Captain John B Roberts

John B Roberts was the elder son of George B Roberts, of Forfar.

In March 1945 Lieutenant Roberts, with 716 (Airborne) Light Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps, landed by glider in Germany for Operation Varsity.

According to the War Diary, Lt Roberts was ordered to take ammunition to 5 Brigade and ran into an enemy patrol which had already taken three other men prisoner.

As they were marched through the woods, they came under fire, and Lt Roberts took an opportunity to speak to the German Officer:

‘Lt. Roberts during the night informed the Officer in command of the Enemy Troops that the War was over and it was no use carrying on any longer, the enemy Officer was quite prepared to give in if he could be assured that he and his men would not be shot on capture. After much talk on both sides it was decided that Lt. Roberts and 1 of the enemy should pass over to the British lines leave our 4 O.Rs (Other Ranks) in the enemy hands as hostages. The German O.R. was given assurances in our lines that they would not be shot if they gave themselves up as prisoners. Lt. Roberts then returned to the German lines with the enemy O.R. and without any further trouble was able to take the lot prisoner amounting to sixty odd prisoners.’ From the War Diary of 716 Coy, with kind permission of The Pegasus Archive.