WO1 Harold (Paddy) Padfield,

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by redtop, Jan 5, 2015.

  1. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    So we lose another of the Old and Bold
    Was not sure if this was place to post.
    Does site have an obituary page?


    WO1 Harold (Paddy) Padfield, died on Saturday 13th December
    Harold joined the Royal Engineers in 1936 and during the war was one of the first to join the new Airborne Forces and saw action in North Africa, Italy, Sicily and Arnhem where he was one of only 700 or so troops to reach and fight at the Bridge itself, eventually running out of ammunition and captured. After 6 months as a POW he escaped and spent two weeks on the run in the Austrian Alps before finding American lines near Strasburg.

    After the war he remained in the army and served with 6 Airborne Division in Palestine during the British withdrawal and also the Canal Zone during the Suez crisis. He finally retired from the army in 1964 as RSM of 107 Field Engineer Regt RE. He wrote a book about his experiences called ‘Twelve Mules and a Pegasus’ published and presented it to the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek during the 70th commemoration of the battle of Arnhem. It is available for £15 including P&P from tonyclear62@gmail.com or from eBay.
     
  2. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    R.I.P. Harold (Paddy) Padfield.
     
  3. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    I'm most impressed. It's a long walk from the Austrian Alps to Strasbourg. Did he swim the Rhine?

    Chris
     
  4. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    :poppy: Harold "Paddy" Padfield. RIP :poppy:

    Paul
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    :poppy: Harold Padfield. RIP. :poppy:

    Tom
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Are we sure it's not Salzburg?

    6 months after Arnhem takes into late March/April + 2 weeks could be as late as mid April. I think US troops were well into Bavaria by that time? They were in Czechoslovakia by 1st May when they liberated my father.

    Haven't researched it but would have thought Strasbourg was liberated well before April 1945?

    Regards

    Steve Y

    PS Wikipedia says Strasbourg liberated 23rd November 1944.
     
  7. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    harold "paddy" padfield r.i.p.regards
    regards bernard85, :poppy: :poppy:
     
  8. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Harry states that he and others "walked out' of his camp at Markt Pongau (Stalag 317) on 3rd May 1945. They met the American Peace delegation at Zell am See on the 7th May - so I think they meant Salzburg not Strasbourg
     
  9. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Google maps says it is 25 miles from St Johann in Pongau to Zell am See, Austria.

    Steve
     
  10. Pompey Pal

    Pompey Pal Member

    I had the pleasure of meeting with Harold after the service at Oosterbeek cemetery in September.
     

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