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Showing posts with label Oosterbeek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oosterbeek. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Arnhem - Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery



Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery

The Arnhem-Oosterbeek cemetery contains the graves of most of those killed in the fighting during the attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem, as well as those subsequently killed in the area , including Northumbrian Gunners.


The cemetery contains 3 Victoria Cross graves


Gronert Twins

Thomas and Claude Gronert
Cluade and Tomas Gronert grew up and worked as tin miners in the Redruth area of Cornwall before enlisting into the Parachute Regiment. They were serving with 6 Platoon of B Company 2nd Battalion, when they were dropped into Arnhem.

As their platoon advanced to Arnhem Bridge they came accross Nazi SS troops who pretended to surrender. When Tommy and three others moved out into the open to take them prisoner, the Germans opened fire.

Hearing badly wounded Tommy scream, Claude rushed to help but was hit 3 times in the head.




         Pvt T. Gronert                                                     Pvt C. Gronert 
                 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment Army Air Corps               

 Captain WN Barrie DFC

Capt WN Barrie DFC
Glider Pilot Regiment
  William N Barrie was born on 12th October 1918. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Hexham. He was made a Kings Scout in May 1935 and played regularly for Tynedale RFC. He trained as an accountant, the war interrupting his final exams. 

Enlisting with 4th RNF (TA) before the outbreak of war he deployed to France in 1940 as part of the 51st Highland Div. He was fortunate to avoid capture, during the evacuation from France. On return to the UK , his unit was deployed in the home defence role at  Wylam. He was promoted to Lieutenant and posted to the Durham Light Infantry.

When the Glider Pilot Regiment was formed in early 1942 Lt Barrie was among the first officers to volunteer for flying duties with the new airborne unit.  He took part in the glider operations in Sicily, where he won the DFC, and in Normandy. 

During Operation Market he was serving with G Squadron,  the majority of their Horsa gliders carried the Light Guns, Jeeps and gunners of the 1st Air landing Regiment Royal Artillery. On landing the Wing regrouped and deployed as the divisional reserve, and was given the task of providing local protection to the gun batteries of the Air landing Regiment RA.  

 Captain Barrie was killed in an action trying to knock out a German gun with a hand grenade.
 
 
Capt WN Barrie DFC
Glider Pilot Regiment Army Air Corps
 
He is commemorated on Hexham War Memorial
 
 

ROYAL ARTILLERY

Unknown Gunner

Gnr. G Gray 1st Airlanding Light Regiment RA

Gunner George Gray was killed 20th September 1944 served with 1st Air landing Light Regiment Royal Artillery aged 25. He was the son of George and Isabelle Gray and the husband of Constance Mary Gray of Gosforth, Newcastle.
 
He is commemorated on the Gosforth War memorial.
 
 

Gnr G. Gray
1st Air landing Light Regiment RA

74th (Northumbrian) Regiment RA (TA)


              L/ Sgt J. Ottino              Capt  RB Hutt             Lt JT Bryant                  
 

L/Sgt James Ottino 

 
L/Sgt Ottino pictured front left
 
 
L/Sgt J. Ottino
74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)

Capt RB Hutt

 
Capt RB Hutt
74th(Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)

Captain Raymond Barnes Hutt was killed 17th April 1945 exactly one month after his 29th birthday whilst serving as the adjutant of 74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA). 

He was killed in the village of Wageningen, 10 miles west of Arnhem. The war diary of 74 Regiment records:

Rest of day spent regrouping in Arnhem.
Regt passed through area on which 1st Airborne Div fought and found many signs of their grim fight-parachute-harness-containers-jeeps etc. The Regt buried several "Men of Arnhem" after getting their identifications and found some communal graves with inscriptions in German. Capt R.B. Hutt RA (Adjutant) killed and major R. Hudson (2IC) wounded in the eye when jeep in which they were travelling went over some R mines. Major Hudson evacuated but not seriously wounded.

 His wife Julia Marie vowed never to remarry and visited her husbands' grave every year on March 17, his birthday, to lay a bouquet of white flowers. Julia Marie died in 1991, and her ashes are buried in her husbands' grave.

 He is commemorated in the Book of Remembrance 74 Regiment, St Michaels and All Angels South Shields

Lt JT Bryant

Lt JT Bryant
74th(Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)
 
Lieutenant John Trevor Byrant was killed 7th October 1944 aged 26. Commissioned in September 1942 he was serving with 74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA). 

The war diary of 74 Regiment records:
7 October 1944: Lieut J.T. Bryant RA killed at OP
 
He is commemorated in the Book of Remembrance 74 Regiment, St Michaels and All Angels South Shields.

Lt JT Bryant
 
Lt JT Bryant
74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)



74th  (Northumbrian) Regiment RA (TA)
Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery



124th (Northumbrian) Regiment RA (TA)



Capt WA Wood MC

Capt WA Wood MC
124th(Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)
Captain William Angus Wood was killed 25th September 1944 serving as a FOO with 124th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA).

Capt. Wood was serving with 72nd Field Regiment RA (TA) when he was captured in Libya in May 1942. Originally reported as missing, he was later found to be a prisoner of war in Italian hands.

He was imprisoned in Campo 21, Chieti. When the Italians signed an armistice with the Allies, the camp was taken over by Germans who evacuated the POW’s to Germany. During this move Capt Wood escaped and made his way south to the British lines. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross.

He joined 124 Regiment fighting through Normandy and Belgium before being killed in Nijmagen area.
 
Capt. WA Wood is commemorated on the war memorial at Wall and on the Officers Mess fireplace, Alexander Road TAC, Gateshead
 

Capt WA Wood MC

Capt WA Wood MC
124th(Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)

124th (Northumbrian) Field Regiement RA (TA)

 
L/Bdr Blake MM
L/Bdr Coombs
Gnr W Kelly

102nd (Northumberlnad Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA)

Lt KL Gentleman
Gnr F Astle

113th LAA Regiment RA (2nd / 5th Battalion DLI) (TA)

Gnr FG Fisher

----------------------------------------------------o--------------------------------------------------------

Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery
 
 



Aanhem - NVAA Gun Team

NVAA Gun Team man 17 pounder anti-tank gun Airborme Museum Hartenstein Ooosterbeek

17 pounder anti-tank gun Hartenstein Oosterbeek


NVAA Gun Team Hartenstein Oosterbeek

Arnhem - Airborne Museum


The Hartenstein Hotel in Oosterbeek was used by General Urquhart as the HQ for the 1st Airborne Division. It now houses the Airborne Museum which tells the story of the battle for Arnhem.

Airborne Museum Oosterbeek

Airborne Memorial to the Dutch People
 
TO THE PEOPLE OF GELDERLAND
50 years ago British & Polish Airborne soldiers fought here against overwhelming odds to open the way into Germany and bring the war to an early end. Instead we brought death and destruction for which you have never blamed us.
This stone marks our admiration for your great courage remembering especially the women who tended our wounded. In the long winter that followed your families risked death by hiding Allied soldiers and airmen, while members of the Resistance helped many to safety.
You took us then into your homes as fugitives and friends we took you forever into our hearts.This strong bond will continue long after we are all gone.
1944 – September - 1994              
 
 


Air Crew Memorial
 
To the memory of the Royal Air Force, Commonwealth and United States Aircrew who died on Operation Market Garden, September 1944.
“In memoria aeterna”                                                                                                   

 



AB Museum - Hartenstein location of General Urquharts photograph


AB Museum - Hartenstein location of General Urquharts photograph


 













Arnhem – Withdrawal


General Urquhart ordered that that the remnants of 1st Airborne would withdraw across the Lower Rhine at 22:00 25th September 1944. Two routes across the river were provided by engineers from XXX Corps who had managed to link up with the Polish Paras near Driel. On that night 2,398 men were rescued.

Oosterbeek Withdrawal Routes



Oosterbeek Withdrawal Area
 

Arnhem – Gunners Oosterbeek Church


The 3rd Air landing battery had been moved to the area of the church on 18th September, at that stage this was outside the Divisional area so 40 Glider Pilots provided the local defence. The guns were in line of sight to the bridge.

Oosterbeek Church area of 3 A/L Battery

 
Battery position – view to the bridge
 
 
On the 19th September 1944, as the defensive perimeter was being formed, the CRA ordered the guns of the 1st and 2nd Air landing batteries t to concentrate on the church and form a regimental position in the area. 
Gunner locations Oosterbeek Church
Oosterbeek Chuch



1st Air landing Regimental HQ
 
The Gunners provided constant fire support to the division. As well as shoots conducted by the parties from the 1st Forward Observation Unit, reports of concentrations were received from the Dutch Resistance. The gun positions themselves were subject to shelling, and occasional strafing by German fighters.

The war diary for 20th September records “ 18:00 - Capt Walker fired several Mike Tgts "unobserved" as "Morale" shoots as the infantry liked to hear our shells”.

As XXX Corps progressed north their Artillery came into range.  On the 21st September the war diary details the first contact by the Airborne Gunners with 64th Medium Regiment RA “0900 - Touch made on arrival with 64 Medium Regt by A/L Bde. FOO put HQRA 19 set on this wave and maintained first class communications on it for rest of battle” The link from the Gunners was the only radio link in place between the 1st Airborne Division and XXX Corps. At 10:35, 211 Battery 64th Medium Regiment reported ready with 8 x 4.5 inch guns. By 13:00, 212 Battery was ready with 8 x 5.5 inch guns. The fires from XXX Corps continued over the next few days.

In Oosterbeek, the gun positions were subject to repeated attacks and shelling. The scars from the battle can still be seen on the walls of the church at Ooosterbeek.


Oosterbeek Church – Battle Damage

 

Ammunition for the 75mm started to get short so shooting was restricted, though some air supply arrived on 24th September. However by the evening of the 25th orders had been given for the Division to withdraw from Oosterbeek, with the guns from XXX Corps to conduct a fire plan to cover the withdrawal.

The final act for the Gunners was to bury their breach blocks, destroy their sights and radios.