A-I, J-Z, Research Ads, New Ads

The following adverts have been placed recently and are shown in the order in which they were added. This is intended for the benefit of people who check the Veterans Ads section regularly and find it difficult to sort between the new and the old in the main alphabetical A-Z list. Copies of all these adverts can also be found in the A-Z section, and will be removed from this section after a period of several months.

Jan Siedlecki (added 12/11/08)

I am researching my fathers role in the Garden element of Market Garden. He arrived at Nijmegan via the Seatail from Tilbury. I would like information on one particular incident on the 7th of October 1944 in which there was an unfortunate case of friendly fire which saw the death of three Polish paratroopers. Their names were Cpl Stefan Plechta, L/Cpl Mania Bolesian, L/Cpl Jozef Szkwarek who died of wounds on the 9th of October 1944. There was I believe a fourth member of that Polish patrol, his name was Jan Siedlecki (my father) who I think was a L/Cpl. My father survived having been shot twice in the back. I understand the unit involved was the Grenadier Guards who challenged the Poles, when the Poles answered in Polish the Guards opened fire. This incident was covered in the book,"Poles Apart"by George F Cholewczynsky but it was just a brief mention with no details. I believe he may have been taken to a field hospital in Neerloon but I am unsure. I have his war records which do not shed any light on this incident. If any one knows about this incident or by some miracle news of my father I would be more than happy to hear from you. He was in the Transport and Supply Company. John Walker, johnwalker1944@btinternet.com

Thomas Lawlor (added 05/11/08)

My grandfather fought in the parachute regiment in world war 2. His name is also Thomas Lawlor and he came from York Road in Dun Laoighre Co. Dublin in Ireland. Sadly my grandfather died in 1990 and I never got to ask him about his experience or where he fought. My email address is thomasmlawlor@eircom .net, any help you could give me would be really helpful. Thomas Lawlor.

Sgt Edgar Toseland (added 05/11/08)

I am from the first air landing anti tank battery R.A. I was looking for old friends from this battery. Sargeant Edgar Toseland, edgar@flipperclub.fsnet.co.uk

Loftus Wagenmakers (KIA 20/09/44) (added 09/10/08)

I am doing research on the name Wagenmakers. One of my relatives, Loftus Wagenmakers of the 156th Parachute Battalion, died 20-09-1944. He was part of operation Market Garden. I would like to come in contact with anyone who has known Loftus, or knows about his parents and relatives. His parents were Sietse Djurre Wagenmakers and Ada Malone. Piet Boltjes, pboltjes@planet.nl

Pte Reg Emmins (added 09/10/08)

My late father Reginald William Emmins, served with the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, 'T' Company, No.9 platoon service No 5679008. Having been in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Arnhem, where he was wounded in the head at 6pm on Monday the 18th September whilst fighting on the way to the bridge at Arnhem. Reg was taken prisoner on the 26th September and sent to Stalag XIB Fallingbostal, later he was taken to work in a lead mine until liberated by American Forces in 1945. I would like to contact anyone who served with him or could give me any more information about him. Les Emmins, les.emmins@yahoo.co.uk

Pte William "Bill" McCutcheon (added 09/10/08)

My grandfather served in 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, from the early days of its existence. He joined from (what my grandmother believes to be) No. 5 Commando and served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and returned to participate in Operation Market Garden. He was stationed for a time in Grimsthorpe Castle. I would be very interested to learn of any details pertaining to him, as he passed away in 1987 and I have very few details as to his career in the army. Ian McCutcheon, IM@stgaerospace.com

Pte Sidney Ellis (KIA 18/09/44) (added 19/09/08)

Sidney Ellis (6974976), 38 years old, 1st Parachute Battalion, is my Grandfathers brother, I would like to find out any information about him. Born Belfast, Northern Ireland, son of William and Clara Ellis, husband of Elizabeth Ellis. Former Royal Irish Fusiliers. Tracey Poole, traceyandgreg@hotmail.com

Cyril E. Smith (KIA 18/09/44)

1st Parachute Battalion. Looking for information about Cyril E. Smith  killed on the 18th September 1944,  Arnhem ( Market garden ) . He was from Hertfordshire. Trina S. Jensen, trina.jensen@gauldalen.no

43rd Wessex Division RE (added 27/08/08)

I would like to find some people that were in the 43rd Wessex Division of the Royal Engineers in the Middle East in 1944 for my Granddad. I would like to find anyone who was there. He has mentioned a guy called Jack Frost. Russell Silcock, russell.silcock@birkbys.co.uk

Princess Irene Brigade (added 27/08/08)

I am trying to find any links, documents, old memories, photo etc, contacts, etc of The Prinsesirene Brigade and their stop at a place called Ranton Abbey. On the early hours of 6 March 1941 a great fire tore through the old shooting lodge while the Brigade occupied it, leaving it a ruin to this very day. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Malcolm Halsall, malchalsall@hotmail.com

Charlie Edward Whatton (added 11/08/08)

Looking for information on my uncle, Charlie Edward Whatton, 1919 - 2002. Born in lived, in Islington up to about 1960. According to both his sisters Charlie parachuted into Arnhem and was amongst the fortunate ones to escape over the Rihine. I would much appreciate hearing from anyone that might know anything of Charlie Whatton, in particular I would like to know the unit/ regiment in which he served. Keith Stone, km.stone@home.nl

Ronald Cecil Mawer / Charles Gavaghan (added 01/08/08)

Ronald Cecil Mawer served with the 1st Air landing Light Regiment R A. He was in Sicily and then at Arnhem where he spent some time in a canal and was then rescued by the local people and hidden in the cellar of a café. When it was safe for them to leave he and his pal were given a tulip shaped ear ring. On his return to England he was sent to India to recuperate from scarlet fever. Charles Gavaghan was my second cousin - I know a brief outline of his service but additional information would be nice. If there are any photographs of either men that would also be good. Michael Proctor, Michael.Proctor@bankofengland.co.uk

L/Sgt Edgar Payling (added 01/08/08)

Does anyone have contact details for surviving members of 2nd South Staffs who served in Sicily or Arnhem and who might have known my father, 1472753 L/Sgt Edgar Payling? He served with 2nd South Staffs in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and at Arnhem, where he was a member of S Company. Wounded and taken prisoner at Arnhem he was a POW at Stalag 11B (Fallingbostel) and at Stalag 8C (Sagan) from where he took part in the "Death March" before being repatriated in 1945. He was a particular friend of 879874 Jackie Bissell, also of S Company, who escaped from Arnhem. BryanPayling@aol.com

Lt Albert Edwin Baker (added 25/06/08)

I am writing this on behalf of Mrs Jannie Luisman - de Jonge , she is doing some investigation for some families which hid Captain A.E. Baker during 1944-1945. Captain Baker's nickname was Duggie. He arrived in Holland September 1944 and was wounded. Prisoner of War October 20 1944 and escaped October 26 1944. Hidden by Dutch families and liberated by Canadian troops on April 5 1945. April 1946 stationed in Triëst  north Italy working for General Staff of a group Headquartes. Name of his wife is Fifi , Captain Baker died in 1975. Mrs. Jannie Luisman is looking for descendants of Captain Baker, who has at least one son ( 1943 ) and a daughter ( 1944 ) . Any information concerning the descendants of Captain Baker will be greatly appreciated. Herman Redder, h.redder2@kpnplanet.nl

"Lloyd" James McKenna (added 25/06/08)

Joined the army while living in Quebec and was one of the first Canadian paratroopers to be sent over to England where he met my grandfather Arthur Andrew Vickers of Liverpool. Lloyd was last seen defending the bridge over the Rhine river in Arnhem on September 21, 1944 and was reported MIA on September 22, 1944. He is buried in Osterbeek Arnhem Cemetery. I have no other information on him and would love to hear from others that may have served with him or knew of him as well as any photographs they may have. Meaghan Dempster, Snikelfrit@hotmail.com

Lieutenant Arthur Vickers (added 25/06/08)

My grandfather who I sadly never got to meet joined the army while living in Liverpool and was placed in the same 11th Battalion Parachute Regiment as my great uncle [see "Lloyd" James McKenna, above]. They met each other and became close friends, and when my uncles belongings needed to be brought back to his family in Quebec, Canada he took them himself and delivered them to Alice Mckenna, Lloyd's sister. A few years later Arthur married Lloyd's sister Alice and that is how my Grandfather met my Grandmother. Any stories or information from others would be a great asset to my family and especially me. Meaghan Dempster, Snikelfrit@hotmail.com