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Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Guy Loder-Symonds
Unit : Headquarters Royal Artillery, 1st Airborne Division
Army No. : 56606
Awards : Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Military Cross.
My thanks to Bob Hilton for compiling the following biography.
Robert Loder-Symonds was born on the 1st March 1913 and was killed in an aircraft accident on the 11th November 1945 in the Far East. Into his 32 years he had packed a record of military experiences and acts of gallantry that had seldom been surpassed in the history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
After joining the Regiment in 1933 from the SHOP, he spent the years prior to the war in the normal activities of a young officer, but finding particular distinction in steeplechasing. His Jacket was awarded in 1938, and with the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery he went out to France with the British Expeditionary Force in the autumn of 1939. During the debacles of the following spring he proved himself in action and was successful in escaping from the general surrender at St Valery of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, whom his regiment were supporting at the time.
The re-formed 1st Regiment R.H.A, with Robert as Adjutant, was sent to Egypt in 1940, and during General Wavell's victorious campaign in the Western Desert he began to show the brilliance that made him famous even in that distinguished company of soldiers. He spent the summer of 1941 as B-Battery Commander in the 1st Regiment R.H.A, who were the backbone of the Gunners in the garrison of Tobruk, and emerged with them in November 1941 to join the Eighth Armies advance to El Agheila.
After a brief respite in Cairo, Robert once more commanded a battery through the long battles of the summer of 1942 which culminated in the withdrawal to the Alamein Line. Here a serious wound closed his desert career; and, wearing two D.S.O's and M.C., he was sent to hospital in South Africa.
On return to England in 1943 he commanded the 92nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in the 11th Armoured Division until a new phase of his activities began with his appointment as the first Commander Royal Artillery of the 1st Airborne Division. His actions at Arnhem earned him the American D.S.C. and promotion to the rank of Brigadier, and he remained as C.R.A. of the Division in England and in Norway during the last summer of the war, until he was specially selected to go out to the Far East as C.R.A. of the 5th Indian Infantry Division for the final assault on Malaya. The way of fate ordained an air accident after the war, and during the liberation of Java his brilliant career was brought to an end.
Account of his part in the battle of Arnhem. On the Sunday 17th September 1944, at 17.00 hours, he accompanied Maj-Gen Urquhart when he went to find Brigadier Lathbury. When Urquhart couldn't find Lathbury on the southern (river) route he moved up onto the centre route to find him at the HQ of the 3rd Para Bn under Lt-Col Fitch. At this stage Loder-Symonds became separated from the General and made his way back to Divisional HQ.
On the afternoon of Tuesday 19th September the CRA decided that the enemy pressure from the North and West was endangering No 1 and No 2 Battery's of the Light Regiment so they should move down to the area of the Oosterbeek Church and join No 3 Battery and thus form a Regimental position.
The five surviving guns of the Independent Polish Brigade were put under control of the HQ, RA on Wednesday 20th September. They joined a mixture of guns in the Divisional perimeter and ad-hoc groups were formed to defend the area of Divisional HQ. During the day the CRA ran across the road from Div HQ to direct the fire of a 17 pounder facing east towards Arnhem at the approach of an enemy tank.
At 09.00 hours on Thursday 21st September the CRA was going round the Light Regiment's area, with General Urquhart and the Commanding Officer, Lt-Col 'Sheriff' Thompson. His personal account states; "The last place we visited was 1st Light Battery's Headquarters. Entering in the wake of the Divisional Commander, I saw Captain McMillan (1 FOU) speaking to the CRA and handing him his head-set and microphone. From the CRA's expectant attitude I could see that there was something important in the air. Several times he called up saying he was 'Sunray' (the code-name for a commander) and then, 'Yes, and my Christian name is Robert', then, 'Wait!' For a few moments he looked puzzled and slightly amused and then with great gusto he called up and said, 'Yes, Armitage, Charles Armitage!' Turning to the Divisional Commander, he announced that we were through by wireless to 64 Medium Regiment. The tense atmosphere in the Command Post relaxed in a sense of elation. It was great news. 'The guns. Thank God, the guns!' in a new setting. The apparently irrelevant wireless conversation had resulted from the efforts of 64 Medium Regiment to establish the identity of our station beyond all doubt. To do this their Adjutant had asked our CRA whether he had a friend called Charles in his old regiment who was now a big 'Seagull' in a land formation (Charles Armitage was BM, RA at 11th Armoured Division). We were now linked by wireless to the Corps Artillery through 64 Medium Regiment and from now on they gave the Division continuous support. This fire, mostly near extreme range of their guns was directed with astonishing accuracy on to targets in close proximity to our positions. Moreover, this RA net was the only link between the Division and XXX Corps and over it passed much vital General Staff signal traffic in addition to the fire orders".
Responsibility for the wireless link was later transferred to another FOU officer, Captain O'Grady, at HQ, RA under the control of the CRA and his staff.
Friday 22nd September, 06.45 hours, the CRA sent a message to 64th Medium Regiment which read: "Support excellent. Having magnificent results. Must have more regiments at earliest opportunity, especially field regiments from relieving formation". At 07.20 hours the CCRA at XXX Corps signalled: "can you send latest sit-rep [Situation report] We are driving on hard". The CRA at the Hartenstein replied: "No change. We shall be glad to see you". On the Sunday 24th September the CRA had a lucky escape from a snipers bullet while standing in the entrance of the HQ, RA dug-out talking to Major Philip Tower. It was on this day that air support became available to the Division and targets were chosen in the North-West corner of the perimeter by the CRA for rocket firing Typhoons to engage. These were reported as being 'highly successful', as well as providing a welcome boost to the morale of the troops on the ground.
On the morning of Monday 25th September Lt-Col Loder-Symonds conducted a highly unusual observed shoot - an opportunity not often presented to a CRA in the course of a battle. A body of enemy infantry was seen to have established themselves in a wood about 250 yards to the South of his position, in a direct line between him and the guns at Nijmegen. Making his observations from the entrance to his dug-out and using the 419th Heavy Battery at a range of 19,000 yards, he gave the map reference and called for a ranging round which landed close to the target. Then after giving an adjustment, he ordered a concentration of all four guns and watched with satisfaction as the shells fell amongst the enemy.
Lt. G. Ryall (Liaison Officer, 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery), who spent much of the battle with his anti-tank guns near Divisional HQ, wrote: "I should like to pay my own tribute to our CRA, Colonel Loder-Symonds, who was an inspiration to us all. Very clever and brave, yet at the same time kind and understanding, he helped me enormously during what was a most severe battle inoculation".
As a man Robert was gay, charming, persuasive, and a friend to be with in any circumstances, happy or sad. Originality, abounding energy and immense capacity were qualities most apparent in him. His very wealth of talents perhaps made it difficult for him to understand the weaknesses of others, and caused him to develop a certain ruthlessness bordering on intolerance that might be called a fault.
As a soldier, as which he will chiefly remembered, his record alone is sufficient to indicate his greatness. Different weapons, terrains, different ways of going to battle, all were apparently equally simple to Robert. His power of decision, however complex or threatening the battle, was outstanding, and this, linked with his ability to treat each situation on its merits alone, made him a leader whose very presence would always fire his subordinates to tremendous efforts. Above all, he was a very brave man, and that tall, thin figure will always remain in one's mind, standing in nonchalant conversation while every sort of enemy missile was bursting around him, unnoticed by him - but not by his probably reluctant companions. Some thought that he really liked a battlefield.
A dynamic leader, his loss so young robbed the Royal Regiment of Artillery of its brightest rising star.
He is buried in Jakarta War Cemetery, Plot 5, Row F, Grave 2.
Promotions.
2nd/Lt. 31.08.1933
Lt. 31.08.1936
A/Capt. 07.04.1940 - 06.07.1940
T/Capt. 07.07.1940 - 07.07.1941
WS/Capt. 08.07.1941
Capt. 31.08.1941
A/Maj. 08.04.1941 - 07.07.1941
T/Maj. 08.07.1941 - 21.10.1942, 02.02.1943 - 17.12.1943
WS/Maj. 18.12.1943
A/Lt-Col. 18.09.1943 - 17.12.1943
T/Lt-Col. 18.12.1943 - 28.03.1945
WS/Lt. 29.03.1945
A/Col. 29.09.1944 - 28.03.1945
T/Col. 29.03.1945
A/Brig. 29.09.1944 - 28.03.1945
T/Brig. 29.03.1945
Official Military Career.
Educated at the Royal Military Academy.
31.08.1933. Commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Jan 1937. Posted to 22nd Field Brigade, RA. (Shorncliffe)
Jan 1939 - 30.04.1940. 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Bulford, UK, France)
01.05.1940 - 07.04.1941. Adjutant, 1st Regiment, R.H.A. (France, UK, Egypt)
08.04.1941 - Summer 1942. Battery Commander, 1st Regiment, R.H.A. (Tobruk, Alamein; wounded)
23.09.1943 - 26.01.1944. Commanding Officer, 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (UK)
Jan 1944 - Summer 1945. C.R.A. 1st Airborne Division (UK, Arnhem [evacuated], Norway)
Summer 1945 - 11.11.1945. C.R.A. 5th Indian Infantry Division (Burma)
Awards.
D.S.O. 24.02.1942. Middle East (Egypt & Libya)
D.S.O. 13.08.1942. Middle East (Egypt & Libya)
M.C. 08.07.1941. Middle East, Dec 1940-Feb 1941 (Egypt & Libya)
M.I.D. 30.12.1941. Middle East, Feb 1941-Jul 1941
M.I.D. 30.06.1942. Middle East, Jul 1941-Oct 1941
D.S.C. (US) 14.11.1947. Arnhem, Sep 1944
Freedom Cross 17.10.1946. Norway
Sources. The Royal Artillery Commemoration book 1939-45. The Gunners at Arnhem, by Peter Wilkinson, MC.