Award MiD Pte. Thomas LORNE, 156th Bn Parachute Regiment (Arnhem, Escape & Evasion)

brithm · Feb 25, 2023

Award Mentioned in Despatches Pte. Thomas Lorne, 156th Bn Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps (5671590)

The Germans captured LORNE when he was in hospital at OOSTERBEEK in September 1944 suffering from a bullet wound.

On the way to APELDOORN he and two other wounded men escaped from a moving ambulance into some woods under fire from the guard.

LORNE’s wound had re-opened and after his companions had rendered first aid, the part walked towards the Rhine.

After several hours they found a farm w here they obtained assistance and a guide. With the aid of various Dutch people LORNE and one of the others reached the Rhine. They had been separated from the third man the previous day whilst avoiding a German soldier. It was impossible to swim the Rhine as it was floodlit and the Germans were dug in along the bank. For the next six weeks LORNE and his companion were sheltered by the Dutch and in time were joined by many other escapers.

Eventually on 18th November the whole party tried to get through the German lines but they detected and after several casualties LORNE’s group surrendered. LORNE himself feigned death but the Germans shot him through the knee. He and the other wounded put in a Hospital and days later sent to Germany.

Near the frontier while left unguarded in a disused cinema LORNE and another soldier wanted to escape but the officer with them said he had given his word they would not.

LORNE was finally liberated in April, 1945.
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WO 373/102/393

horsapassenger · Feb 25, 2023

Lorne jumped from the ambulance with his good friend William Ross and Sgt Thompson, also 156 Bn.. Lorne and Ross became separated from Sgt Thompson near Zevenaar where he was recaptured. They went into hiding at Coldenhove but when the resistance came to collect those sheltered there to participate in Operation Pegasus 1 they were out collecting firewood so missed that successful escape. They were participants in Operation Pegasus 2 but that was a failure and both were captured, spending the remainder of the war as POWs

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Award MiD Pte. Thomas LORNE, 156th Bn Parachute Regiment (Arnhem, Escape & Evasion)

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Award MiD Pte. Thomas LORNE, 156th Bn Parachute Regiment (Arnhem, Escape & Evasion)

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