Lt R. W. Wood (The Parachute Regiment)

I would like to know what happened to Lt Ronald William Wood, 296198, 1st AB div, 156 Bt, B Coy, 6 Plt.
Ik know he died of wounds on 23-9-1944 in a hospital in Utrecht (NL) and is buried there in the General Cemetery Soestbergen.
I also know thet his Coy got separated from the remnants of the 156 Bt when it retreated towards Oosterbeek.

I hope someone can help me.

 

Hi Levien,
You're probably aware of an excellent book that has just been released called "From Delhi to Arnhem" by John O'Reilly. There are numerous references to Lt. Ronald William "Billie" Wood including several photos. There is also some information about him on Ronald W Wood | ParaData. If you'd like me to go through the book then PM me .
All the best,
Paul..........

 

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the rapid reply.
Indeed, I just learned about the relese of the book. So at last it is available. Five years ago it was already announced. I had given up hope.
I think I will buy it in Oosterbeek next month with an autograph ;-)

Regards,
Levien.

 

I would like to know what happened to Lt Ronald William Wood, 296198, 1st AB div, 156 Bt, B Coy, 6 Plt.
Ik know he died of wounds on 23-9-1944 in a hospital in Utrecht (NL) and is buried there in the General Cemetery Soestbergen.
I also know thet his Coy got separated from the remnants of the 156 Bt when it retreated towards Oosterbeek.

I hope someone can help me.

I visted the CWGC Cemetery 2 weeks ago, and have tried to find out info since I got back so would appreciate any info that you find.

 

Another site with a bit more info: 1st British Airborne Division officers  --  W
All the best.............

 

Dear Phil(?),

According to Middlebrook, B Coy went to the railway crossing in Wolfheze instead of crossing the railway embankment near the culvert like the rest of 4th Brigade.
At that railway crossing were men of KOSB and they were captured and taken prisoner by the Germans. Perhaps -and that is my theory- B Coy joined the KOSB and was also taken prisoner, but not without a fight. Lt Wood might have got his wounds there and taken to a hospital in a western direction.
Hopefully the book Paul mentioned will tell it all.

Regards,
Levien.

 

Hi Levien,

Did you get my PM?

 

Sure did. See your own PM.

I'm very gratefull.

Levien.

 

Other members of 156 also ended up in Utrecht after being captured at Wolfheze.....Captains Buck and Montgomery for two....

 

Thanks Niall.
Were they taken there because of good (or rather better) medical facilties or were not wounded paras also taken to Utrecht?

 

My thoughts wouuld be that because the SEH was in 'British hands' and probably overcrowded alternative medical facilities had to be used.....I think only wounded went to Utrecht....from memory there is a photo in Off at Last of prisoners who were captured in the woods at a village somewhere north of the area????
Can someone confirm....don't have an OAL to hand.....suspect unwounded 156 men in this photo.....

 

Had the same thoughts.
Sorry, can't help with the book. Not on my bookshelves.

Regards,
Levien.

 

Hi all,

According to John O'Reilly in his book "From Delhi to Arnhem", Capt. Buck actually treated Lt.Wood at the Utrecht hospital but was unable to save him. The book says (paraphrased):

Wood and Syner were taken to a hospital in Utrecht where the Medical Officer of the 156 Battalion, John Buck saw them. Buck recalls “I vividly remember the other patient who died in my care. An officer (Wood) was shot through both elbows. If I had chopped off an arm he would have probably lived. ‘What-if’s’ were of great concern for the would be surgeon back then.” Wood passed away in his sleep. His batman, Ernest Syner, remained in hospital until April 1945 when he was transferred to a POW camp in Germany, and was released the following month.

As for the picture AM refers to in OAL, I've had a quick look and apparently a large number of KOSB men from 'A' and 'B' Companies were taken prisoner in the woods North of Wolfheze and in the area just North of LZ 'L'. The only picture I could see shows a column of POW's being marched along the "Nudestraat" in Wageningen but the troops are too far away to be able to ID any units etc. I'm not sure if this is the pic AM means?

Cheers...............

 

How come that Capt. Buck was already in that hospital in Utrecht.
Was he captured after being dropped in the wrong place?

 

Paul,
Thanks..that's the photo I was thinking of......I suspect unwounded 10th/156th men were in that group....it would make sense to move all the prisoners at once after presumably being collected together.....

Levien,
First comment...you don't have an OAL....shame on you....no excuses as was reprinted this year....
John Buck was captured in a house at the level crossing at Wolfheze on (from memory) the early hours of the 20th.....see Red Berets...I spoke to him in the late 1990's for the book and there is an account from him in it....probably also in Delhi to Arnhem......

 

Niall,
I'm red all over.
I will look cpt. Buck's history up in your book.
By the way which books are really must-haves for an average Arnhem adept? Perhaps I can buy some I don't have already next month in Oosterbeek. Booksellers will be all over the place, I think.

 

Niall,
I'm red all over.
I will look cpt. Buck's history up in your book.
By the way which books are really must-haves for an average Arnhem adept? Perhaps I can buy some I don't have already next month in Oosterbeek. Booksellers will be all over the place, I think.

Hi Levien,
That really is the $50,000 question! I guess it depends on your particular interest. If it's one particular unit you're looking for then there are any number of great titles and all (with only one or two exceptions) have been covered. As for the "overview" type of book then IMHO you will be hard pressed to better Middlebrook or Buckingham.
All the best,
Paul.............

 

Guys, so the discussion about Arnhem books doesn't get lost, how about starting a new thread... am sure it will be of interest to many?

 

Paul,

Agreed..if Levien wants to pm me I'll give a few suggestions......

 

AM,
I think you started a similar thread ages ago for books etc. Wasn't it called "1st Airborne Unit Histories" or something similar?