Private James V Fiely

James Fiely was born in Fairview, Dublin and was a jockey. He enlisted into The Royal Berkshire Regiment on 27 July 1939.

He was on Parachute Course 50, at RAF Ringway, 8 – 22 February 1943. This was a Long Course of 2 balloon (one of which was at night) and 5 Whitley aircraft descents of Parachute Brigade Reinforcements. The trainees consisted of 11 Officers and 160 Other Ranks. His Parachute Instructors comments: “Exits generally fairly good, but made some good jumps”. [2]

Upon completion he and four others were posted to the 21st Independent Parachute Company – the Pathfinders for the 1st Airborne Division.

At Arnhem, he served in 5 Section, with Sergeant. Kenneth Phillipson as his Section Commander, and was No 1 on the Bren Gun, with Private. ‘Tommy’ Scullion as his No 2.

In the book “Leading the Way to Arnhem” by Peter Gijbels and David Truesdale, it notes that Jim applied for compassionate leave home to attend his grandmothers funeral.  However, he was spotted by Major Wilson at a racecourse racing on a horse rather than being at the funeral! 

He was killed in action in the area of Annastraat, Oosterbeek on Friday, 22 September 1944.

No 2 Platoon’s job on Sunday, 17 September 1944, was to mark LZ ‘Z’ for the arrival of gliders bringing in the Divisional troops. On the following day – the 18th September, No 2 Platoon was to mark LZ ‘X’ for the arrival of the second glider lift.

On the third day, 19 September, No 2 Platoon was to mark out a Supply Dropping Point near Warnsborn, which could not be completed as it was in enemy hands. After these tasks were all completed, the various Platoons of the Company all headed towards Oosterbeek where the Company took up positions in the north-western part of the village.

Later on the night of 21 September, the Company was ordered to new positions more towards the centre of the village. No 2 Platoon was to occupy some houses around the Pietersbergseweg and Paasberg area. On 22 September 1944, the Company commander; Major Wilson ordered that aggressive patrols be sent out by all Platoons. So in No 2 Platoon area, it was decided to patrol to the east to try and find positions held by the 10th Parachute Battalion around the Annastraat. This patrol was led by Sergeant Philipson and consisted of Corporal Gibson, Private Brown and Private Fiely.

The patrol made it safely to the Annastraat and two of the patrol entered a house, leaving Corporal Gibson and Private Fiely outside. The men inside saw a man in a nearby house and so they shouted out “Are you 10th Battalion?” This was answered by a burst of fire which hit ‘Jim’ Fiely and it is said he was killed instantly. When the German fire relented the three men still standing made it back to ‘safety’ but sadly ‘Jim’ Fiely was left where he fell.

He was initially buried in between the Van Hofwegen laundry and the Benedendorpsweg.

The son of Thomas and Mary Fiely, of Fairview, Dublin, Irish Republic, he was 23 years old. He now lies at rest in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 30. A. 4.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment Transfer & Enlistment Book 07, page 32.

[2] Parachute Course Report R.A.F. Ringway. February 1943.