Trooper Richard Minns

Richard Minns was born in 1923 and came from Bromley in Kent. He enlisted into the Rifle Brigade on the 23rd June 1941 and was one of the young soldiers recruited by ‘Freddie’ Gough when he visited the unit.

He joined ‘C’ Troop, 1st Airlanding Company, Reconnaissance Corps, as it then was, and with them he went to North Africa in May 1943. The Squadron saw no action in North Africa or in the campaign in Sicily, but in September they sailed for the Italian port of Taranto to take part in operation ‘Slapstick’. As a member of 8 Section ‘Dickie’ was working with Lance Corporal Thomas and Trooper’s Hasler and Pearce, their commander being Lance Sergeant ‘Ken’ Lapper.

“The party I was with went from Bone to Italy. On the Penelope and we were unloading when the Abdiel went up. Later we did a patrol on the ‘instep’ of Italy. Two Spitfires appeared and I was rather apprehensive as we were near to German positions. Once peeled off and dived towards some armoured cars some distance away whilst the other dived towards our jeep. Lefty Goulding had dismounted and was in the ditch with the Bren and I was in the jeep with the twin Vickers ‘K’s pointing at the ‘Spit’. I was frantically waving my beret to identify us to the pilot and praying that he wouldn’t think I was going to fire at him. Thank goodness he recognised me as friendly and flew off with a waggle of wings. Saved again!” [1]

In December 1943 the Squadron returned to England and settled down in Ruskington, Lincolnshire. ‘Dickie’ had done a parachute course in North Africa in August 1943, so only did refresher jumps in England to prepare him for further operations. This came in September 1944 – operation ‘Market-Garden’.

“I arrived in Arnhem by parachute just after mid-day on Sunday the 17th September [1944]. Our jeeps came by glider, we met up at the given point. The first jeep consisted of Lt. Peter Bucknall, Tpr’s. Gorringe, Goulding and Brumwell. The second jeep Sgt. McGregor, myself, L/Cpl. Thomas, Tpr’s. Hasler, Pearce and Barlow. Four men on the first jeep and six on the second.

We took off right away at speed for the Bridge. After a few miles we turned off for Wolfheze along the railway siding and into the ambush. Those on the front jeep were killed instantly, on the second jeep McGregor was killed instantly.

The rest of us were badly wounded and the S.S. took the others prisoner and left me there. Some of the boys wanted to take me, but were too badly wounded themselves. After laying the rest of the day and night, L/Cpl. Baker, 9 Section, found me. I finished up in the first aid centre, which was in the Tafelberg Hotel.

After many unpleasant days the fighting was stopped and I was transferred to Apeldoorn where I spent the rest of my time in plaster until I was released by the Canadians on 13th April 1945 and back to Blighty to spend 2 years in hospital’s.

The rest you must know about from the book”. [2]

“Dickie” Minns is in John Fairley’s book, ‘Remember Arnhem’, where he is mentioned on pages 41, 45-6, 69-70, 199 & 214.

Note: ‘Dickie’ indicated ‘Ginger’ Cross, John ‘Taffy’ Thomas, ‘Bill’ Speller and ‘Reg’ Garwood, when he was sent a list of members of ‘C’ Troop.

“Dickie” Minns was initially treated at the 181st Air Landing Field Ambulance at 7 & 9 Duitsekampweg. See below for related article.

Letter from Private. George Aldred. 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance.

Dickie,

This is the room at No 7 [No 9] Duitsekampweg, just below the landing zone, where you were operated on. We had just finished operating, which is why I am in shirt-sleeves on the extreme left. [see photo in 181 A/L Fld Amb file] We were getting ready to move to the Tafelberg Hotel.

You were lying out in the open, about 6 yards back from where the man filming the picture was standing and sheltered by an out-building from a very fierce battle with flame-throwers and hand grenades that was going on. I came to have a look at you before we left to get the operating theatre ready for more casualties at the Tafelberg. I checked that you were still alive, you were very grey.

There was a pile of what I thought were stones by the entrance – it was Dutch wartime bread loaves!

I watched the battle for a couple of minutes, then went. You may have been taken before we left, because I do not remember how soon we left after I looked at you. We had to pack the equipment. There were other patients, of course, but you stand out in my memory most, because of the many holes in your intestines that we had to stitch up and the length of time that we had to give to you. Finally we had to give you up and by that time your intestines had blown up like multi-coloured balloons and we had much difficulty in getting them all back in your abdominal cavity and sewing you up.

Phil Jackson commented to me afterwards that he thought I was marvellous after we had finished operating there.

Incidentally, the blood stains are still on the floor [1990’s] at the house on Duitsekampweg and can’t be washed away!

He was discharged under King’s Regulations on the 9 February 1946.

‘Dickie’ was the 1st Airborne Recce Squadron OCA Treasurer and a Committee member for many years.

Although he did not attend the 60th Anniversary Commemorations in Arnhem in September 2004, he did visit a total of nine times. His message to the Dutch people was, “I will always remember seeing the schoolchildren laying flowers at the graves for the first time I went back to Arnhem. I hope they continue to do this and care after their wonderful country and keep it safe in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in 1944 and make sure all my ‘mates’ are always looked after.”

He also participated in a television programme/documentary, called ‘Back to Arnhem’, in the 1980’s. A film crew followed him and other Arnhem Veteran’s on one of the September pilgrimages.

‘Dickie’ Minns died on 12 October 2012.

LAST POST. 1st Airborne Recce Squadron Newsletter, No 72, January 2013. (‘Pip’ Tyler)

RICHARD (DICKIE) Minns was a very popular member of the Squadron Recce OCA and always had a fund of stories about the Squadron and if for nothing else will be remembered for that. Dickie joined the Sqdn early in 1944 and flew with the Sqdn to Arnhem and jumped with A troop. Changes had to be made to the loading of the jeeps as some did not arrive and Dickie was moved to the second jeep with his Bren gun and was soon on his way to the Bridge but sadly was caught in an ambush and badly wounded. The Germans took away some wounded men but left Dickie as they thought he was dead. The next day Some Recce men came along and found him and took him to a field dressing station but unfortunately this was captured by the Germans and he was taken to a hotel in Apeldoorn turned into an emergency hospital for British Prisoners where, he reports he was treated very well. When he was well enough he was moved to a POW Camp and when the war was over came back to the UK where he was demobbed in June 1945.

Later with other Recce Squaddies he took part in making a film about the Sqdn in Arnhem (from which much of his story about Arnhem was gleaned). On return, with his brother, he developed a machine for flattening corrugated metal sheeting and selling the flat sheets. He spent some months in Australia but also set up a hairdressing saloon for his wife Ivy who died in 2003. They had a daughter Linda and grandson Jaimie who all miss him very much. Dickie enjoyed making things (like the metal flattening machine) and travelling and in particular going to Arnhem and Squadron Reunions.

A true HERO who is sorely missed.

NOTES:

[1] 1 Airborne Recce Squadron Newsletter No 49, October 1998.

[2] Letter to Bob Hilton from ‘Dickie’ Minns. 14 August 1996.