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