Captain Vilhelm Roger Schjelderup
ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE OF
____ Capt. SCHEJELDERUP, V.R. } 'C' Coy, 1 Bn, Canadian
K46862. Sgt. GRI, A. } Scottish Regt. 3 Canadian Div.
Capt. SCHEJELDERUP.
Date of Birth: 16 Sep 21.
Army Service: 3 years, 7 months.
Peacetime Profession: Student.
Private Address: COURTNAY, B.C., CANADA.
Sgt. GRI.
Date of Birth: 25 Dec 17.
Army Service: 3 years, 7 months.
Peacetime Profession: Garage Owner.
Private Address: 242 Rossland Avenue, B.C., CANADA.
Maps Used: BELGIUM and FRANCE 1:100,000, GSGS 4336, Sheet 2.
HOLLAND 1:100,000, GSGS 2541, Sheets 2, 3 and 4.
Capt. SCHEJELDERUP.
7 Oct 44. German counter attack. In the early morning at approx. 0400 hrs the Germans made a heavy attack. My Company was holding the left sector of the bridgehead over the LEOPOLD Canal. Our position was situated at 034023 (Sheet 2).
At 0730 hrs approx. we had run out of ammunition, we were burnt out of our defensive positions in the houses and completely surrounded. The situation was hopeless so we had to surrender. Of my Company two platoons managed to make their way back. I had managed to burn and destroy my maps and other papers before giving myself up.
I had been wounded by a grenade during the attack. I had pieces of shrapnel in the left side which was then semi-paralysed, and also pieces of shrapnel in the back.
As soon as we were captured the Germans lined us up with our hands over our heads and searched us. They took all our possessions including watches, money, cigarettes and any photographs. I refused to give up my watch and told them that being an Officer I was not to be searched by a Private soldier, but they put a Schmeisser to my head and told me that they would shoot me if I made any trouble.
They organised us in parties and made us carry back German wounded. Despite my wounds they forced me at the point of the gun to carry a wounded soldier. We marched back under fire of our own troops to a point south of AARDENBURG (Sheet 2, 0006)
After having dropped the wounded Germans we were marched back to OOSTBURG (Sheet 2, 04110 to what appeared to me to be a divisional H.Q. we were there locked in a building. Our party was about 30 strong. They gave us straw to sleep on, but no food. Frequently they came and told us that we were going to have a hot meal but it never appeared. We were all hungry and exhausted. During the night a German Officer who spoke perfect English would come in and wake a man and ask him if he was from 8th Bde. They seemed very anxious to know where that Bde was.
8 Oct 44. At approx. 1100 hrs we were given a bowl of hot soup. That was the first meal since capture. In the afternoon we were interrogated. The Privates first, and N.C.O's and Officers last. The interrogator was a Captain and spoke very good English. His main concern was to know where the 8th and 9th Bdes were. He was well informed as to who I was and of the strength of my Coy. He must have had the information out of soldiers whom he had interrogated before me.
At approx. 1830 hrs we were formed up under a strong guard and marched to BRESKENS (Sheet 2, 0918). That same night we boarded a ferry boat and crossed over to FLUSHING (Sheet 2, 11240 and were taken to a German Barracks where we were given wooden bunks but no blankets. In the course of the morning we were given a bowl of thick soup. That is all we had eaten since 24 hours.
10 Oct 44. At approx. 0800 hrs we were marched to GOES (Sheet 3, 3329) passing through MIDDELBURG. We were there put up in a Gymnasium, given some straw to sleep on but no blankets. We spent the night there. That day we had not been given anything to eat.
11 Oct 44. That morning we were given a bowl of thick soup and two slices of German black bread. We spent the whole day in GOES.
12 Oct 44. In the afternoon we were taken by truck back to MIDDELBURG (Sheet 3, 1429). There we were placed on the bottom of a river barge. We only had room to lie down on the steel floor with no straw. We spent the night there.
13 Oct 44. In the afternoon 75 Italians from a Labour Bn were brought in with us. We had no space then to lie down, sanitary arrangements were lacking. The Italians were given food and were told not to give anything to us as we were not working for the Reich. At nightfall they shared their rations and tobacco with us. It was the first decent food we had had since capture. That same day a German hospital ship pulled alongside of us. In our party we had three seriously wounded cases. I tried twice to get them transferred to the hospital ship without success. I was told that I would be shot if I attempted again. At last I managed to contact a German Nursing Sister and this time they took our serious cases away. One of the cases was Lt. George BLACK, C-Coy, Royal Regina Rifles Regt.
14 Oct 44. In late afternoon we left MIDDELBURG and at night-fall we left the island of WALCHEREN. We were locked inside the barge but could not see where we were going. The Germans all had life belts and seemed very scared of the crossing. We landed at DORDRECHT the next morning (Sheet 4, 8761).
15 Oct 44. We were then taken to a warehouse situated one km West of the Station. On landing the Italians were marched away and left us. That afternoon we were joined by Pte. POLLARD, H.G.A. No. B27325, Calgary Highlanders, and Pte. TRAINOR, L.F. No. F82729, Essex Scottish, and a third man, name unknown from the Canadian Black watch. They were accompanied by a Canadian Typhoon Pilot, F/O. BILL SMILEY. The three Privates had been discharged from a hospital in DORDRECHT. We spent the night sleeping on some straw but without blankets. That day was the first since capture when we started a regular diet.
16 Oct 44. At approx. 1900 hrs our party, totalling 40, was marched to the main station. We boarded a smashed mail van riddled with bullets. There was not sufficient room for each one to sit down. At approx. 2100 hrs we were taken down from the train and marched to the 3rd Class waiting Room where we spent the night. They did not take us back to the warehouse as they were afraid that many would escape under cover of darkness. We slept on the benches of the waiting room.
17 Oct 44. In the morning they took us back to the warehouse and gave us some food. In the afternoon we were again marched back to the station. At dusk we boarded box cars. One guard to every prisoner, and three to every Officer, accompanied us from the warehouse to the train. That night we set off for UTRECHT (Sheet 2, 2191.
18 Oct - 23 Oct 44. We stayed in the van all that period. Trains could not get out of the station on account of a strike. The yards were full of trains waiting to set off. For that period of 6 days on railway siding in the main yard we were treated in the most inhuman way. Very little food, no utensils for eating, very little straw to sleep on, no blankets, no water to wash or shave or drink. Natural functions had to be performed at a given time once a day. We were all lined up on the rails and had to dig a hole with the heel. This in the view of German women and Officers who were also on the train and who were laughing at us. We had no exercise and men were very weak and could hardly stand up, some of them had not even the strength to feed themselves. It was during that period that Capt. R. BROWNRIDGE, 23 R.C.A.: Sgt. GRI, Pte. SWATRZ, H. No. K62742 and myself with a penknife prepared our escape. We carved the planks that were 2 ½ " thick leaving an eighth of an inch free on the outside. Our intentions were to break this thin wood as soon as the train was moving and get out through the hole. We camouflaged our work very carefully and saw that there was always a man leaning against our work. The rest of the party were perfectly willing to go to a P/W camp and gave us no assistance whatsoever.
23 Oct 44. At approx. 2200 hrs, about ½ hour after leaving UTRECHT en route for HAMBURG, Capt. BROWNRIDGE and myself smashed the prepared boards. I worked my way out first and hung on the side until BROWNRIDGE, SWARTZ and GRI were clear, then I jumped. I worked my way back with GRI till we met the others. We found ourselves to be ½ mile South West of DE BILOT Station (Sheet 2, 2695). As we were leaving we were joined by Pte. TRAINOR. When well clear of the railway we split the party into two. One party consisted of myself, Capt. BROWNRIDGE and Pte. TRAINOR and the second of Sgt. GRI and Pte. SWARTZ. As we set off our aim was to walk in a southerly direction guided by the sound of our guns which we could hear. We decided to move at night and lie up in farms by day. We had no maps, compass, watch and also no knowledge of the Underground.
24 Oct 44. At about 0030 hrs I set off with my party to get as much distance between us and the railway before daylight. The night was very dark and the country heavily wooded. At 0300 hrs approx. we blundered right into a German Camp with dugouts, barbed wire, and sentries in pairs every 60 ft. We were challenged many times and very nearly caught, but by careful crawling managed to evade capture. We tried every direction to get out before daylight, but failed to do so. I managed to get my party hidden in a bush. We spent the whole of the day without moving. At dusk I chose a direction towards a main road where I heard some transport moving. As soon as it was dark we crawled towards the road taking every precaution and much time to pass under the wires. In between two sets of double apron fences we were surprised by a patrol of two men. Myself and TRAINOR took evasive action and froze behind some trees. Brownridge froze on the trail where the sentries were coming. He was caught, beaten up with the butts of their Schmiesers and dragged away. When the sentries had taken him away we continued crawling, and passed several more patrols and eventually got clear of the Germans. We kept moving until clear of the woods. At that time I was feeling so ill on account of my wounds on the left side and my back that I decided to give myself up either to the Dutch or the Germans.
25 Oct 44. At 0500 hrs approx. we approached a farm where there were many people buying their Black Market milk. From there till I crossed the lines my movements were arranged for me.
Sgt. GRI.
From 7 Oct - 23 Oct 44 my experiences are the same as those of Capt. SCHJELDERUP.
24 Oct 44. I make my way with SWARTZ. At 0030 hrs with SWARTZ we left the others. We decided to make our way north and try and find a farm where we could get some food and have a wash which we badly needed and also some rest. At 0400 hrs approx. we spotted an isolated farm and climbed into the hayloft. At 0600 hrs approx. a dog started barking and looking up towards us. Immediately the farmer climbed up the ladder and bumped into us. He gave us a good meal to start with and from there till I crossed the lines my movements were arranged for me.
APPENDIX A
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 NAME, etc:- Capt. V.R. SCHJELDERUP, M.C., 'C' Coy, 1 Bn, Cdn Scottish Regt, 3 Cdn Div.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 13 Jan 45.
(1)
DATE. 25 Oct - 22 Dec 44.
NAME AND ADDRESS. Hermannus RAKERS, 393 Groenekaneweg, GROENEKANE, HOLLAND. (HOLLAND, 1: 100,000, Sheet 2, 223942).
REMARKS. Food and shelter, civilian clothes, Attention while ill.
(2).
DATE. 23 Dec 44 - 2 Jan 45.
NAME AND ADDRESS. Mr. CORNELISSEN, AMERONGEN. (Sheet 5, 4380).
REMARKS. Food and shelter for Source and Sgt. Porter.
Feeling very ill and much pain in my left side owing to my wounds, and hardly being able to breathe, I decided to give myself up to the Dutch or, failing so, to the Germans. At 0500 hrs approx. I spotted a farm and met there about 20 to 30 people who were collecting their Black market milk. I asked for help but nobody would hide or help me. When nearly everybody had left a man appeared who told me to stay put and when everybody was gone he would take me with him.
This man, known to me as Hermannus RAKERS, was living 393 Groenekaneweg in GROENEKANE (HOLLAND, 1: 100,000, Sheet 2, 223942). He is a sergeant of police in the above-mentioned town. He took me to the Underground fort (215956) where I was to stay until I could prove my bona fide. They treated me very well and fed me. All possible comforts were given to me as well as to Pte. TRAINOR.
At 0830 hrs approx. an R.C.A.F. sergeant from a bomber crew - Sgt. PORTER, R.E. No. R.133074, was brought in to interrogate me. He left at 100 hrs (approx.), satisfied that I was a Canadian officer.
At approx. 1800 hrs RKAER brought us civilian clothes. He then took us to his house by bicycle. I was at once put to bed and a doctor was called in to see me. I was at once given treatment. That evening I learned that Sgt. GRI was in the vicinity. I scribbled a note to him telling him to stay in the district for a little while.
Owing to the state of my health they never thought that I would live. They brought in a private nurse to look after me. Special food such as eggs, preserved fruits, and good meat were provided for me from various farms. I was visited that day by two other members of the Underground who came to ask me certain questions as to what was my Regiment and so forth. During my stay I was very well looked after and pulled through. When I left this house I was another man. Whilst in RAKER's house I learned that 6 other men of my party had jumped out of the train after us. RAKER personally saw that all of them had billets. He at one time had 4 Canadians in his house. Sgt. PORTER had been living with him since the middle of June.
At 1245 hours 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 at 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. [See below]
Pte. MURPHY, T. Paratrooper. 156 Para Bn.
Capt. NOBLE. Paratrooper. 133 Fd Amb. [See https://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/charles_noble.htm for further information]
Sgt. BANWELL, K. Paratrooper. 10 Bn. [See https://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/tex_banwell.htm for further information]
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 5, 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 but 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 100 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 upby 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.
E.P. Curtis, Capt. For Lieut-Colonel. I.S.9. 1 Feb 45.
Private James Hardy
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 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 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 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.
APPENDIX C.
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 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.
Sergeant Bernard John Frederick Haller
Name: 14291815. Sgt. HALLER, Bernard John Frederick. 'G' Sqn, Glider Pilot Regt.
Captured: 23 Sep 44, Arnhem.
Liberated: 8 May 45.
Date of Birth: 1 Jan 22.
Peacetime Profession: Student.
Army Service: Since 17 Sep 42.
Private Address: Glenn Villa, Clough Road, BAMFORD, Sheffield.
1). CAPTURE. I was dropped near WOLFHEZE (15 km's West of ARNHEM) on 18 Sep 44. I then moved to Div H.Q. at OOSTERBEEK, where I remained until 20 Sep 44 when I went out on patrol. On 23 Sep 44, I was wounded in an engagement with a tank and withdrew with the party to a hospital in OOSTERBEEK, which, unknown to them, was in German hands.
2). HOSPITALS. OOSTERBEEK. 23 - 24 Sep 44. ARNHEM. 24 - 25 Sep 44. APELDOORN. 25 Sep - 6 Oct 44.
3). ESCAPE. On the night 6/7 Oct 44, Pte. HARDY, James, R.A.M.C., attached 1 Bde Parachute Regt, and I remained in hiding in the mess-hall under a table and avoided notice by the German guards who came round to see that all P/W were back in their quarters. About midnight we went through the door when the two German guards were asleep and made our way to the perimeter wire. We crawled along a ditch to a weak spot in the wire which I had noticed the previous day when out on a working party. We crawled through the wire in brilliant moonlight and did not see any sentries about.
We found ourselves in a wooded area with the aid of a compass from our escape kit and a small map which HARDY possessed we headed in a N.W. direction for approximately 16 hours. On 7 Oct 44, we approached an outlying farm, where we were given food and sheltered until 9 Oct 44. After half an hour's walking we met a Dutch Forester who provided food and shelter in a hide-out in the forest. On the morning of 11 Oct 45, the forester informed us that the Germans were searching the forest and that we must leave. The German patrol came along and we crawled into a thick clump of young trees, and so avoided detection. We then went into the part of the forest already searched and hid up until the Germans departed.
We returned to the forester, knowing where his cottage was, and obtained food and made off towards VIERHOUTEN (15 km's east of HARDERWIJK) which we reached at 2200 hrs on 11 Oct 44.
We approached a farm at HULSHORST on 12 Oct 44 and the son of the farmer put us in touch with an organisation. We were liberated on 8 may 45 at GOUDRIAAN after having been passed on to various organisations. Pte. HARDY, James, R.A.M.C. became separated from me near EDE (20 km's N.W. of ARNHEM) about 24 Nov 44, when HARDY went off with another party.
For further information see: https://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/bernard_john_frederick_haller.htm
Private Samuel Peter Walsh
Name: 4389317. Pte. WALSH, Samuel Peter, 156 Bn, Para Regt, 1 Airborne Division.
Date of Birth: 11 Nov 1918.
Peacetime Profession: Apprentice Engineer.
Army Service: 7 years, 11 months.
Private Address: 35 Jarron Street, LEICESTER.
Other members of the stick: Major POWELL, 'C' Coy, 156 Bn - Fate unknown. Pte. DRAKE, 'C' Coy, 156 Bn - Fate unknown.
Type of aircraft, place, date, time of departure? Dakota, near GRANTHAM, 18 Sep 44, 1100 hours approx..
Where and when did you come down? WOLFHEZE E 67 (NWE 1,250,000, Sheet 2a), 1400 hours approximately.
How did you dispose of your parachute, harness and mae west? Left on ground.
Were all secret papers and equipment destroyed? None.
Maps used: GSGS 2541 Sheets 2 and 5.
I was a Bren Gunner with C-Coy of the 156 Para Bn taking part in the airborne expedition to ARNHEM and at about midday on THURS 21 SEP our Coy went in to attack a German MG position in the neighbourhood of OOSTERBEEK (700780 Sheet 5). At the time I was beside Lt. DONALDSON [300870. Lieut. William Stewart Donaldson. 11 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion. He is recorded as killed in action on the 20/09/1944. His first burial place was recorded as Grid: 681785, the corner of Zonneheuvelweg] my Platoon C.O. and Sjt. JOYCE [4448773. Sgt. Patrick Peter Joyce. 11 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion. He survived as a POW at Stalag 357] who was acting Platoon Serjeant and we were manoeuvring to a flank in order to get a site for my Bren Gun when we received a burst of fire. Lt. DONALDSON was shot through the leg and arm and JOYCE through the chest while I sustained a scalp wound which laid me out for ten or fifteen minutes.
When I recovered I did what I could for JOYCE, giving him his morphia, but he died shortly afterwards. I then managed to get Lt. DONALDSON to a house about twenty yards to the rear. By this time the Coy had withdrawn and a few minutes later the Germans advanced and DONALDSON and I were taken prisoner. I was disarmed and taken away to what I believed to be Bn HQ, with about a dozen other prisoners, all walking wounded. I have not heard of Lt. DONALDSON since, though I have a suspicion that he was shot. I had not gone more than 10 or 12 yards from the house where I left him before I heard a single shot which definitely came from that house.
At the HQ we were taken one at a time before an English speaking German officer by whom we were interrogated regarding our strength, possibility of relief etc, but all I told him was my name, rank and number and I was not at any time threatened or bullied when I refused to answer his questions.
We were then taken away and put in a garage with a guard outside and we stayed there overnight. We were given plenty of straw for beds and a few blankets, but all we got for food were a few 'energy' tablets.
22 SEP 44. Next morning we were taken by motor lorry to HARSKAMP (649945 Sheet 2) to a Hospital there where we stayed the best part of the day. The Germans still did not provide us with any food but the Dutch nursing sisters working there managed to produce some for us. Those whose wounds required attention had received treatment shortly after capture and at HARSKAMP we were again visited by a German MO.
That evening we were moved up to the HETLOO Hospital at APELDOORN which was formerly Queen Wilhelmina's Summer Palace (777056 Sheet 2). Here we were put in a wing of the hospital which was set aside for British personnel, the remainder of the buildings being used for German wounded.
We were first of all searched, the drill being to strip naked, putting clothing on one side and small kit and personal belongings laid out on a towel. However, it was not difficult to hide under the towel any small articles which we wanted to keep. In this way I managed to retain my compass. My file I had sewn in the waistband of my trousers, but this had been removed when my clothing was later returned to me. However, they did not discover my invasion money which I had sewn inside the turn up of my trousers. All our clothing was taken away and we were given tunic trousers and a shirt of a field green material which looked like German tropical kit. Our boots and socks were also removed but next day our socks were returned to us.
There were sixty four of us altogether and we were made quite comfortable. We had beds or mattresses on the floor, sheets and blankets and the central heating kept the building warm. The food was quite good and we had an issue of cigarettes, tobacco or cigars and even an occasional glass of wine.
Escape was very difficult however as we were on the second floor and the only exit was constantly guarded. The only way out was by the windows, but even then we had no boots which made walking impossible. I believe, however, that about six did get away with the help of some Dutchmen who worked in the kitchens below, where we went for our meals.
About the 2 OCT our clothing was returned to us and we were moved to the WILLEM III Barracks also in APELDOORN. This was being used as a British Hospital (See Col. WARRACK's Report No: IS9/WEA/1/275). Upon arrival we gave our names to the medical RSM [259229. W.O.I. Lionel Henry Bryson. 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.] who detailed all those who were able for various jobs in looking after the wounded as there was a shortage of medical orderlies.
At this time the buildings were guarded by young active Dutch SS, but the second day after we arrived they were replaced by WEHRMACHT, all older men.
We had been given to understand by the RSM that so far as escape was concerned it was every man for himself and Pte. MURPHY [2756457. Pte. Thomas Murphy. Mortar Platoon, 156 Parachute Battalion.] of my Coy and I decided to make an attempt.
There was an unused building which stood near the wire fence guarding the enclosure and some distance from the buildings which we were occupying. It was unguarded except for an occasional patrol, so just at dusk on the 6 OCT, MURPHY and I took a stretcher as 'camouflage' and walked past the guard on our building as if going to carry out some detail. Once past him we made straight for the unused building and got inside. We lay there until dark and then slipped out through the door nearest the fence which we climbed over without difficulty.
7 OCT 44. Our intention was first to get clear of APLEDOORN and then head South in the hope of crossing the RHINE, so we set off in a Westerly direction. After walking about 5 miles across country we rested a while and when daylight came we approached a farmhouse in the KOOTWIJK area (660005 Sheet 2). The farmer took us in and his wife gave us breakfast. They indicated that we should stay there until 0900 hrs, which we did. Apparently they had a friend who passed by their house at that hour every morning and when he arrived the farmer stopped him and brought him in to see us. From this point on my journey was arranged for me.
APPENDIX C.
ESCAPER's NAME, ETC:- 4389317. Pte. WALSH, S.P. 156 Bn, Para regt.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 7 Mar 45.
MAPS USED:- HOLLAND, 1:100,000, Sheets 2 and 4.
The man who came to see us was a member of the Underground, though I do not know his name. He spoke English and questioned us as to our identity, but we had little difficulty in satisfying him. He then took us to his home, a poultry farm, situated also in the KOOTWIJK area. He was very deaf, married, with three sons aged 3, 5 and 6 approx. His wife also spoke good English. We stayed here one week during which time we were very well fed and cared for. As the house was situated fairly close to the APLEDOORN (Sheet 2, 790040) - AMERSFOORT (Sheet 2, 390975) railway line it was not considered very safe, so our friend arranged with the Underground to find new billets and on 14 Oct after dark we moved to GARDEREN (Sheet 2, 620060).
Here we were taken to a fairly large house on the outskirts of the village owned by a member of the Underground known to me as Uncle JOOP and often referred to as the Doctor by his friends. I believe he was a surgeon before the war. Living with him was the Burgermeister of a township near AMSTERDAM together with his wife and son.
A few days after we arrived there we were joined by Sgt. HARDING, 10 Para Bn. He actually stayed on there after MURPHY and I had left, but when we met later on my journey he told me that the Germans had accidentally discovered the cellar and radio set, etc, which Uncle JOOP kept there and in reprisal burned down the house. Fortunately for him HARDING had already left when this happened. Uncle JOOP was also away at the time and the Burgermeister and his family were not molested.
About 21 Oct it was arranged that we should move in order to make room for a party of six R.A.M.C. officers who were expected, so MURPHY and I were moved to a house in ELSPEET (Sheet 2, 670123) where Pte. HARDY [1556339. Private. James Hardy. 16 Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.], James, 16 Fd Amb was living. For the story of my movements until 25 Nov see report of Pte. HARDY (IS9/WEA/1/270/2351) which is the same except for one detail. On the night of 17 Nov when we lost HARDY and P/O. BRENTFORD, our guides took Sgt. BANWELL, [5498293. Sgt. Keith Deamer Banwell. 3 Platoon, "A" Company, 10th Parachute Battalion] Sgt. HALLER, John [14291815. Sgt. Bernard John Frederick Haller. 24 Flight, 'G' Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment], Pte. MURPHY and myself to a house at approx. posn 560984 (Sheet 2) where we stayed overnight and moved to the rendezvous which HARDY gives as posn 602990 (Sheet 2) the next day.
On 25 Nov one of the men who brought us our food at the hide-out told us that the member of the Underground who was looking after us (name unknown) had been arrested and as there was a search in the area it was dangerous for us to stay. We split up into two parties of three, P/O. BRENTFORD, Sgt. HALLER and I going together and making in the direction of VALK (sheet 2, 580940) on the advice of the friend who warned us to leave.
We left in the morning and at about 1400 hrs we approached a house in the VALK area at about posn 600924 (Sheet 2). The owner of the house was a man whom I knew as HANK, a house builder by trade, married, with three daughters, aged 10, 4 and 6 months. We asked him if he could put us in touch with the Underground which he said he would do and in the meantime he offered to billet us.
We stayed with HANK for a week and on 1 Dec a member of the Underground came to see us. His name was GERD (?) and he had been one of our guides on our previous abortive attempt to reach the RHINE. He took us to his own house which was in the area of KOOTWIJKKERBROEK (Sheet 2, 570972) and after staying there overnight he took P/O. BRENTFORD and me to a farm on the outskirts of VALK while Sgt. Haller was taken to another address in this area. Our new host was Evaard VAN BRAAK, a farmer, married, with one daughter aged about eight.
GERD visited us frequently bringing extra food, tobacco, etc, and on the evening of 7 Feb we went over to his house to celebrate his birthday. Instead of going back to BRAAK'S that night I stayed with Pte's. McNAUGHT [3131378. Pte. Frank McNaught. Mortar Platoon, 11th Parachute Battalion] and RILEY [2373370. Sigmn. Harold Green Riley. J-Section (attached 1st Parachute Brigade HQ), 1st Airborne Divisional Signals] who were living at a farm near GERD's place. Next morning GERD came and told us that we were to prepare to leave so he sent someone over to BRAAK's farm to collect my uniform etc, which I had left there.
From that time until I finally reached safety on 7 mar my story is the same as that narrated by Pte. McNAUGHT (IS9/WEA/1/290/2385) except that during the period after our unsuccessful attempt to cross on 19 Feb until the night of our crossing I was billeted at the home of VAN DER WEIL, in SLIEDRECHT (Sheet 4, 955620).
For further information see: https://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/samuel_walsh.htm
Private Francis McNaught
Name: 3131378. Pte. McNAUGHT. Frank, 11 Para Bn, 4 Bde, 1 Airborne Division.
Date of Birth: 8 Mar 22.
Peacetime Profession: App Cast iron Moulder.
Army Service: 5 ½ yrs.
Private Address: 18 Winste Dr, THURMASTON, Nr. Leicester.
Other members of the Crew:
Capt. MERS (?) USAAF. (Pilot) (believed evacuated) [Capt. George D. Merz. Wounded/Evaded]
Lt. WOOD. USAAF. (Co-pilot) (believed evacuated) [2/Lt. Ernest W. Haagensen. Wounded/Evaded]
Name unknown. (Navigator) (dead) [O-887160. 2/Lt. Russell C. Stephens. KIA: 18/09/44]
Cpl. HAGISSON. (?) (Crew Chief) (dead) [15382968. T/Sgt. Richard W. Eastman. KIA: 18/09/44]
Name unknown. (Radio Operator) (dead) [36349137. T/Sgt. William G. Buckley. KIA: 18/09/44]
Type of aircraft, place, date, time of departure. Dakota A/F in LEICESTER. 18 Sep 44. 1130 hrs approx.
Where and when did you come down. RHENEN, HOLLAND. GSGS 2541, Sheet 5. 520760, 18 Sep 44.
I was a Machine Gunner in the 11 Para bn, 1 Airborne Div, taking part in the Airborne expedition to ARNHEM. We took off from an A/F near LEICESTER in a Dakota at about 1130 hours on 18 Sep 44.
Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast we encountered some flak and I sustained slight wounds in the legs and arm. The aircraft apparently was undamaged but on approaching the area of RHENEN (Sheet 5, 510756) we were hit again by light flak, and the starboard motor caught fire. Capt. KING, [138204. Capt. Frank Douglas King. WIA/POW, Of 79, 585] our Coy Comd, immediately gave the order to jump and he baled out followed by our C.S.M. [6539551. W.O.II. George Gatland. WIA/POW, 11B, 118867] and another Paratrooper. Our height at the time was in the neighbourhood of 600 feet and the aircraft started to go into a dive thereby making it impossible for any others to jump. However the pilot, Capt. MERS, USAAF, made an excellent crash landing in a field despite the fact that the forward part of the aircraft was filled with smoke. We landed about one kilometre N.W. of RHENEN at approx. position (Sheet 5, 515767).
When Capt. KING had given the order to jump most of the stick had taken up their positions near the door and when we landed many left their parachutes and heavy kit bags in the aircraft before jumping to the ground. This made it difficult for the last men to get out and as I was leaving I saw Pte. SPRIGGS [1450874. Pte. Neville Aubrey Spriggs. POW, 7A, 140085] lying near the door and moaning, and also Sjt. METCALFE [S/152637. L/Sgt. Kenneth John Metcalfe. KIA: 18/09/44] of our Company, also unable to move. I told the Sjt that I would come back and help him out and I jumped out pulling SPRIGGS with me.
Owing to the angle at which the plane had finished up after landing the drop to the ground was much greater than I expected and in landing I injured both ankles. As I had been the third last man of the stick to get out the other men had all made off and only Capt. MERS (?) and Lt. WOOD (?) the co-pilot were left. They first attended to SPRIGGS whose clothing was by this time smouldering and whose face was badly scorched.
Because of my injured ankles I was unable to get back to help METCALFE, so I told Capt. MERS that he was still in the aircraft. However, when he started to approach the plane the ammunition started to go off and it was impossible to get near it. I later learned, also through the Dutch Red Cross, that the bodies of Sjt. METCALFE and the navigator and Wireless operator (names unknown), who also perished, had been recovered from the machine and had been given a proper burial at a cemetery near RHENEN.
I managed to crawl to a ditch about 25 yards from the aircraft where I hid. Capt. MERS (?) and Lt. WOOD (?) also hid in the same ditch but some distance away from me. After about an hour I saw a man approaching and Lt. WOOD got out of the ditch and went over to him. I could see WOOD showing the man some papers and I guessed that he was endeavouring to establish his identity. Capt. MERS (?) then joined them and presently I saw the three of them making off across the field. I shouted at them to wait for me and when they realised that I had difficulty in walking they came back and helped me. With their assistance I walked with them and their friend to a farm about one mile away and from there on my movements were arranged for me.
APPENDIX 'C'. I.S.9/W.E.A./1/290/2385.
ESCAPER's NAME, etc:- 3131378. Pte. McNAUGHT, F. 11 Para Bn, 4 Bde.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 7 Mar 45.
MAPS USED:- HOLLAND, 1: 100,000.
Our friend's name was Piet VELDHOVEN and he took us to his father's farmhouse at approx. position 513776, Sheet 5. Living in this house were VELDHOVEN senior, who was an engine driver, his son PIET and two daughters DICKIE and JANNIE, aged about 20 and 23 respectively. I gathered that their mother had been taken to a concentration camp for harbouring a Jew.
PIET, who was about 21, was not a member of the Underground, but he, together with several other local youths, were engaged in causing whatever trouble they could to the Germans including various acts of sabotage.
Here I was lodged in a bedroom while the two U.S. Officers occupied a cellar under the house. During the five weeks I stayed here I was very well fed and cared for, my diet including fresh milk, butter and eggs.
About 11 Oct 44 a friend of the VELDHOVEN family, an ex-policeman named Eevid VAN DAM, suggested that I should go to his house which was not far away and where he had a Sgt. David DECENTIAS [Desantis], U.S.A.A.F., living with him. As no English was spoken in either the VELDHOVEN or VAN DAM house it was thought that it would be company for DECENTIAS, who was alone there.
I agreed to the move, so about 1315 hrs on about 11 Oct I set off wearing overalls over my battle-dress and a cap in place of my beret and accompanied by a young guide, first name WALTER, whose father was the police chief in RHENEN.
We had just turned on to a main road from a path across a field when a German soldier, an N.C.O. I think, came up behind us and grabbed me, pulling open the neck of my overalls as he did so, thereby revealing my battle-dress. I have thought since that his suspicions were aroused by one of my gaiters which I afterwards noticed was exposed owing to the fact that the bottom of one leg of my overall trousers was caught up in the top of my gaiter.
The N.C.O. called to two German soldiers who were on the road a short distance away. They came over and a conversation took place. One of them left and the other, who was armed with a Schmeisser, together with the N.C.O., marched us down the road to a house which, so far as I could see, was empty.
We were then searched and a Colt 45 which I was carrying was taken from me and WALTER's revolver was also removed. We were then inside a garage attached to the house and through WALTER, who spoke German and English, the N.C.O. asked me for my Pay Book and Discs, which I gave to him. He asked if the details as to name, rank and number in the Pay Book were correct and I told him they were. He then tore out the page containing these details and gave me back the Pay Book. The Discs he kept. He then left us, leaving the sentry with the Schmeisser outside.
About half an hour later he returned and asked WALTER for his Ausweis and Personsweis, which he handed over to him. He had a short conversation with WALTER and then left us.
At about 1630 hrs he returned and as soon as he came inside, WALTER, who was a big man, immediately jumped on him and got him to the ground. The German was taken completely by surprise (as I was too). WALTER then grabbed him by the throat and endeavoured to strangle him, while I managed to get hold of the German's bayonet and ran it through him as near the heart as possible.
Apart from the thud made when WALTER and the German fell to the ground there had been little noise made and he had been prevented from crying out by WALTER's grip on his throat. However, the sentry who was sitting down at the time about 10-15 yards from the garage approached the door, which was slightly ajar. WALTER either saw or heard him coming and seizing the bayonet from me, sprang through the door at the German and ran the blade through his stomach. He let out a scream and dropped, and WALTER took to his heels and I followed.
He took us straight back to VELDHOVEN's house, having warned me on the way there to say nothing about the occurrence. WALTER then left.
Next day we were warned that the Germans were carrying out a search in the area and the two Americans and I hid in a haystack. This was an excellent hiding place. The entrance was through an opening in the wall of the loft above the 'deel' and was concealed by a chest of drawers on one side and by a bale of hay which we moved into position on the other side once we had taken up our positions. We went into hiding in the early afternoon and stayed there about an hour during which time a party of Germans came and searched the house.
Whether or not they were looking for me I do not know. The VELDHOVEN's, who did not, at this time, know what had happened the previous day, thought that they were searching for radio sets. However, they did not discover our hiding place.
On the night of 13 Oct I joined a 'sabotage' party and it was at this time that the story of my adventure was told to the VELDHOVEN's. The 'sabotage' party, consisting of six young men, including PIET and WALTER, met at the VELDHOVEN house. WALTER asked for the loan of a revolver and when asked what had happened to his own he told of our capture and escape. VELDHOVEN senior was considerably worried, but there was no suggestion that I should leave.
At about 2200 hrs I set off with the saboteurs who were armed with a quantity of Hawkins Grenades, which they had acquired, picked up, I believe, in the dropping zone of the ARNHEM landings. We walked North until we reached a point on the railway at approx. position 480839, Sheet 2. This is a single track railway used only by the Germans and we placed the grenades, three on each rail, in a position so that at least one, if not all would be detonated by the passing of an engine.
We returned to the house and waited for the passing of a train which we knew was due to pass the VELDHOVEN house at 2335 hrs. We heard it go by, a few minutes late, and shortly afterwards we heard, very faintly, the sound of an explosion. We heard next day from friends in the area that the train had been derailed. What its contents were or the extent of the damage I do not know.
We repeated the operation three nights later at approx position 510795, Sheet 5, but on this occasion we used sticks of gelignite and fuses. The noise of the explosion which we heard from the safety of the VELDHOVEN house was considerable and the line was successfully cut. Using orange fuse wire we did not have to wait for a train to pass to detonate the charge. Having received a certain amount of training in explosives when I was with S.A.S. I was of considerable help to the saboteurs.
It had been our intention to continue this work but when we learned that the Germans had seized and shot the occupants of a house near the scene of our second operation we decided that the price was too great. I was told that the family on whom the Germans took this reprisal consisted of a man and his wife and daughter. Their house too, was destroyed.
About 20 Oct the two U.S. Officers left on bicycles with a member of the Underground. I subsequently learned that they joined a large party of E & E's who were successfully evacuated (Pegasus I) and that Sgt. DECENTIAS and I were to have gone as well but at the last moment bicycles could not be found for us.
However, on 21 Oct bicycles were found for us and, accompanied by PIET, DECENTIAS and I were taken to a spot at approx. position 540808, Sheet 2, where we met a horse drawn cart marked with the Red Cross. Here we were handed over to the care of a woman and a girl, both of whom spoke good English. They were mother and daughter and had lived in America for a number of years. We were taken in the cart to an office in LUNTEREN (550898, Sheet 2).
This office was, I think, the H.Q. of the local food distribution organisation, and here we were provided with ration books by an elderly man who appeared to be in charge. We also met his son who produced bicycles for us and escorted us to a farm at KOOTWIJKERBROEK (575968).
The name of the family I stayed with here is ESVHEILT. They are farmers and the family consists of father and mother and two daughters and five sons, the eldest DRECKIS, a boy of 17, and the youngest, KERRIT, a boy of six.
Here we lived in a room constructed in a haystack about 500 yards from the farmhouse. This room was made with supports inside the stack and was about 10 ft wide by about 6 ft high. To enter one simply pulled out sufficient straw and crawled in. Each night ESVHEILT would come himself to see that the entrance was properly concealed from the outside. Our breakfast and mid-day meal were brought to us, generally by the farmer himself, and our evening meal we took in the farmhouse. A bucket of water was brought down with our breakfast and we performed our ablutions in a chicken house next to the haystack.
When we arrived at ESVHEILT's, Major. McGUIRE, [130962. Maj. Hugh Pownall Maguire. GSO II (Int), 1st Airborne Division Headquarters. POW, Of 79, 642] an I.O. of 1 airborne Division, was living with the family, but thereafter he joined DECENTIAS and me in our haystack home.
On 23 Oct we had a visit from DICK and JOOP and from them I learned that the operation that WOOD and MERS (?) had gone on had been carried out successfully. DICK also encouraged us and told us that arrangements would be made to get us across pretty soon.
A few nights later Major McGUIRE, DECENTIAS and I went to a neighbouring house where we again met DICK and JOOP. DICK had some knowledge of my escape from the Germans and questioned me about it. He then asked me for my Pay Book which he destroyed and told me to use another name and number. He suggested that I assume a name which I would not easily forget, so henceforward I used my wife's maiden name PAYNE and assumed the number 3132313.
During the first few days of November we were joined at our hideout by the co-pilot and navigator of a Fortress crew, Lt. Charlie (surname unknown) and Lt. Norris (surname unknown). They had been shot down in a BERLIN raid about seven months earlier.
During my conversation with Major McGUIRE I had learned that preparations were being made for an evacuation of another large party and about 11 Nov he left us after telling us that someone would come for us at the appointed time without giving us any idea just when that was.
At about 1730 hrs on 17 Nov DICK came and told us to get ready to leave and after saying goodbye to our good friends, the ESVHEILT's, we set off and after walking for about 45 minutes we arrived at a shed near a farm and here we joined a party of about 30 E & E's which include Capt. KESSEL, [227647. Capt. Alexander William Lipmann-Kessel. 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. Evaded] R.A.M.C. (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/279/2367). Here we were issued with Sten guns, rations, and were briefed for the journey by Major. McGUIRE.
On the operation (Pegasus II) I was one of the five paratroopers at the head of the column with major. McGUIRE and my story of the journey up until we crossed the main ARNHEM-EDE road is in the main the same as that narrated by Capt. KESSEL (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/279/2367 Paras 15-19).
When the Spandau on the road opened up I continued through the wood on the South side of the road until I reached a ploughed field. Seeing two others in the field I whistled to them and they joined me. They were F/O. GOGGIN (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/282/2373) and an R.A.M.C. officer. We waited about 10 minutes in the hope that some others might also come through the wood and join us, but by this time the Germans were putting up Verey lights and their M.G. fire was getting rather too close, so I suggested that we split up and each make off in different directions thereby lessening our chances of being hit.
I SET OFF South and kept on going until I reached what I recognised to be our original D.Z. by the number of empty containers lying about (approx. position 625830, Sheet 2). My intention at this time was to try and reach the RHINE, but as I was not entirely sure of my bearings I decided to rest up until daylight, so I crawled into a small ditch and pulled a container over the top to help conceal me.
At daylight I got out of my place of hiding and was having a look round when I saw some distance away four or five men coming my way. I could not make out who they were, but I saw that they were carrying rifles. I made off as fast as I could and they started to run after me. I reached a wood at (approx. position 633820, Sheet 2). It was a young fir wood, the trees growing close together with their lower branches pretty close to the ground, so by lying down I was able to get effective concealment.
I could see the four men who were dressed in civilian clothes but wearing the German S.S. cap and badge and carrying Schmeisser's. They came into the wood shouting and talking to each other and occasionally firing their guns indiscriminately. However, they kept to the paths and did not attempt to walk among the trees and after about two hours the search died down.
Unfortunately for me they maintained a constant patrol on the main paths through the wood near where I was lying. From where I lay I could see what appeared to be a dumping ground for tin cans, etc, and there may possibly have been a regular patrol maintained in this area. I did not want to move at night as it was difficult to find my way in the dark without keeping to the path and I also knew that the wood was bounded on the South by the railway line, over which it would be dangerous to move. Moreover for two days I could hear intermittent firing from the area to the North where I had come from, which told me that the search in that area was still on.
I lay in my hiding place for four days in all until hunger and desperation finally drove me out. At about 1000 hrs on 23 Nov I decided to move. I could see the patrol on the path so, after waiting until he got some distance past I crept forward towards the path intending to make off in the opposite direction. Unfortunately he decided to turn back and finally sat down on a log beside the path only a few paces from where I lay, with his back towards me. He proceeded to take out some sandwiches and the sight of the food and my own precarious position made up my mind for me. Seizing a stout piece of wood nearby I sprang forward and hit him over the head as hard as I could. He fell like a log.
Taking his sandwiches I made off South down the path until I reached the railway (position 629818, Sheet 2). Here I turned west, walking parallel to the track but keeping in the woods through which the railway runs. My plan was now to try and get back to the BARNEVELD area which DICK had told us to do should our plans miscarry. Fortunately I had some knowledge of the lay of the land, thanks to our original briefing before the ARNHEM expedition.
On reaching the outskirts of EDE (580830, Sheet 2) I met a workman whom I approached, explaining to him in the few words of Dutch which I had by this time learned, who I was and where I wanted to go. He gave me his overcoat and cap to hide my battle-dress, and I made my trousers into 'plus fours' with the aid of my socks, thereby hiding them as far as possible under the coat.
I set off again still intending to make for BARNEVELD (528960, Sheet 2). I was by this time very weary and suffering from exposure after my five nights in the woods, during which time it had rained continuously. Incidentally the rain had one advantage as it provided me with my only means of quenching my thirst. However, my condition was such that I decided that I must have assistance if possible.
I had not gone very far before I met a boy on a bicycle, so I stopped him and told him my story. He told me to hide in the wood beside the road, telling me that he would try and get help for me, and at the worst he said he would bring me some food. He said he would return at 1700 hrs, and ring his bell as a signal. As a precaution I hid on the opposite side of the road from that which he had indicated in case he proved to be unfriendly and give me away.
However, he came back alone at 1700 hrs bringing with him some food, a pair of overalls, and a second bicycle. He took me to a farmhouse at approx. position 542850, Sheet 2. The farm had been evacuated and only the son of the farmer was living there. My young guide left me here and I remained for three days. I do not know the names of either my guide or my host.
On the morning of 26 Nov I set off again and after a journey lasting six days I finally made contact with DICK again. Apart from the fact that I had not the strength to travel very far at a stretch I had to travel cross country, avoiding all roads and making many detours in areas where I was warned of Germans in the district. During my journey I got food from various farms en route and lodging on two of the nights. The other three nights I slept once in a haystack and twice in chicken coops. Whenever I asked for food or help I got it.
At about 1600 hrs on 1 Dec I knocked at the door of a house situated by a railway at approx. position 516984, Sheet 2. I had actually walked beyond BARNEVELD, though at the time I did not know it. By good luck it was a meeting place for the local Underground.
I found several men of the Underground in this house, but none with whom I had previous contact and having no Pay-Book or discs I was very thoroughly questioned. Fortunately one of the party spoke good English and through his association with other paratroopers in hiding was familiar with certain details of our work, places of training, etc, and I was able to satisfy him. Before asking then for DICK by name, however, I asked what proof they could give me as to their own standing, whereupon they showed me their 'arsenal'.
They then sent word to DICK that I was there and next morning a girl courier, PUK, came and took me on bicycle to my old home with the ESVHEILT's, who welcomed me with open arms. I found there Pte. H. RILEY, [2373370. Sigmn. Harold Green Riley. J-Section, 1st Airborne Divisional Signals] 1 A/B Bn, Sgt. HALLER, J., [14291815. Sgt. Bernard John Frederick Haller. 24 Flight, 'G' Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment] Glider Pilot, Sgt. DECENTIAS, and Lt. Charlie (surname unknown) U.S.A.A.F. Another 'compartment' had by this time been constructed in another hay stack to accommodate the 'growing family'.
During my stay I acted as an armed guard on the D.Z. during the two 'drops' arranged by DICK. See F/O. GOGGIN's Report No. IS9/WEA/1/282/2373.
About the end of January, Sgt. DECENTIAS and Lt. Charlie (surname unknown) were moved to another address as the ESVHEILT's were finding it difficult to provide food for such a large number.
Living in the ESVHEILT house was a member of the Underground called JAN whom we saw frequently and we understood from him that no more crossings were to be made and that we would have to remain in hiding until the Allies came. However, at about 1400 hrs on 8 Feb 45 he came and told RILEY, myself and Pte. WALSH [4389317. Pte . Samuel Peter Walsh. 11 Platoon, 'C' Company, 156 Parachute Battalion] (Report No. IS9/WE/1/295/2386) who had joined us the previous night, to get ready to move and though he did not tell us that a crossing was being arranged, we guessed as much.
Bicycles were provided and wearing our overalls as usual, we set off with JAN as guide, leaving Sgt. HALLER behind. We cycled to BARNEVELD, where we met DICK and two guides at a cross roads. From DICK we learned that a crossing was being arranged and after saying goodbye we set off with the two guides.
We arrived at about 2100 hrs that night at a chicken hut which was an Underground arsenal situated in the woods near DOORN (355850, Sheet 2) and after staying there overnight we were taken next evening to Mrs. LELS, HOOGHLAND, DOORN. Mrs. LELS, an English lady, is the wife of a large Tug [boat] owner in ROTTERDAM. Here we were joined by Pte. GORDON [6466835. Pte. William Alexander Gordon. 10 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion] (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/293/2383) who, I believe, had returned after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the LEK.
About 1730 hrs on 17 Feb we left DOORN, accompanied by a girl courier and two members of the Underground and cycled until about 1930 hrs, when we arrived at a house standing on a canal somewhere about position 190830, Sheet 2. We stayed here overnight and at about 0630 hrs next morning we set off again and cycled to a point on the LEK at approx. 989740, Sheet 4.
After waiting here about 20 minutes a rowing boat appeared and in it we all crossed the river, taking the bicycles with us. We then continued to a house in GROOT AMMERS (993735, Sheet 4) where we were handed over to two new guides and with them we proceeded to MOLENSAARSGRAAF (993684, Sheet 4) to the house of a Domine DECKER.
Next night, 19 Feb, at about 1700 hrs we set off again, travelling in pairs, each accompanied by a girl courier. RILEY and I travelled together, RILEY on the back of my bicycle. At about 1800 hrs we arrived at a house in SLIEDRECHT (955620, Sheet 4). Here we were joined by Lt. BELTON, U.S.A.A.F. (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/291) and F/Sgt. RADCIFFE, R.A.F. (Report No. IS9/WEA/1/292/2382).
At 2200 hrs our guides for the crossing arrived and at about 2230 hrs we all set off. On reaching the river I got into a canoe with one of the guides while the other five followed in a rowing boat in which, besides their guide, there were three Underground agents, one a girl. We crossed the MERWEDE and entered a waterway at position 926610, Sheet 4, which we followed down until we reached the NIEWE MERWEDE at position 948590, Sheet 4. At one stage of our journey we had to pull our canoe over a dyke in order to circumvent the lock gates which barred our way.
On reaching the NIEWE MERWEDE we waited for the motor canoes which we understood were being sent to pick us up, but by 0400 hrs the guides decided that they were not coming. Later we were told that they had made the attempt but had been forced to turn back on account of fog.
There was nothing for it but to return to SLIEDRECHT which we did in the same order as before. We all got back safely to the same house from which we had started off the night before. At about 1700 hrs that afternoon RILEY and I left again with a girl courier and retraced our steps to Demine DECKER's house at MOLENSAARGRAAF, while the others remained at SLIEDRECHT.
On the evening of 5 Mar the same girl courier arrived and escorted us down to SLIEDRECHT where we stayed overnight at our previous R.V. Next day we were joined by the other four members of the party and again we set off at about 2130 hrs, this time all together in a large rowing boat accompanied by two guides.
We took the same route as before, but this time we made the complete crossing in our rowing boat. Our guides were familiar with the route and we had an uneventful journey, arriving at the HAVEN (898510, Sheet 4) at about 0430 hrs on 7 Mar, safe at last.