I have a question. 1 Herefords was part of 159 Bde (11 AD) which also included 4 KSLI. The Herefords attacked across the Willems Canal at Someren, Netherlands on the evening of 21 September 1944. They suffered a number of casualties who are buried at Mierlo War Cemetery. However, the casualties are listed on the website under KSLI, with the Herefordshire Regiment only getting a secondary mention. The certificate for each casualty reads “1 Bn The Herefordshire Regiment, KSLI”. I don’t understand why this is so. Why wouldn’t the casualties be listed just as 1 Herefords, rather than suggesting the Herefords were part of KSLI? Any ideas. Thanks, Shaun
This photo is from the IWM and shows the crossing point at Someren. I visited Someren and to be honest there isn't really much there to indicate where the photo was taken. There are now a lot of industrial buildings down by the canal. My guess is that the crossing took place just south of where the modern road bridge is now located, where the canal narrows. If you have a look on google maps it's where Kanaalstraat is. The photo seems to suggest this and it would have made sense to cross here.
How odd, two George Bickerton's buried in the same cemetery killed a month apart http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2080643/BICKERTON,%20GEORGE%20JAMES http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2080642/BICKERTON,%20GEORGE
Recently received my late father's (Frank Alan Logan) Military Records from MoD. Found he was MID & received a Netherland's award, Order of Orange-Nassau for bridging the Bois duc Canal ( Zuid Willemsvaart) at Someren on the night of 21/22 September, 1944. File attached. Alan Logan Sydney - Australia
Thanks Drew5233. I now need to do more research on my father's BEF experiences in 1940. I know he was evacuated from Dunkirk and arrived back in England on June 2nd. Also his time with No 4 Commando S.S.B and the Lofeten Islands raid, Operation Claymore in March 1941. Cheers, Alan
Thanks also Tricky Dicky. I shall get round to up loading more of my dad’s MoD records in due course.
Hello - my uncle (Edward Mills) served with the 1st Battalion Herefordshire Regiment and was involved with the night crossing of 21st September 1944 at Someron (Zomeren). I have been to the town but sadly there is no mention of the town's liberation and the eventful action of that night. Regards - Simon