Private Samuel Peter Walsh
Unit : No.11 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion
Army No. : 4389317
Samuel Walsh was born on the 11th November 1918, and was from Leicester [1]. He enlisted in The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wale's Own Yorkshire Regiment) on the 1st April 1937 [2], and was serving with the 2nd Battalion in India when he volunteered for Airborne Forces and was posted to the 151 Parachute Battalion in New Delhi. He completed Parachute Course No.29, which began on the 27th September 1942 [3, and saw service with them in North Africa and Italy.
During Operation Market Garden, on Monday 18th September 1944, Walsh took-off from Saltby aerodrome in aircraft 628 of the 314th Troop Carrier Group, and dropped on DZ-Y. He was the No.1 on the Bren Gun in his Section of No.11 Platoon, "C" Company, and was wounded and taken prisoner on the 21st September 1944. He later escaped, however, and took part in Operation Pegasus II, the failed mass evacuation of airborne evaders across the Rhine on the 18th November 1944, but he managed to evade capture and went into hiding. Walsh eventually reached the Allied lines on the 6th March 1945, and was transferred back to The Green Howards on the 23rd May 1945. [2]
The following is his escape and evasion report:
ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE OF 4389317. Pte. WALSH, Samuel Peter, 156 Bn, Para Regt, 1 Airborne Division.
Date of Birth: 11 Nov 1918.
Peacetime Profession: Apprentice Engineer.
Army Service: 7 years, 11 months.
Private Address: 35 Jarron Street, LEICESTER.
Other members of the stick: Major POWELL, 'C' Coy, 156 Bn - Fate unknown. Pte. DRAKE, 'C' Coy, 156 Bn - Fate unknown.
Type of aircraft, place, date, time of departure? Dakota, near GRANTHAM, 18 Sep 44, 1100 hours approx..
Where and when did you come down? WOLFHEZE E 67 (NWE 1,250,000, Sheet 2a), 1400 hours approximately.
How did you dispose of your parachute, harness and mae west? Left on ground.
Were all secret papers and equipment destroyed? None.
Maps used: GSGS 2541 Sheets 2 and 5.
I was a Bren Gunner with C-Coy of the 156 Para Bn taking part in the airborne expedition to ARNHEM and at about midday on THURS 21 SEP our Coy went in to attack a German MG position in the neighbourhood of OOSTERBEEK (700780 Sheet 5). At the time I was beside Lt. DONALDSON [300870. Lieut. William Stewart Donaldson. 11 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion. He is recorded as killed in action on the 20/09/1944. His first burial place was recorded as Grid: 681785, the corner of Zonneheuvelweg] my Platoon C.O. and Sjt. JOYCE [4448773. Sgt. Patrick Peter Joyce. 11 Platoon, "C" Company, 156 Parachute Battalion. He survived as a POW at Stalag 357] who was acting Platoon Serjeant and we were manoeuvring to a flank in order to get a site for my Bren Gun when we received a burst of fire. Lt. DONALDSON was shot through the leg and arm and JOYCE through the chest while I sustained a scalp wound which laid me out for ten or fifteen minutes.
When I recovered I did what I could for JOYCE, giving him his morphia, but he died shortly afterwards. I then managed to get Lt. DONALDSON to a house about twenty yards to the rear. By this time the Coy had withdrawn and a few minutes later the Germans advanced and DONALDSON and I were taken prisoner. I was disarmed and taken away to what I believed to be Bn HQ, with about a dozen other prisoners, all walking wounded. I have not heard of Lt. DONALDSON since, though I have a suspicion that he was shot. I had not gone more than 10 or 12 yards from the house where I left him before I heard a single shot which definitely came from that house.
At the HQ we were taken one at a time before an English speaking German officer by whom we were interrogated regarding our strength, possibility of relief etc, but all I told him was my name, rank and number and I was not at any time threatened or bullied when I refused to answer his questions.
We were then taken away and put in a garage with a guard outside and we stayed there overnight. We were given plenty of straw for beds and a few blankets, but all we got for food were a few 'energy' tablets.
22 SEP 44. Next morning we were taken by motor lorry to HARSKAMP (649945 Sheet 2) to a Hospital there where we stayed the best part of the day. The Germans still did not provide us with any food but the Dutch nursing sisters working there managed to produce some for us. Those whose wounds required attention had received treatment shortly after capture and at HARSKAMP we were again visited by a German MO.
That evening we were moved up to the HETLOO Hospital at APELDOORN which was formerly Queen Wilhelmina's Summer Palace (777056 Sheet 2). Here we were put in a wing of the hospital which was set aside for British personnel, the remainder of the buildings being used for German wounded.
We were first of all searched, the drill being to strip naked, putting clothing on one side and small kit and personal belongings laid out on a towel. However, it was not difficult to hide under the towel any small articles which we wanted to keep. In this way I managed to retain my compass. My file I had sewn in the waistband of my trousers, but this had been removed when my clothing was later returned to me. However, they did not discover my invasion money which I had sewn inside the turn up of my trousers. All our clothing was taken away and we were given tunic trousers and a shirt of a field green material which looked like German tropical kit. Our boots and socks were also removed but next day our socks were returned to us.
There were sixty four of us altogether and we were made quite comfortable. We had beds or mattresses on the floor, sheets and blankets and the central heating kept the building warm. The food was quite good and we had an issue of cigarettes, tobacco or cigars and even an occasional glass of wine.
Escape was very difficult however as we were on the second floor and the only exit was constantly guarded. The only way out was by the windows, but even then we had no boots which made walking impossible. I believe, however, that about six did get away with the help of some Dutchmen who worked in the kitchens below, where we went for our meals.
About the 2 OCT our clothing was returned to us and we were moved to the WILLEM III Barracks also in APELDOORN. This was being used as a British Hospital (See Col. WARRACK's Report No: IS9/WEA/1/275). Upon arrival we gave our names to the medical RSM [259229. W.O.I. Lionel Henry Bryson. 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.] who detailed all those who were able for various jobs in looking after the wounded as there was a shortage of medical orderlies.
At this time the buildings were guarded by young active Dutch SS, but the second day after we arrived they were replaced by WEHRMACHT, all older men.
We had been given to understand by the RSM that so far as escape was concerned it was every man for himself and Pte. MURPHY [2756457. Pte. Thomas Murphy. Mortar Platoon, 156 Parachute Battalion.] of my Coy and I decided to make an attempt.
There was an unused building which stood near the wire fence guarding the enclosure and some distance from the buildings which we were occupying. It was unguarded except for an occasional patrol, so just at dusk on the 6 OCT, MURPHY and I took a stretcher as 'camouflage' and walked past the guard on our building as if going to carry out some detail. Once past him we made straight for the unused building and got inside. We lay there until dark and then slipped out through the door nearest the fence which we climbed over without difficulty.
7 OCT 44. Our intention was first to get clear of APLEDOORN and then head South in the hope of crossing the RHINE, so we set off in a Westerly direction. After walking about 5 miles across country we rested a while and when daylight came we approached a farmhouse in the KOOTWIJK area (660005 Sheet 2). The farmer took us in and his wife gave us breakfast. They indicated that we should stay there until 0900 hrs, which we did. Apparently they had a friend who passed by their house at that hour every morning and when he arrived the farmer stopped him and brought him in to see us. From this point on my journey was arranged for me.
APPENDIX C.
ESCAPER's NAME, ETC:- 4389317. Pte. WALSH, S.P. 156 Bn, Para regt.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 7 Mar 45.
MAPS USED:- HOLLAND, 1:100,000, Sheets 2 and 4.
The man who came to see us was a member of the Underground, though I do not know his name. He spoke English and questioned us as to our identity, but we had little difficulty in satisfying him. He then took us to his home, a poultry farm, situated also in the KOOTWIJK area. He was very deaf, married, with three sons aged 3, 5 and 6 approx. His wife also spoke good English. We stayed here one week during which time we were very well fed and cared for. As the house was situated fairly close to the APLEDOORN (Sheet 2, 790040) - AMERSFOORT (Sheet 2, 390975) railway line it was not considered very safe, so our friend arranged with the Underground to find new billets and on 14 Oct after dark we moved to GARDEREN (Sheet 2, 620060).
Here we were taken to a fairly large house on the outskirts of the village owned by a member of the Underground known to me as Uncle JOOP and often referred to as the Doctor by his friends. I believe he was a surgeon before the war. Living with him was the Burgermeister of a township near AMSTERDAM together with his wife and son.
A few days after we arrived there we were joined by Sgt. HARDING, 10 Para Bn. He actually stayed on there after MURPHY and I had left, but when we met later on my journey he told me that the Germans had accidentally discovered the cellar and radio set, etc, which Uncle JOOP kept there and in reprisal burned down the house. Fortunately for him HARDING had already left when this happened. Uncle JOOP was also away at the time and the Burgermeister and his family were not molested.
About 21 Oct it was arranged that we should move in order to make room for a party of six R.A.M.C. officers who were expected, so MURPHY and I were moved to a house in ELSPEET (Sheet 2, 670123) where Pte. HARDY [1556339. Private. James Hardy. 16 Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.], James, 16 Fd Amb was living. For the story of my movements until 25 Nov see report of Pte. HARDY (IS9/WEA/1/270/2351) which is the same except for one detail. On the night of 17 Nov when we lost HARDY and P/O. BRENTFORD, our guides took Sgt. BANWELL, [5498293. Sgt. Keith Deamer Banwell. 3 Platoon, "A" Company, 10th Parachute Battalion] Sgt. HALLER, John [14291815. Sgt. Bernard John Frederick Haller. 24 Flight, 'G' Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment], Pte. MURPHY and myself to a house at approx. posn 560984 (Sheet 2) where we stayed overnight and moved to the rendezvous which HARDY gives as posn 602990 (Sheet 2) the next day.
On 25 Nov one of the men who brought us our food at the hide-out told us that the member of the Underground who was looking after us (name unknown) had been arrested and as there was a search in the area it was dangerous for us to stay. We split up into two parties of three, P/O. BRENTFORD, Sgt. HALLER and I going together and making in the direction of VALK (sheet 2, 580940) on the advice of the friend who warned us to leave.
We left in the morning and at about 1400 hrs we approached a house in the VALK area at about posn 600924 (Sheet 2). The owner of the house was a man whom I knew as HANK, a house builder by trade, married, with three daughters, aged 10, 4 and 6 months. We asked him if he could put us in touch with the Underground which he said he would do and in the meantime he offered to billet us.
We stayed with HANK for a week and on 1 Dec a member of the Underground came to see us. His name was GERD (?) and he had been one of our guides on our previous abortive attempt to reach the RHINE. He took us to his own house which was in the area of KOOTWIJKKERBROEK (Sheet 2, 570972) and after staying there overnight he took P/O. BRENTFORD and me to a farm on the outskirts of VALK while Sgt. Haller was taken to another address in this area. Our new host was Evaard VAN BRAAK, a farmer, married, with one daughter aged about eight.
GERD visited us frequently bringing extra food, tobacco, etc, and on the evening of 7 Feb we went over to his house to celebrate his birthday. Instead of going back to BRAAK'S that night I stayed with Pte's. McNAUGHT [3131378. Pte. Frank McNaught. Mortar Platoon, 11th Parachute Battalion] and RILEY [2373370. Sigmn. Harold Green Riley. J-Section (attached 1st Parachute Brigade HQ), 1st Airborne Divisional Signals] who were living at a farm near GERD's place. Next morning GERD came and told us that we were to prepare to leave so he sent someone over to BRAAK's farm to collect my uniform etc, which I had left there.
From that time until I finally reached safety on 7 mar my story is the same as that narrated by Pte. McNAUGHT (IS9/WEA/1/290/2385) except that during the period after our unsuccessful attempt to cross on 19 Feb until the night of our crossing I was billeted at the home of VAN DER WEIL, in SLIEDRECHT (Sheet 4, 955620).
NOTES:
[1] Escape & Evasion Report. 7 March 1945.
[2] The Parachute Regiment, transfer & Enlistment Book 03, page 71.
[3] Parachute Course Report, New Delhi. September 1942
My thanks to Bob Hilton for this account.