Private James Hardy
Unit : 16 Parachute Field Ambulance
Army No. : 1556339
Awards : Military Medal.
Private James Hardy volunteered for Airborne Forces and completed parachute course 109 at R.A.F. Ringway, 27th March to 7th April 1944. His parachute instructors comments: "Took the course in his stride - an excellent pupil". Upon completion he was posted, as a reinforcement to the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, then stationed at Culverthorps Hall, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire. As a member of No 1 Section, he was attached to the 1st Parachute Battalion during Operation Market Garden and was taken prisoner. He subsequently escaped, and for his efforts in attempting to reach the British lines was awarded the Military Medal. His citation reads:
After carrying out his duties as a medical orderly for 6 days during fighting in the Arnhem area, Hardy was captured at a Regimental Aid Post on 23rd September 1944.
The wounded and the medical personnel were moved to a German Aid Post in a wood nearby, and here, at the request of a British officer, Hardy was allowed to continue his work, although he was later removed to Willem III Barracks at Apeldoorn. On 5th October 1944 when the majority of the wounded had been evacuated, Hardy hid in the cookhouse.
The next day, to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, he joined a fatigue party and returned to the cookhouse in the evening. Without attracting the attention of the two sentries, Hardy and a paratrooper succeeded in crossing the courtyard to reach the outer wall; an observation post was located nearby but finally they reached an opening in the wire which in some parts replaced the wall. Before they gained open country they had to climb over two barbed wire road barriers. They made their way to Hurlsherst, from where their journey was arranged. A Canadian Officer praised Hardy's conduct during the final crossing of German lines at the beginning of January 1945.
He went out alone under fire on to the ice covering the flooded countryside to bring back members of the party who had dispersed when the enemy were encountered. He failed to find them. A wide canal had still to be crossed; Hardy swam to the other side and, although owing to the overhanging ice he had difficulty in climbing on to the further bank, he finally did so and secured a wire, enabling the two remaining members of the party to follow without being swept away by the current. They met a British unit the same afternoon, near Dodewaard.
The following is Private Hardy's MI9 escape and evasion report:
Date of Birth: 19 Nov 13.
Peacetime Profession: Waiter.
Army Service: 4 and ¾ years.
Private Address: Church Lane, ADDERSLEY, Nr. BANBURY, OXON. England.
Type of aircraft, place, date, time of departure.
Dakota, BARKSTON, Lincs. 1200 hours 17 Sep 44.
Where and when did you come down.
WOLFHEZE, HOLLAND GSGS 2541, Sheet 5, 650790. 1410 hours 17 Sep 44.
Maps Used: GSGS 2541 Sheets 2 and 5.
Mission. 17 Sep 44.
I was a Medical Orderly with 16 Fd Amb Para Regt taking part in the Airborne attack at ARNHEM. We took off in a Dakota aircraft from BARKSTON at about 1200 hours on 17 Sep 44 and jumped at approximately 1410 hours at WOLFHEZE, HOLLAND approximate position 650790 Sheet 5.
I was attached to a platoon of 'R' Coy, 1 A/B Bn for immediate attention to their wounded and upon landing I made for our pre-arranged rendezvous which was the N.W. corner of a wood at position 644795 Sheet 5.
At about 1530 hours the Company moved off in the direction of ARNHEM (750780 Sheet 5) our immediate objective being, I believe, the higher ground in the N.W. outskirts of the town.
We encountered no opposition until just after crossing the railway at WOLFHEZE Stn (665805 Sheet 5) when we encountered fire from a mobile battle force which included a tank, an 88mm on half tracks, and an armoured car. We then made a detour in an endeavour to avoid the fire from this force, which was located in a nearby wood. However, this would have entailed exposing our Coy on higher ground and finally my platoon was sent forward to deal with the enemy force. However, we were unable to get them in range as they were mobile and made off as we approached.
We then rejoined the Coy and again proceeded. After covering about 5 - 700 yards the road sloped up to some higher ground and from this position the Germans again opened fire on us. My platoon again went forward through a wood beside the road in an endeavour to attack, but in order to sight the enemy it was necessary to out of the wood on the higher ground and the first to do so immediately received a burst of fire from the tank and from the armoured car. Lt. GREENHALGH [285684. Lieut. Frederick Henry Greenhalgh. 2 Platoon, "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.] and several men were wounded and I immediately went forward to give them first aid.
There were in all five wounded and three killed and with the help of Lt. KILMARTIN [217467. Lieut. Michael Gabriel Kilmartin. 1 Platoon, "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.], Comd of another Platoon, and others I got the wounded moved down the slope to the shelter of some trees by the roadside. Here I made them as comfortable as possible and left them for evacuation by the Section of the M.D.S., whose responsibility it was to get them back to an R.A.P.
By this time the Germans had moved off and the Coy again reformed and started off down the road. After covering about 500 yards we were again attacked and we immediately took cover in the woods on both sides of the road. We tried to get round the German positions, but they were well placed at a cross roads and had a wide field of fire, and we were pinned down there most of that night. My Platoon suffered several casualties and I was kept very busy.
During the course of the night I learned from our CSM. WHEATLEY [5949173. W.O.II. James Whitley. C.S.M. "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.] that the wounded we had left down the road had not been evacuated, so I went back and finally located them. Fortunately they were all able to walk, except a Sgt. BRADLEY [3654679. Sgt. Leslie Bradley. Platoon Sergeant, 2 Platoon, "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.] who was too badly wounded, and I was able to bring them up to our position from where they were evacuated by Jeep to an R.A.P. I returned to Sgt. BRADLEY with a blanket and made him as comfortable as possible and he too was finally evacuated. My Platoon suffered further casualties during the night and they too were evacuated by the Jeep which made several trips to the R.A.P. It was a very dark night which made it very difficult to maintain contact with one's own Platoon and it was a case of helping wherever help was needed.
At about 0400 hours next morning we again moved off through the wood. It was very dark and we moved in single file each man following the man immediately ahead. I believe the intention was to outflank the German position, but the Germans must either have had the same idea or guessed our intention, because after covering about a mile we again encountered their fire. By this time we were in open country and we immediately got down. Our mortars were brought up and we returned their fire but the [a] tank moved forward towards our positions and we received orders to retire to the cover of some woods a short distance to the rear.
A man near me received a wound in the knee when crossing the fence bounding the wood and I immediately went to his aid and helped him through the wood. I heard Cpl. NEIL (Medical Orderly att to H.Q. Coy) [7394382. Cpl. George Currie Neil. R.A.M.C. Attached "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.] giving me directions as to which way to go, but I had seen a mound about 100 yards inside the wood which would provide good cover and I made for that. I found there were about nine more wounded men all of whom were walking wounded except three who had been wounded in the legs.
With the wounded there was a Cpl of a Fd Amb, but who he was I do not know, but by this time there was no attempt at keeping to ones own Platoon and it was a case of helping wherever help was needed. Shortly afterwards Lt. KILMARTIN appeared and told me to stay there with the wounded as the Company was again going in to attack, but later I decided to try and get our wounded back to our R.A.P. at WOLFHEZE as there was little chance of our Fd Amb finding us where we were, and the wounded men were in need of further attention.
By this time there were about 20 wounded men at this position and at about 0900 hours we set off, those who were unable to walk helping those who could not. One of the men who had been wounded in the knees I carried pick a back and we made frequent stops to rest. During these stops Pte. GOLDING, [No one of that surname can be traced serving with the 1st Parachute Battalion at Arnhem. Nor has it been possible to work out if it is someone with a slightly different name.] who was only slightly wounded would go on ahead to make a recce of our route.
After walking about a mile we met about 15 Dutch civilians who were, I think, evacuating from WOLFHEZE to ARNHEM. They all had bicycles on which they were carrying suitcases, etc, and I stopped them and explained as best I could that I wanted their bicycles to take my wounded to WOLFHEZE. As soon as they realized what I wanted they immediately took their baggage off their bikes and piled it up at the side of the road. Leaving two of their party to look after the luggage the remainder helped me to get the wounded to WOLFHEZE a distance of about half a mile.
A short distance down the road one of the Dutchmen told me that there were three Germans behind a tall hedge bordering the road. I gathered that he had seen them when he came up the road. He pointed out the spot where he had seen them and I went forward with my revolver and called on them to come out. Although they had weapons they put up their hands and came out. They were very young and very frightened. I took them with us and when we got to Wolfheze I took them to Bde H.Q. which was located next to the R.A.P. I learned there that they had actually been captured earlier and had escaped. However, they had no facilities at Bde H.Q. for looking after prisoners and I finally left them on the road outside and made my way to the R.A.P. where I found some of my wounded, the remainder having been taken by my Dutch helpers to a large civilian hospital nearby where they were receiving good attention.
I got a hot meal at the R.A.P. and at about mid-day I met Capt. MANSFIELD, [134320. Capt Peter Geoffrey Alan Mansfield. 2 i/c, "R" Company, 1st Parachute Battalion.] the 2 i/c of my Company. He told me that he was going to try and make contact with the Coy and I could go with him, so we set off in the Capt's Jeep, taking with us Pte. Golding and another paratrooper whose name I do not know. We made first for Div H.Q. at OOSTERBEEK (700780, Sheet 5), but on the way we were forced to stop as a stretch of the road was under shell fire from German tanks in the woods nearby. While we were waiting there a civilian told Capt. MANSFIELD that there were some wounded in a house nearby and we went with him to this house where we found two wounded R.A.M.C. men and a third who was suffering from malaria. With them were two German snipers who were also wounded. I stayed with the Germans while Capt. MANSFIELD took the others in his Jeep to the R.A.P. When he returned we set off again, leaving the German wounded in the charge of the Dutch civilian.
We finally reached Div H.Q. and I waited outside while Capt. MANSFIELD went to get information regarding the position of our Coy. The Capt was gone about an hour and a half during which time I was able to give first aid to a wounded paratrooper who was lying further down the road.
When Capt. MANSFIELD came back he said that he had found out where our Coy was located and we started off again. We had not travelled very far when we encountered some fire from snipers and Capt. MANSFIELD immediately found cover for the Jeep behind a wall. Leaving me there to look after the Jeep, he together with GOLDING and the [other] paratrooper, went after the snipers, but returned unsuccessful after about half an hour.
From our present position we could see that our road was under mortar fire and we decided to make a detour to avoid that particular stretch, so we set off down a side street, but before we had travelled very far we came upon a Coy (SOUTH STAFFS) (I think) who were going in to attack. As their route was in the direction we wanted to go we decided to follow them through. The Coy went ahead disposing of what little opposition they met as they went and after waiting for about five minutes we followed. It was dark by this time, but Capt. MANSFIELD had obtained the location of our Coy from Div H.Q. and knew that we were not far way from where they were situated. By this time all firing in the immediate area had ceased and upon Capt. MANSFIELD's calling out for 'R' Coy a man answered and approached. He was a Coy Clerk and he directed us to where the Coy was.
We found the Coy disposed in a square and resting up. Capt. MANSFIELD drove the Jeep in to a lane running off the square and told us to get some rest as the Coy was going to attack at 0515 hours the next morning. We lay down by the side of the road and I was soon fast asleep as I was very tired. I was awakened about 0200 hours by the noise of gun fire and to my surprise I found the place deserted, the Coy having moved off during the night. The Jeep had been parked on a slope and had probably been coasted down the hill to start it up. In any case I had no knowledge of the Coy's moving until I woke up and found them gone. Pte. GOLDING had also been left behind and together we looked for cover as the shells were falling in the area. It was very dark and what we thought to be a slit trench, in which we took cover, turned out to be a latrine trench - which had obviously been used!
About 15 minutes later we heard a tracked vehicle approaching, so we got out on the road and as it approached us it stopped. It was a Bren Carrier and a CDN voice asked us what we were doing there. The owner of the voice was a Canadian Capt, whose first name I believe was LEO [CDN/415. Lieut. Leo Jack Heaps. Attached 1st Parachute Battalion.] and when we told him what had happened he told us to jump on the Carrier as he was going to Div H.Q.
19 Sep 44. On arriving at Div H.Q. I went to the basement of the house where there was an R.A.P. set up and after telling the M.O. [301125. Lieut. Derrick Henry Randall. R.A.M.C. R.H.Q., R.A. 1st Airborne Division Headquarters.] in charge what had happened he told me I could stay and help. He told me first to go to the kitchen and get a meal and then get some sleep which GOLDING and I did. We slept for two or three hours and GOLDING then left with the intention of joining his Coy if possible. I saw GOLDING again the next day when he returned to Div H.Q. after an unsuccessful attempt to rejoin his Coy and the last I saw of him was when he was manning a post in the defence lines of Div H.Q.
I continued to work at Div H.Q. the rest of that day and night. Next morning a Glider Pilot from a defence post nearby came in and asked if we could spare a Medical Orderly, and I volunteered for the job as it was work I was accustomed to. Upon arriving at the defence post, which was a house about 100 yards from Div H.Q., I found four wounded Glider Pilots and these I immediately evacuated to Div H.Q.
20 Sep 44. In the afternoon I went with a party of seven Glider pilots, led by Major. ROYAL [66172. Maj. John Popplewell Royle. 2 i/c, No 1 Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment] and Capt. HOGG, [140041. Capt. J.G. Ogilvie. Acting O.C. 'D' Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment] the purpose being to clear out a nest of snipers who had been worrying Div H.Q. In this sortie Major. ROYAL and three of the pilots were killed and Capt. HOGG was wounded. They successfully knocked out the M.G. nest killing four Germans and taking two prisoners, but were forced to retire owing to fire from another position which was covering the M.G. nest.
That night I returned to Div H.Q. as there was nothing more I could do for the Glider Pilots at the time. I was working there when the ADMS, Col. GRAHAM WARWICK [57723. Col. Graeme Matthew Warrack. A.D.M.S. 1st Airborne Division] told me that I was to accompany him on a trip to a nearby R.A.P. with blood plasma, so I went with him in a Jeep accompanied by a S/Sgt. The R.A.P. was about 400 yards from Div H.Q. and we made two trips taking down plasma and supplies. We found that the R.A.P. was in German hands, but we were not interfered with.
I move to another R.A.P. Later the same night I was instructed by the ADMS to proceed with Pte. WILLIAMS [Possibly 7380983. Pte. I.J. Williams. No 1 Section, 16th Parachute Field ambulance, R.A.M.C.] to help out at another R.A.P. in the area, so we proceeded there and continued to work on the wounded the rest of the night and until about 1600 hours next day, when we were ordered by the ADMS to proceed with a Capt. FERGUSON [246299. Capt. Stanley Lawrence Kaye. Commander, No 1 Section, 16th Parachute Field ambulance, R.A.M.C.] and join the Air Landing Bde [7th Bn, K.O.S.B.], who were going to attack that evening. Capt. FERGUSON arrived shortly afterwards and we proceeded with him in a Jeep, first to collect medical supplies at the R.A.P. which was in German hands, and then to the position which the Air Landing Bde had taken up. This was approximate position 698771, Sheet 5. [693788. This is the area of the 7th Bn, K.O.S.B. that had their R.M.O. taken prisoner & had asked for a replacement]
21 Sep 44. Finding no supplies here Capt. FERGUSON left us and returned for more. The Bde at this time were occupying slit trenches in a wood and WILLIAMS and I were looking for positions ourselves when we were told by an Officer to proceed to a nearby house which had previously been used as an R.A.P. We used the cellars and the main floor here and we set out some supplies in preparation for receiving wounded. By this time the Bde was already under shell and mortar fire and wounded started coming in.
23 Sep 44. We worked there until the SATURDAY morning the 23 Sep 44, by which time we were overcrowded owing to the lack of transport to evacuate our wounded, so it was decided that we should move into a large house nearby. At this time we had about 28 wounded, but fortunately all walking wounded, except for four stretcher cases. With the help of four men who were detailed to assist us, we transferred our wounded to the cellars of the new house, which was fortunately quite nearby. With the help of mattresses and chairs which we found in the two houses we were able to make our wounded fairly comfortable.
At about 1000 hours that same morning I heard some shouting upstairs followed by a burst of rifle fire down the cellar steps, which fortunately, hit nobody. A young German S.S. soldier then appeared down the cellar steps brandishing his automatic rifle in a threatening manner. He was followed by a German N.C.O. to whom I immediately showed my Red Cross Armband, at the same time indicating our wounded. The N.C.O. then spoke to the S.S. man and struck him over the face with a Luger revolver which he had in his hand and sent him outside. I afterwards found that the Red Cross flag which we had fixed outside on the gate had been shot away.
The Germans then escorted us, including our wounded to a house in a wood about half a mile away. This house was also an R.A.P. and there we left our stretcher cases. Our walking wounded were then searched and all money, knives and watches were taken by the Germans. Fortunately I was some distance in the rear as we approached the R.A.P. as I was helping the stretcher party, and I saw the search being carried out. Upon arrival at the R.A.P. we carried our stretchers right in and I then took the opportunity of hiding my money, maps and watch down my trouser leg. When I came out again I had to give up my equipment including revolver, but when asked for money I told them that I had already given it up to another German searcher.
The Germans intended to march us with the walking wounded, but a British Major, one of the wounded at the R.A.P., who spoke German explained that we were Medical Orderlies and were needed at the R.A.P. and the German Officer in charge allowed WILLIAMS and me to stay behind.
This R.A.P. was a very large house and at this time we were looking after 92 wounded, all stretcher cases. We suffered very greatly from lack of water as the supply in the house was cut off and though there was a pond about half a mile away, it was not possible to fetch any because the area was under extremely heavy fire. At this time the fighting was very confused with both German positions and our own pockets of resistance in the area. We were also greatly hampered in our work by the Germans in the vicinity of the R.A.P. who sheltered in the house when the shelling was severe. At one time there were as many as 100 Germans in the house and there was considerable pilfering not only of food, but even the effects of wounded who had died. Col. ALFORD, [88813. Lieut-Col. William Carson Alford. C.O, 133rd Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. This means they could be in Pietersberg House, Oosterbeek.] who was in charge of the R.A.P. had constantly asked the Germans to supply water and finally on the SUNDAY afternoon, 24 Sep 44, they brought in a supply of water also a quantity of tinned plum juice.
The same evening the Germans commenced the evacuation of our wounded to our main R.A.P. in OOSTERBEEK. This entailed some difficulty as the road through the wood from the house to the main road had been badly cut up by shell fire and it was not possible to bring transport all the way, so the wounded had to be carried on stretchers and hand carts part of the journey. I made three trips that night with a hand cart until we had 80 of our wounded moved and as there were sufficient orderlies still left at the R.A.P. from which we were evacuating, I was told to remain at the main R.A.P.
By this time the Germans were already evacuating wounded from this R.A.P. and taking them to APELDOORN (785035, Sheet 2) and on the following morning 25 Sep 44 all the Medical personnel, including myself, were taken by truck to APELDOORN to the WILLEM III BARRACKS there.
There were three main blocks in the Barracks and I believe there were about 1,000 wounded accommodated there, the wounded occupying the ground and second floors and the Medical personnel the third which was the top floor. The stretcher cases had beds with straw for mattresses, but the walking wounded and Medical Orderlies slept on straw on the ground [floor]. For the first few days conditions were not very good as there was no heating in the buildings and our supply of blankets was not adequate. Our food consisted of cabbage soup and black bread and some potatoes which we dug up ourselves. However on 28 Sep 44 a German Colonel arrived and from then on conditions immediately improved. The central heating system was turned on, hot baths were arranged for all who were in a condition to have them and the food situation was greatly improved. We had a ration of meat and even small portions of ersatz honey and cheeses. Arrangements were also made for the proper funeral and burial of our dead in a local cemetery.
I, together with two other Orderlies were looking after 64 walking wounded in 'A' Block while my previous companion WILLIAMS was employed in the operating theatre. In all I believe there were about 200 medical orderlies there. We had complete freedom of movement within the barracks during the hours of daylight, but if we moved outside the block after dark we were accompanied by a guard. For the first five days the guard was composed of Dutch S.S. and after that they were replaced by German soldiers mostly men of 50 - 60 years of age, armed only with a rifle.
The administration and general running of the barracks was entirely in the hands of R.A.M.C. personnel with the ADMS, Col. GRAHAM WARWICK and Col. MARRABLES [67301. Lieut-Col. Arthur Trevor Marrable. C.O, 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.] in charge and duty rosters and orders were published daily. About 27 Sep 44 an order appeared instructing us to hand in all invasion money, maps, compasses, etc, so that the Germans should have no opportunity of taking reprisals should any be found. I handed in my money but when we were warned that a search was to be made next morning I hid both my maps, watch and revolver under my straw bedding and stood on them when the search was carried out. Though I had already given up my revolver at the R.A.P. I had managed to find another before leaving there. I was not at any time interrogated. I was subsequently given 2000 French francs invasion money by a Glider Pilot in the WILLEM III Barracks who was severely wounded in the leg and unable to attempt escape. I later gave one 100 franc note to one of my helpers and the balance is returned herewith.
During the ten days I was in the Barracks there were many men [who] escaped. I would estimate as many as 200, all men who were only slightly wounded, or non-medical personnel who were not wounded, but who had been taken prisoner or had been kept there to help us with the wounded. There was an Escape Committee at the barracks in charge of which, I think, was Major. McGUIRE [130962. Major. Hugh Pownall Maguire. G.S.O. II. (Intelligence), 1st Airborne Division Headquarters] an Intelligence Officer of 1 Airborne Div. One of the most successful methods was for men to visit the cookhouse on some pretext or other and then hide in the adjoining premises until night and make their escape under cover of darkness. The cookhouse was situated some distance from the main barracks buildings, near the surrounding wall. I was frequently employed in the cookhouse preparing food and I supplied many escapers with rations for their attempt. Another method successfully employed was or a man to be carried out by the orderlies on a stretcher as dead to a large shed which stood some distance from the main buildings and was used as a morgue. Once there they could gain access to another part of the shed used for storing straw for bedding and there they could hide until night. I only know of ten men who were recaptured and brought back to the Barracks out of the many escapes made.
By the 3 Oct all of the party of 64 that I was helping to look after had been evacuated and I was then detailed to work in the cookhouse. On the morning of the 5th the evacuation of a large number was started and I was informed by the Orderly Sgt that I was to join them, leaving in the afternoon. I then spoke to the R.S.M. [7259229. W.O.I. Lionel Henry Bryson. R.S.M., 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.] and asked him if it was O.K. for me to attempt escape and he said that I could if I wished and as I had no compass he gave me one.
5 Oct 44. So instead of parading for the roll call in the main barracks that afternoon, I remained in the cookhouse and hid in the adjoining dining hall that night. The call over for the men who were being evacuated was entirely in the hands of the R.A.M.C. and no search or check was made if a man was missing. In fact there were six of us in the cookhouse at the time, including men who were supposed to have left on previous drafts and were hiding there in the hope of making their escape.
It was the duty of the German guards to see that everyone had returned from the cookhouse to the main buildings at night, but they never carried out a search of the dining hall and the main purpose of their nightly visits was to warm themselves and to get something to eat.
Among the men hiding up in the cookhouse was a Sgt. Glider Pilot (first name JOHN) who also intended to escape and we arranged to go together. On the following day we both arranged to go on a digging party to a potato field about ½ mile away. This work was done daily under escort and occupied most of the day and in this way we managed to avoid being seen around the barracks in case any check was made for us. We returned to the cookhouse again about 1700 hours and again we escaped detection by the guards by hiding in the dining hall.
At about 0015 hours on the night of the 6/7 Oct 44 we decided to make our escape. There was a moon but there was also a considerable haze and visibility was fortunately not very good. We left the cookhouse by the exit in the rear, which was nearest the wall of the compound and made a dash over the cobbles which lay between us and the sandy soil of the vegetable patch 20 yards away. This was the most dangerous part of the journey as the two guards were usually posted at the end of the cookhouse block about 50 yards away.
However they apparently did not hear us and we saw no sign of them. On reaching the wall we proceeded to crawl down [along] it. We had to cross some slit trenches dug beside the wall and in negotiating one of these I lost my revolver and torch which I had stuck inside my blouse. We covered about 150 yards down the side of the wall in about an hour. We had to go very cautiously as, besides the sentries, there was an observation post about 50 yards from the wall and this was always manned. I believe it was part of a LUFTWAFFE R.D.F. Station. However, we finally reached our first objective which was the point where the wall was replaced by a high wire fence and which at this particular point was concealed by some bushes. This had obviously been a popular spot for previous escapers as the strands of wire had already been bent back leaving an opening that we easily got through. On the other side was a sand track which led to the potato field and down which we went, negotiating two barbed wire road barriers on route. These could be opened when the road was in use, but were padlocked at night. A short distance down this sand track we reached the wooded country N.W. of APELDOORN.
Our plan was to make for HARDERWIJK (560190, Sheet 2) hoping there to get a boat with which we might be able to make our way South. The map which I had did not indicate the difficulties that the sea route would involve. We walked approximately N.W. until daylight when we lay up for a few hours during which time we ate some of the food we had brought with us. We started off again and shortly came to a main road approximate position 715053, (Sheet 2) which had high fencing on both sides and along which there was considerable movement of German transport. The crossing of the road took about half an hour, as we had to lie up waiting for a chance and we had the fence to negotiate as well. After crossing the road we came to a German A.A. position in a clearing in the wood approximately 710070, (Sheet 2) which necessitated a wide detour. At approximately 1600 hours we reached the village of UDDEL (666085, Sheet 2).
7 Oct 44. At UDDEL I approached a farmhouse and spoke to a girl who was working outside. She immediately brought her father, an elderly man, and when he realised we were English he indicated that he would show us a place to hide. By this time there were about 10 civilians round us including a young man, an evacuee from ARNHEM evading the call-up, who could speak English, and we were escorted to a dug-out in the woods about 200 yards away, where we stayed for two nights during which time the farmer gave us food, etc.
On the morning of the 9 Oct we set off again, our objective being ELSPEET (670123, Sheet 2). We again kept to the woods as we were warned by the farmer that there were German troops in the area. We had not gone more than about a mile when we saw a lad of about 16 on a bike who spoke to us in Dutch and indicated that we should go with him. He took us to his father who was a gamekeeper in the forest and when he saw we were English he took us to another dug-out, very well camouflaged and hidden in the woods. We stayed there for two days during which time he brought us food. On the morning of the 11th the gamekeeper came and told us that the Germans were carrying out a systematic search of the woods, probably looking for young Dutchmen evading the call-up. He told us we would have to move and took us to a spot not far distant and then left us.
11 Oct 44. This was about 0900 hours and we hid there until we heard the Germans approaching. They were beating the woods and shouting and firing occasional shots and we moved off till we came to a spot where the undergrowth was very dense and into which we crawled. At one time the Germans were only a few feet from where we were lying, but fortunately our hiding place was well concealed. We remained hidden until about 1500 hours when the search had died down and we then made our way to the gamekeeper's house where we obtained some food.
We then set off for VIERHOUTEN (Sheet 2, 700168) which we reached at about 2200 hours. Here we knocked at a house but the man who answered the door indicated that he could do nothing for us. However he gave us a loaf of bread and indicated the road to take. We were still heading for HARDERWIJK at this time.
After passing through the village we saw a shed behind a farmhouse and we decided to have a rest. It proved to be a tobacco shed and we slept there undisturbed until daylight. We continued our walk and had just crossed a level crossing in HURLSHERST (Sheet 2, 620184) when we met a young man, a woodcutter. He did not at first believe we were English, but I showed him my paybook and finally he was satisfied. He took us to his home in HURLSHERST where we had a meal and he then brought his brother who could speak good English. That night he and his brother took us to a pre-arranged meeting place in the woods and there we met two men of the Dutch Underground. From there on my journey was arranged for me.
TOP SECRET. APPENDIX C. I.S.9/W.E.A./1/270/2351.
The following information was obtained from BRITISH personnel who have been repatriated.
If further circulation of this information is made, it is important that its source should not be divulged.
ESCAPER'S NAMES, etc:- 1556339. Pte. HARDY, James. 16 Fd Amb, Para Regt.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 13 Jan 45.
The two brothers were called JAN (1) and EEVID (?) and the two Underground members they took us to were BRAM and JOOP (?). I do not know just where we met them as it was very dark, but it was in a wood and about 1 ½ miles from JAN's house. I also remember that we re-crossed the railway line to get to it. JAN and EEVID left us and BRUMMAGER and JOOP took us to a house in the woods at approx. position (HOLLAND, 1;100,000, Sheet 2, 610145). In this house there was Eric BLOK, formerly a 2/Lt. in the Dutch Army and now a member of the Underground; EMMY, a girl of 19, also of the Underground; P/O. BRENTFORD, an Air Bomber of a Stirling crew who had been shot down over BERLIN about 16 months ago, had escaped from a prison camp near LEIPZIG and had been hiding in HOLLAND for 5 months; also ADRIAN, a member of the Underground, and two Dutchmen in hiding. BRUMMAGER also stayed here but JOOP left us. EMMY was our contact with the "outside world", and was also responsible for providing the food and any personal needs we might have.
I soon became restless as we heard that the Germans were still carrying out searches in the area and on several occasions we had to hide out in the woods during the day, returning to the house at night. After discussing the situation with Eric BLOK, who spoke good English, I decided to try and reach the Allied lines on my own, so on the morning of 19 Oct I set off intending to travel on the advice of ERIC by way of LEUVENUM (620130) and STAVERDEN (637118).
On reaching LEUVENUM I stopped at a farmhouse to ask for directions and a young man there, as soon as he saw I was English, took me to a large house in the centre of the village. Here I met a lady, aged about 45, who spoke excellent English, who said that her husband was an officer of the Netherlands Navy and was in England. I do not know her name but she said she could put me in touch with someone who could help me. We walked together to ELSPEET (670123) and there she took me to a house where I met a member of the Underground who was known by the name of DEREK. I did not go into the house but hid in some bushes in the garden outside. It was by this time about 1300 hours and a meal was brought to me while DEREK accompanied the English-speaking lady back to LEUVENUM.
I should mention that on first meeting DEREK he checked my identity by examining my pay book and asking me questions about the English [British] Land Army. Derek spoke English. My identity had previously been checked by P/O. BRENTFORD, when I first met him, on behalf of the Dutch helpers, BRUMMAGER & Co.
As soon as it was dark DEREK took me to the home of his great-aunt where he was hiding. She was an old lady and very deaf and living with her was her niece, a lady of about 40. I do not know the address but the house was also in ELSPEET. Here also I met Pte. MURPHY [2656457. Pte. Thomas Murphy. Mortar Platoon, 156 Parachute Battalion] and another Paratrooper whose name I do not know, both of the 156 Para Bn. They had both been wounded and had escaped from WILLEM III Barracks in APELDOORN.
We were very well looked after here but we kept out of the house as much as possible as the Germans had visited the house before and there was always the danger that they might do so again. Our usual practice was to go out daily in the surrounding woods and gather wood. The other two Paratroopers were by this time wearing civilian clothes and I was given overalls to hide my uniform which I was still wearing. During my stay we had a visit from another member of the Underground who went by the name of Uncle JOOP (?).
After staying here a week DEREK heard that a large number of German soldiers were expected in the village and it was decided that we should move. It was suggested that we should go to BRUMMAGER's house in LEUVENUM where I had been before but DEREK did not have any connection with the Underground in that area nor did he know of this house. However I showed him the approximate location on a map and he said he knew it and so did his aunt, so as soon as it was dark on the evening of 26 Oct we set off, DEREK and his aunt going ahead pushing their bikes, and MURPHY, the other Paratrooper, and myself following a short distance in the rear.
The same party was still occupying the house, and on 29 Oct we were joined by Sgt. BANWELL [5498293. Sgt. Keith Deamer Banwell. 3 Platoon, "A" Company, 10th Parachute Battalion] of the 10th Para Bn, who was brought there by the Underground. A few days later Uncle JOOP visited us and told us that a crossing was being arranged for us. He told us that there would be 100 or more in the party but gave us no indication of when it was to take place. It was at this time I first heard of Capt. KING, but no information was given regarding who he was or what he was doing. I had the impression that he was a paratroop officer from whom we would get our orders. Sgt. BANWELL was at that time in communication with Capt. KING through the Underground.
At midnight on 6 Nov we were taken by DEREK and LOEW (another member of the Underground) to HARSKAMP (Sheet 2, 640945). There were eight of us including the two guides, Sgt. BANWELL, the Sergeant Glider Pilot JOHN, Pte. MURPHY, P/O. BRENTFORD, the other Paratrooper and myself. We arrived at HARSKAMP about 2100 hours on 7 Nov having broken our journey at the house of a man called DICK (?) for a meal and a rest on route. It was dark when we got there and I do not know where it was.
On arriving at HARSKAMP we were taken to a Baron MACKAY. He was a wealthy man and I understand that he was of Scots descent. We had some refreshment at his house and were then taken to a chicken hut belonging to MACKAY and situated on his estate which was a large one. There were bales of straw in this hut which we utilized for beds and the Baron or his wife brought us food three times a day. As there were Germans occupying two of the three houses on the estate we had to be very cautious and never left the hut during our stay there. During our stay we were visited by LOEW who told us that we would probably move on in a few days time. On 12 Nov the Baron told us that word had come that we were to move the following night, but nothing happened. By this time the Baron was becoming alarmed as he had heard that more Germans were expected to arrive on his estate.
However, at 1830 hours on 14 Nov two members of the Underground arrived. One was called WILLEM and the other was a policeman whose name I do not know. We were all taken by them to a spot about a mile away where a 'Red Cross' ambulance was waiting. Here we were handed over to a man named JAN (2) and the driver of the ambulance, whose name I do not know, and we were driven to a spot at ROCKELSCHE ZAND (approx. posn Sheet 2, 623900). The ambulance then left us and we walked with JAN to a spot I estimate to be approximately 622891.
We had been told that we were to leave on 16 Nov but JAN did not turn up that night and next morning we were told by a man who visited us that JAN had been arrested by the Germans the previous day. This man was a poacher and, while not a member of the Underground, was apparently in touch with them. He told us that someone would come for us that night and at about 1830 hours (17 Nov) 4 young men, all Underground members, arrived on bicycles. We walked a short distance and one of them, a lad of about 16, left us. The others went to a farmhouse nearby and returned with two more bicycles.
We then set off, myself and P/O. BRENTFORD on one machine, Sgt. BANWELL and Pte. MURPHY on another, while Sgt. JOHN and the other Paratrooper were taken on the bikes of two of our guides. The plan was for two of the guides to go ahead and one to stay in the rear. The only light was torch which one of the leading men carried. Unfortunately, all three guides got to the front and gained too much of a lead with the result that when we came to a fork in the road BANWELL, BRENTFORD, MURPHY & I took the wrong fork and lost the rest of the party.
We returned to the fork in the road where we waited for some time in the hope that when our guides missed us they would return there, but after staying there half an hour there was still no sign of them so we again moved off in the hope of contacting them. We whistled the call sign for the period which was the first two bars of 'Lili Marlene', but got no response and after wandering about for two or three hours we retraced our steps to the farmhouse where our guides had procured the bikes for us.
The farmer there took us to a bakehouse near his house where we got a hot drink and dried our clothes. It had been raining all night and we were very wet. As soon as it was daylight the farmer gave us civilian coats and caps and I also put on a pair of overalls which I was carrying in my pack and he then took us to another farm about a mile away where we had a meal, got our clothes properly dried and had a sleep.
At about 1730 hours (18 Nov) WILLEM and the Dutch Policeman whom I had met before, arrived bringing two extra bicycles with them and we left with them riding 'tandem' as usual. I believe the farm where we had been resting was in the neighbourhood of OTTERLO (Sheet 2, 654912). We cycled until about 1930 hours following the direction of the main road through ROEKELSCHE BOSCH but keeping to side roads and tracks as far as possible. We reached a point about 617893 where WILLEM said a lorry was to pick us up. WILLEM and the Policeman recced the road in this area but the lorry did not turn up and after waiting about 2 hours, they told us to get on our bikes and follow them down the road. We had to make a dash for it as there were German 'roving' patrols on the road in this area.
We followed them to a spot about 602880 where we met another party of evaders, about 20 in all, I think, amongst whom were Pte. DAVISON [14315742. Pte. Leslie Davison. R.A.M.C. Attached 3rd Parachute Battalion] and Pte. MOORE [14422713. Pte. Frederick Victor Moore. 9 Platoon, 'T' Company, 1st Parachute Battalion] (Report No's IS9/WEA/1/263 & 262). There were also about 10 or 12 Underground men there as well but they left and after waiting about half an hour a young lad about 17 years came back to us. He said that he did not know what had happened but he led us into the wood a little distance where he told us to wait, saying that if the lorry had not arrived by 0300 hours we should wait there until evening when arrangements would be made for transport to enable us to catch up the main body of evaders. I gathered that we had by this time missed the main body through the failure of the transport.
We stayed in the wood the rest of the night and all next day but nobody came near us. I talked the situation over with P/O. BRENTFORD and our small party and we decided that something had gone wrong and that we would make our way back to the farmhouse at OTTERLO where we had started from. So at about 0300 hours on 20 Nov we set off following the sand road through ROEKELSCHE BOSCH and avoiding the main road. Sgt. BANWELL decided to remain with the larger party so we were now five: P/O. BRENTFORD, Pte. MURPHY, JOHN, the other Paratrooper, and myself. When it commenced to get light we stopped at a farmhouse to obtain directions and BRENTFORD, who spoke Dutch, conversed with the farmer. This farmhouse was just on the outskirts of otterlo. The farmer gave us a meal and then sent us off with a young lad who took us down to a dug-out in the woods near ROEKEL at approx. 614905. Here we found five more evaders including Pte. MOORE (Report No IS9/WEA/1/262).
It was a very small dug-out and we were very cramped and with 10 men living in it the atmosphere was very bad. So, after four nights there I spoke to the man who had taken us there (and who brought us our food) and told him I intended to move. So on the morning of 24 Nov Pte. MURPHY and I left with our friend and he took us to the farmhouse at OTTERLO from which we had left on the night of 18 Nov. That night we were taken by a member of the Dutch Underground (WILLEM's brother) to a barn somewhere in the OTTERLO area, but as it was dark I have little idea where it was.
In the barn I met Pte. DAVISON, an R.A.F. Officer, and four U.S. Aircrew, none of whose names I know. I understand that the Americans were members of a Fortress crew and had been shot down on 21 Nov.
We stayed there overnight and the following evening DAVISON, MURPHY and I were taken by DICK and another member of the Underground to a nearby farm. Here we met three more men and a woman, each of whom had a bicycle. DAVISON, MURPHY and I rode pannier fashion with the men while the woman rode on ahead as guide. We cycled to the outskirts of BARNEVELD (Sheet 2, 536953) using the main road all the way. Unfortunately one of the bikes broke down on route and for about 3 miles one of the bikes had to carry three of us.
We waited at this rendezvous about half an hour when we were joined by three more men, called GHYS, one JAN (3), and the other's names I do not know. They had with them three extra bikes besides their own so we continued our journey, our previous guides leaving us here. On approaching ACHTERVELD (Sheet 2, 470954) DAVISON left us with two of our guides while MURPHY and I continued our journey with GHYS. He took us to a farmhouse at approximately position 475955. The owner of the farm was called Jacob VEERMAN, aged 43, married, with four daughters and three sons, the eldest a girl of 17 named JOANNA and the youngest a boy of 5 named YAP. We stayed here for a month during which time we were very well fed and cared for. They did everything possible to make us comfortable. During our stay there GHYS and JAN (3) visited us on three occasions bringing us soap, shaving material, etc, and giving us the news.
At about 1400 hours on 23 Dec, JAN (3) came and told us we were to move again, so we walked with him to the home of GHYS, about 10 minutes walk, where we picked up a bicycle each and we set off with HAN who took us to AMERONGEN (Sheet 5, 435803) ARRIVING THERE AT ABOUT 1630 HOURS. We were then taken to a house where I met Capt. SCHJELDERUP, Canadian Scottish, C.S.M. BERRY and a Pte, also Canadian Scottish.
I stayed there until after dark when a young man came and took MURPHY and me to his father's house, also in AMERONGEN. His father is a garage proprietor, named Gerald ESVELD, a married man with two sons, KOEN (?) and BEENT (?) and a daughter. Here we stayed until 2 Jan 45 and we were very well looked after during our stay.
At 1300 hours we left on bicycles with KOEN and KEEK (?) and rode down to a ferry on the RHINE at position rer787 (Sheet 5). Both MURPHY and I were wearing civilian suits loaned to us by KOEN, carrying our uniform in bags strapped onto the cycles, and we had no difficulty in crossing. Both MURPHY and I had revolvers by this time. Mine was given by KOEN and MURPHY's given him by Jacob VEERMAN. After crossing the river we cycled to KESTEREN (515730) where we were taken to a barn adjoining a farmhouse. Here we met Sgt. BANWELL, 10 Para Bn, Sgt. GRI and two Pte's, all of them Canadian Scottish, whose names I do not know. During the course of the afternoon we were joined by seven more evaders including Capt. SCHJELDERUP, a man of the R.C.A.F., two Canadian soldiers and two Dutchmen. Apart from Capt. SCHJELDERUP and those mentioned above I do not know any of their names.
From this point until reaching the Allied lines my story is, in the main details, the same as that narrated by Capt. SCHJELDERUP. (See Report No. IS9/WEA/1/271) which also gives complete details of the members of the party referred to above.
Captain V.R. Schjelderup MC, of the 1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment describes the events of the 2nd January 1945 as follows:
At 1245 approx., myself and three others were taken away by bicycle to AMERONGEN (Sheet 5, 4380). We were there put up in the house of Mr. CORNELISSEN living AMERONGEN. I, together with Sgt. PORTER, stayed at his house. The others were put up in nearby houses. We were altogether eleven men brought down in three days from the UTRECHT area to AMERONGEN and awaiting to cross the lines.
By parties of one and two we moved on bicycles from AMERONGEN. I was with CORNELISSEN and DERRICK. We crossed the RHINE by ferry at (Sheet 5, 4378) by paying 10 cents. We assembled the whole lot of us in a brick factory at (Sheet 5, 4876). At 1830 hrs. approx. we set off on foot: 11 Allied personnel, DERRICK, and 2 other Dutchmen as guides. Names of Allied personnel are:
- Capt. V.R. SCHJELDERUP, M.C.
K.42160 C.S.M. BERRY, W.
K.46862 Sgt. GRI, A., M.M.
R133074 Sgt. PORTER, R.E., R.C.A.F.
K.62742 Pte. SWARTZ, H.
Pte. BRIERRE, M.
F.82729 Pte. TRAINOR, L.F.
A polish soldier.
Pte. HARDY - Paratrooper
Pte. MURPHY, T. " 156 Para. Bn.
Capt. NOBLE " 133 Fd. Amb.
Sgt. BANWELL, K. " 10 Bn.
We moved as a patrol with DERRICK in command. The country was flooded and frozen and very difficult. At 2100 hrs. approx. we bumped into a German patrol. We dispersed, lay down and froze. When the patrol had passed we pushed off rapidly, but we had lost the Polish soldier and the Dutchman who was the guide for the latter phase of the journey. We kept going East until we hit a large demolished factory (Sheet 4, 571746) where we had a conference as to what was the best way to cross the line. Knowing the main dispositions of the British troops we decided to work Southwards. On reaching the road at 573739 we were shot at by automatic weapons at very close range. The party scattered, eight to the South for the road and then Westwards. We were pursued by managed to shake them off. We lost, and never saw again, one Dutchman and the following three men: Capt. NOBLE, Sgt. TEX (?) [Banwell], Pte. MURPHY. Sgt. Major BERRY was badly wounded in the left elbow. At 568731 we were again shot at by automatic weapons from three mutually supporting positions. They were firing Bren guns and British mortar flares. I, together with Sgt. GRI and HARDY, took cover. The remainder panicked and ran madly onto the ice away from the weapon whenever it fired. I called them but they would not come back. I thought things over and decided that it must be the British line.
I ordered HARDY to go onto the ice alone and bring the others back. His reply was simply "Yes, Sir". He went out under fire with great risk, the ice being very treacherous. After about 20 minutes there was no sign of HARDY or the others, so I took Sgt. GRI and we went out onto the ice away from the nearest position that was firing on us. Knowing where HARDY had gone we were able to pick him up. We were the only three of the party of eleven men left. We then approached the 'German' centre post and got within 100 ft of it, took cover and called out twice in English. No reply! I called out a third time and the reply was in German, two grenades and a spray of Schmeisser. With great alacrity we once again took to the ice and I chose our general direction about South-South-East sending Sgt. GRI ahead all the time. We hit the canal (Sheet 5, 569722). We heard German voices three to four hundred yards to our right. Through Sgt. GRI's determined efforts we found a spot where the ice was strong enough to get us onto a small island in between the large and small canal. There we found a demolished tool shed and having no possibility of crossing the main canal where the current was quite strong we decided to lay up in the shed for the day. We found a small compartment in the shed that covered us from the view of the Germans. We slept in turns and observed the movements of the enemy. That day we built a small raft but decided that we were too weak to attempt a crossing. We spent the night there.
At 1100 hrs approx., we moved our raft to a crossing place that I had chosen. I ordered Sgt. GRI to attempt to cross first with the raft. He made several attempts and failed. I then told Pte. HARDY that he must swim for it. We tied a wire that we found to him and he successfully got across. He had the greatest difficulty in getting on the other side on account of the overhanging ice. When he was secure we tied the wire to our raft and so GRI and I crossed, one hand on the raft and the other paddling. We also had great difficulty getting out of the water and so doing we lost our shoes and socks. We walked about 600 yards across the ice continually falling through waist deep into the water, and reached a partly demolished house. In this house we found one room intact upstairs. We blacked out the window with an American blanket that we found below, smashed a hole in the door, and built a fire in the room on some tiles. The smoke diffused in the main part of the building so we were not exposed to the Germans who were still very close. By searching well in the house we found some food. (Preserved beans and five tins of M & V). It was then about 1500 hrs. We decided that we would not move until we were completely dry and had by our observation a complete picture of the situation.
At 1300 hrs we left the house and moved very cautiously from house to house in what we knew to be the 'No Mans Land'. At 1500 hrs approx. we spotted a fairly habitable house and found in it a good stock of American rations, a watch, a German map of the area which confirmed our position. I also found a pair of shoes, but Sgt. GRI was not as lucky. There was a smell of dead bodies about so we had to push out.
We approached DODEWAARD (Sheet 5, 5569), observed no movement and had just passed the crossroads in the town when HARDY, who was in the rear, yelled "TOMMIES!" We turned round and were picked up by a forward post of the Recce Regt of 49 Div. They dried us up, gave us hot tea and sent us back as quickly as possible to their Div H.Q.
See also: Sgt Haller.
My thanks to Bob Hilton and John Howes for this account.