Private Edward Davenport
Unit : HQ Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion
Army No. : 4204271
Private Davenport served as a Sanitary Orderly in HQ Company. At Arnhem, he became separated from the main party of the 3rd Parachute Battalion, and having been sheltered by the underground was evacuated across the Rhine on the 22nd October 1944 with Operation Pegasus. The following is his MI9 report:
4204271 Pte. DAVENPORT, Edward, 3 Bn., Para. Regt., 1 Airborne Division.
Left: EINDHOVEN, 24 Oct 44.
Arrived: U.K., 24 Oct 44.
Date of Birth: 17 Dec 19.
Army Service: Since 27 Jun 40.
Peacetime Profession: Felt worker.
Private Address: 3 Bawinster Street, STOCKPORT.
I was dropped with my battalion at 1410 hours on 17 Sep 44 East of BENNEKOM (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 2A and 3A, E 5979). We marched to about 2 kms West of OOSTERBEEK (E 7078), where we stayed until 0430 hours on 18 Sep.
We then marched to ARNHEM and proceeded along the river bank to join our forces at the bridge. Before reaching our objective we were engaged by the enemy. Major HOUSTON, Sgts. JONES, BRADLEY, and WILTSHIRE, Ptes. MAXWELL, PRICE, TOOKE and I took cover in a house in ARNHEM near the river. An enemy tank approached, and we left the house and ran to another building in the next street. We became separated and were pursued by German infantry.
I dashed from one house to another until I met a Dutchman who hid me in a strong room in a building. I remained thee for about two hours, when the Dutchman unlocked the door. I then left the building and attempted to reach the main body of my Division on the Western outskirts of ARNHEM.
There was much enemy activity, and I was forced to take shelter. I then met a Dutchman who hid me in his home until the morning of 20 Sep. During this time I learned that the bridge at ARNHEM was being held by our troops. On the morning of 20 Sep the Dutchman gave me workman's overalls which I wore over my uniform. He then escorted me to a house on the outskirts of ARNHEM. I remained there until the following morning (21 Sep), when I was given a bicycle and escorted by the same Dutchman to a house halfway between ARNHEM and VELP (E 7979). [Note: The Dutchman was Wessel Post, September 1923 - October 2003. Two other evaders accompanied them on bicycles, and Post had to dissuade them from cycling on the left side of the road. See the bottom of this page for an appeal for information from the Post family.] I remained there until 23 Sep, when I learned that the Division had evacuated ARNHEM and withdrawn Westwards.
On that day a Dutchman took me to a house in VELP. On 30 Sep Lt. CLARKE, 2 Bn. Para. Regt. (S/P.G.(H)2779) was brought to the house. Lt. CLARKE and I remained together at this house until the morning of 22 Oct. During this time we met Major DEANE-DRUMMOND (S/P.G.(H)2778) on several occasions.
On the morning of 22 Oct Lt. CLARKE and I cycled to the house where Major DEANE-DRUMMOND and L/Cpl. WHIT[?]AEL, C.M.P. were staying. The four of us were then taken by Red Cross car to a wood near RENKUM (E 6277), where we joined the main party.
The remainder of my experiences are as related by Major TATHAM-WARTER in his report (S/P.G.(H)2777).
From the Veterans Ads section: Are there any relatives of Edward Davenport? I've been searching for Edward Davenport for over more than 60 years. He was a Red Beret, dropped in September 1944 nearby Bennekom/Oosterbeek. My father, helped him and other paratroopers to get out of the firing line near Arnhem. He evacuate them via the Dutch resistance. I'd like to get in touch with the family of Edward Davenport. I've many questions about Edward and what was happened during the fight in the centre of Arnhem and the evacuation via Ede, across the River Rhine. Elso Post, elso.post@icloud.com