Private Edward Chilton

3191430 Private Edward Chilton, No.19 Platoon, "D" Company, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment. "Ned" or "Nipper" Chilton, of 60 Edward Street, Blaydon-on-Tyne, County Durham, was born on the 7th December 1918. Having worked as a labourer, he enlisted on the 16th October 1939. He was posted as missing at Arnhem on the 20th September, though he himself recorded it as the 21st. On the 20th September, No.19 Platoon was acting as a standing patrol at a crossroads along the Oosterbeekscheweg, to the north of Heveadorp, about a mile from the remainder of "D" Company. Having ambushed a German patrol and knocked out an armoured car, they attempted to withdraw to the British lines during the night, but a fair number became casualties or were captured as they encountered enemy patrols. Chilton was likely taken prisoner at this time. His POW number was 075497, and having been held at Stalag XIIA at Limburg in September 1944, he was moved to Stalag IVB at Muhlberg in October, before being transferred to Stalag IVC at Teplitz in January 1945, from which time until his liberation he worked at a railway work camp at Komatau. Copyright: Isobel Lauder.

Edward Chilton's invitation to the premiere of A Bridge Too Far, at the Odeon, Newcastle. Copyright: Isobel Lauder.