Gunner Bert G Sims

Bert George Sims from Faversham Kent, worked as a gardener before enlisting into The General Service Corps in December 1942. He was later posted to the Royal Artillery and volunteered of airborne forces.

Gunner Sims was a member of a 17 pounder gun crew in ‘X’ Troop, which was attached to the 4th Parachute Brigade. It was under the command of Lieutenant. G A Paull and flew from RAF Tarrant Rushton in four Hamilcar gliders to Landing Zone ‘X’ near Renkum in Holland as part of Operation Market-Garden on Monday, 18 September 1944.

The glider landed successfully and the gun and crew moved off to link up with the 4th Brigade, where it was in action to the North of the railway line near Joannahoeve farm on the 19 September. Late on the 19 September the 4th Brigade was forced to withdraw back over the railway line to the South and headed towards Oosterbeek, via the Wolfheze railway crossing. The 17 pounder gun did not make it back into Oosterbeek, and it was abandoned north of the railway line. Gunner Sims remained in Oosterbeek near the main HQ and took part in the street fighting.He returned across the river on the night of 25 September 1944.

He went on to serve in Norway and Bombay before demob in April 1947.