This has always intrigued me that the Recce patrol to Fortnum went at 12:00. In Pine Coffins more detailed account he states that due to casualties he had to send Lt Patterson ( it was originally meant to be Lt Nelson) without a prior Recce. I’m assuming the clerk wrote that in the diary as that was the plan originally and wasn’t aware of the change?
An interpretation of "Fortnum" from Stephen Wright's book, "The Last Drop": "The battalion (7 Para) also had been given an independent task of taking and holding a road and rail junction that lay between the two parachute brigades. The problem was that the junction was some three miles from the zone and located in an area likely to be well defended. Pine-Coffin had allocated a platoon to undertake the task, and in the interests of knowing what faced its members, he had decided to send a reconnaissance party, with a radio, to spy out the land before committing the entire platoon. But the officer who was to lead the party was killed on the drop. Since he had lost more men than he could afford, Pine-Coffin abandoned the reconnaissance and sent Lieutenant Patterson with the platoon. After some close shaves, Patterson and his men reached the junction. They dug in and held on for twenty-two hours before being relieved. During this time, the platoon sustained several attacks, most of which they fought off from their slit trenches. Occasionally the "Patterson Method" was put to use, however, as Pine-Coffin explains in BAOR Battlefield tour. "Whenever an attack developed (Patterson) sized it up as quickly as he could, and if he decided ... it seemed stronger than he could hold off (he) would leave his position entirely and move his platoon round to one of the flanks; then, when the enemy had struck their blow at nothing and were wondering what to do next, he would rush them from the flank. In this way he killed a great number of Germans and captured many more." Regards ...
Lt. Robert Marr Nelson (229770) from Cameronians. Parachute Regiment, 17th Sept. 1943 - 28th March 1945. Pte. Robert Marr Nelson Enlisted 1939 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Commissioned 4th April, 1942 229770 Lt. Robert Marr Nelson 12th Bn. Cameronians Faroe Islands 10.06.1942 - 07.1943 Transferred to A.A.C. 17.09.1943 Airborne Forces Depot 229770 Lt. Robert Marr Nelson 12th Parachute Battalion Transferred to 7th Para Bn. 30.04.1944 229770 Lt. Robert Marr Nelson 7th Parachute Battalion R Coy O.C. Mortar Platoon 20.09.1944 Ardennes/Holland O.C. A/Tk Platoon 29.01.1945 Rhine Crossing O.C. A/Tk Platoon 24.03.1945 A/O.C. No.1 Platoon, A Coy 229770 Lt. R. M. Nelson W.I.A. 24.03.45 Germany 229770 Lt. R. M. Nelson D.O.W. 28.03.45 Germany Buried at Kapellen, Germany. 28.03.1945 Reburied Reichwald Forest. 19.11.1946 Knowing that Lt. R. M. Nelson had parachuted safely onto the east bank of the River Rhine, I was surprised to find that he was initially buried on the west bank at Kapellen, Germany. I wondered why? The following is my version of events. Lt. R. M. Nelson appears to have dropped with No.1 Platoon for the purpose of leading a small reconnaissance party to "Fortnum" to see if this point was occupied by the enemy and report back to the platoon. 7th Para War Diary: Recce patrol sent out at 1200 hrs to "FORTNUM" (map ref. 168491) and reported Xrds free of enemy. Pl of A Coy sent to "FORTNUM" as standing patrol. If all had gone to plan, the standing patrol would have been lead by Lt. J. D. Simpson, O.C. No.1 Platoon, but Lt. J. D. Simpson failed to arrive, so Lt. R. M. Nelson was given command of No.1 Platoon. 7th Para War Diary confirms that a platoon of A Coy was out on patrol before 1500 hrs. Appendix "J" CROSSING THE RHINE 13. The bn was ordered to start thinning out at 1500 hrs and then to concentrate in its Phase II posn in Bde Res. 14. I sent back a pl of A Coy first to secure the new area and followed it with the Mortar Pl, MMG Pl and the other pl of A Coy (the third pl was already out on patrol). While the War Diary does mention Lt. R. M. Nelson becoming a casualty, it does not give us an account of the "horror" that literally "exploded" above the heads of No.1 Platoon. An account by Pte. Dennis Fox gives some insight into the events that day. “We were in a wood near the railway station, I had a radio, an 18 set, so that I could talk to the typhoons in case we saw a tank or something we wanted taking out. Lt. Nelson had taken over the platoon for the jump as Lt. Simpson had been injured, he came by Glider. Bhf - Bahnhof - Railway Station. Wood to the left of station. A shell exploded, an 88 was firing air burst into the wood, my mate Bill Bateman, had his arm blown off, it was hanging from his Denison smock by a thread of cloth. He was leaning against a tree, while I was giving him a shot of morphine. Another shell exploded which knocked me over, on looking up Bill was still standing there, but his head had been taken clean off, Lt. Nelson had his binoculars blown into his chest. He was still alive, Sgt. Johnny Day and a couple of others were dead as well. We managed to get Lt. Nelson to this barn. I had been hit in the hand; I went with Pte. Brown and could see other lads from the platoon had been killed in the wood. We had a job to do, so we got on with it. The next day we came back with a big trolley and brought back Bill and Johnny’s bodies. I was then evacuated back to Bruges.” I must assume from this account that Pte. Dennis Fox having got Lt. R. M. Nelson into the barn, then used his Wireless Set No.18 to call for medical assistance and Lt. R. M. Nelson was then transported to the closest Field Ambulance, presumably the 225th. With the 6th Airborne Division due to advance after midday on the 26th March, the division's Field Ambulances had to evacuate their casualties on the afternoon of the 25th March, 1945. I presume it was at this time that Lt. R. M. Nelson was evacuated across the River Rhine to a Casualty Clearing Station at Kapellen. Where he dies of his wounds and is buried on the 28th March, 1945. I believe he was buried in the Guards' Armoured Division cemetery. No.1 Platoon casualties 24th March, 1945. It tells it's own story. 229770 Lt. R. M. Nelson W.I.A. 24.03.45 326359 Lt. J. D. Simpson Missing 24.03.45 5379381 Sgt. W. Wilkes W.I.A. 24.03.45 5673145 Sgt. H. A. Parsons W.I.A. 24.03.45 5678198 Sgt. D. J. Day K.I.A. 24.03.45 6857965 Sgt. E. A. Bacon 5186031 L/Sgt. A. R. Seabright W.I.A. 24.03.45 14750416 Pte. F. E. Adams W.I.A. 24.03.45 14761144 Pte. N. Adey D.O.W. 24.03.45 4036866 Pte. H. Allen 5672440 Pte. J. W. Bateman K.I.A. 24.03.45 4689872 Pte. D. Brown W.I.A. 24.03.45 14724356 Pte. T. W. Brown 7948461 Pte. R. Callis K.I.A. 24.03.45 944746 L/Cpl. L. Cann W.I.A. 24.03.45 14439583 Pte. T. Clements W.I.A. 24.03.45 4039682 L/Cpl. J. T. Cope W.I.A. 24.03.45 14985021 Pte. W. J. Cross W.I.A. 24.03.45 14985034 Pte. L. Dawson 14984759 Pte. F. Deighton W.I.A. 24.03.45 14741876 Pte. R. Dingwall W.I.A. 24.03.45 14256628 Pte. J. Donkin D.O.W. 24.03.45 6847206 Pte. K. D. Fletcher W.I.A. 24.03.45 14626971 Pte. D. C. Fox W.I.A. 24.03.45 5391892 Pte. K. Green 14209911 Pte. W. P. Greenslade 14834997 Pte. D. J. Griffiths W.I.A. 24.03.45 14427299 Pte. G. C. Hewitt W.I.A. 24.03.45 14849903 Pte. J. D. Law D.O.W. 24.03.45 14321698 Pte. H. Livesay att. R.A.M.C. 14849596 Pte. W. S. McKenzie 319290 Pte. M. Neylon 14849727 Pte. B. J. Russell D.O.W. 24.03.45 14853016 Pte. S. Sainsbury 7938784 Pte. L. H. Shaw W.I.A. 24.03.45 5391815 Pte. P. Shevlin 14428501 Pte. E. W. Smith W.I.A. 24.03.45 14638634 L/Cpl. G. Wainwright W.I.A. 24.03.45 A "dark" day in the history of 7th Parachute Battalion. One I have not read about in any book. No.1 Platoon was reformed under Sgt. H. Aitkenhead. The account by Pte. Dennis Fox implies that Lt. J. D. Simpson flew in by glider because he was injured. My assumption is that if he wasn't fit enough to lead his platoon, he wouldn't have been sent. I read the quotation from Stephen Wright's book, "The Last Drop." The only officer killed on 24th March, 1945, was Lt. C. A. W. Woodburn. If he had been chosen to lead the Recce patrol, why didn't he drop with No.1 Platoon? Why would the Recce patrol be cancelled when Lt. R. M. Nelson was available? No.1 Platoon also had 5 very capable sergeants who could have taken charge. Given that 7th Parachute Battalion were given one very important independent task to perform, I find it hard to believe the Recce patrol was cancelled.
Ok, a lot to answer here! That’s not Lt Nelson in the photo. Nelson was very badly wounded at Bn HQ, which was just behind A Coy who were being fired on by 2 x 88’s from the Vokingshof Farm, 700 yards away. Dennis Fox has (many years later) recalled taking Lt Nelson to a barn as they were near the Train Station. They weren’t near the train station and the barn was 225 PFA clearing station at the south end of DZ B. Patterson was picked on the spot to go to “Fortnum” (named so after the Battlion QM) because he was available and A Coy were taking a hammering. Lt Woodburn of the Mortar Platoon, was my Grandads platoon leader. He was killed in the woods with A Coy. Lt Nelson died of wounds a couple of days later (will have to check the map) Lt Simpson twisted his ankle on a training drop and was grounded by the MO. Pine Coffin wanted Simpson on the Op as he was an excellent leader. He was awarded the MM whilst in the guards and was the go to man for “commando” style raids. He led patrols over the Maas river, successfully whilst in Holland at the end of the Ardennes. Recce patrol almost certainly cancelled due to casualties being taken and the need to get on with it. Alex.
It also needs mentioning that the A Coy men dropped a little bit North of the DZ and they were the last group to form up in any decent number at their allocated position. No one could be spared to go on the Recce patrol until enough numbers were in to ensure their immediate objectives were complete (they were to protect the 12th and 13th Battalions from any attack from the North). So in my estimations by the time enough A Coy were in, casualties were high, Pine Coffin abandoned the Recce and had to send the full compliment. Alex.
Ok... Davids version was not so correct. To save my face: I was referring to the explanation why he was buried at Kapellen. On the rest of the story Alex1975uk is the expert...
It has been very interesting for me, having approached things from following 15th Division, to learn more about the Varsity drops. Thank you all for your knowledge and help!
Hi, "No.1 Platoon was reformed under Sgt. H. 'Harry' Aitkenhead." Harry was my Father who was there and experienced that horror. Sorry, trouble typing at moment so can't go into greater detail. Also a photo of Lt. Simpson here after a group escape. Regards ...
Hi, No idea where Lt. Simpson's glider landed. Some info from Michael Pine-Coffin: "Never did find out what glider number Simpson was in. All Sgt Danny Young could remember, who was the other 7 Para survivor, was that they got one of the pilots out, who had an injured leg. This pilot was a Canadian." Regards ...
Hi Cee, I’ve been looking into this bit for ages. I’ve got a contender for where it landed. I emailed my thoughts to Michael PC, who agreed it was a strong chance, but ultimately we’ll never be sure. I’ll send you my ideas. Alex.
Hi, I'll try upload a PDF of my Father's short D-Day and Rhine accounts. But if it doesn't work download from here if interested: Harry Aitkenhead - D-Day & Rhine Accounts.pdf - Icedrive Regards ...
HI my name is Rachel Taylor my mother was Maureen Trotman, I believe your father was a friend of my cousin Harold Trotman of A company 2nd platoon who died in Normandy on the 18th June 1944.
