Sergeant William Fulton

William Fulton was born on 2 May 1919.

He joined the Cheshire Regiment in 1940, and volunteered for The Parachute Regiment in 1943.

Lance Corporal Fulton attended Parachute Training Course 57 at RAF Ringway between 22 March and 11 April 1943. His course report stated that he was a ‘steady, reliable NCO and pupil’.

He was posted to 3 Platoon, A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, and was sent to North Africa as reinforcements for the forces who had dropped at Depienne in November 1942.

He later jumped into Sicily to capture Primosole Bridge, and took part in Operation Slapstick in Taranto, Italy. In November 1943 the Battalion returned to the UK.

On 17 September 1944 he parachuted into Arnhem, landing near Heelsum. He recalled that one of the first things he saw was local Dutch girls running to the Drop Zone to collect parachute silk.

A Company was chosen to spearhead the Battalion’s advance, with the objective of capturing the road bridge, and encountered machine gun fire. Sergeant Fulton reached the bridge after dark, and was ordered to capture the northern end of the bridge with his section. Despite only having seven men, Sgt Fulton led his men up the steps, and was the first British soldier to set foot on the bridge.

Crossing the bridge, Sgt Fulton took two Germans prisoner, and then saw another German with a gun on his left. Sgt Fulton shouted ‘hande hock!’, but the soldier began to jump around and so Sgt Fulton shot him. As he did, the German soldier also fired and wounded Sgt Fulton in the leg.

He recalled: ‘It must have been around 11.30 on the Sunday night. We waited for some German transport to cross and then moved towards the centre of the bridge before opening fire on the Germans. I never did get across the bridge. I caught one in the leg and ended up in the POW hospital. I was lucky to get back.’

Sgt Fulton was carried to the St Elizabeth Hospital, and after two days was taken to Apeldoorn where his leg was put in plaster. He was put on a ward with German patients, and became good friends with two Dutch nurses, who stole sweets and cigarettes for him.

In November he was taken to Stalag XIB in Fallingbostel, Germany as a Prisoner of War, and remained there until the liberation in May.

Bill later spent several decades attempting to track down the two nurses, eventually finding them both in England, and corresponded with them ever since.

Bill, along with his wife Emily were active members of the Parachute Regiment Association. He served as Vice President of the Ellesmere branch and later Secretary of the Wirral branch from 1982 to 1990.

He made pilgrimages to Arnhem for 30 years until his death, and had the honour of leading the parade across the bridge during the 60th anniversary.

Bill Fulton had a great affection for the many Dutch friends he made during his pilgrimages back to Arnhem, and when he died on 15 January 2008, his ashes were buried at Oosterbeek Cemetery.