Sergeant George Kay
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/13
Name: 3854428 Sgt. Kay, George.
Unit: 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1st Airborne Division.
Captured: Oosterbeek, 24th September 1944.
Escaped: Teuge, 26th September 1944.
Left: Eindhoven, 24th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 24th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 16th May 1917.
Army Service: Since 16th July 1935.
Peacetime Profession: Regular Army.
Private Address: 101 Alder Crescent, Luton, Beds.
I was dropped with my Squadron at 1400 hrs on 17 Sep 44 on the outskirts of OOSTERBEEK (N.W. EUROPE 1:250,000, Sheet 2A and 3A, E 7079). We had a skirmish with enemy formations and the Squadron was split up. Some of the Squadron went to ARNHEM Bridge (E 77), but Lt. WADSWORTH and three Ptes. (names unknown) and I stayed at OOSTERBEEK with other formations of airborne troops.
On 18 Sep I was wounded in the right forearm and hand. I was taken to a dressing station in OOSTERBEEK. I remained there until 19 Sep, when I was taken to the main dressing station in OOSTERBEEK. Later that day I was moved to a school in the town. I remained there until 22 Sep when the school was shelled. The M.O., Capt. DOYLE, 181 Field Ambulance Unit, was killed. Later that day the school house was evacuated, and I was moved to a large house on the outskirts of OOSTERBEEK.
On 24 Sep this house was shelled despite clear Red Cross markings. Later that day the house was taken over by the Germans.
Soon after the German occupation of the house I made a pretence of going to the lavatory which was situated in the grounds of the house. I then ran off through the woods. I was recaptured by three German sentries after I had run about 200 yards. I was taken back to the house.
Before dusk that evening I repeated my previous attempt to escape, and after travelling about half a mile through the woods I was wounded in the face by shrapnel. A few moments later I was recaptured by seven Germans and taken back to the house. I was not punished, but a sentry was placed in the ward where I was.
On 25 Sep all walking casualties, including myself, were marched to the hospital in ARNHEM. That evening we were placed in lorries and taken to a military barracks on the outskirts of APELDOORN (Z 7903).
At 0800 hrs on 26 Sep I was placed with nine other wounded in an ambulance. On the way to APELDOORN station a paratrooper (name unknown) prized open the rear door of the ambulance. I was at the front of the ambulance and could not get past the others who refused to jump out. On arrival at the station we were transferred to goods wagons. We were then given bread and some sausage meat. We were told that these rations were to last for two days. There were about 700 airborne troops on the train and, in my opinion, 90 per cent were wounded.
We remained in the wagons at APELDOORN station until dusk. During this time some of the men were given water, but others were refused.
During the day L/Cpl. COOK, 11 Bn. Para Regt., 1 Airborne Div. cut through a board in the side of the wagon in such a way that the board could be removed at will and the locking bar of the door released. There were 22 men in the wagon.
After dusk the train began to move, travelling towards DEVENTER (Z 90). L/Cpl. COOK then opened the wagon door and Pte. KERR, L/Cpl. COOK, Pte. BRIGHT and I jumped off the train near TEUGE (Z 8405).
The four of us got together within a few minutes, and then went to a farm, where we were given hot milk. We then walked S.W. across country and arrived at a farm near WOUDHUIS (Z 8203), where we stayed until 28 Sep. We then moved to a neighbouring farm, where we remained until 29 Sep. During this time we were visited by a Dutchman who made arrangements for our accommodation at another house. Ptes. BRIGHT and KERR did not stay at the same house as L/Cpl. COOK and myself.
On 29 Sep L/Cpl. COOK and I were escorted to another house, where we remained until 21 Oct. On that day two Dutchmen escorted us to a house on the N.W. outskirts of APELDOORN. L/Cpl. COOK was then taken to another house, and I did not see him again.
On 22 Oct a Dutchman escorted me to EDE (E 5985). We travelled by bicycle. Later that day I was taken by bicycle to a wood near RENKUM (E 6177), where I met a large part of airborne troops.
The remainder of my experiences are as related by Major TATHAM-WARTER in his report (S/P.G.(H) 2777).
I saw Lt. GUTHRIE, 1 Airborne Recce Sqn. on the train at APELDOORN. As far as I am aware he has not been reported P/W. I also saw Major STEWART, M.C., C.S.M. GRIMSHAW, Sgt. PURSEHOUSE and Pte. KELLY, all of 1 Bn. Border Regt., on the train at APELDOORN.
[Note: Sergeant Kay reached the Allied lines on the 22nd October 1944 with Operation Pegasus; the completely successful evacuation of 138 evaders, mostly of the 1st Airborne Division, across the River Rhine.]
Private John Nicholas Bright
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/12
Name: 14640550 Pte. Bright, John Nicholas.
Unit: 3rd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade.
Captured: Arnhem, 19th September 1944.
Escaped: Apeldoorn, about 29th September 1944.
Left: Holland, 24th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 24th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 6th April 1925.
Army Service: Since July 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Quarry worker.
Private Address: 6 Coventry Avenue, St. John's, Worcester.
Map used: N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 2A and 3A.
1. CAPTURE.
I was dropped with my Battalion on 19 Sep 44 about seven miles West of ARNHEM. We marched to ARNHEM, and in the attack on the morning of 20 Sep I was wounded and captured.
I was taken to a hospital in ARNHEM (name not known).
We were here until moved by the Germans by truck to APELDOORN (Z 70) on about 27 Sep. We were in APELDOORN hospital for one night, and on the following morning were put on a train to be moved to GERMANY.
2. ESCAPE.
The train was in a siding, and in the same compartment as myself were Sgt. KAY (S/P.G.(H)2857), L/Cpl. COOK, and Pte. KERR.
The details of the way we jumped from the train have been released by Sgt. KAY, and my experiences were the same as his up to 29 Sep, when I went to another house in APELDOORN, where I stayed until 22 Oct. Pte. KERR went somewhere else, and I did not see him again.
On the train were R.Q.M.S. MORRIS, Sgt. STONE, and L/Cpl. DUFFY, who were preparing to escape, but I am not sure whether they succeeded.
On 22 Oct I was moved to EDE (E 58), where I joined the main party, with which I was evacuated on 24 Oct.