived at London, but now his home is Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
I’m getting more used to this life. A POW’s life is more or less bearable if one does not worry, takes things as they come, see’s to the stomach, and gets a good nights kip, also plenty of letters. P.S: I haven’t any of the latter, yet.
Jan 17th, 1945.
Flight boxing match, can’t do too much on this food. Felt a bit sick in stomach after. In the evening, listened to Tommy Camion in the ‘Rumpot’. Also another slight miracle, was issued another blanket (3).
German credits for working at this Oflag up to date is:- 19 Marks, 90 Pfennigs. 15 Marks = £1 English money.
19th Jan 45.
Just to make life a little more unbearable, the Goon’s (German’s) took our chopper away. Now we have to use practically our bear hands to chop wood. When we can get timber.
Roll on the Russians, not forgetting our lads.
Jan 21st (Sun) 1945.
Yesterday issued an English Parcel and had bacon fried for tea at night. Also sent a card home and a L.C. to Mrs. Kirton.
22nd Jan 1945.
A Plant? Gave us some buckshee [spare] food. Meat and rice with jam on. Also made a cake and it was a success. Ingredients:- 1 packet raisins, 1 tin egg flake powder, 3 spoonfulls of KLIM [milk powder], also 1 ration of marg, 1 tin of porridge and a pinch of salt – spoonful of sugar.
Wed 24th Jan 1945.
A pleasant change, through seeing ‘Roll On The Day’, this afternoon. A musical variety show. Drew a German language book from the library.
Sat 27th Jan 1945.
Issued again our English Parcel. Only two Canadian issues left. So what!! Starve maybe? After they’ve gone. Come on Joe Rusky.
Cookhouse staff went on strike. At least that was something new. They all got the sack.
‘Vee Kahlt es ist!’
‘How cold it is!’
Jan 29th, 1945.
Snow 1 ft deep today. Letters ceased to come in owing to German transport difficulties.
Feb 3rd, 1945.
The snow has gone almost and is much warmer. No letters from home, yet. It looks as if I shan’t see any at all. Canadian Parcel issue today. The Officers put on a play reading – The Shakespear’s of Stratford.
This Creation of forced community.
Feb 4th, 1945.
Sunshine again today – Nice!
Feb 5th, 1945.
Barbed wire, monotony and meagre rations. New set of guards. The others were sent to the Russian Front.
Feb 9th, 1945.
Last issue of food parcels’, 1 Canadian, then we’ve had it!! German Identity check-up tomorrow, Sat. In the course of the week I saw two, or rather heard, two play readings, Noel Coward’s ‘Hay Fever’ and a musical ‘get up’ entitled ‘We are not amused’.
My God! If I was back in Blighty I’d laugh at this life and the things, escapades we’ve done. But, I aren’t laughing right now.
Feb15th, 1945.
Stomach news again/ Parcels all finished. Live on German rations now. Washed my shirt today, handkerchiefs as well.
I Too Was a POW Of The Third Reich.
This forced existence
This created home
Monotony of life
Which eats to the bone
Decaying the soul
Eats up all emotions
My God! To be free
Says my thoughts to me
This is not very clever
But who cares a damn
Just send me home
And I’ll act like a lamb.
Feb 16th, 1945.
Received my first letter. It came via Switzerland, and it was from Leonard, who’s in India. It was written on the 12th Nov 44.
48 Norbury Court Road, Norbury, London. S.W.16.
Feb 17th, 1945.
German rations cut today. Every article except sugar, marg. And NO Parcels in at all.
Feb 22nd, 1945.
Sent off a card for home and a L card to Len. Grand day today, sunshine and all that.
Feb 25th, 1945.
Sent off a card to home and a letter card to Gladys. Cold once more, not much food nowadays. Who cares a damn – I do!
Feb 26th, 1945.
Pretty hungry tonight, keep smiling. Very windy and cold, puts the lid on it all.
March 1st, 1945.
Windy, fair sunny weather to start the day. Debby gave us some ‘margarine’. Went sick again, for treatment. Had a hot bath in the camp hospital.
Discussed with Ron Hodson his difficulty.
4th March 1945.
Snow today. Saw a German film, ‘The Girls of ???’.
Mar 18th, 1945.
News of the Rhine Crossing’s is good to our ears. 1 weeks issue of English Parcels came in by train. Machine gunned, pilfered, and some clothing and medical supplies. Sunshine for two days, but still coldish. And still the barbed wire is just outside here, rusty and rotten.
20th March 1945.
Sent off a LC and a letter to home and Ruskington.
March 24th, 1945.
Ron Hodson’s birthday. We are over the Rhine, and into the bacon. Glorious March weather.
March 28th, 1945.
News of all kinds, food very short. Potato peelings I fill the hole up with now. A few hundred POW’s passed through Brunswick in a very poor state of health. Pneumonia and diphtheria among the ranks. They had been marching, under appalling conditions, for about 30 days from Poland.
April 6th, 1945.
The Allies are around 60 miles from the camp. Roll on ‘Monty’. Rain now for two days. Sent a note to ‘Midge’ at XIB Stalag. Pte. Whitehead took it this morning. He was transferred there.
April 6th? [7th or 8th], 1945.
Issued 1/6 American Parcel which arrived by lorry from Lubeck.
March 9th, 1945.
First sound of guns, hard to say how far! Maybe 10 – 15 miles. Only audible at night. Plenty of air activity. It won’t be long now.
April 10th, 1945.
Guns all night and plenty of air raids. A lorry from the Red Cross got through to us with a few food parcels.
April 10th, 1945.
British troops or American are N and S of Brunswick. Should be out of the bag tomorrow 11. 4. 45.
Approx 7 months POW.
March 11th, 1945.
Still not free. Hanover has fallen to our troops, and are now half way between Hanover and Brunswick. This is official news. Which means the distance now is approx. 15 miles from here. Gunfire all day and some Allied dive bombers were active around this area. Sleepless night last night, slept in cellar, pretty cold.
April 12th, 1945.
At 9.28 A.M. The ‘C’ Troop, 125th Cavalry [Reconnaissance] Squadron, Infantry Division entered the Camp.
20th Sept 44 to April 12th, 45.
Prt. W. Pitcone. 32953731.
In C, 125 Cav Rec Sqdn.
A.P.O. No 339.
U.S. Army.
1017 Brunswick Ave, Trenton, N.J.
NOTES:
[1] 6105318. Tpr. Charles Cecil Bolton. Served in D-Troop, 12 Section.
[2] 6105271. L/Cpl. Robert Morris Smith. Served in D-Troop, 11 Section.
[3] 6104913. L/Cpl. Michael Owen Arthur Gassett. Served in A-Troop, HQ Section.
[4] This was the Parachute Course run by the 4th Parachute Brigade at M’Saken. 4th – 13th August 1943.
[5] 6853948. Tpr. Ronald Frederick Miles. C-Troop, 9 Section.
[6] 188263. Capt. Thomas Douglas Victor Swinscow. R.A.M.C.
[7] 5347510. L/Cpl. Charles David King. A-Troop, 1 Section.
[8] 51878. Capt. John Hay. C-Troop Commander.
PROVERB.
Page 592 from the Holy Bible. Chapter 4 (23).
23). Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issue’s of life.
24). Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25). Let thine eye’s look right on and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26). Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27). Turn not to the right hand or to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
To all Prisoners of war!
The escape from Prison Camps is no longer a sport! Germany has always kept to the Hague Conventions and only punished recaptured prisoners of war with minor disciplinary punishments.
Germany will still maintain its principals of International Law, but England besides fighting at the front in a honest manner, instituted an illegal warfare in non-combat zones in the form of Gangster commando terror bandits and sabotage troops even up to the frontier of Germany. They say in a captured secret and confidential English Military pamphlet, THE HANDBOOK OF MODERN IRREGULAR WARFARE: “ . . . . . the days when we could practice the rules of sportsmanship are over. For the time being, every soldier must be a potential gangster and must be prepared to adopt their methods whenever necessary.
“The sphere of operations should always include the enemies own country, and occupied territory, and in circumstances, any such neutral countries as he is using as a source of supply”.
ENGLAND HAS WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS OPENED UP A NON MILITARY FORM OF GANGSTER WAR!
Germany is determined to safeguard her homeland, and especially her war industry and provisional centres for the fighting fronts. Therefore it has become necessary to create strictly forbidden zones, called death zones in which all unauthorised trespassers will be immediately shot on sight.
Escaping prisoners of war, entering such death zones will certainly lose their lives. They are therefore in constant danger of being mistaken for enemy agents or sabotage groups.
Urgent warning is given against making future escapes.
In plain English: Stay in Camp where you will be safe!
Breaking out of it is now a damned dangerous act.
The chances of preserving your life are almost NIL!
All police and military guards have been given the most direct orders to shoot on sight all suspected persons.
ESCAPING FROM PRISON CAMPS HAS CEASED TO BE A SPORT!!
THE ‘DESERT RAT’. M.E.F.
Out here in the desert the hot blazing sun
Beats down on the head of tommy & Hun
The Afrika Korps is the name of one lot.
The name of the other ‘Men England forgot’.
You hear tales of Alex, and days by the sea
Also of Cairo and nights on the spree.
But you never hear of the filth and rot
That was borne by men ‘England forgot’.
They swelt oer’ the desert with hot aching feet.
With nothing to stop that hot blazing heat.
But for all the discomforts, cares have they not
For they are the outcasts, ‘Men, England forgot’.
They think of old England, the joys and the fun
That they enjoyed, when days work was done.
Yes they dream of old England, who thinks of them not
But are they down hearted, these ‘Men, England forgot’.
Now when its all over, and we’re back oer’ the foam
We’ll think of the lads, that will never come home.
Yes we’’ think of the lads left out there to rot
For they are all heroes, ‘Men, England forgot’.
Some Officers, NCO’s and men of my Squadron who were wounded, and POW Camps in Holland & Germany.
Troop.
Capt. Hay. ‘C’. Oflag 79. Hospital. Wound in left arm, elbow smashed.
S.M. Meadows. HQ. Stalag XIB. Hospital. Injured badly in glider crash at Arnhem.
Sgt. Ferguson. HQ. Stalag XIB. Hospital. Bad wound in left knee. Improving somewhat.
Sgt. Hewer. ‘A’. Sent to NCO’s Camp from XIB. Wound in face, but improved when he left.
Sgt. Ritson. ‘D’. Sent to NCO’s Camp from XIB. Wound in left leg.
Sgt. Redford. HQ. Sent to NCO’s Camp from XIB. Wound in FOOT. OK when he left.
Major. Gough. C.O. At RAF Officers Camp. Believed unwounded.
Lt. Hodge. ‘D’. At RAF Officers Camp. Believed unwounded.
Lt. Marshall. ‘D’. At Dutch Hospital, Arnhem. Loss of left hand. Wounded in face.
Capt. Grubb. ‘A’. No news of him. Believed slightly wounded in foot.
Lt. Wadsworth. ‘A’. Believed wounded in train. No further news. [9]
Lt. Guthrie. ‘A’. Escaped from train. Wounded in hand. Escaped successfully.
Lt. Bowles. ‘C’. Killed. My Section Officer. Ambushed. [10]
Lt. Bucknall. ‘C’. Killed whilst on patrol at Arnhem on 17th Sept 1944.
Sgt. Stacey.* ‘C’. Killed on Sunday 17th Sept 1944 in a wood at Oosterbeek, Holland.
Sgt. McGregor. ‘C’. Killed. Ambushed.
Lt. Christie. ‘SP’. Killed in Oosterbeek by S.P. Gun.
Lt. Pearson. ‘C’. Killed when ‘C’ Tp was ambushed. [11]
Lt. Pascal. ‘D’. Killed same time, same place as Capt. park.
Capt. Park. ‘D’. Killed in street fighting at Oosterbeek.
Lt. McNabb. HQ. Believed killed on train, same time as Capt Platt. [12]
Sgt. Pyper. ‘D’. Killed same time as Capt. Park. [13]
Tpr. Brumwell. ‘C’. Killed when ‘C’ Troop was ambushed.
Tpr. Walker. ‘D’. Killed same time as Capt. Park.
Tpr. Crowder. ‘C’. Killed when ‘C’ Troop was ambushed. [14]
Tpr. Edmonds. ‘C’. Killed. (My Pal).
Sgt. Stacey.* ‘C’. Killed Sunday 17th Sept 1944.Oosterbeek. Found dead in a wood.
Tpr. Weaver. ‘A’. Killed 20th [19th] Sept 1944. Mortar bomb.
L/Cpl. Baker. ‘C’. Died when ‘C’ Tp was ambushed. [19/09/1944]
Tpr. Hares. ‘C’. Died when ‘C’ Tp was ambushed. Alive and well.
Tpr. McSkimmings. ‘C’. Died when ‘C’ Tp was ambushed. [19/09/1944]
Tpr. Brawn. ‘C’. Fairly definite as dead. [19/09/1944]
Cpl. Dixon. ‘D’. At NCO’s Stalag. Believed unwounded and with CO, was captured.
Cpl. McLean. RAMC. In hospital at Stalag XIB. Believed badly wounded.
Tpr. Brooker. ‘D’. At another Stalag. Unwounded. [Wounded]
Tpr. Simpson. HQ. At another Stalag. Unwounded. [Wounded]
Tpr. Williams. ‘D’. Sent to a Kommando (German Working Camp) from XIB. Wounded in shoulder.
Tpr. Kerr. HQ. Sent to a Kommando from XIB. Slightly wounded.
L/Cpl. Thomson. ‘D’. Sent to a Kommando from XIB. Unwounded. [Wounded]
Tpr. Outram. HQ. In hospital at XIB. Smashed up foot.
Tpr. Bolton. ‘D’. At another Stalag. Believed OK. Taken with CO.
Tpr. Bell. ‘A’. At another Stalag. Believed OK.
L/Cpl. Thomas. ‘C’. At another Stalag. Slightly wounded in L. foot.
Tpr. Speller. ‘C’. At another Stalag. Unwounded.
Tpr. Southwell. ‘C’. At another Stalag. Unwounded.
Tpr. Hasler. ‘C’. Believed sent to another Stalag. Apparently wounded.
Tpr. Hazell. ‘A’. Sent to a Kommando from XIB. At Brunswick in Nov (Stomach treatment)
Sgt. Kay. HQ. Escaped from train. No further news of him.
Tpr. Newton. HQ. At Stalag XIB. Injured whilst landing, later wounded.
Tpr. Chadwick. HQ. At Stalag XIB. Wounded in leg.
Tpr. Slater. ‘D’’. At Stalag XIB. Wounded, but improved greatly.
Tpr. Garwood. ‘C’. At Stalag XIB. Wounded left arm. Nerves dead.
Tpr. Auld. ‘A’. Sent to Kommando. Wounded in leg, improved.
Tpr. Johnston. ‘A’. At Oflag 79. Wounded in leg, improved.
Tpr. Serginson. Mortar. At Stalag XIB. Wounded pretty badly.
Tpr. Sutherberry. ‘A’. Sent to Kommando from XIB. Unwounded.
Tpr. Cooper. ‘A’. Sent to Kommando from XIB. Wounded. Improved.
L/Cpl. Ogden. ‘A’. Sent to Kommando from XIB. Wounded. Improved.
Tpr. York, MM. HQ. Sent to Kommando from XIB. Wounded. Improved.
Tpr. Fraser. ‘A’. At Stalag XIB. Wounded in face.
Tpr. Pow. ‘A’. At Stalag XIB. Wounded in arm. Still without full use.
L/Cpl. Morris. ‘C’. At Stalag XIB. Wounded in arm. Still in sling.
Tpr. Farrar. ‘D’. Stalag XIB. Wounded in foot. Healing well.
Tpr. Miles. ‘C’. Stalag XIB. Wounded in hand.
Tpr. Beard. HQ. Stalag XIB. Paralyzed arm, through a bullet.
Tpr. Hart. ‘D’. Sent to Kommando. All correct.
Tpr. Bell. ‘D’. Stalag XIB. All correct.
Tpr. Loney. ‘D’. Stalag XIB. All correct.
Tpr. Jones. HQ. Sent to Kommando. All correct.
This information is gathered from men whom I saw at stalag XIB. As near and correct as possible. 69 persons all told.
FURTHER NOTES:
[9] He was a spare officer in HQ-Troop, but took Lt. Guthrie’s place in ‘A’ Troop when he was wounded. He withdrew across the Lower Rhine on the night of the 25th/26th September 1944.
[10] He was lightly wounded and taken prisoner after the second ambush at Planken Wambuis.
[11] He was a spare officer in HQ-Troop, but was attached to ‘C’ Troop after all the casualties on the 17/09/1944.
[12] Both these officers were shot, whilst being transported as POW’s on the 23/09/1944 at Brummen. Capt. Platt was killed immediately. Lt. McNabb died of his wounds on the 27/09/1944.
[13] He survived the battle & withdrew across the Lower Rhine on the night of the 25th/26th September 1944.
[14] He survived the second ambush on the 19/09/1944 & became an Escape & Evader. He returned to Allied lines on Operation ‘Pegasus I’.
Bill Chandlers handwritten diary can be viewed by our subscriber membership. This diary also contains his drawings and cartoons he used to illustrate his experiences.
