13th para battalion war diaries 10-1-45/16-1-45

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by jeff, Apr 15, 2021.

  1. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

    My father and one of his mate's were attached to the above battalion on 10/1/45 when they were short of men after Arnhem, ( for the extra pay he said ) from the Royal Hampshire's. He was wounded (GSW) on the 16/1/45 so he was not with them for long. Has anyone got access to the war diaries for this period as I am trying to follow his time in the army. He was discharged from hospital and posted to the 3rd mons SWB upon recovery.
    tia
    jeff.
     
  2. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    Hi Jeff - check out Pegasus Archive. This is the link to the archive: The Rhine Crossing then click on War Diaries in the centre of the page. 13 Para is listed under 5 Parachute Brigade. Good luck with your research. John
     
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  3. jeff

    jeff Junior Member


    Hi john,
    many thanks for the info I will certainly do as you suggest
    thanks
    jeff
     
  4. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    The 13th Battalion would’ve been needing reinforcements on that date as they got hammered at the battle of Bure in the Ardennes.
    I’ll check on my computer when I can if I have the war diaries for that time period.

    Alex.
     
  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Jef - The 13th Bn suffered severe losses in the Ardennes (the battle for Bure 3 - 6 January 1945). The Ardennes battle, as far as the 6th AB Division was concerned, ended on January 11th, 1945. On that date the division was pinched out of the battle by the advance of the 51st Highland Division and the US. VIII Corps (Third US Army), on the Airborne's left and right flank. The division was then concentrated around Dinant and from 20 January onwards moved by road transport towards Holland, where it took over part of the frontline along the western bank of the Meuse between Venlo and Roermond.

    At the time your mate's father was wounded the division was 'in between battles', so to say.

    contre_offensive_1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2021
  6. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    Jeff - I momentarily forgot that there are two IWM video clips of 13 Para (apologies to those who do not like this abbreviation) filmed during the period in which you are interested.

    SOLDIERS OF 13TH BATTALION, 5TH PARATROOP BRIGADE, ADVANCE THROUGH OCCUPIED VILLAGES AROUND NEUSTADT, GERMANY (PART 1) [Allocated Title]
    SOLDIERS OF 13TH BATTALION, 5TH PARATROOP BRIGADE, ADVANCE THROUGH OCCUPIED VILLAGES AROUND NEUSTADT, GERMANY (PART 2) [Allocated Title]

    Both were shot during the advance between the rivers Weser and Aller. Who knows, your father might be among the soldiers that are visible. Happy watching!
     
  7. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    Jeff.

    In the report on the 13th Parachute Battalion, Luard's Own, to be found on the Pegasus Archive. Much is said about the Battle of Bure, but is very silent on events afterwards. However, there is one small piece of useful information. No date is given, but on the 9/10th January, 1945, the 13th Parachute Battalion moves from Tellin to Wellin, where a large party of non parachutist reinforcements arrive. I would suggest that this is where your dad and his mate joined the battalion. I am assuming that your dad was from the 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment. While I have found 4 casualties, 1 killed and 3 wounded, from the 13th Parachute Battalion on 16th January, 1945. I have not found any casualties attached to the battalion on that date. A name and service number would be useful for such a search.

    Hope this is a good starting point for your research.
     
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  8. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

    Thank you chaps for your info, I'm beginning to get a better picture of my father path through europe towards germany.
    I have check out the video's, but not lucky enough to see my father but still very interesting to watch.
    Thank you for your offer Alex reguarding the war diaries I look forward to reading them.
    many thanks
    jeff
     
  9. jeff

    jeff Junior Member


    Dave his name was G Bounds and his No14778791 according to the casualty form Wounded 16/1/45 and he was in the Hampshire Regiment, it looks like the 8th but the writing is not that clear so it could well be the 7th.
     
  10. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    Jeff.

    Your father was wounded twice, Belgium and Germany.

    Hampshire Regiment
    14778791 Pte. G. Bounds 16.01.1945

    4th Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
    14778791 Pte. G. Bounds 19.04.1945

    He is not shown as being attached to 13th Parachute Battalion. So you'll need his service record to prove he was. His army medical record might be useful as well.
     
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  11. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

    Dave I hope that this ok for you to read.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

     

    Attached Files:

  13. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    Jeff.

    The service record leaves no doubt that he was attached to 13th Parachute Battalion. Now you just need some kind person to fulfil your original request and produce the War Diary for 10/16th January, 1945. Someone has it. Hope he got paid the extra 2 schillings for being airborne. Best wishes.
     
  14. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

    If he did he probably bought a pack of fags, thanks for your help Dave I much appreciate it, hopefully Alex will come through with the war diaries.
    Best wishes
    Jeff
     
  15. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    Jeff - apologies. For some strange reason (brain converted to porridge by lockdowns?) I read 16/1/1945 as 16/4/1945. Doh! You must have been a bit puzzled as to why I was guiding you to a completely irrelevant period! Anyhow, hope the research goes well nonetheless!
     
  16. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

     
  17. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi Jeff,

    I came across the following entry in the book "13, Lucky For Some" on page 449 in a chapter titled "The Aftermath".

    "Lt. Ellis "Dixie" Dean ( MMG Platoon)

    A Large party of reinforcements (133 non-jumping, from 33 RHU, 12th Jan) had arrived and were posted to the rifle companies. Whilst we were in Humain and in reserves position, Private Joseph Butler, a member of the Motor Transport Platoon was killed on 16th January when his 3-Ton vehicle ran over a mine that was buried under the snow. On the 17th, the Battalion settled in Wellin and now we were clear of the 'war zone'. None of the houses were damaged and the Mortars and MMG's occupied the Town Hall, with the Battalion HQ and Officers billeted in a large estaminet across the road. Transport ran into Dinant to the bars and cinema."


    Lt. Dean was chosen to go into Brussels overnight to deal with several matters and when he returned the next day a note informed him the Battalion had moved on to Holland.

    In the next chapter, "Holland", on page 457, Lt. Peter Downward (Weapons Training Officer, 'R' Company) describes how he travelled to the continent with the 'R' (Reserve) Company. They stay under canvas at Port Tilbury and then crossed the Channel to Ostend where they arrived about 10th January. From there they boarded a train for Namur via Brussels and Ghent. They were met at their destination by a 5th Brigade Staff Officer, briefed on the current situation and told that the 6th Airborne was then headed north to the Belgian/Netherlands border which seems a bit early. The next part of his account on page 459 proceeds on but I can't figure out his location. His memory may have combined separate events as he is in Holland at some point without explaining how he got there?

    Some of the above could pertain to what occurred with your Father. Unfortunately there is no mention if others were wounded in the mined vehicle incident. Hopefully the WDs throw further light on locations and timeline.

    Regards ...
     
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  18. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    13th Parachute Battalion Casualties 16.01.45 Ardennes

    14778791 Pte. G. Bounds att. W.I.A. 16.01.45 Ardennes
    3657494 Pte. J. W. Butler D.O.W. 16.01.45 Ardennes
    5883265 Pte. F. A. Freeth W.I.A. 16.01.45 Ardennes
    940320 Pte. J. Kenny W.I.A. 16.01.45 Ardennes
    3961183 Sgt. L. Thomas W.I.A. 16.01.45 Ardennes
     
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  19. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I have Downards memoirs (which is where that author got this info). I’ll double check but I think Downward and other reinforcements went straight to Kessell (on the Mass) ahead of the main party of 13 Para. He was then posted to 6 Platoon, B Coy as their platoon leader was killed in Bure. He said he had 20 minutes to talk to the platoon before they took over the positions on the river.
    Alex.
     
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  20. jeff

    jeff Junior Member

    Thank you Alex, Dave
    for your research, this is putting more meat on the bone as they say regarding my father's time in the Ardennes.
    Once again thank you
    jeff
     

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