Hi I am hoping find out either the names of any of the Southern Rhodesians who served in the 1st Airborne Division or of any information regarding the number of Southern Rhodesians involved in Market Garden. I know that there were about 20 who joined the 156th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment in 1942/1943 in the Middle East. I've also read somewhere that 2 more joined 11th Battalion and were involved in the operations at Leros, Samos and Cos in 1943. The only name I have is of Private Ben Diedricks, B Coy, 156th Battalion who helped Major John Waddy. If anyone could help I would appreciate it.
Found this. My father told me that he came from a wealthy family and had gone off to fight in the war, in which he served in an airborne unit, and was dropped at Arnhem in operation "Market Garden", where he was taken prisoner. The Fletchers of Mull And another. Bert joined the BSA Police in June 1946. He was born in Dublin and came from a military family. Bert first worked for a newspaper company, after leaving school, but shortly before WWII he had, apparently, falsified his age to join the Territorial Army. The outbreak of war saw him called up early, with the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry, and serving in the Middle East. He transferred to the Parachute Regiment in early 1943 and served in North Africa and Italy. During the Battle of Arnhem, (September 1944) he was captured and held as a POW until June 1945, when he rejoined his regiment. He served a further year with the Parachute Regiment before demobilising and shortly thereafter joining the BSA Police. http://www.rhodesianservices.org/user/image/publication08-2012v2.pdf
I believe that one of the Rhodesian SAS during the bush war had jumped at Arnhem possibly from one of the Dakotas which later were used in Rhodesia.
861184 CSM Stan Standish BEM jumped with 156 Battalion at Arnhem. I don't know if he was a Southern Rhodesian but he was one of the founder members of the Rhodesian SAS. Cheers Arnhem
That is brilliant on Dugald Fletcher. Thanks. I had heard of Stan Standish. Some of the characters still living here in Zim have some great stories about him. They say he wasn't a Rhodesian when he served at Arnhem. Bert Fremantle, though, i had not heard of. I'll have to ask a mate of mine who was BSAP to find out more. Thanks for the help though this is more than i've been able to find and i'm living here!
I recall a Stan Standish story on the flight in to a hot DZ in Mozambique - looking very pensive and quiet - noticed that he was staring at the No Plate inside the fuselage bulkhead on the Dak and muttering "last time I jumped out of this one was at Arnhem".
I have spoken about the Rhodesians with Major Waddy and others of B. Company in the eighties during the reunions, they all mention a dozen or so join the Battalion, but only could remember Ben, he is also the only one on the photographs in Italy, I must have a list of names somewhere with Rhodesians, can not tell you if they were with the Battalion at Arnhem, but as soon as I find it I will send you a PM
CSM Standish When I was at Sandhurst (1959-61) the Academy RSM, Jacky Lord, well known in both Para and Grenadier Guards, was fond of quoting this saying. A great guy, though I did not discover the half of it till well after I left the place. Chris
