Corporal Richard R Maryan

Richard Robert ‘Dick’ Maryan was born on the 14 April 1920 and enlisted into The Welch Regiment on the 27 June 1940. [1]

Private Richard Maryan volunteered for Airborne Forces in 1943 and after completing the selection process at Hardwick Hall he attended Parachute Course 61B/62 at RAf Ringway, 26 April – 4 May 1943. This was meant to be a Long Course, but was shortened for operational reasons to two balloon, and just three Whitley aircraft descents. His parachute course report states, ‘Made slow start, but overcame nervousness and finished well’. [2]

He, and the others that had completed the Course, were sent as a reinforcements to the 1st Parachute Brigade, in North Africa, where he was assigned to A-Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion.

He took part in the parachute assault in Sicily, in July 1943, and then the naval landing at Taranto in Italy, in September 1943.

Richard took part in ‘Operation Market’ on the 17 September 1944, jumping with the rest of the 2nd Parachute Battalion onto DZ ‘X’, near Heelsum in Holland, on that sunny Sunday afternoon.

As a member of Lieutenant Robin Vlasto’s 1 Platoon, he was part of the ‘spearhead’ of the Battalion that led the way into Arnhem and he fought at Arnhem Bridge from Sunday night until the Friday morning and kept a detailed diary of events. By this time the men of A-Company had become very mixed up and ‘Dick’ Maryan, who had been in 2 Section, 1 Platoon, found himself with L/Sgt. Neville Ashley of 1 Section, 2 Platoon.

‘Out of ammunition and under heavy fire from all sides Sergeant Ashley led the remaining five men of his Section, accompanied by one German prisoner, down the side of the ramp and into a chamber beneath and built into the bridge. A Tiger Tank arrived and at point blank range proceeded to fire several shells at the door behind which the paratroopers had sought shelter. German engineers equipped with flame-throwers closed in but first threw in smoke grenades to flush out the now blinded men. The prisoner that the Section held offered to go outside offer their surrender if the German troops would hold their fire. This was accepted and the six paratroopers, all of whom now carried wounds, emerged into the open where they were disarmed and told to rest on the grassy side of the ramp. Here the Germans treated their wounds and handed a small barrel of beer around to quench their thirst.’

Pte. ‘Dick’ Maryan: “I was taken Prisoner on Friday morning with Sgt. Ashley, by a group of SS troops that closed in on us, we also had two badly wounded fellows with us, this was their only chance to get Medical treatment, we were taken away through the German lines, only then did we realise what we were up against, it was like running one's head into a Brick Wall trying to fight Tiger Tanks with small arms, there were dozens of them, supporting, God knows how many SS troops, they had to admit, we played hell with them during the five days, and later it came out that their casualties were, by far, heavier in proportion to ours, that gave us some sort of satisfaction.”

He was held in various camps until his escape, these included Bocholt, Dorsten, Stalag XIIA at Limburg, Stalag IVB at Mühlberg, and Halle, next to the Hindenburg Bridge. His POW number was 88912.

Richard was released to the Z/T Reserves on the 22 August 1946. [1]

Richard ‘Dick’ Maryan died on the 29 September 2003.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 07, page 91. [2] Parachute Course Report, R.A.F. Ringway. May 1943.