Private Charles Reilly

Charles Reilly, known as 'Charlie' has the birth date of 27 February 1914 recorded on his service record. (However, this is believed to be factually incorrect. As Charles was actually born on the 29 February 1913, but had been refused entry previously into the Royal Navy due to being too old and thus moved his birth date making him a year younger).

Private Reilly was described as being a shop assistant prior to enlistment. Charles’ hometown was recorded as being Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

On the 22 December 1934 he Enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Charles enlisted at the Army Barracks at Omagh, County Tyrone. (Family sources state that Charles cycled from his home with a younger brother. Having enlisted and having received the King's shilling, he gave the money and bicycle to his brother and entered Army life).

1934-5-Undertook army training. Charles became a Sapper, with a specialism of that of a signaller.

1935-1940-Served as an Inniskilling Fusilier-seeing extensive Army service abroad in locations including India, Singapore, Nepal, China and South Africa.

In 1936, Charles was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal however later that year he ‘relinquished this position at his own request.’

On the 13 April 1940 Charles was posted to the 304th ITC, (a training unit).

On the 9 October 1940 Charles was posted to the 307th Infantry holding battalion.

It was in 1940, (from Family knowledge) that Charles was posted to Walsall, Staffordshire (as it was then) where he was involved in training other troops in signalling and the use of army radio & other means of communications.

Walsall has something of a quirk in that a well-known centre point of the town is known as ‘The Bridge’ although this structure was removed and covered by modern roads by the time Charles arrived in the Town.

Whilst seeking to meet a friend at The Bridge, Charles became disorientated. He thus asked a young Walsall lady, Emily Keats for directions. This seemingly trivial interaction was to have life-changing consequences for them both. A romance blossomed and they were married on the 12 February 1942 and later had a daughter, Sheila. They were to be married for over forty years until Charles’ untimely death in 1985.

Between August and November 1940, Coventry was the subject of sustained bombing raids by the German Luftwaffe. The most severe of these raids took place on the 14 November 1940. From family knowledge, Charles was sent to Coventry on multiple occasions during this period with other colleagues to search through bomb debris to find survivors and those killed in the raids. He found this a most harrowing task.

Records show that on the 22 March 1941, Charles effectively re-joined the 2nd battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Belfast and was posted overseas. 

Whilst his regiment was initially destined for India, Charles and his peers were diverted to take part in another operation prior to reaching the Raj.

The island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa, was of strategic importance during World War 2, due to its position close to Allied shipping lanes and the fact that it had several harbours that could be used by Axis (German and Japanese ships and submarines). In 1942, it was under the control of Vichy French forces.

‘Operation Ironclad’ was the Allied campaign to wrest control of the island back to the Allies.

This commenced with an amphibious operation that was considerable in size. There were over 50 Naval ships in the invasion fleet, (including two British aircraft carriers) and three waves of over 13,000 Allied troops were landed.

Charles’s regiment at this time was part of the British 13th Infantry Brigade (of the 5th Division) and landed near Diego Suarez as part of the third wave on the day after main invasion day, 6 May 1942.

Although the landings were unopposed, over 100 Allied lives were lost in subsequent fighting before Vichy forces retreated into the jungle and the island ultimately became under Allied control.

Although now perhaps merely seen as footnote of history, it is worth noting that the amphibious phase was the first such operation attempted by British Forces since the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of the Great War.

Charles and his unit re embarked on a ship and headed once more for India on the 19 May 1941.

In the coming weeks and months, Charles was struck down by a significant bout of cerebral malaria-(not perhaps surprising given that there is mention of Allied troops wading through swamps to capture strategic objectives during the early part of the ‘ironclad’ campaign).

He spent time in hospital in Bombay and then Poona in India before recovering his health and returning to his unit.

On the 28 August 1942, records show Charles disembarking at Basra, Iraq.

Records show he became part of the PAI (Palestine and Iraq) force formally on the 25 February 1943.

Family knowledge suggests that Charles’ main function was to guard the pipelines that were facilitating the shipment of oil from the teeming port of Basra via the Arabian Gulf to Russia.

This posting, it transpired was a ‘dry’ one, with little or no alcohol available. Coupled with the conditions at play- (red hot in the day and freezing cold at night) as well as the sheer distance from home, Charles soon tired of this role.

So, when granted the opportunity Charles immediately volunteered to undertake hazardous duties with the Army Air Corps along with many others.

Records show Charles was posted to The 156 Parachute Battalion on the 29 April 1943. He was moved to Palestine where The 156 was assembling and training.

Further records from the Battalion showed that Charles undertook his parachute training at RAF Rhamat David near Nazareth in Palestine on course number 37 in May 1943. The records show he undertook five separate jumps.

Charles was due additional ongoing, continuous ‘para pay’ which was accorded to him on for the first time on the 30 April 1943.

On the 26 May 1943, Charles along with the rest of The 156 Parachute Battalion embarked from Alexandria in Egypt bound for Tripoli in the then British North Africa.

On the 9 September 1943, Charles took part in Operation Slapstick.  With the rest of 156 Parachute Battalion, he embarked on the warship USS Boise at Bizerta in Tunisia which sailed, and which docked and then disembarked in Taranto in Italy.

The 156 then spearheaded the advance and were involved in the seizure of strategic high ground and the Gioia del Colle Air Base.

Between 15 and 19 September 1943 records show Charles was in hospital although there are no more details recorded as regards his condition or how indeed it was sustained.

On the 22 November, Charles and the rest of The 156 sailed from Taranto back to the UK on the troopship ‘Staffordshire’, disembarking on the 10 December 1943 at Liverpool.

The 156 moved to the Melton Mowbray area of Leicestershire as part of the build-up to the invasion of Europe.

Private Reilly had been well assimilated into The 156 Battalion by this time, being given the role of that as a signaller in the 156 Headquarters Company. Given this, he was billeted in Staveley Lodge just outside of the Town Centre.

Charles arranged for his wife Emily to stay on occasion with a local Family in Melton Mowbray.

Family knowledge of events around this time includes memories of Emily being inside Staveley Lodge itself with Charles when Lt Colonel Des Voeux (head of The 156 Battalion) walked past them both, causing instant saluting from Charles and some nervous tension from Emily!

Indeed, Emily often spoke of Des Voeux and what she described as a distinctive ‘pom pom’ military hat/beret that he wore.

On other occasions, Emily travelled to Melton Mowbray, enduring a lengthy journey in war time via the rail network to see Charles for the weekend. However, she was often told on arrival that the Battalion was confined to barracks and thus her journey had been in vain.

It was a feature of the 4th Parachute brigade personnel at this time that they were frustrated in not being included in the initial Operation Overlord plans and subsequent actions to invade Europe.

The frustrations were increased by the number of cancelled operations and the use of some of the Brigade as agricultural laborers in the local area.

Charles evidently shared these frustrations. Coupled with his new marriage to Emily in relatively nearby Walsall, Charles went AWOL on a number of occasions throughout the Spring and Summer of 1944, albeit for short periods of a number of days before always returning to Staveley Lodge.

Any relatively minor infraction however must be viewed with the knowledge that The 156 were becoming more likely to be used in the on-going drive to win the war in The West.

Charles was thus a member of The 156 for its defining moment, Operation Market Garden-the audacious bid to end the war in 1944.

The 156 were part of the second lift and landed on the outskirts of Oosterbeek on Drop Zone Y on the afternoon of Monday 18 September 1944.

Much of what follows as regards Charles’ involvement in this battle and subsequent events comes from oral historical testimony provided by Charles to his wife Emily and his daughter Sheila.

Charles landed on the ‘Great Heath’ under fire.

Private Reilly then made his way on foot with the rest of The 156 towards the town of Arnhem in support of the other Airborne division that was already in position holding the road bridge but in need of support.

Charles spoke of seeing the patients of the Wolfheze mental health asylum on the first day that he landed, that had been subject of bombing prior to the landings. He described their overt distress of the circumstances that they had been subjected to.

Charles spent much of the next few days in the woods between Oosterbeek and Arnhem.

He spoke specifically of the brutality of the fighting in the woods during those days. He described as the fighting as being confused, at extremely close quarters (hand to hand in some cases) and of seeing many of his friends being killed.

Many years later, whilst watching the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’ about Operation Market Garden, a scene in the film showed fighting in the woods. He was asked if the scene was realistic. He replied that it was, and that he was going to bed. Clearly, Charles did not wish to describe in depth his experience of what had taken place.

Charles did say, on other occasions that he was a close eyewitness on the 19 September when elements of the Polish airborne forces landed by glider. Charles stated that the Germans absolutely slaughtered the Poles and treated them with contempt.

Later during his time in the woods, Charles stated that he saw Brigadier Hackett.

Furthermore, Charles described being with a group of other paratroopers and running through the German lines into the haven of the enclave of the Oosterbeek perimeter.

Charles often said of his time in the Oosterbeek perimeter that British paratroopers would be in one part of a house and have to flee when German troops would storm another part of it.

Private Reilly also spoke of being exhausted and not sleeping for days within the confines of the perimeter. The Germans called the perimeter ‘Der Hexenkessel’ or the ‘witches’ cauldron’. During this time, Charles and the remainder of the Allied airborne forces were subject of constant bombardment.

As well as infantry attacks (Waffen SS), The Germans used Nebelwefers (rockets), mortars and other heavy artillery from guns and tanks to pound the airborne troops and their positions.

The Allied land forces also sought to support the enclave by the use of longer-range artillery on German positions-which were in close direct proximity to airborne troops. Charles’ eyesight was badly affected and his fillings fell out, by the constant shellfire and he became, at that point at least, blinded.

On the 25 September 1944, the fit and able remainder of the airborne forces withdrew from the perimeter. With the help of Canadian Sappers, they evacuated across the nearby river the Neder Rhine to safety. However, most of the airborne forces remained behind either captured, injured or killed.

From family knowledge, as the German tanks pushed The 156 back, Charles got cut off and hid in vegetation but was found and taken in captivity by the Germans. This is corroborated by his service record, which shows him as recorded as missing on the 25 September, when a roll call was taken for The 156 on the other side of the river from Oosterbeek.

He recounted: "Often the Germans would be in part of a house and we would be in another. I've seen death and I'm no longer afraid. I've seen men die laughing and I've seen men die crying for their mothers".

Obviously, Emily and his Family were hugely concerned as to Charles’ health and whereabouts. However, they were comforted to an extent by a letter that they received from an Officer in The 156 Parachute Battalion, Lt Piers St Aubyn.

The letter (handwritten) stated that St Aubyn had seen Charles alive and well in the perimeter and that he believed that it was likely that Charles was a Prisoner of War. 

This was indeed correct. Charles was taken to a nearby Hospital. He was examined by a German Army Doctor, who patched his eyes and stated that he would likely fully regain his sight in a relatively short period of time. This was indeed the case.

Prisoner of War records obtained from the National Archives at Kew in London show Charles being recorded as under the process camp Stummlager 12 A at Limburg, Germany as soon as on the 25 September 1944-the day he was captured.

The record shows Charles being moved to Stalag 11b, Fallingbostel, Germany on the 10 October 1944.

Family knowledge from Charles’ own account about his journey to the prisoner of war camps includes an incident that took place at a railway station platform. Charles was present with other British prisoners of war. A Dutch resistance worker was included amongst them. An SS Officer called the Dutchman forward and asked him why he was in the group. The man stated that he had been helping administer first aid and had been mistakenly arrested. The Officer summarily shot the man in the head, killing him instantly.

Charles was outraged at what he had witnessed and stepped out of line to remonstrate. The Officer pistol whipped Charles hard to the jaw with the butt of his pistol. This left a scar on his chin that was there for the rest of his life.

On the 2 November 1944, Charles’ name was amongst those recorded in a telegram sent from Berlin by the Red Cross confirming that he was a Prisoner of War. At that point, the POW camp was unstated, but Emily found out soon after this that he was at Stalag 11b.

Emily spent much hard-earned money and time in sending weekly food parcels and letters to Charles at Stalag 11b. Unfortunately, none of them ever got to Charles and conditions for him and all POW’s deteriorated as the Nazi State crept ever closer to defeat in the later part of 1944 and early 1945.

Family knowledge relating to Charles’ service as a POW was that he was, along with other airborne troops made to work down an iron ore mine. By this time, footwear had either been confiscated to prevent escape or not been replaced. Thus, Charles undertook hard labour in either rough clogs or barefoot.

Charles provided an account whereby there was a large closing tool chest in the mine. The POW’s took turns to close themselves in to get a little sleep and gain at least some break from their ordeal.

By April 1944, the German State was crumbling.

On the or about the 12-13 April, the Camp Authorities roused the men in camp to prepare them to march to an undisclosed new location as the sound of artillery fire could be heard and it was getting closer.

Charles took the opportunity to lock himself in a shed and escape from his captivity.

After two days and nights on the run, he met up with Allied (American) lines. He described having his picture taken with him sat on the top of an American tank, but this image has never been seen by either Charles or Family members.

Charles spoke to an American Officer, who asked him if he wanted a watch. Charles had lost his personal possessions because of being POW. The Officer lifted his sleeve to reveal a whole arm full of watches! Charles duly selected one and cherished it but sadly lost it in the post-war years during his employment as a foundry worker in the Walsall area, coincidentally on the day his daughter Sheila was born.

Official records show him to have reached Allied lines on the 13/4/45, having been a POW for 201 days according to official records. Charles returned to the UK on the 14/4/45, with Stalag x11b being liberated on the 16 of April.

Charles returned to his married home in the middle of the night within a short time of returning to the UK. He was grossly malnourished and was given a plate of egg and chips from his Mother-in-law. Sadly, due to his starvation diet during captivity this made Charles violently ill. He was placed under the care of a local GP who had experience of famine in India and who gradually built up his strength with a closely managed diet.

VE day followed soon after (8 May 1945) and Charles was given the option of a permanent position in the Army Post Office in Nottingham. However, Charles always stated that Arnhem had finished him as regards the army and he always stated that he had seen many of his best friends be killed there. He thus left the Army and took up employment in the Walsall area and settled down to civilian life with Emily.

Charles refused to attend any post war reunions and refused to discuss any of his experiences in detail.

In the early 1980’s, he was subject of a visit from a serving member of the Parachute Regiment, offering support. Charles refused and indeed took himself to bed, leaving Emily to converse with the serviceman on her own!

Having said that, on one occasion when they were alone he showed his young Grandson a tattered newspaper clip of the battle of Arnhem that he had kept in a book on a bookshelf in the lounge of his house.

His grandson never forgot this conversation and has visited Arnhem, the Airborne Museum at IWM Museum at Duxford & recently attended the 80th memorial service to The 156 at St Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray in October 2024.