Varsity: C47 crash with British paras

From the war diary of 1st Can Para Bn:

 

To add to this here is the report of C-Coy wit map references. All of this happened in the hamlet of Bergerfurth where I grew up:

 

Hamilcar Compare

That M.R.as calculated by the Translator strikes me as possibly being a little too far west. Here's a crop compare showing a Canadian Para(s) in bottom panel overlooking the LZ to the west and slightly north of the Axe-head. As usual not everyone will see it that way.



Regards ...

 

This should have all the map references you need.

 

Ho,

Here's a crop blow-up from the Dingden map.



There's not much in the way of location clues from the first "rescue" by Topham. From Bill's original post (113):

"a) At about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were killed as they knelt beside the casualty....Having completed immediate first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of a wood"

The only field ambulance in that 3rd Para Brigade area was the 224th PFA. Their Varsity RoH:





Regards ...

 

Can I ask where you got this map? The only one I could find from the war is black and white. This is amazing.

 

From: 224th Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC

Operation Varsity saw the 224th assign its entire No. 1 section (M.O. and 16 men) which dropped in two "sticks" with the 1CanPara.
The 1CanPara also had its own medical personnel - a medical officer was attached to the Battalion's Headquarters (Captain Colin Brebner and after his injury during the D-Day jump. P.G. Costigan) while each company headquarters had four stretcher bearers (medics). One of the stretcher bearers, Topham, was a recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Based on this possibly Pte Hall RAMC and
Dvr Shelton RASC were the "Two medical orderlies".

Also of note:
Set up a M.D.S. in the ruined church at 157472....Is this still there? Or was it an actual church?

 

I had always thought that LCol Nicklin had been killed at Axe Handle woods, but based on this it looks like a totally separate woods?

 

Nicklin was killed in this copse called "Nakaths Wäldchen":


And this is the old Catholic church in Bergerfurth, demolished in the early 1970s. This is where I had my First Communion... 1970 or 1971, I think:

 

Shelton was a driver and was shot up in a tree. From the 224Tth PFA WD:

"Many members of the unit landed in the high trees and three were killed while they were still hung up in their parachutes; Rev. J.W. KENNY, Cpl NICHOLSON LF RAMC and Dvr. SHELTON A RASC.''

Perhaps the two orderlies were Hall and Wright:

"Ptes. HALL G. & WRIGHT E.J. R.A.M.C. died of wounds in Unit M.D.S."

But at present can't account for the Matthews on the RoH.

I always understood the small woods north of the Axe-head to be where Nicklin came down in a tree but I don't have a reliable source off the top of my head. But I see alberk thinks the same.

Regards ...

 

This is the battered church in Bergerfurth, damaged by shelling prior to the Rhine crossing:

 

Boys of the Clouds by Gary Boegel

Corporal John Ross
Headquarters Company, Signal Platoon, attached to C Company

" ... I must mention Corporal Topham. He was sick on D-Day so did not go in with us then. He joined us at Le Mesnil. He was C Coy’s medical corporal. Absolutely fearless in France carrying in wounded under mortar fire in one case. His slit trench was always a few feet from mine because I had communications. In Germany he won the Victoria Cross. ..."

Regards ..

 

Hi alberk,

Just to get your attention. With regards the attached photos of German POWs being marched through Bergerfurth in what direction are they travelling - north to south?



Regards ...

 

Hi Cee, they are going north.

Best, Alex

 

Thanks Alex,

Thought that might be the case. Quite a few POWs seen marching there. Is there a village named Lanchenoffer somewhere near Bergerfurth?

Regards ...

 

No, does not even sound remotely familiar. Where does the term "Lanchenoffer" come from?

 

Alex,

Still trying to sort out Crookenden. "Lanchenoffer" is mentioned in his DSO medal citation:

"As part of the airborne operation behind the Rhine defences on 24th March 1945 Lieutenant-Colonel Crookenden's battalion was assigned the task of seizing the Schneppenburg feature and the forward edges of the forest commanding the approaches to the Rhine. He directed the advance with the greatest vigour and as a result quickly seized the first objective with a large haul of prisoners.

On approaching the second objective, the battalion was held up by the enemy in strongly dug in positions. Lieutenant-Colonel Crookenden immediately took the leading Company round to a flank. He then personally led the assault. Although enemy fire was very heavy he pressed the attack with such vigour and determination that complete success was rapidly achieved, many Germans being killed and nearly 500 captured.

Shortly afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel Crookenden was given the task of capturing the village of Lanchenoffer. This necessitated a final advance of 500 yards across open country in daylight. Fire was heavy, both from infantry in the village and from two self-propelled guns to a flank. Lieutenant-Colonel Crookenden decided to rush the objective. He himself again took the lead. The garrison was routed, 200 prisoners being taken and both self-propelled guns knocked out.

This officers courage and devotion to duty were outstanding. He was continually in the foreground of the battle where his leadership was largely responsible for the great success achieved by his battalion."

I wonder as well if those prisoner numbers are correct. The 9 Para war diary claims they captured about 290 only. Maybe Lachenoffer is further inland ... ?

Regards ...

 

I just went through the war diary of 9 Para Bn on the pegasus Archive website. Many German place names are misspelled, but nothing similar to Lanchenoffer appears there, neither shortly after March 24 nor in the later days until the end of the war.

 

Yeah,

I did a quick search as well and found nothing. A family farm perhaps ... odd.

Regards ..

 

Bill Lawrie's Varsity footage

Lawrie probably dropped with the 9th Parachute Battalion on DZ 'A' - no great revelation. For example he captured the same flaming Dakota as mentioned in their war diary:

" ... 1003 - Bn dropped into Germany. Weather ideal, there being little wind and beautiful sunshine. The flak was not excessive although a lot of air bursts could be seen.
1020 - Three aircraft hit by AA and two of them on fire. One aircraft crash-landed with the starboard engine in flames. ... "



He also caught scenes of Paras moving through woods which was probably 9 Para men on their way to take the Schneppenberg feature.



There's also a couple of clips of moving captured Germans through a woodland setting. Overall the scenes don't strike me as always being in the correct chronological order. I don't recognise Crookenden in any of the them.



Regards ...

Later - Without starting a new post other related thoughts on the subject can be found here:

Monty's Movements - The Rhine Crossing.pdf

Thank you to Forum members for their research.