William Freude Parachute Regiment, 13th Bn (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.)

Hello all,

Firstly I would like to say thank you for contributing to such an interesting site and I hope you don't mind me joining you.

I am looking for more infomation on my great uncle, William Freude, and the activities of his battallion in the months prior to his death. He was a member of the Parachute Regiment killed in action on 21st August 1944 and is buried at Calvados.

All his sisters/brothers have now passed away and he was unmarried with no children - I don't really know much about him and unfortunately neither does my dad (his nephew). I was amazed and moved to find a picture of his gravestone online, and now would like to find out more about his service in the Parachute Regiment and before.

I have several letters from him to my grandmother. His number was 14337733. Each letter says something different on it with regards to his regiment! The letters are undated so I dont know which order they are in. The letters include the following regiments:

i) 154 Rgt & RAC
ii) 13/18 Royal Hassars (QMO)
iii) 4 PLT, 13 Parachute Reg BLA
iv) 13 Parachute Batt R Corp.

I also have an excerpt from a Rev M Fennell (I may have misread this) who states that William died at a German Hospital near the little town of Port L'eveque, and that "when the time came he was quite prepared to meet his God".

Throughout his letters he was a Private, but upon his death he is recorded as being a Lance Corporal in the Parachute Regiment, 13th Bn (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.)

Please can someone with knowledge explain why he was in so many different regiments? (he was only 20 at the time of his death).

Also, where may I find out more about his regiment and the battles they fought prior to his death - particulary any battle at Pont L'eveque. Why would he be in a German hospital? Sorry so many questions - I dont know who to ask or where to look! any suggested reading would be much appreciated.

I understand that I might be able to apply for his service record. His next of kin would be his nieces and nephews, who include my dad - would this be difficult to obtain?

Many many thanks for reading this, any help/assistance would be much appreciated

Rob

1

 

Hi Rob and welcome to the forum.

First of all, his records should be easy enough for the MOD to find as you have quite a lot of detail. The form you need is on the forum and be prepared for a wait (It does take a while)

Here are some mentions of the hospital:

Striking Back: A Jewish Commando's War against the Nazis

The Piron Brigade - Campaign of Normandy 1944

45 ROYAL MARINE COMMANDO IN WW2

This one maybe of particular interest:
225th Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC

Cheers
Andy

 

Pont L'eveque is North East of Paris so as a rough guide and looking at the date of his death this would have been when the Germans were retreating at all speed back into Belgium, Holland and Germany.

There are some Airborne chaps of here that maybe able to be specific. Somethings kicking in the back of my head about airborne units during the retreat but can't think of what it was.

I'll have a think and a flick through a book I've just read about the retreat.

Andy

 

Welcome aboard Rob.

Im no expert, but have been doing a bit of research into the South Lancs in WW2 so will give you what I know.

His number was 14337733 indicates that he initially joined the General Service Corps (14200001 - 15000000), which was basically a posting for recruits whilst the Army identified the best place for them given that they had been identified with special talents. Only his actual service history, which if your father is the next of kin can apply for will tell you his exact movements, but it looks like he joined the RAC (Royal Armoured Corps, eventually with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars.

All Parachute Regiments where voluntary, and the majority of the original 13th Battalion came from the south Lancs (2/4 bn) in 1943, so i would estimate that your man joined after this date.

The breakout from Normandy was early August so it looks as if he was taken as a POW and if what you know is correct died in captivity.

I have some other bits and pices but they are at work so will look tommorow.

Phil

Have a look at the attached site, it includes more detail and photos of the battalion

Search | ParaData

 

Some more stuff that may help in the big scheme of things

The British Parachute Battalion 1944 to 1945

This will give you some info, The Batts War Diary:
13th Parachute Battalion

22nd August 1944
Place: Pont L'Eveque

0430 - Bn. moved out of ANNEBAULT on foot with orders to take up posns covering bridges at PONT L'EVEQUE.

1330 - A Coy entered PONT L'EVEQUE without opposition until they took up positions fwd of rd junc 518038 just WEST of the br at 520037. Appx B.

1415 - The whole Bn. is now in PONT L'EVEQUE - A Coy is heavily engaged from across the river - in addition two MG's and mortars a S.P. 20 mm AA gun has been fired at ground targets.

1530 - 1 tp CROMWELL tanks of the Airborne Light Tank Sqn entered the town to give support. An armoured bulldozer filled in the centre bridge to allow the tanks to pass, and they went over and harassed the enemy with fire from our side of the river.

1845 - C Coy took over the battle area from A Coy. The town centre is now well alight and is spreading rapidly. The town is cleared up to the bridge at 520037 but no further progress can be made.

 

Appendix B


Appx 'B'
Battle of Pont L'Eveque

On 21 Aug, the battalion was in a concentration area at PUTOT EN AUGE, and was ordered to advance in M.T. to ANNEBAULT, which had already been occupied by 3 Para Bde, and to be prepared to advance from there to capture PONT L'EVEQUE. The move started at 2330 hours, and the Battalion arrived at ANNEBAULT at 0200 hours 22 Aug and took up defensive positions EAST of the cross roads.

At 0600 hours, the battalion moved forward to the area of LA HAIE TONDU, which had been occupied by 3 Para Bde. From this point orders were received to continue the advance and, if possible, cover PONT L'EVEQUE. The advance was without incident, and by 1330 hrs, Bn. HQ was established in the town at 518038. 'A' Company was ordered to move forward astride the main street and clear up the last bridge over the R. TOUQUES. Considerable enemy opposition was encountered, and mortar fire was fairly heavy from 1415 hrs onwards. During the afternoon one troop of CROMWELL tanks of Airborne Recce Regt arrived in the village, but were unable to cross the first bridge. The Commanding Officer requested the use of an armoured bull-dozer to make the river passable for tanks. By 1730 hours, battalion HQ had moved forward to the square surrounding the Church, and the area of the Church had been set on fire. This fire spread from house to house and was traced to the fact of the enemy having placed incendiary leaves in the houses., during the previous day. The enemy had a 2cm flak gun in the vicinity of the last bridge, and engaged the Church Tower setting it on fire.

By 1830 hrs, the bull-dozer had filled up the first stream sufficiently to allow the CROMWELLS to advance up to the Church square, from which they engaged the enemy MGs beyond the last bridge. One tank was set on fire by debris from a burning house, but was extinguished. At 1845 hrs 'C' Company under Major A.R. Clark was ordered to take-over from 'A' Company and this was done. Opposition was considerable, and no crossing of the main river had been possible, except for a short time by Lieut Hodgson who swam the river.

During this time it had not been possible to feed the Battalion who had had nothing since the previous evening. Food was therefore called up and the Companies were fed one at a time.

By evening, the whole of the area of the two Bridges was blazing and the forward Company, by the second bridge, was withdrawn to the West end of the town.

The night was uneventful and at dawn the following day one platoon of 'B' Company was sent forward to find a way through the burning houses and force a crossing of the river, establishing a bridgehead. This platoon under Captain Skeate went forward and reported having crossed and established a bridgehead on the right. The rest of the battalion was therefore ordered over as quickly as possible. This was carried out satisfactorily but almost at once the enemy seemed to have been reinforced, and 'B' Company under Major Grantham reported that they were held up. This seemed to be the vital flank, 'A' Company were sent forward to help and 'C' Company were held in reserve, with one platoon holding on the left where opposition was stronger.

Battalion Headquarters moved to the Safe Deposit of the Bank, wonderfully the only unburnt building in that part of PONT L'EVEQUE.

'A' and 'B' Companies concentrated in two big houses and assisted by a couple of P.I.A.Ts succeeded in making some progress, but the enemy were too numerous for them to be able to make good their gains and they therefore reported at about mid-day that though they seemed not to be able to make further progress, they could hold on to what they held.

Shortly after this they reported more enemy arriving in Volkswagens round the flank and Brigade was asked for No.48 Commando, which actually arrived five minutes later, as a reserve for the Battalion.

At about 1230 hrs, the enemy counter-attacked strongly and though held, casualties were suffered and the troops were becoming tired.

The troop of Cromwells was therefore requested to move up to the area of the second bridge to prevent enemy armour coming forward through the town and dividing up our forces. This was agreed but, the conflagration from the town was such that it was not possible to bring them forward.

At 1325 hrs, Rear Battalion Headquarters received a direct from a shell and the Brigade set was put out of action.

At about 1330 hrs, the Brigade I.O. arrived at Advanced Battalion Headquarters with a message from the Brigadier that nothing was being gained by holding on and the Battalion was to withdraw in its own time under orders of the Commanding Officer.

The Battalion was therefore ordered to withdraw in the order 'B', 'A', 'C' Companies and all casualties and spare men were sent back at once. 'B' Company was to be clear by 1415 hrs and 'A' and 'C' to follow when clear. All Companies to be across river by 1445 hrs. The artillery was asked to fire on the Station area and line of the railway at 1415 hrs and on the line of the river at 1445 hrs.

The withdrawal went according to plan, except that the enemy, who had been able to work round the left flank, managed to get a machine gun firing down the river and an armoured car firing down the main street, thus preventing cross the river by the girder that remained of the bridge and making any crossing most difficult.

By 1440 hrs all troops were across except one wounded man, whose passage delayed the crossing of the final few until about 1450 hrs. All was, however, well, as the Brigadier had most wisely told the artillery to fire on order only. As it was then, all wounded were withdrawn successfully and the Battalion was reorganised above the village and the next day passed through and advanced after the retreating enemy.

It was discovered that evening that the enemy had consisted of 800 men fresh from the South, and the next day 127 German graves were found in PONT L'EVEQUE. The Battalion losses were ten killed and thirty-three wounded, with two missing believed killed.

 

Some personalities from 13 Para:

13th Parachute Battalion

I think that may cover it matey

 

Freurde -

The reason for so many regiments is clear to me - I think - !

The 154 Regt - RAC could be the 54th Training Regiment RAC at Barnard Castle where he did his main training on Tanks - Driving / Maint - Gunnery - Wireless -etc

he was then posted to the 13th /18th Hussars Tank regiment - then probably volunteered for the Paras as the Battalion - is the same - just that from 4th platoon he moved to probably H.Q

Cheers

 

Fruede -

just noticed his number of 14337*** which means that one address is missing as he must have been called up in the middle of 1942( (born 1923/24) to an Infantry training regiment for six weeks Infantry training - rifles - bed making - Kit cleaning -PT - Bren - Grenades etc where he was tested for his future - he was then sent to the RAC trianing regt to become a Tank crew member --then the paras

Cheers

 

Freude, don't know if this little booklet is still available from the Airborne Museum, if it is it may be of help....

'The 13th. Battalion (Lancashire) The Parachute Regiment (Laurd's Own)'

It's got the complete War Diary, casualty list plus a few maps, seem to recall it being bloody expensive for what it is!

 

Rob, here is a bit more detail leading upto the 21st Aug.

During the evening of August 18th, the 13th Battalion of the Parachute regiment was positioned to the west of the Normandy town of Goustranville.

The 13th battalion commanders received orders on the 18th to prepare for a night march and attack on the tiny Calvados village of Putot en Auge, which was still in the grip of the enemy. The battalion began to move out at 2330 and marched up the main road through Goustranville heading for the nearby railway bridge. Guided by Captain Golding, the head of the battalion reached the railway bridge at 0145. To their dismay, they found that the bridge had already been partly destroyed. To make matters more difficult for the 13th, the canal flowing beneath the bridge was tidal and was rising, precluding any opportunity for a crossing at that time.

The men of the 13th turned around and retraced their steps through the darkness, towards Goustranville. On arrival, they received orders to follow the 12th Parachute Battalion across the river by another bridge, which had been found intact. The 13th began to move at 0400 and despite shelling from nearby enemy positions as they passed along the main road, reached a position at the foot of a hill where they could wait for an opportune time to cross the canal. The time was now about 0430 on August 19th.

The men took shelter from continued enemy fire behind a hedge and along a nearby earthen bank. They hoped that the darkness and the mist that had enveloped and concealed them during the night would remain long enough for them to be able to follow the 12th across the canal and open ground, into the village of Putot en Auge.

Gradually the first glimmer of summer dawn appeared and as the darkness receded, so did the mist. It was obvious to the men that their current place of rest was overlooked by enemy positions on the high ground nearby, and as morning approached, they were beginning to become visible, so they decided to disperse. As they moved, enemy shell and mortar rounds began to land all around them, but fortunately the 13th suffered no casualties as they dispersed. As daybreak came they stumbled across nine very frightened German soldiers and took them prisoner. At 0900, the Brigadier, who had already entered Putot en Auge along with the 12th ordered the 13th to follow.

At 0950, companies "B", "A" & "C" of the 13th crossed over the canal and entered the village, coming under renewed enemy mortar fire as they did so. On reaching the village at 1025, the 13th had taken five casualties and shortly afterwards received orders to attack and capture a hill that overlooked the village, known as "Hill 13". The attack commenced at 1115.

"B" Company led the charge up Hill 13, supported by "A" company, with "C" company in reserve. The mortar and machine gun fire from enemy positions at Goustranville, which had dogged them earlier, continued to impede their progress. "B" Company, led up the hill by Major Tarrant, stormed the first ridge with bayonets fixed and headed for the second. The defenders mounted a counter attack and sudden, murderous fire from two hidden machine guns left most of the men that had lead the way up the
hill dead or injured. Despite such devastating opposition some of the men of “B” company reached the German positions and were seen fighting there. They never returned. It was also soon apparent to the 13th that some ninety men had just reinforced the German positions from the rear of Hill 13. “B” Company was forced to retreat off the hill.

Nearby in a series of barns that were functioning as the battalion field hospital, the seriousness of the situation that was unfolding was all too apparent to the army medics working there. The space available to house casualties was full and some had to be placed outside. The casualties just kept arriving and the medics struggled to assist the men who had been cut down in the battle for Putot en Auge.

The meagre supply of water that the hospital had available had been exhausted and the only source of fluids that could be used for the injured was cider from the adjacent farm. The medics used whatever cloth and materials they could find, including parts of their own clothing, as bandages and blankets to comfort the wounded men and to treat their injuries.

Back on hill 13, "A" Company tried to press forward once more, but in the face of heavy opposition from the defenders, they were unable to gain significant headway. "C" Company attempted to attack from the right flank but they too met with withering machine gun fire and could not press home their attack. It was at this moment that the Germans mounted a counter attack, but extremely accurate fire
from the artillery of the 151st Field Regiment halted their progress.

By 1500 on the 19th August, the situation had been somewhat stabilised with the 13th able to hold their positions and fire on the enemy at will, whenever he was visible. The number of casualties suffered by the 13th was relatively high. About seventy men had been killed, wounded or were missing. Amongst them were Major Tarrant and Lieutenant Bibby, both of "B" company, and Captain Tibbs. Then Captain Granthem, the adjutant took over "B" Company, which received forty reinforcements soon afterwards.

That night there was very little enemy activity in the area surrounding Putot en Auge. The only significant action came when the men of 48 Commando arrived. Whilst
reconnoitring their position, they were sighted by the enemy who responded with mortar fire. The attack resulted in five commando casualties, but despite slightly
reduced numbers, 48 commando was able to carry out an attack on the enemy positions, rout the Germans and capture the summit of Hill 13. The village of Putot en
Auge was liberated. Operation Paddle ended on August 30th 1944 following the
liberation of the town of Honfleur.

I would suggest that your man was one of the missing as a result of the assalt on Hill 13, resulting in him becoming a casualty in a German RAP / Hospital where he died of his wounds

Hope this Helps.

P

 

Dear all,


Thank you all very much for your contributions, I am reading and re – reading them all to make sure I don't miss anything.


Andy/Phil, The diaries and accounts of the days before and after his death are exactly what I was after. I think your verdict is right Phil.


Phil/Tom The explanation of his regiment number and his possible regiments are very useful – I'm going to try and match his cap badge in the photo I have of him to one of these regiments, hopefully that won't be too difficult?


Jamie/Andy, Thanks also for the related articles, great reading and I am very interested in that booklet Jamie, the museum is not too far away from me.



Thanks again to all,

Rob

 

Rob, your man should also be on this Photo (Somewhere)

13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion | ParaData

 

Rob,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

It looks like you are well on you way to finding all the history. I wish you well on your search.

Regards
Tom

 

Hi
My uncle also served with the 13th he was killed on the 26th Aug 1944
his name was Walter Thornton Woolhouse he may have been with "R" company i think he was a mortor man but unshure i have searched everywere for information on him . He is buried as St Desir in france
Best Regards
Gary

 

Hello Freude

As mentioned on gary's thread, I have an ex 2/4th contact who is going to France for the South Lancs remembrance service - I will ask him to look out for colleagues who carried on with the 2/4 when it became the 13th.

Regards

pete

 

Hi,

My great uncle was with the 13th battalion and I have gone through the research I have done. Your relation was killed outright in the following incident...

This is an extract from a veterans story I have in my collection. It is an account following the Putot battle (19th Aug).

"Late the following afternoon (21st Aug), we were put on stand by for a move forward, and transport arrived for this purpose. After the evening meal the battalion moved to the road, where the 3 tonners awaited us. They were dispersed among the trees in an orchard, and before we moved off, the decision was made to carry out a rapid de-bussing and dispersal, in the event of an air attack. As we jumped down, there was an explosion among the B company trucks. An insecure grenade in a mans pouch had exploded, killing him outright and wounding several others including Lt. Steve Honnor. It was a terrible tragedy, especially for B Coy. Putot will always have bitter memories for them, since they had carried ot the final assault, and most casualties were from their ranks.

Below is war diary, but no menton of incident!!

20th August 1944
Place: Putot-en-Auge

During the night 48 RM Cdo took Hill 13 and there was no enemy activity on our front. By day a number of enemy were seen, and a recce patrol in the evening found the house at 255723 occupied by a pl. of enemy, heavy mortar fire was an annoyance and accounted for a number of casualties".

21st August 1944
Place: Putot-en-Auge

1530 - Bn. moved to a conc. area at the foot of the hill near PUTOT-EN-AUGE and prepared to move forward in transport.

2330 - Bn. moved in tpt to ANNEBAULT 4201.

Hope this helps, maybe Lt Steve Honnor might be worth researching to find a further lead.
Andrew

 

If you read German and are interested in Operation Varsity, I can recommend Die Luftlandung by Johann Nitrowski. Very detailed.
But if you can get a copy ...???

Regards,
Levien.

 

Hello Freude
Welcome to the site. While researching my relative with 13 Para I found Pegasus Archive site very useful - The unit history (Luards Own ) by Maj Dixie Dean referred to above is online there see The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy. You should add a photo and bio of your uncle o this site for posterity ( and with Paradata - another great Para site)

 

Bumped for Drew, you forget you posted here mate it might help your research into 13 Para.