Major Alan Bush
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/8
Name: 160544 Major Alan Bush.
Unit: 3rd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade.
Captured: N.E. of Oosterbeek, 20th September 1944.
Escaped: N.E. of Oosterbeek, 20th September 1944.
Left: Brussels, 28th September 1944.
Arrived: Nr. Barkston Heath, 28th September 1944.
Date of Birth: 18th July 1914.
Army Service: Since April 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Schoolmaster.
Private Address: Dale End, Kendal, Westmorland.
All map references are to N.W. EUROPE 1:250,000, Sheet 2A and 3A.
1. CAPTURE:
I was dropped by parachute on 17 Sep 44 about seven miles West of ARNHEM.
On the morning of 19 Sep my Battalion was involved in severe fighting and badly injured. My Commanding Officer was missing, and on going to look for him I became detached from the remnants of the Battalion.
The next thing I remember was that I was in the Divisional Artillery regimental aid post at OOSTERBEEK (E 67), I was not wounded, but was sick every time I tried to stand up.
On the morning of 20 Sep at about 0800 hrs I found I could walk about, and tried to rejoin the remnants of my Battalion, heading towards ARNHEM. I was advised by the personnel of the regimental aid post to take a road N.E. of OOSTERBEEK.
I did not get very far, because of infiltrating German infantry, and at about 1500 hrs I walked straight into six German soldiers.
They removed my equipment, examined my pockets without removing anything, and made me sit down to one side. I formed the impression that they were waiting to be relieved by another section, into whose charge they would place me.
2. ESCAPE:
After about half an hour, aircraft bringing in our re-supply arrived over the area. There was a great deal of Flak and noise, and the Germans stood looking into the sky at the parachutes which were dropping and at one or two planes which were on fire.
I saw my opportunity, calmly picked up my equipment, and ran to a very thick bush about 20 yards away and lay underneath it.
When the Germans saw I was missing they rushed about in all directions, but did not find me. They were then relieved by another section of men, who did not bother any further.
I waited until dark and decided to make my way back towards OOSTERBEEK.
At dawn I was about half a mile from the church and about 30 yards from two enemy self-propelled guns, which were firing at the church buildings. The guns were accompanied by about 50 infantry, so I had to lie low.
During the morning I saw one of our own patrols coming towards the guns, and managed to tack myself on to the patrol and get back to the church. The patrol did not even notice that I had joined it.
The remnants of my Battalion arrived at the church about two hours later.
I was evacuated with the Division on the night of 25-26 Sep.