Trooper Frank Southwell

Frank Southwell was born on the 30 July 1922 and came from Halifax in Yorkshire where he was a grocer.

He enlisted into The Reconnaissance Corps on the 15 January 1942, at Berkhamstead, HERTS and upon completion of his training was posted to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, which was attached to the 1st Infantry Division. This unit took part in the North African Campaign in Tunisia, from March to May 1943. When this campaign was over he volunteered for Airborne Forces, along with his pal, Trooper Spellar and they were posted to the 1st Air Landing Recce Squadron, where they were assigned to ‘C’ Troop.

“I was a Driver/Gunner in a Bren Carrier with Trooper Spellar and a Sergeant Bryant. Right through the mountains of Algeria to ‘Medjez El Bab’ on the plains of Tunis, taking patrols during the day and listening and fighting patrols at night, around strong-points ‘Longstop Hill’, the most formidable for weeks. After Cape Bon we volunteered for airborne duty and went to Italy, from Taranto to Foggia.” [1]

“We have the Africa Star. You can see both of us wearing this award on the group photograph taken in Ruskington. In the book ‘Remember Arnhem’, page 33, we are both on the back row with McSkimmings between us.” [2]

He, along with most of the 1st Airborne Division, trained and prepared for an airborne operation in the Mediterranean theatre of operations, but it was not to be. Instead the he took part in ‘Operation Slapstick’, the landings at the Italian port of Taranto in September 1943.

In December 1943 he, along with the rest of the Squadron, returned to the U.K. where he did parachute course 110 at R.A.F. Ringway, 3rd – 15th April 1944. This was the second main Recce Squadron group to attend. His parachute instructor’s comments: ‘Has done very well, keen, confident type’.

By the summer of 1944 he was still with ‘C’ Troop Headquarters and was part of Captain John Hay’s jeep crew.

On Sunday, 17 September 1944 he flew from Barkston Heath aerodrome in a Dakota aircraft bound for D.Z. ‘X’ near Heelsum in Holland, as part of ‘Operation Market-Garden’. He landed okay and made his way to the rendezvous to meet up with the jeep party. A short distance to the east of Wolfheze railway station the Troop was ambushed and held up for several hours, incurring nearly 50% casualties.

“We were in the first para drop on Sunday, 17 September, which was very good for the jump and landing approx. 1-15 p.m. Very little firing at all. When we had got to our vehicles we already knew what we had to do from then on. I was driving the fourth or fifth jeep, when the leading jeeps came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. At this time we deployed to try and engage the [enemy] troops who were in the ambush, this was very difficult as they were well hidden and we were all pinned down. They, our pals, had suffered very heavy casualties in dead and wounded.” [3]

On the Monday they were tasked with covering the Wolfheze railway crossing area and given a reserve role.

On Tuesday the Troop was re-enforced and re-organised and Frank moved to a jeep in 7 Section to take over as driver under the command of Lance Corporal ‘Eddie’ Morris. The Troop was then tasked with carrying out a reconnaissance to the north of Wolfheze, towards Ede, through the wooded area.

During the course of the afternoon they were ambushed again and although he managed to avoid the worst part of it, by driving off the road, he was captured soon after.

“When we got ambushed, on the Tuesday tea time, we had been sent to [do] a deep recce patrol N.W. Arnhem. On our way back to base we ran into fire from both sides of the road, we learned later the first two jeeps got through, but the next ones were badly shot up. I turned my jeep around in its own length, from doing over sixty to nil in seconds. We then turned into the woods to find another way out. By now there were what seemed like [enemy] troops everywhere. My pals were L/Cpl. E. Morris, my best pal from three years together, Spellar and a 2nd [10th] Battalion Para we had picked up somewhere.

The next thing that happened my engine was hit with something heavy and that made us pile out. After a very short time they started shouting “stand up”, but after what had happened on Sunday we did not fancy our chances. Spellar said to me, ‘see if it will start’, so I made an effort. If you know anything about jeeps, you will know the starter button is level with the accelerator. I had my right leg in doing this when my steering column was hit by bullets, and that was the end of that, with the flames from the engine, I got down as fast as you can get.

There were so many enemy troops all round us by now, we had to stand up. ‘Eddie’ Morris had got hit in his arm, I do not know to this day what happened to the lad from 2nd [10th] Para Battalion. L/Cpl. E. Morris was rushed away in a side-car of a motor-cycle from there as he was unable to lift one of his arms.

Anyway, they marched Spellar and myself for about three miles, then shouted halt. That is the only time in my life I have thought, ‘you are going to die’, and we shook hands with one another, without saying anything. The Germans came to us and gave us a cigarette each from an Army goggles case.” [4]

He was taken to Stalag XIIA in Germany, where he remained until October. He was interrogated at this camp, shortly after his arrival, where they tried to use a mixture of persuasion and bribery to get information from him. However, he had been thoroughly briefed, back in their billets in Ruskington, by the Squadron Commander about their conduct in the event of capture. [5]

From Stalag XIIA he was taken to Stalag IVB and out on work details to Halle to work on the construction of shelters. In March 1945 he was used on work parties for shelters in the Merseburg area. For a six week period he suffered badly from malnutrition due to the food shortage. [6]

He was liberated by advancing Allied Forces in April 1945 and demobilized in May 1946. He was then discharged to the Z (T) Reserve on the 17th January 1947.

He moved back to Halifax and took up his trade as a Grocer/Market Trader again.

He is mentioned in ‘Remember Arnhem’ by John Fairley on pages 101, 108 and 145. However, John Fairley has mistakenly identified him as L/Cpl. P.J. Southwell.

LAST POST. 1st Airborne Recce Squadron newsletter, No 54, February 2001.

FRANK SOUTHWELL.

It is with great regret I have to report the death of our comrade Frank Southwell of Halifax who died on 13th September 2000 aged 78.

Frank had been a member of the 1st Reconnaissance Regt in North Africa, May 1943 when a notice appeared asking for volunteers for the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron which had just arrived in North Africa and he joined the Sqn there. He was with the Squadron when it invaded Italy at Taranto and fought its way to Bari and then Foggia.

At the Battle of Arnhem he was with the Squadron in ‘C’ Troop and was one of the 80-90 members of the 200 men of the Squadron who flew there to be taken prisoner.

After his return to the UK from POW camps he was posted to the RAC Depot (the Recce Corps being disbanded) at Catterick and served as a Driver for Senior Officers at the camp.After his demob he came a Grocer and eventually owned his own business specialising in cheeses and eggs doing so well he was able to retire early.

Frank was a great supporter of Halifax Town Rugby Club travelling the country to watch them play until a couple of years ago when his eyesight failed and he had to give up driving. Frank was well liked in his community being regarded as a cheerful chap and a great conversationalist and consequently had a great many friends. Frank regularly attended our annual Squadron Reunion and will be greatly missed.

Frank was widowed two years ago and leaves a son and daughter.

The Squadron was represented by Frank Sharp at the Funeral and a donation was made to the Heart Foundation instead of flowers at the relative’s request.

[1] Frank Southwell 1st Airborne Recce Squadron O.C.A. Membership proforma. 1980’s.

[2] Letter from Frank Southwell to Bob Hilton. 11 August 1996.

[3] & [4] Letter from Frank Southwell to Bob Hilton. November 1996.

[5] & [6] POW report. 28th