Captain Charles Bruce Noble
Unit : Headquarters Section, 133 Parachute Field Ambulance
Army No. : 279738
Charles Noble was born on the 7th October 1919, and was from Hamilton, in Scotland [POW questionnaire. 26 April 1945]. He was granted an emergency commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 10th July 1943, and was promoted to war Substantive Captain exactly one year later. He volunteered for Airborne Forces in early 1944 and was posted to the 133rd Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. on the 25th February [133 Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. War Diary, 1944], and then completed Parachute Course 108 at R.A.F. Ringway, 19th - 31st March 1944; his instructor commented: "Above average, confident" [ Parachute Course Report. R.A.F. Ringway. April 1944].
Captain Noble was the Anaesthetist in one of the Surgical Teams in the Headquarters element of the Field Ambulance. As a member of the 3rd Stick of the HQ Section, he took-off from Spanhoe on Monday 18th September 1944 in a C-47 (C/N: 709) of the 315th Troop Carrier Group, U.S.A.A.F., bound for DZ-Y at Ginkel Heath in Holland, as part of the 2nd Lift of Operation Market Garden.
He was captured on the 18th or 19th September 1944, but escaped on the 23rd September, and was recaptured on the 2nd January 1945, whilst attempting to reach the Allied lines. In his POW questionnaire, he stated the following in response to the question of attempted escape: "Yes. Sept 23, 44. Evaded capture until Jan 2nd, 45. Do not know fate of the 8 people with whom captured in Jan. In particular Sgt. Banwell, AAC. (Reported sent back to Gestapo in Holland from Stalag XIB)." In response to the question of whether he was interrogated: "Yes. Arnhem (Velp, 1st Parachute Div, Counter Intelligence). Gestapo Prison in Utrecht and Doetinchem (Holland). Methods: Prolonged questioning. Threatening".
He noted the following places that he was sent to during his time as a POW, with the dates being approximate:
Gestapo Prison, Utrecht, Holland. 18 Jan 45 - 7 Feb 45.
Gestapo Prison, Doetinchem, Holland. 7 Feb - 25 Feb 45.
Dulag, Stalag XIB Falingbostel. 28 Feb - 6 March 45.
A.K. 7001, Hallendorf, nr Brunswick. 6 March - 11 April 45.
Below is a transcript of his hand written report:
To: ADMS. TOP SECRET. East and West Riding District. Escape Report (M.I.9./Gen/22426)
Sir, I have the honour TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING REPORT FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION.
Question (a). I escaped five days after being captured at Ginkel, nr Arnhem on 19 Sep 44. Early on the morning of the 23rd Sep with all the other POW's who had been collected & was taken from the transit camp at AMERSFOORT and placed in the train which was to take us to Germany (Frankfurt). As I was being treated as an ordinary POW and was refused permission to be transferred to attend to casualties of our Division I determined to escape. This was not possible until it became dark. By this time the train had travelled almost to the German frontier, between HEMBELD and ENSCHEDE.
I was in a passenger train compartment with 4 other officers: One of them supplied a compass. The window was unlocked. Guards were in the corridor and at the doors at each end of the corridor down each carriage in the train. When it seemed that no guards were passing along the corridor I opened the window and jumped on to the track. It is difficult to estimate the speed of the train. It was probably travelling at about 25 m.p.h. Apart from minor bruises I was uninjured.
Question (b). No one accompanied me.
Question (c). I was recaptured on 2 January 1945. The following is an account of experiences during this period of freedom.
Believing at that time that the Arnhem operation would succeed and knowing that 30 corps axis of advance was to the north through APELDOORN to the ZUIDER ZEE, I decided to make for the neighbourhood of that town and hide in the woods, until the arrival of the British Forces.
Accordingly, I set out on a course due West, going by compass, avoiding all roads completely and travelling only by night. During the day I hid in farm barns. I started out with about 500 grams of bread and 1 pint of water. Apples were plentiful in the orchards of the country and turnips were available in the fields. After 3 days I reached the branch canal running north from the TWENTHE CANAL near DELDEN. All bridges over the branch canal were guarded. Accordingly, when night fell, I went to an isolated farm house and inquired if they knew any route over the canal. They supplied me with a map and some food. The farmer then took me down to the TWENTHE CANAL lying about 300 yards distant and by signing explained that by going back (east) along to canal to DELDEN, I could cross by the bridge there and proceed unimpeded along the Southern bank as far as ZUTPHEN. (Farmer's name unknown. Farm is situated at WIENE, about 3 km's West of DELDEN, beside the TWENTHE CANAL. The farmer has my name and home address).
Progress along the Southern bank was uneventful for about 5 miles. Several barbed wire entanglements had then to be crossed. After a bit I realised that I had entered some local defence point. The guard was turned out when a sentry heard my steps, but I was able to retrace my steps and turn back Eastwards without incident. The only alternative seemed now to cross the canal and proceed North Westwards. I surmised (wrongly it turned out) that this defence point would be one of a line running from north to south and that it would only be possible to penetrate it in the wooded heathland lying South East of ZWOLLE. I looked for a bridge over the canal which might be unguarded. The fourth one was small and had no sentries. Progress was then simple.
The next day was spent in a barn near the canal and by midnight of that night I had reached the heath. By dawn I had made about 30 miles and was in the village of HAARLE about 12 miles East of the R. IJSEL. The village priest refused to hide me in his church or supply food. Owing to the language difficulty he probably failed to understand the position. That day was spent in the woods nearby. When darkness came the weather broke and I determined to ask [for] help from a large house standing alone in the woods. A walk round it in the woods during the afternoon seemed to indicate that there were no Germans about. Fortunately these people were very pro-English and spoke English well. They supplied me with food and board for the night (Name: De KAMPENAER, SPRINGEMBERS, HAARLE, GELDERLAND). The son, the next morning took me to a little shack in the woods. An Underground worker arrived and supplied me with a set of civilian clothes. (Name: HENDRIJK de PLOOMP, HALLENDOORN (D96?) - occupation: beekeeper - this should be sufficient to contact him). These two took me by cycle, disguised as a Dutch labourer to a little encampment in the woods near RECHTEREN (a village lying between ZWOLLE and OMMEN). At this camp, in hiding were two American pilots (Lieut. VOGEL and 2/Lieut. SOLLERS).
The people in this camp were carrying on a modified guerilla campaign against the local Germans. Their names can be supplied by Dr PAUL de BLECOURT of OMMEN, who was very helpful. A friend of this latter, a mining engineer, also supplied help. COUNT RECHTEREN on whose estate the campaign was, was co-operative.
The question of finding a boat to cross the R. IJSEL now arose and after 10 days in the camp they were able to tell me the location of a boat near a place called HERKULO. Accordingly on Oct 4th I set out, travelled the 10 miles to the river, found the boat and crossed without incident. By dawn I had managed to gain the heathland called the WILDBERG. The next night I travelled down to a village north of APELDOORN called GORTEL. Next evening, food having run out, I approached the local farmer who contacted the forester of the district. They arranged for me to be hidden in a nearby wood and two days later took me (under the protection of the Dutch Police) to the house of Mr. LANSVELT, EPERHEIM, Nr EPE. There I stayed 3 days being supplied with food and clothes. The local Germans became active however and one of their manhunts culminated in a search of the house while I hid in the garden. Since further dwelling in the house did not seem fair to the Lansvelt's I moved into the woods and was supplied by them with food.
After 4 days contact was made with a camp near ELBURG. One afternoon I was taken there by a Mr & Mrs PRINZEL who ran respectively the butcher's and tobacconists shop in EPE. This journey was made in daylight by cycle and went off without incident. PRINZEL supplied money (20 Guilders) and cigarettes. He was later shot by the Germans. The last part of the journey was conducted by a Dutchman and his wife (name unknown - had been a chemist at one time and had lived in Corsica).
The camp was hidden in the woods at a place [called] PAS OP. There were about 80 people in hiding there, mainly elderly Jews. In addition there were 3 RAF Officers. (Flt/Lt's. BLAKENEY, PARSONS and CRAVEN) and 4 USAAF personnel, one an officer (2/Lt. STERNE) and one British glider pilot.
The feeding and care of all Allied personnel in this camp was organised by a group of people led by a woman known as 'TANTA CORA'. Her husband 'OPA' also looked after us. He has since been shot. Their real names and address are probably known to Mrs. PRINZEL.
Two weeks were spent there. Food was short however. I attempted to treat most of the sick Jews but medical supplies were minimal. News arrived that S.S. had moved into the area and all Allied personnel were moved to the house of the supervisor of the Evacuee Camp near ELBURG. We sheltered there 2 days. By this time it seemed that there was but little possibility of the country being liberated until the Spring and we began to inquire as to the possibility of making our way to the Rhine and crossing to the British lines.
News then came through that an attempt was being organised by the British to take all Allied personnel back over the Rhine near WAGENINGEN. The local Underground decided that we would split up in pairs and await this in neighbouring farms. This was done. We waited 3 weeks. With Flt/Lt. PARSONS I stayed in a farmhouse owned by JAN VAN DEN BRINK, near DOORNSPIJK. (This farm is situated on the shore of the ZUIDER ZEE).
During this period food and tobacco, etc, were supplied by the local Underground, organised by a man called 'NICK'. (Address - the white house, outside ELBURG, with the moat, on the ZWOLLE - AMERSFOORT road). His brother also rendered help. 'NICK' has since been shot by the Germans. Help to PARSONS and myself was also rendered by a farmer 'HANNES'. The brother of 'NICK' will be able to identify him. His dwelling is close to that of the BRINK's.
On or about Friday, 17th Nov we were all collected in a barn near ELBURG to await arrival of transport. Altogether about 20 Allied personnel were collected. This was organised by Dr. VAN DYCK of HEERDE, nr EPE and his wife. Dr. Van Dyck has since been shot by the Germans. The transport, however, was stopped by a Wehrmacht Control [Point] and it was not until the following morning that we left in a lorry, disguised as labourers. 2 Sten guns were supplied by the local Underground. By a circuitous route we travelled in the lorry to a point on the EDE - OTTERLOO [road] about 2 ½ miles from the latter place. The lorry was stopped twice by road controls, but otherwise there were no hitches.
On the road we were to be picked up by the main party (125 escapees I have been told - not a reliable figure.) and a British Patrol. Unfortunately we were left at the wrong spot and so missed them. I believe that this party at about midnight was intercepted by the Germans with tragic results. A member of the Underground instructed us to wait in a nearby wood until things were reorganised. That night was spent in the wood. The next day no one appeared and so the following morning food and water supplies being non-existent, I set out on a recce with Capt. REDMAN, RAMC. [227643. Capt. T.F. Redman. R-Section, 133rd Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.] Our numbers by this time had swollen to about 24.
About 2 miles South, on the OTTERLOO - EDE road we contacted a Dutch farmer who seemed to know what had happened 2 nights before and who said he could supply food. I do not know his name. The name of the farm however was WESTERODE. It has since been burnt down. Capt. Redman waited there and I returned to inform the others of the position. On the way back I managed to contact the local gamekeeper who pointed out the somewhat close proximity of Westerode to a German H.Q. He went off and brought back his employer. This latter brought back food in large quantities, tobacco and many clothes. (name unknown. I can only describe him as a large old-nosed man of some education and connected with the Dutch Red Cross. He had spent a large part of his life in [the] Dutch east Indies).
Two police then appeared, having been informed of our whereabouts by 3 of the party who had set out 24 hrs before. They arranged for us all to be taken away on a cart at about 10 o'clock to a barn where we spent 5 days. The following day a person named 'DICK', who seemed connected with British Intelligence arrived and arranged for food and clothing to be brought. The name of the owner of the barn can be supplied by him.
At the end of the 5 days in the barn we were told that a plan to take us off by Dakota was being prepared and that we would wait in the neighbourhood. Accordingly we were split up and I was taken to a house in BARNEVALD on the AMERSFOORT road, where lived the family KLOOSTER. This man has since been killed in a grenade accident during the liberation. This man and his wife had hidden several Allied personnel in their house from time to time. No doubt other reports have mentioned them. It is to be hoped that something can be done for Mrs. KLOOSTER and the children. Latterly there were two USAAF officers and one Canadian private in the KLOOSTER's house.
After 10 days the situation became no longer safe, and I was taken to ACHTERVELD nearby, to the house of the manager of the penal settlement bath-house (name unknown). It was his son who conducted me to the house. He was arrested the following week and has not been heard of since. At the time of his arrest I believe he was carrying reports to Capt. Michael KING, SAS. That night the KLOOSTER's house was raided and another man who had rendered assistance in the way of tobacco, etc, 'APE' was arrested. I have no information as to his fate.
After 3 days, having expressed the intention of attempting to cross the Rhine without help I was taken by another son of the bath-house manager to a farm near SCHERPENZEEL where Sgt. BANWELL, 10 Btn, Para Regt, [5498293. Sgt. Banwell, K.D. 3 Platoon, 'A' Company, 10th Parachute Battalion] was in hiding and with whom it was intended to make the escape. The address of this farm I cannot remember. It was situated midway along and a little North of the SCHERPENZEEL - RENSWOUDE road. Prior to his successful attempt to cross the Rhine, Pte. DAVIDSON, RAMC, [14315742. Pte. Davison, L. Attached 3rd Parachute Battalion, R.A.P.] hid here.
After 10 days (i.e: about 16th Dec) Banwell and myself were moved down to a farm at GINKEL near LEERSUM which is about ½ mile from the Rhine. Two days were spent there and we were then moved to an empty house in LEERSUM - the 'BERGHOF' where we spent 6 days. This was organised by the GINKEL Underground group whose leader was called 'NICK'.
There was again talk of an attempt to get us through the line and after discussion the idea of an independent attempt was postponed.
At the end of these 6 days I was taken to a house in AMERONGEN - the LINDENHOF, where Mrs. ROLAND-HARE-DOORN-METER and her sister in law, Mrs. Van HEYST looked after me for 8 days.
On 2 January the local Underground leader arrived and stated myself and 12 escapees were being taken through the line that night. At 4 p.m. I cycled with him in civilian clothes over uniform to the AMERONGEN FERRY, where the Rhine was crossed without incident. (His name I cannot remember. He stayed on the AMERONGEN - LEERSUM road and had spent some years in Canada).
The meeting place for the group was a farm house or brick factory building about 300 yards West of the RHENEN bridge. We were told that the attempt was a joint British-Underground enterprise and that we would be met by a British patrol. No other information was vouchsafed to us. I learnt later that word was sent through to the British that late afternoon, but not sufficiently early to enable a patrol to come out in time. A patrol did come out to the bridge next morning before dawn. One of the prisoners taken on it later told me that 8 were killed and 3 captured.
Our party, which included one or two German deserters and Poles and 2 Dutchmen set out after dusk and pursued a circuitous course mainly Eastwards for about 3 miles. At one point a German patrol passed nearby and in the confusion which followed the guide for the second stage of the journey was lost. The remaining guide seemed rather vague about the appointed spot where the patrol was to meet us. At about 11 p.m. we arrived at the brick factory on the river bank opposite WAGENINGEN. Apparently we had been able to get this far by making use of bearing, i.e: to avoid German Control Points and by the fact that the frozen ground rendered the minefields innocuous.
From the factory we travelled about 1 mile due South coming onto the main road running from East to West. At this point the guide said the way to the British line lay along that road. Several in the party demurred, pointing out that the line could not be more than 2000 yards to the South. However, the guide insisted that the road was the best route to take.
The party set off along the road. Suddenly at about 20 yards range a machine-gun opened up, after a challenge. The party scattered and we rolled off the road down the dyke.
I made off Southwards and after about 150 yards found a hollow tree and decided to wait there until the situation quietened down. After 1 hour there was complete silence. I set off, but after about 20 yards had been covered I was challenged by a German sentry who stood up behind a ridge at about 5 yards distance. By this time the moon was up and it was somewhat light. I replied "Heil Hitler" to his challenge. This produced no effect. I thereupon turned and ran managing, by luck, to avoid his fire. I managed to shake him off in a small copse and turned south into a field. But by this time the others were warned. Flares were put up and from the firing it was apparent that the field was surrounded. There seemed to be a small gap at the Southern end of the field, which was flooded. I made for this, but each attempt brought up flares and a fusillade of small arms fire at close range. I made 3 attempts to reach the Southern end, but the Germans gradually closed in and I found myself inside a ring of Germans without any cover. As it was now obviously impossible to gain the end of the field, I surrendered.
I believe that Capt. SHELLDROP [Capt. V.R. Schejelderup. 'C' Company, 1st Bn, Canadian Scottish Regiment], Sgt. GREEN [K.46862. Sgt. Gri, A. 'C' Company, 1st Bn, Canadian Scottish Regiment] and an RAMC Private [1556339. Pte. Hardy. J. 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.], who were in the party were successful in gaining the British line, together with a Dutchman.
Only one person was wounded - a Canadian CSM [K.42160. C.S.M. Berry, W. Canadian Army.] in the party. He sustained a G.S.W. [Gunshot wound] in rt elbow.
Subsequently I was taken to the RHQ and from there sent to Div HQ, Counter Intelligence at VELP, having been captured in civilian clothes, (nr Arnhem) (1st Para Div).
For the next 8 weeks I was kept in strict solitary confinement, the last 5½ weeks being in the Gestapo Prison at Utrecht and Doetinchem. Interrogation was intensive during the first 2 weeks, but for the last 6 weeks intermittent. Diet during this period consisted of 150 grams of bread and 750 cl's of soup daily.
It is to be hoped that this report emphasises sufficiently the intense efforts made by the Dutch on behalf of Allied personnel.
Sir, I have the honour to be your obedient servant, Charles Bruce Noble. 279738. Capt, RAMC.
23 Sep 45.
My thanks to Bob Hilton and John Howes for this account.