Geoffrey Hurndall Saxton was 32 when he was killed in action on 13 February 1945. He was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service Number T/133785). He was initially buried on the premises of M. de Groot at Boxmeerseweg C 40a St. Anthonis and then re-interred 21 May 1947 in grave II.D.2 in the CWGC Cemetery at Overloon. The inscription on his grave reads: “One day we shall understand. Elsie and children.”

Family background

Geoffrey was the son of Ernest Francis and Kathleen Saxton, though it is likely that he was adopted by them. He was the husband of Elsie May Saxton of North Fambridge, Essex. Ernest Francis Saxton married Kate Maria Hurndall in 1909 in the Pancras district of London.

Ernest Francis Saxton was born on 4 March 1883 in the Fairfield area of West Derby in Liverpool. He was the son of William Saxton and Mary Frances Owen who had married in West Derby, Liverpool in 1878. They were living at 11 Freehold Street at the time of his baptism on 1 April 1883 and his father was working as a Book-keeper. William was born in 1846 in Liverpool and Mary in 1858 in Birkenhead.

William and Mary had eight children in total, most born in West Derby, as follows: Elsie Violet 1879, William Herbert 1881, Ernest Francis 1883, Frederick Charles 1884, Hilda Abigail 1887, Mary Constance 1888, Eveline Beatrice 1889 and Arthur Cecil 1891.

In 1891 William and Mary were living at 57, Moor Lane, Great Crosby, West Derby, Lancashire. Willilam was working at a Collector of Poor Rates. All their children were with them except Arthur who was not yet born. Present too was Annie Thomas, a 22 year old servant born in Everton and Marion Wilson, a 48 year old single woman who was visiting the family. She was working as a head nurse at a hospital.

The Liverpool Daily Post of 9 July 1900 reported that Ernest F Saxton had received the Elementary Division 1st Class Certificate of the Church Sunday School Teachers’ Examinations. He was from the Church of St. John the Divine, Fairfield, Liverpool.

By 1901 Ernest’s mother, Mary F Saxton had died. His father was now living at 4 Freehold Street, West Derby with six of his children. Neither Ernest nor Frederick were living at home.

It seems that Ernest had moved to London as he was living at 22, Villa Road, Lambeth. He was working as a Civil Service Clerk and was a boarder in the household of Charles BP and Ellen F Bott. Charles was a printer born in Wiltshire in 1860 while Ellen was born in 1859 in Bayswater. With them was their son Claude CF Bott born in 1884 in Clapham who was a Ship Broker’s Clerk and their daughter Constance M Bott born in 1886 in Dulwich who was a student. Three other male boarders were present: Otto Fast born 1875 in Germany who was a Bank Clerk, Charles E Hutchinson born 1878 in Durham who was a Surveyor & Draftsman and Hugo A Hoffstaedter who was born in 1882 in Germany and was living on his own means.

Kate Maria Hurndall was born on 20 October 1860 in Paddington, London. She was the daughter of Henry Hurndall and Catherine Hurndall (nee McCaffrey). Henry was born in 1827 in Bushey, Hertfordshire and Catherine was born in 1830 in Ireland. In 1861 Henry and Catherine were living at 25, Charles Mews, Paddington, Kensington. Henry was working as a Coachman – domestic servant. With them were their daughters, Elizabeth S Hurndall, born 1859 and Kate M Hurndall born 1860 – both born in Paddington.

By 1871 Henry and Catherine were living at Porchester Gardens Mews, Paddington, Kensington with Elizabeth and Kate. Henry was still a coachman.

Henry Hurndall died on 24 March 1879. His address at the time was 2 Princes Mews, Princes Square, Bayswater. However, by June, Catherine had moved to 149 Southwark Bridge Road and was still there in 1881. Both her daughters were with her and were working as teachers in a public school.

Catherine Hurndall died on 1 February 1890. She had previously been living at 3 Herbert Road, Stockwell but had recently been living at Clifton Villas, Longley Road, Tooting. Kate Maria Hurndall was also living at Clifton Villas at the time.

By 1891 Kate Hurndall was shown as a Lodger, but with no head of household, at 12, Grafton Square, Clapham, Wandsworth, London. She was still working as a school teacher. With her was Jane Overend, born 1863 from Liverpool who was also a lodger and another school teacher. Present too were two female visitors born in Scotland and living on their own means. They were 36 year old Elsie Milne and 29 year old Mary King. By 1901, Kate Hurndall was the head of a household at 142, Amesbury Avenue, Streatham, Wandsworth. She was still a School Teacher and Jane Overend was also still there as a boarder and also still a school teacher.

When Kate Hurndall married Ernest Francis Saxton in 1909, she was 49 and he was just 26.

The London Evening Standard of 01 October 1910 reported that Ernest F Saxton of the Estate Duty Office was one of a number of men who had served upwards of 8 years as clerks of the 2nd division and were now promoted to 2nd class clerkships of the 1st division.

In 1911 Ernest and Kate were living at 209 Barcombe Avenue, Streatham Hill S W, Wandsworth Borough. Ernest was working at a 2nd class clerk. Jane Ann Overend, aged 49, was still living with them and was described as a “certificated teacher retired on breakdown pension.” Her birth place was more specifically described as Fairfield, Liverpool, the same as Ernest. This link may have something to do with how Ernest and Kate met. It was noted that Ernest and Kate had no children at his time.

It seems that Ernest served in WW1 as a Lieutenant in the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion, attached to the Liverpool Regiment.

By 1921, Ernest and Kate were living at 111, Selsdon Road, Croydon, Surrey. Ernest was working as a Civil Servant (Clerk) in the Estate Duty Office at Somerset House. Two visitors were present: Ernest’s brother Frederick Charles Saxton, born 1884 in West Derby, who was working as a Bank Cashier for the London County & West Parish Bank of Belper, Derbyshire. The other visitor was a boy named George Leslie Davidson  who was born in Marylebone, London. He was aged 7 years and 6 months, so born around the end of 1913 or the beginning of 1914.  It was stated that both his parents were dead. Also present was a servant, Emma Jane Ingle aged 41 from Rochdale, Lancashire. The census indicated that Ernest and Kate had no children, yet Geoffrey Hurndall Saxton was born on 15 December 1913 and might have been expected to be present. He couldn’t be found living elsewhere and no birth record for anyone of that name could be found. Kate Maria Saxton would have been 53 in 1913, meaning it is rather unlikely that she was his birth mother. It is possible that he may have been adopted by Ernest and Kate and given a completely new name.

George L Davidson, who was visiting Ernest and Kate in 1921, was himself born on 15 December 1913 at the Queen Charlotte Hospital in Marylebone, London. His mother was named as Elizabeth Davidson, a Kitchen Maid of 21 Talbot Street, Mansfield Notts. No father’s name was given. It seems more than a co-incidence that George and Geoffrey had the same birth dates. It is likely that it was George who was adopted by Ernest and Kate – but it is rather odd that his first name was changed from George to Geoffrey.

It is thought that Geoffrey’s father may possibly have been Ernest’s brother, Frederick Charles Saxton, who was also visiting Ernest and Kate in 1921. Frederick had worked in a bank before WW1, first as an apprentice in the Isle of Man in 1901 and then as bank clerk while living back with his widowed father, sisters Elsie and Eveline and brother Arthur in Liverpool in 1911.

Military career

Geoffrey enlisted at Southend on Sea  on 3 January 1940 in the Royal Army Service Corps. His occupation as a Motor Driver meant he was suited for the work of the RASC. He enlisted in the Territorial Army for the duration of the war. His rank was that of Driver. He was described as being 5ft 9in tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and weighed 143lbs. He was declared fit for general service at home and abroad. At this time, his wife’s address was given as c/o Mrs N Lewis, The Flat, 784 St Alban’s Road, Harston, Watford, Herts. However, Geoffrey’s own address was still given as Elmtrees Farm. It may be that Elsie had returned home to get support from her family while Geoffrey was away.

The Royal Army Service Corps was a Corps of the British Army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the Army Fire Service, staffing headquarters’ units, supply of food, water, fuel and domestic materials such as clothing, furniture and stationery and the supply of technical and military equipment. They trained at Aldershot.

They had the additional responsibility of transporting supplies as far as the front line, where individual units took over responsibility. The corps were also responsible for the administration and maintenance of barracks and quarters. They did not issue or maintain weapons, military equipment or ammunition, as this was the responsibility of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. However, they did transport ammunition from Base Ordnance Depots to Forward Ammunition Points. It was also their task to transport and distribute Petrol, Oil and Lubricants. The Corps was highly mechanized by the beginning of the Second World War. It lost a large number of vehicles with the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and it took a couple of years to make good the losses.

Geoffrey initially spent a week undergoing infantry training with the Argyll and Southern Highlanders at Stirling in Scotland before returning to his unit on 10 January 1940.

He was posted to 903 Company on 2 February but is recorded in a casualty report as having fallen dangerously ill on 5 February 1940 while based in the UK. His service record suggests that he was posted to 1 Depot Battalion from hospital on 24 April 1940. He was then posted to 30 Station Transport Company on 17 August 1940. On 6 January 1942 he was appointed to the rank of Acting Paid Lance Corporal, then Acting Unpaid Corporal on 14 February 1942 and promoted  to War Substantive Corporal on 15 May 1942.

He remained with 30 Station Transport Company until 8 October 1942 when he was posted to 71 C.M.T Mixed Transport Company. He was posted to 580 C.M.T. on 1 February 1943 until 29 July 1943. Just before he left this unit he undertook training in Fire Fighting for five days. As mentioned above, the RASC were responsible for the Army Fire Service. He was then posted to 635 Divisional Composite Company, then quickly through two other postings to 1653 Medium Regiment Platoon on 15 December 1943.

On 21 January 1944 his rank reverted to Driver at his own request. It is not known why he chose to drop back down to this rank. On 5 May 1944 he was posted to 1653 Artillery Platoon. On 28 June 1944 he embarked for France with this platoon as part of 21st Army Group.

The RASC was organised to support individual regiments, sometimes infantry and sometimes other types of Regiments. 1653 Medium Regiment Platoon will have been supporting a Medium Artillery Regiment while 1653 Artillery Platoon will also have been supporting an Artillery Regiment. However. His service record makes it clear that his Platoon was part of the support for the 21st Army Group.

The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation formed during the Second World War. It controlled two field armies and other supporting units, consisting primarily of the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army. Established in London during July 1943, under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, it was assigned to Operation Overlord, the Western Allied invasion of Europe, and was an important Allied force in the European Theatre. At various times during its existence, the 21st Army Group had additional British, Canadian, American, and Polish field armies or corps attached to it. The 21st Army Group operated in Northern France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany from June 1944 until August 1945, when it was renamed the British Army of the Rhine.

Given his role, Geoffrey will have played a key part in ensuring the troops were supplied and fed as they pushed through North West Europe from D-Day to Germany.

Geoffrey Hurndall Saxton died on 13 February 1945. This was on the same day as Driver Arthur Reuben Murkin, aged 24, also of the Royal Army Service Corps. He was initially buried alongside him at the premises of M. de Groot  at Boxmeerseweg C 40a St. Anthonis. He was then re-interred alongside him at Overloon. This raises the possibility that they died in the same incident.

Given the date of their deaths and where they were initially buried it is likely that they were killed during  Operation Veritable involving XXX Corps and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division which in turn were part of the 21st Army Group. This was also known as the Battle of the Reichswald and was the northern part of an Allied pincer movement that took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945 during the final stages of the war.

The operation started with XXX Corps advancing through the Reichswald while the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, in amphibious vehicles, cleared German positions in the flooded Rhine plain. The Allied advance proceeded more slowly than expected and at greater cost as the American southern pincer, Operation Grenade, was delayed by the deliberate flooding of the Ruhr River by German forces which allowed them to be concentrated against the Commonwealth advance.

The Royal Army Service Corps would have had responsibility for keeping troops supplied in what would have been very challenging logistical difficulties during this operation. In the case of Geoffrey’s platoon, he will have been supplying an Artillery Regiment.

Geoffrey is commemorated on a war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, North Fambridge.

His father, Ernest Saxton, died on 27 January 1946 just under a year after his son. He was still living at 14 Haling Park Road.

In 1964, a long time after Geoffrey’s death his wife, Elsie M Saxton, married Norman T Davey in Maldon Essex. She died in Chelmsford in 2003.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
Birth record of George Leslie Davidson
Wikipedia: Royal Army Service Corps
British Military History website: Royal Army Service Corps
Geoffrey Hurndall Saxton’s Service Record.
Sue Reynolds for the photo
Assistance from Danny Saxton, Geoffrey’s great grandson

Research Elaine Gathercole
  

Edward Fenn was killed in action on 19 October 1944 near Overloon. He was a Lance Corporal in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion (Service number 14578744). He was initially buried at Cemetery A. vd Wijst in Overloon and reburied on 13 May 1947 in grave II.B.4. at the CWG Cemetery in Overloon. The inscription on his gravestone reads: “Sleep on, son, And take thy rest, We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best”.

Family background

Edward, known as Ted, was born on 13 December 1924 in Lewisham, the son of Charles Edward Fenn and Lily, née Horne. Ted’s parents were both from the London area and all their children were born in Lewisham, a district of London.

Ted had two older brothers, Ronald (1920–2016) and Cyril, born in 1922, but unfortunately Cyril died at a young age in 1923, a year before Ted was born. Charles and Lily had five more children: Gordon (1927–1944), Shelia (1929–2008), Maureen (1932–2013), Mavis (1940–2019) and finally Francesca (1946), who was born two years after Ted’s death.

He grew up in Lewisham, like his brothers and sisters, and attended Hithergreen School. In 1939, he, his father and his brother Ronald worked at Woolwich Arsenal, where explosives were manufactured.

Ted was enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment on 1 December 1943 and was eventually promoted to corporal. On 24 July 1944, he was transferred to the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.

Memories of Ted by Frankie (Francesca)

“My brother grew into a fine young man and always well groomed.  He had sandy coloured hair, brown eyes and was about 5 foot 5 inches in height and slightly stocky.  He was known to have a temper. He dressed well for social events and, like his brothers, wore a hat. 

Ted used use to play the piano he also had his own piano which my parents kept until they both passed. My parents also kept a bugle that also belong to Ted. From the stories I was told, his other passion was running and he won medals and use to run at White City London .How good he was, I do not know.

Ted was also a Religious man but I don’t know how strong his faith was, I can only say that he did carry on his person artefacts of his faith and some of these items were taken from his body after he was killed. To this day I still have two crosses that used to belong to him. Ted was Church of England. He grew up with parents who were Church of England and Roman Catholic. We were left to find our own ways into our faith.

Ted apparently did get engaged and after his death his fiancé was very upset to the point she kept going to my mother. My mother apparently told her to go away and get on with her life there isn’t anything she can do. To understand my mother I must explain. On the 31st July 1944, Ted’s youngest brother, Gordon, got killed at the age of 17 years old. He was only a month into his 17th year. He was working on Lewisham market, my parents were market people so we all come from a very hard working background. Before going in to service Ted also use to help my parents on the market he worked along side my mother.

On 28th July, 1944 a bomb hit Mark & Spencer causing a great death toll to the market and this included my brother. It took three days for my parents to find my brother just in time before he died. Ted was given leave to return home on compassionate leave to be with my parents.

If I am correct Ted was arrested for drinking under the age of 21 years old and had to go to court to which he was given a dressing down and told to pay a fine for under age drinking . His reply to the judge was, I am not old enough to drink but old enough to go and fight for my country and get killed. He never paid the fine, thrown out of court.

He was to return back to his regiment but missed his boat. From what I was told the information is recorded at Edinburgh castle. He return back to Holland end of August. Then by the 19 October he was then killed by enemy action.

So you see for my parents to lose two young sons and their eldest son was with his regiment out in Egypt it was to hard for mother to have the strength to console anyone else.

I have a letter that was sent to my parents by a friend who was serving with Ted in the same regiment when he got killed and there was also a small verse found in Ted’s pack.”

Letter from Reuben Smith about the circumstances around Ted’s death

“Dear Mr Fenn

By the time you get this letter, you probably would have heard about the death of your loving son .

I have known Ted now since last March and I want you to know that I always found him a good and honest pal. I also have spent many a good time with him and he took me to his home once when four of us was on a driving course. I never had the pleasure of meeting you, but I saw Mrs Fenn, she will probably know me as I was the bloke with the curly hair and freckles and with us was our other pale a small chap by the name of Bill Carter who was wounded the same time as Ted was killed.

We three have been together ever since then, we have laughed together, fought together, and always shared our kits together. We three almost became one united to do our duty with a smile, and when it is all over, over here we had plans of having a good time together and now this unlucky blow fell, one killed, one wounded and one left to fight on with a lump in my throat, unhappy and mad with rage at the thought of all the sorrow that the God forsaken Germans have brought on this World, and for what they have done I swore that I shall not for give not one of them as long as I live. I am writing this because I want you to know how Ted died, so please don’t show this to Mrs Fenn or it may make her cry as I am about to tell everything that happened.

We were fighting the Germans in a very large forest and managed to drive them from it out into the open country so our company stayed at that for a rest. So the Germans were out into the open on a railway bank and we were in the forest. On the end of the forest facing the Germans was a farm yard and in there was the platoon which Ted was in.

On the morning of the 19 Oct at 10 o’clock Ted was ordered to take a patrol from the farm yard to a certain spot out in the open, in which he started to do as he gets well into the open he saw a gang of Germans coming towards him, and he at once told his men to get down a keep still as he was going to wait until the Germans where near and then try and take them all prisoners, well, everything was going fine and when the Germans got near, then things became to happen, one of the men lost his nerve and jumped up and ran away, it was then that panic broke out among the men and one more man ran away leaving Ted with two men, and three men against a gang of Germans was hope-less and there fore there was only one thing to do every man for himself, and as the three heroes got up two were killed, and Ted was seen running holding his stomach. Meanwhile the first man who ran away was running and falling over trying to get back to the farm house, and a sergeant run out to meet him and as he did, he was shot by a machine gun and killed at once. All the time this was going on our machine gun from the house was firing at the Germans, who at once aimed their gun on to the farm house, it was then Bill, got a bullet in the left arm, and a man standing next to him got hit in the groan.

The first man to run away reached the farm house ok, at that time we who was at H.Q at the time had got the news of what had happened, and straight away a rescue party formed to try and get the dead and wounded in. We managed to get the men from the farm in but as we try’d to get the dead sergeant and Ted in (who we thought was still alive) we was fired on by the Germans, it was then the officer said it was hope-less and we would have to wait until night came. Dark-ness came and out went the rescue party we found the sergeant and brought him in as 3 hours later we made up our minds to have the 3rd attempt to get Ted in and at 10.30 that night we found him, dead.

He was brought back to our H.Q and in the morning as the officer went to get his pay book from his (Ted) pocket it was found that while Ted was laying out in the open the Germans had came and took every-thing he had in his pockets, the only thing they left him with was the cross which was around his neck. I went and had a look at Ted for the last time and as I knelt down beside him, believe Mr Fenn I nearly cry’d, I could not do or say nothing, as I had lost one of the best pals I ever had, to you he was a loving son and to me a pal who I shall never forget. Ted had died like a hero, fighting so that England may be free, and I shall always think of him as a man who died as that others may live. That morning he was taken away and buried with 4 other men and a short service was held over his grave. Ted Fenn was laid to rest on the 20th Oct and I will make it my duty to see that he never died in vain. Back at H.Q , I took his pack to see if there was anything in it to look after so that if God spares me I could bring it to you after the war as I am sure Ted wanted these things to take home to his family.

Here is a list of what we had, 1 bottle of scent, 1 box of powered, and a small ash tray. If I could send them by post I would gladly do so but I am sorry to say the censor will not allow me to, so I will look after them with all my power that I can take them to you after the war mean while if there is anything you want me to do or tell you, please let me know, as I shall be only to pleased to help you in your sad loss as I and a few of my comrades will miss Ted very much and with these few words I must close remaining one of Ted’s best friends.

Always

Reuben Smith
PS That small verse  was what Ted  had in his pack “

The verse found in Ted’s pack
 

A Prayer
The Following Prayer was found in the grave of our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 1003 and was sent from the Pope of the Emperor Charles as he was going into the battle field for safety who ever shall repeat it every day or keep it about them shall never die a sudden death nor he drowned, or fall into the hands of the enemies in battle, nor shall poison take any effect on them, and in seeing red to anyone in great pain they shall have instant release and if you see anyone in sits may this at his or her right side and they shall stand up and he be blessed and they who shall repeat it in any house shall be blessed by the Lord and he that shall laugh at it shall suffer, believe this to be certain it is time as the Holy Evangelist has written it. They who shall keep it always about shall not hear thunder no lightening and they who shall repeat it everyday shall receive three days warning before their death.

The Prayer

Oh; Adorable Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dying on the gallows to save me
Oh; Holy Cross of Christ ward from me all dangerous death and give me lite always
Oh; Holy Cross of Christ ward off from me all things that are evil
Oh ; Holy Cross of Christ protect me from the hands of my enemies
Oh ; Blessed Mother of God interale for us poor sinners of men .
In Honour of his Glorious Resurrection and in honour of his Scared Passion and God take ascent to which he wish to bring us the right asad to Heaven .
Save as Christ was born on Xmas day
Save as Christ died to save sinners
Save as the three wise men brought to Jesus on the Thirteenth day .
Save as he ascended into Heaven
So the Honour of Jesus will save me from my enemies visible and invisible .

Now and ever more Amen

Nothing between me and God
God between me and everything

King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Bn. and the battle of Overloon

Edward Fenn joined the regiment on 24 July 1944 but was granted leave shortly afterwards to return home following the death of his brother Gordon, who died as a result of a bombing raid in England.

At the end of August, he returned to the battalion, which was then stationed in northern France after the D-Day landings in Normandy. They played a role in Operation Goodwood in July, as part of the larger Battle of Caen.

The battalion saw action on 9 August at Vire, but was held in reserve during the attacks on Tinchebray. From 20 August to 3 September, they underwent a period of training. From 5 to 16 September, they were in Etrepangy, where they rested again and received another 30 men as reinforcements, in addition to the six officers and 91 men they had already received since D-Day.

They then moved quickly via Brussels and Leuven to support the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles and the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in crossing the Meuse-Scheldt Canal and continuing on to Belgium and the Netherlands, where they reached Milheeze on 28 September.

At this point, the war diary mentions that the bath unit arrived and ‘the entire battalion felt clean for the first time since Etrepagny,’ which was more than three weeks earlier. On 1 October, they reached St Hubert, where they were very well received by the inhabitants. They remained there until 12 October. They spent their time training, but also had time for relaxation.

A football match was organised against the 6th battalion of the regiment on the football field in St Hubert. They lost 4-1 and the Pipe Band played during half-time and after the match. On 10 and 11 October, there were also two film screenings. The diary states that on 12 October, after a pleasant stay of ten days, they left St Hubert.

On 12 October, they reached a staging area just west of Sint Anthonis. That day, the 1st Suffolks managed to capture Overloon and take up a position just south of the town. The next day, the 1st KOSB attacked the forest southwest of Overloon and reached the southern edge of the forest, although it came under fire when it arrived there. They remained there the next day, while the Royal Ulster Regiment and the Lincolns attacked the forest further to the east.

On the 15th, they moved slightly further south and on the 16th they continued their advance south, expecting to remain there that night. Instead, they were ordered to relieve the 4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry east of Overloon in the area near Smakt, with the companies forming up in a north-south direction west of the railway line. They did not take up their positions until 7.30 p.m., in very heavy rain, which meant that the reconnaissance units could hardly see their positions before dark. On 17 October, the war diary mentions that the battalion suffered the heaviest shelling with grenades and mortars to date. They spent their time patrolling the area west of the railway line and keeping an eye on enemy positions. The heavy shelling continued on 18 and 19 October. On the 19th, the war diary mentions successes in combating enemy activities by means of artillery fire. On the 19th, the war diary mentions successes in combating enemy activities by means of artillery fire and establishing an Observation Post in a farm called “Hoeve de Knol”. However, this was the day that, very near to this farm, Edward Fenn was killed. Three of his comrades also lost their lives, as we can read in Reuben Smith’s letter.

The sergeant mentioned in Reuben’s letter was most likely Sergeant Thomas Wilson, and the two comrades who remained behind with Edward in the field and were killed were most likely William Cluett and Percy Chambers.

The graves concentration reports of these servicemen support this theory.

They were buried in a field grave at Begraafplaats A. vd Wijst in Overloon and later, close to each other, reburied on 13 May 1947 at Overloon War Cemetery.

It could be that the fifth soldier Reuben refers to who was buried with them was Leslie Jospeh Shortland, who also died in the same area on the same day and was also buried at the same cemetery, A. vd Wijst.

General Records Office, FreeBMD, Ancestry.co.uk
Frankie Day, Edwards’ younger sister for the photos, her memories and the letter from Reuben Smith
This biography was compiled by our Foundation based on our own research and stories from other soldiers who served in the same regiment or participated in the same battle on that day. Part of the collective work within the Foundation was used for this purpose.

Research Jane Hope

John Mason Foster was killed in action on 14 October, 1944. He was aged 23 at the time. He was a Private in the 1stBattalion of the South Lancashire Regiment (Service No. 3663588). He was initially buried on the premises of A vd. Wijst, Overloon and re-interred on13 May 1947 in grave I. C.14. in the Overloon CWG Cemetery.

Family Background

John Mason Foster (who was known as Jack) was the son of John Dearnley Foster and Evelyn Mason who had married in Burnley, Lancashire in 1921.
 
Jack’s father was the son of James Lacey Foster and Ada Foster. James was born in 1870 in Bingley, Yorkshire  while Ada was born in 1871 in Batley, Yorkshire. They had children as follows: Sam 1893 Bingley; James William 1894 Lumb, Lancashire; Emma 1896 Lumb; John Dearnley 16 February 1899 Shipley, Yorkshire; Mary 1902 Hartlepool, Durham; Fred 1905 Lumb; Ben 1909 Burnley and Ada 1912 Burnley. However, Fred died in Burnley in 1908 aged 3. The birthplaces of the children suggest that the family moved fairly frequently.
 
In 1901, James and Ada  were living at 18, Milton Street, West Hartlepool, Hartlepool, Durham. With them were their first four children, which included John Dearnley Foster. James was working as a Public Works Contractor. In 1911 they were living at 54 Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley. With them were their six surviving children who were born by then, including John. James was working as a Building Contractor. Sam was working as Bricklayer assisting his father while James William was a Mason Apprentice, assisting his father. Emma was a cotton weaver. They were at the same address in 1921. Five of their children were still living at home, but not Sam or John. James was a Bricklayer Contractor, working for himself. James William was a Bricklayer for Kelshaw & Lee, Guy Meet. Emma was a Cotton Weaver for Mitchell Brothers, Cotton Manufacturers. Mary was a Dressmaker for Mrs Smith Dress & Blouse Maker.
 
Jack’s mother was Evelyn Mason, the daughter of Joseph William Mason and Margaret Astin who had married in Burnley in 1899. Joseph was born in 1871 in Ingleton, Yorkshire and Margaret around 1876 in Burnley. Evelyn was born on 8 July 1899 in Burnley and seems to have been their only child.
 
In 1901 Joseph, Margaret and Evelyn were living at 38, Talbot Street, Burnley, Joseph was a cotton weaver. In 1911, the family were living at 51 Williams Road, Burnley. Both Joseph and Margaret were cotton weavers.
 
In June 1921, Joseph and Margaret were living at 75, Basford Street, Burnley. However, their daughter Evelyn had married John Dearnley Foster early that year and they were living with Evelyn’s parents. Joseph and Margaret were still working as cotton weavers for the Heasandford Manufacturing Company. John Foster was working as a Booking Clerk for the Lancs and Yorks Railway Company. Later that year, John and Evelyn had their first child, John Mason Foster (Jack), on 25 August 1921. They had another child, Doreen Foster, on 15 March 1923, also in Burnley.
 
James Lacey Foster of 9 Arkwright Street, Burnley, died on 6 June 1932. It seems he was a well known figure. The Burnley Express of 11 June 1932 stated:
“Burnley Builder’s Funeral – The Late Mr James L Foster
The funeral took place last Wednesday in the Burnley cemetery of the late Mr. James Lacey Foster of 9 Arkwright St, a well known builder, who died at the residence of his son at Knott End near Fleetwood early last Monday. Mr. Foster was 62 years of age and after an illness lasting some time, had visited his son in order to recuperate. His sudden death came as a great shock to his many friends throughout Lancashire and the North.”
 
His sons, James William Foster and John Dearnley Foster, Builders administered his estate.
 
By September 1939, John and Evelyn Foster were living at 1 Essex Avenue, Burnley. With them was Doreen but not Jack. John was still working as a Railway Clerk.
 
It is understood that Jack had been living in Ulverston before he joined up. A John Foster, born 25 August 1921, was living in the household of a widow, Sarah Whiteway, born 30 April 1883, at 36 Newton Street, Ulverston in September 1939. He was working as a Plumber’s Improver. Also present was Samuel Baker, a married man born in 1882 who was a Building Contractor. It is interesting that a Mr S Baker attended James Lacey Foster ‘s funeral in 1932 – so this may have been the Samuel Baker who was in the same household as John Foster in Ulverston in 1939.

Military Career

Jack was in the 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment at the time of his death. However, a photo of him shows him wearing badges on his sleeve from the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division. While there is no evidence that the 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment was in this division, it is known that the 1/4th and 2/4th (TA) Battalions of the South Lancashires were in that division for a time. It is known that Jack enlisted in the Spring of 1942 so it may have been that this was with one of those Battalions.
 
The 2/4th Battalion was raised in 1939 as a 2nd Line Territorial Army battalion duplicate of the 1st Line 4th Battalion, later redesignated the 1/4th Battalion. Both the 1/4th and 2/4th battalions served in the 164th Infantry Brigade, part of the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division. This division remained within the United Kingdom, training for future operations as well as training replacements for combat units and assigned to anti-invasion duties. It may be that this was where Jack was trained and then later transferred to the 1st Battalion.
 
Following the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940, the 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire regiment had been transferred to the 8th Infantry Brigade (which included the 1st Suffolk Regiment and 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment) attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, nicknamed Monty’s Ironsides. With this division, it landed at Sword Beach on D-Day and fought its way through Normandy, taking part in the battles for Caen and the Falaise Pocket.
 
From 16 to 18 September, they moved in three stages through Belgium to reach Lille St Hubert, just south of the Dutch border, south of Eindhoven. Here they were to assist the East Yorkshire and Suffolk Regiments to make a bridgehead over the Escaut Canal which they crossed on 20 September to reach Hamont, just west of the Dutch border and then reaching Weert in the Netherlands by the 22nd, despite the Allied forces facing difficulties from bridges which had been destroyed.
 
They remained in this vicinity until 25 September when C Company moved eastward towards Schoor as part of a plan to clear the west bank of a canal which lay further east. The whole Battalion were expected to take part in this the following day, but it had been decided that they were to move to Maarheeze that day, so only C Company took part in this. Their progress was slow, so they were ordered to disengage and continue after the rest of the Battalion to Maarheeze. On 27 September they moved on again to reach Bakel which is just northeast of Eindhoven. The following day they moved again slightly further north to Mortel to allow the American 7th Armoured Division to occupy the area at Bakel. The Americans were moving through to St Anthonis. The Battalion remained at Mortel until 1 October when they moved further north to Heumen which is just south of Nijmegen and north of Cuijk and then to nearby Mook on 3 October.
 
By this time, Operation Market Garden further to the north had failed to take the bridge at Arnhem. This left the Allies in a narrow corridor through the Netherlands. An attempt was made by the American 7th Armoured Division on 30 September to widen this by attacking Overloon from their position at St Anthonis to try to widen this corridor east to the River Maas, but this attack failed.
 
The 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment remained at Mook until 8 October when they moved south to Wanroij. It had been decided that the Americans were to withdraw and leave widening the corridor through Overloon, Venray and Venlo to the British. Initially, it was intended that the attack on Overloon would begin on 11 October. However, this was postponed until 12 October due to the very wet weather and ground conditions.
 
On 12 October the attack started at noon with a very heavy artillery barrage. The 2 East Yorks. led the attack on what was described as Dog Wood to the west of Overloon while the 1 Suffolks targeted Overloon itself. Both achieved their objectives by 1500 hours, but with some mopping up still to do. The 1 South Lancs. were initially held in reserve but at 1700 hours A and D Companies were ordered to advance to clear a remaining area with one troop of the 3 Grenadier Guards in support of each forward Company. They met very little opposition and by dusk were in position on the forward edge of a clearing to the west of Overloon. They moved a little further south the following day, but were then instructed on 14 October to move to a road between Rouw and Halfweg northeast of Overloon to secure control of a junction leading from that road to Schaartven. This was the day on which Jack was killed in action. The exact circumstances of his death are not known, but one Company experienced heavy small arms fire and encountered mines while moving into their required position.
 
The Burnley Express of 29 October 1944 reported his death as follows:
“Mr & Mrs Foster of 1 Essex Avenue, Burnley, have been informed that their son, Pte. John Mason Foster, of the South Lancashire Regiment, has been killed in action in Northwest Europe. Pte. Mason, who was 23, joined the Army over 2 ½ yrs ago. Previously he had worked at Ulverston”.
 
On 13 October 1945, several family members paid tribute to him in the Burnley Express as follows:

“Foster – In proud and loving memory of our dear son, John Mason, killed in action Oct 14th, 1944.
‘He gave the greatest gift of all
His unfinished life
He rests with those who paid the supreme sacrifice
Only those who have loved and lost
Know the price of war’s bitter cost’
From Mam and Dad,
 
‘Always Smiling, always content
Loved and respected wherever he went’
Doreen and Alfred
 
‘We think of him in silence
We often speak his name
What would we give to see you, Jack,
Come smiling back again’
Grandma and Aunties, 23 Thorne Street.”

Aftermath

Jack and Doreen’s father, John Dearnley Foster, died in 1947 in Manchester, just three years after his son.
 
In 1949, their mother, Evelyn Foster, married Percy Crutchley in Burnley. Percy was a widower, born on 19 January 1888 in Staffordshire. He had married Sadie Clarke in 1910 in Wakefield. Sadie was born on 1 October 1880. In September 1939, Percy and Sadie had been living at 97, Curzon Street, Burnley. Percy was working as an Omnibus Conductor, Public Service. It was reported in the Burnley Express on 19 March 1947 that Sadie Crutchley died aged 63, wife of Percy Rawlinson Crutchley. Evelyn only survived a further 6 years after her second marriage as she died in 1955 in Burnley, aged 55. Percy R Crutchley died the year after on 28 April 1956 in Burnley.
 
Jack’s sister, Doreen, married Alfred Goddard in 1945 in Burnley. Alfred himself had served in WW2. In June 1944, Alfred was a 22-year-old Tank Commander who, having volunteered for Special Operations with the 6th Airborne Division, was landed behind enemy lines as part of the D Day landings. He was badly wounded in action when a shell exploded near his Tetrach Light Tank. He recovered from his injuries at Manchester Royal Infirmary and pledged that at the end of the war he would return to marry one of the nurses who cared for him with skill and compassion during his darkest days. His next active duty was as part of Operation Market Garden at Arnhem where he suffered a perforated eardrum, but fortunately he survived the remainder of active service without further injury. At the end of WW2, he kept his promise, returning to marry his nurse, who was Jack’s sister, Doreen, in Manchester. Alfred and Doreen had three children, Michael, Paul and Pat. Alfred remained in military service, qualifying as an army parachutist at the Parachute Training School at RAF Aqir in Palestine, later taking up posts at the Air Ministry in Whitehall then in Egypt. Other postings in his civilian career included RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and at RAF Strike Command in High Wycombe where he was Command Secretary until his retirement aged 60.
 
In later life Alfred and Doreen moved to Scotland to be closer to their son. Sadly, Doreen passed away aged 91 on 6 August 2014 in Biggar.
 
For his actions following D Day, Alfred was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur by the French Consul General to Scotland at his home in Biggar in 2017. He reached his 100th birthday on 3 March 2022.
 
Doreen’s son relates that his mother swore she would not let Alfred die and clearly struck up a strong relationship with him such that they married after the war ended. She was so devastated by her brother, Jack’s, death that she very rarely talked about him as his loss remained with her throughout her days.

Jack Mason Foster

Jack Mason Foster

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
1 South Lancashire Regiment War Diaries from Normandy War Guide and Traces of War Websites
Wikipedia for information on the South Lancashire Regiment
Wikipedia for information on the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division.
National Army Museum for information on the 1 South Lancashire Regiment
WW2Talk – Travers 1940 – assistance in identifying a sleeve badge on Jack’s photo
Burnley Express 11 June 1932
Burnley Express 28 Oct 1944
Burnley Express 13 October 1945
Southern Reporter 3 March 2022
Photo and information from Michael Goddard, Jack’s nephew

Research Leo Janssen, Elaine Gathercole

Kenneth McTernan died of wounds on 17th October 1944 while serving as a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 14413570). He was 19 years of age. He was buried initially in the De Kleffen Cemetery at Overloon and later re-interred in the Overloon War Graves Commission Cemetery. The inscription on his grave reads “He died in glory without fear.”

Military Career

Kenneth McTernan enlisted in 1942 when he was 17. He had approached his 13 year old cousin, Dorothy, to be his pen pal when he was away.
 
After the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, it returned to the UK and spent time preparing defences on the south coast. In 1942 it undertook training for the Dieppe raid in France on the 19 August, but the Canadians took on this raid instead. Before D-Day the Battalion went to Scotland for training in beach assaults.
 
It then took part in the D-Day landings in June 1944 and lost many men as a consequence. A substantial number of reinforcements joined the Battalion in late July when it had returned across the Orne to Beuville, near Caen in France. It played a part in action to secure a road junction at Vire in mid August but played no further part in the Battle of Normandy. In September they were in Belgium and successfully crossed the Escaut canal as part of the ill-fated Market Garden operation, arriving in Gemert in Holland on 26th September where they received a tremendous welcome.
 
October saw the Battalion involved in some of the heaviest fighting since the end of June, amid continual rain and mud. It played its part in capturing Overloon on 12 to 15 October, suffering 49 casualties.
 
On the 16 October the battalion received fresh orders to attack Venray. Delays meant that the battalion came under smoke mortar fire and did not set off until 5pm, with a participant saying “it was one of those cases of hanging about waiting with nothing to do under fire, when nerves get very strained”. When they did set off progress was slow as the tracks were difficult to follow and sniping in the vicinity “made people rather jumpy in the dark”. They reached Brabander by nightfall.
 
The following day the attack on Venray continued. C Company were held up working their way into the town, while A Company reached the town but were fighting a very confused house to house battle. D Company, which were following C Company, met with heavy shelling which resulted in casualties. The enemy continued to shell the Venray to Brabander road. B Company moved in behind A Company who had reached a brewery in the town – but darkness meant both had to take up a position for the night. D Company reached the town and moved forward beyond their objective and so reached the centre before the other Companies but faced house to house fighting around the town square until 4am in the morning. Enemy patrols entering the town and heavy enemy shelling continued overnight.
 
By first light on 18 October, the Germans had withdrawn and the battle was over, at the cost of nine “other ranks” killed, forty-one, including one officer, wounded, and eleven men missing. It was on 17 October that Kenneth McTernan died of wounds.
 
His cousin Dorothy, now aged 96, can confirm that he was killed as a result of hand to hand fighting while clearing a house. It seems that for one particular house he decided to enter it first instead of one of his subordinates and that is when he was shot.
 
Survivors recall the action in Venray was particularly intense, with all their training coming into play. The Divisional Commander described the troops of 3rd Division during this period of fighting as “desperately gallant soldiers with a wonderful spirit”, having concluded that the conditions under which they had fought were “quite Bloody”.

Family background

Kenneth was born in 1925 in Wakefield to Arthur McTernan and Annie Young who had married there on 18 May 1924. At their marriage, Arthur was described as a Butcher living at 118 Stanley Road and Annie as a Domestic Servant living at 8 Bagnall Terrace. Arthur had been born on 10 September 1899 in Wakefield and Annie on 26 October 1901 in Castleford. Kenneth had a younger sister called Margaret who was born in 1928 in the Pontefract district. It is not thought that she ever married.
 
By 1939 Arthur and Annie were living at 152 Stanley Road, Wakefield. Arthur was working as a Slaughterman. There were two closed records indicating the presence of children, presumably Kenneth and Margaret. Arthur died in 1966 aged 67 in the Hemsworth district and Annie aged 82 in 1983 in Wakefield.

Kenneth’s Father’s Family

Arthur McTernan’s parents were John and Elizabeth Ann McTernan (nee Ashton). John had been born in 1867 and Elizabeth around 1869, both in Wakefield. It is thought that they had at least 9 children, all born in Wakefield between 1890 and 1901, though it is known that 2 died young.
 
It will be seen that the McTernans and indeed the Ashtons had a strong interest in the Butchery trade.
 
In 1891, John and Elizabeth were living with Elizabeth’s widowed mother, Mary Ann Ashton, at 44, Providence Street, Wakefield with two of their children. Elizabeth’s brother was also present. John was a Slaughterhouse Labourer. Elizabeth had been living at his same address in 1881 before her marriage with her widowed mother and four of her adult sons, three of whom were in the butchery trade.
 
By 1901, John and Elizabeth were living in their own house at 87, New Street, Wakefield with six of their children, including Arthur. John was now described as a Cattle Slaughterer. By 1911 they were at 8 Savile Street, Wakefield with six of their children, including Arthur. John was now a General Carter.
 
On 6 May 1918 Arthur McTernan signed up for the RAF, aged just 17. He was described as a Butcher. His next of kin was given as Elizabeth McTernan of 51 Duke of York Street, Wakefield. His service number was 164206. He was transferred to the RAF Reserve on 3rd May, 1919. Arthur’s brothers Harry and John also served in WW1.
 
By 1921 John and Elizabeth were living at 51, Duke of York Street, Wakefield with six of their children including Arthur. Most of the children were working. Once more, John was described as a Slaughterman, working for various butchers in Wakefield. Arthur was working as a Butcher’s Assistant for D Bolland.
 
John McTernan died in 1929 in Wakefield so by 1939 Elizabeth was a widow and was living at 2 Clarendon Street, Wakefield. With her were three unmarried children aged from 38 to 47. There were also three closed records suggesting the presence of other children, but it isn’t certain whose these were. 
 
Elizabeth A McTernan died in 1943 in Wakefield, so neither she nor her husband lived to hear of their grandson’s death.

Kenneth’s Mother’s Family

Annie Young was the daughter of William Young and Alice Vickers who married in the Pontefract district in 1896. William Young was born around 1867 in Malton (though one record suggests Riccall). Alice was born in Wellington, Shropshire on 4 June 1874. They had six children between 1896 and 1906. However, one died young.
 
In 1901 William and Alice were living at 51, Bridge Street, Castleford with their first two children. William was working as a Labourer for the County Council.
 
By 1911 they were at 5 Bridge Street, Castleford. William was still a labourer – but out of work. With them were four of their children including Annie, while a fifth was living with two of her uncles and her maternal grandparents, Elizabeth and George Vickers. It seems that they had moved from Shropshire to Yorkshire between 1874 and 1877.
 
By June 1921, William and Alice were living at 85, Bridge Street, Castleford with three of their children. William was now shown as an invalid.
 
At this time, Annie was living and working as a General Domestic Servant at Gledholt, Birkenshaw, Yorkshire, near Dewsbury, in the household of Shu Hobson and Mary Louisa Bates. Shu was born in 1866 in Huddersfield and was a Master Worsted Spinner (an Employer) while Mary Louisa was born in 1875 in Gildersome. Their son, Geoffrey Bates born 1902 in Yorkshire and a textile student was also there – as was another servant, Alice Guest, born 1890 in Barnsley.
 
By September 1939, it seems that William Young had died and Alice was widowed and living at 4 Elridge Street, Castleford. Two daughters were still at home and also one of Alice’s grandchildren.
 
Alice Young is thought to have died in 1949 in the Pontefract district.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
Information on the East Yorkshire Regiment from a thesis written by Tracey Craggs for her PhD with the Department of History, University of Sheffield 2007 “An `Unspectacular’ War? Reconstructing the history of the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War”
2nd Battalion East Yorkshire War Diary
Photo and assistance from Dorothy Hirst (Kenneth’s cousin) and Christopher McTernan (his 1st cousin once removed)

Research Elaine Gathercole

Robert Milton (service number 14709787) was killed in action on 15 October 1944 in the vicinity of Overloon. He was 19 years old and a private in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 4th Battalion. He was buried in a field grave near a small farm in Holthees and reburied in 1947 at Overloon War Cemetery in grave IV.C.10. His gravestone reads: Gone but not forgotten, Father Mother Brothers and Sisters.

Family background

Robert Milton (known to his family as Bobby) was born on 24 August 1925 in Bermondsey, London. His parents were Henry Cecil Milton (1901-1963) and Jane Taylor (1901-1973).
He had two brothers, Henry (Harry) Milton (1919–2000) and Leonard Milton (1929–2023), and three sisters, Iris Milton (1934), Rose Milton (1936-2025) and Edna Milton (1932).
He attended Midway Place School in Rotherhithe, South East London.

His brother Leonard recalled that he last saw Bobby when he mistakenly went home an hour early for lunch. On his way home, he encountered Bobby, who had just left the house to go to war.
Henry (Harry) became a prisoner of war (POW) in Kalamarta, Greece. He was transferred to the notorious Stalag 306 prisoner of war camp in Germany. This extremely difficult journey to the camp has often been discussed. It involved being packed into a train and forced to march long distances. Many died along the way from exhaustion. Fortunately, Henry survived.

Military career

It is not yet known when Robert Milton enlisted in the army but according to one of his sisters he firstly joined the Royal West Kent Regiment. In his first letter to his parents, dated around 1 October 1944, he writes that he has changed regiments and been transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

The 4th Batallion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry

The Territorial Battalion of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry landed in Normandy on 14 June 1944 and fought its way through France, the Netherlands and Germany until May 1945.

On 3 September, the 4 KSLI reached Ninove in Belgium, south of Antwerp. Their destination for the next day was Antwerp. About four miles outside the city, the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, who were ahead of the 4 KSLI, reported that the outer perimeter of the forts was not in enemy hands and that the city, held by about 2,000 enemies, had been taken by surprise by the speed of the advance. The battalion therefore continued its transport to the outskirts of the city. A dense crowd, cheering and embracing ‘their liberators,’ made military operations very complicated.

Their first objective was to occupy a park in the centre of the city. As they approached the park, they encountered no resistance and the crowds turned it into a triumphal procession. However, the enemy had strong defences at the park and the leading company came under heavy machine gun fire. After desperate hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy surrendered. A company was then sent to clear the mayor’s house. The garrison there held out until dark, when they finally surrendered. During the night, one company was sent to hold one of the bridges on the northern edge of the city.

The War Diary reports that all operations were carried out with the greatest effort due to the enthusiasm of the citizens, who literally carried entire platoons and companies on their shoulders. The battalion headquarters was established in the park behind the German barbed wire, and the guards were mainly concerned with keeping out the cheering population.

The four KSLI remained in and around Antwerp until 8 September, when they moved to Leuven, Heusden and then to Hecteren, which they reached on 11 September and where they remained until 21 September. By that time, they had taken on men from various regiments and it was said that they were becoming a mixed bunch. While they were here on 15 September, they heard about a planned major advance to Arnhem, and on 17 September they saw many fighter planes and heavy bombers flying overhead in support of the largest airborne operation ever. This would be the advance to Arnhem in Operation Market Garden.

On 18 September, they travelled to Bree and took part in a deception plan to conceal a bridge operation over the Escault Canal. On 20 September, they crossed this canal at Lille St Hubert and entered the Netherlands. They spent the night in Budel. The diary mentions that “everyone seemed very happy to see us and they waved orange flags with great enthusiasm”. On 21 September, they moved on to Vaarsel, where they waited for the Herefords to build a bridge over the Willemskanaal. The next day, they captured Asten with the Fife and Forfars. On 25 September, they moved on to Gemert, where they received an excellent welcome, and then to Sint Anthonis. The next day, they heard that the bridgehead at Arnhem had been evacuated. They remained in Sint Anthonis until 29 September, defending the village and patrolling the surrounding area, including Boxmeer.

Letters home from Robert

The family receives his first letter in early October, undated, followed by several more a few days later:

Overloon and the attack on Smakt

They were relieved of their duties in Sint Anthonis by American troops, allowing them to return to a rest area in Gemert, where they remained until 7 October. They had the pleasure of enjoying bathing and entertainment facilities there. On 7 October, they went to the area around Mullem to take over defensive positions from the US 7th Armoured Division.

The Peel region was a difficult area for warfare, which benefited the German defence. The regiment witnessed the failed attempt by the American 7th Armoured Division at close quarters and knew that they would soon need to make an attempt to cross the Meuse and enter German territory. When the 4th KSLI battalion is added to the 3rd Infantry Division, the time has indeed come for the British: 12 October, the Battle of Overloon.

On 15 October, the battalion was ordered to launch an attack from an area occupied by the 2 KSLI, targeting the village of Smakt, with the boundary of the operation being the railway line running north-south, a few hundred metres west of Smakt. They passed Overloon with some effort because heavy traffic had left the roads and paths in very poor condition. Overloon had only been captured the day before.

The attack included assistance from the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and a rolling barrage of artillery that would move every 2 minutes at a speed of 100 metres. The barrage needed to remain at the opening line for 10 minutes. Unfortunately, some guns fired too short and fell into the KSLI’s area, causing some casualties.

The attack was difficult, chaotic and messy, because the troops not only had to attack the enemy, but also had to protect their own comrades who were in the front line. Providing cover was therefore risky: every shot fired at the enemy could also hit their own men, which made the battle even more tense and confusing.

The barrage eventually continued, but the momentum of the attack was halted until the attacking guns stopped firing. The attack continued and the barrage was called off, replaced by the firing of explosive charges. The ground over which the battalion was moving was a large sandy plain, marked by sand dunes – impassable for all vehicles except tanks and carriers (with effort). The commander’s reconnaissance vehicle was towed all the way by the tank of the regimental commander of Fife and Forfar to maintain communication with the rear radio link. Several companies encountered some resistance but reached the railway line.

When the battalion had taken up its position, the enemy began shelling the area and bombarding it with mortars, with the companies on the right being hit hard by 105 mm, 88 mm mortars and Nebelwerfer rockets. A considerable number of aerial bombs were also dropped. The attack that day cost the battalion 4 dead and 29 wounded.
It was on this day that Robert Milton was killed. He was hit by shrapnel after a patrol. His comrades and Major Urwin Thornburn laid him to rest in a quiet corner at Loonseweg 8 in the small village of Holthees, where the battle had taken place, and held a funeral service at the grave.

On 3 June 1947, Bobby was reburied in grave IV.E.10 at Overloon War Cemetery.

During the attack on 15 and 16 October 1944, several of Bobby’s comrades were killed. Also buried at Overloon War Cemetery are:

Pte Frederick Harrington, Pte Ronald Keel, Pte Bernard Oakley, L/Cpl Patrick Sweeney. 
On Mierlo War Cemetery: Pte Savage A. and Pte Scott S.W.  
On Venray War Cemetery Pte Neary A. 
Pte Chilton W. is still missing (MIA)

In early November, the family receives a letter of condolence from Major Urwin Thornburn:

Letter of condolence Major Urwin Thornburn

Sgt George Harold Eardley

It is also worth mentioning in this biography that Sgt George Harold Eardley, a comrade from A Company, was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on that day. Sergeant Eardley took out three machine gun nests under heavy fire, enabling the platoon to continue the attack and ultimately reach its objective after heavy fighting and suffering heavy losses.

During the weekend of 3-5 October a large group of Bobby Milton’s cousins and nieces visited Overloon. We organized a battlefield tour for them in the Overloon area and took them to the fields in Het Schaartven where Bobby was killed and where he was temporarily buried in a field grave. We also attended an emotional and very beautiful memorial ceremony where the family commemorated their uncle Bobby with beautiful words and music and thanked him for what he meant to freedom but also to his family.

For us as a Foundation, it was yet another confirmation of how important our work is in finding families, telling their stories, and bringing them together at the graves of the military at the war cemetery in Overloon.

Ancestry family trees and other information sources
Wikipedia: King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry
King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry War Diary from website Traces of War
After Antwerp – Major Ned Thornburn
Information and photo’s Ken Milton, nephew of Bobby Milton
This biography has been compiled by our foundation based on our own research and stories from other soldiers who served in the same regiment or participated in the same battle. Part of the collective work within the foundation has been used for this purpose.

Research Anny Huberts

George Rose Elliott (Service No. 4399223) was killed in action on 12/10/1944 aged just 27. At the time of his death he was a Private in the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. He was initially buried at the Cemetery De Kleffen, Overloon and subsequently on 30th January 1946  in grave I. A. 10 at the Overloon Commonwealth War Graves. The inscription on his grave reads “Deep in our hearts a memory kept of the one we loved and shall never forget.”

Family Background

George Rose Elliot was the son of Henry Elliott and Margaret Ann Rose who had married in the Tynemouth District in Northumberland in 1911. Henry had been born on 30 May 1890 in Earsdon in Northumberland. Margaret Ann Rose had been born on 8 October 1889 in Annitsford, Longbenton in Northumberland. Earsdon and Annitsford are both to the north east of Newcastle upon Tyne, between Whitley Bay and what is now the 1960s new town of Cramlington.
 
Henry and Margaret had six children as follows, all in Earsdon: Lilian 1913, Edwin 1915, George Rose 15 March 1917, Henry 3 December 1922, Dorothy P 1926 and Ethel Rose 11 March 1930. They also adopted another daughter called Maureen.
 
In 1921 Henry and Margaret were living at Second Square, Earsdon with their first three children, which included George. Henry was working as a Horsekeeper underground at East Holywell Colliery.
 
In September 1939, Henry and Margaret were living at School House, Church Way, Earsdon. With them were their three youngest children. Henry was now working as a builder’s labourer and Margaret herself was working as a School Cleaner. Henry (Jnr) was an apprentice bricklayer.
 
George had married Jane Leck Wood a few months earlier in 1939.
 
Jane was born on 29 April 1917 to Robert Wood and Barbara Wallace who had married in 1902 in Lanchester, County Durham. Robert had been born in Hookergate on 24 April 1874 and Barbara on 11 March 1880 in Byers Green. Hookergate is between Consett and Gateshead while Byers Green is near Spennymoor, both in County Durham. Jane was one of 14 children born to Robert and Barbara between 1904 and 1926, though one died as an infant in 1906 and another at birth in 1926.  It is thought that the children were born in Thornley, near Blaydon and Winlaton, just south of the Tyne and west of Gateshead in County Durham.
 
In 1911 Robert and Barbara had been living as boarders at Leather Burne House, 4 Hugar Road, High Spen, Chopwell, Durham in the household of William and Janet Bell and family. Four of their first five surviving children were with them. Their remaining daughter, Margaret, was with her grandparents, John and Mary Ann Wood, at High Thornley, Blaydon, Winlaton. Robert was a Miner Hewer.
 
By 1921, Robert and Margaret were themselves living at High Thornley, Winlaton, County Durham with all their surviving children, including Jane. Robert was a Coal Miner / Shifter for the Consett Iron Company. In September 1939, Robert and Barbara were still at High Thornley which was now described as being in Rowlands Gill, but only their two youngest children were with them. Another child, William E Wood, born on 8 December 1936 was also present, but unlikely to be their child. He may have been a grandchild. Robert was still a Shifter in a coal mine and his 19 year old son was a Coke Works Labourer.
 
As has been seen, George Rose Elliott married Jane Leck Wood in the Spring of 1939. By September that year they were living at 16 Waverley Avenue, Whitley Bay. George was working as a bricklayer.
 
They had a child, Valerie Elliott, on 16 August 1940 in the Durham North Western district.

Military Career

George seems to have initially enlisted in the 11th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. A photo of him in his uniform was taken on 9 December 1942.
 
Apparently, his younger brother Henry also tried to join up but was not accepted, perhaps on health grounds.
 
At the beginning of June 1944, the Battalion was based at Thetford in Norfolk. On 12 June, 6 days after D-Day, they landed at King Beach near La Riviere – with some having to wade ashore.
 
By 17th June, they were based at Ducy St Marguerite and had yet to take part in their first major action. On that day, George wrote the following letter to his parents, full of all his thoughts and concerns about them:
 
“Dear Ma & Pop & Family
 
Just a few more lines to let you all know I am still OK hoping you all at home are the same at present, well Ma I’m writing to you from Somewhere in France but don’t take it up the wrong way as I am still happy and still healthy.
 
Well I wrote you a day or two back but I only got it posted yesterday so you will know when you get it the reason of it been later than you think, but I may not be able to write every Day so try to write to me if you ever have the chance as it is Good to have a letter from home.
 
Well Ma I have not had anymore letters from Fred yet but I may get some that I should have had when I was in England but they will all follow me. I got two from Jennie yesterday which were wrote on the 2nd & 4th June so you see for yourself.
 
Well how are you going on these Days I hope you are still able to get about as I have never heard how you got over your illness whether you are improving or not how is Pop and the rest of the Family are they still alright how is the Greenhouse going you will not be long before you are having some Tomatoes but I will just have to think I have had my share have you got the Son home yet you know who I mean Dorothy’s Husband as you said you were expecting him home out of hospital on June 11th so I guess he may be home now.
 
Well Ma let Mary Wood know that everything is still alright as I was just talking to Billie this morning after breakfast and asked me to remember you to leave word next Door when I wrote to you so do that please so I will draw to a close now as I have not much more news till I here from you but I tell you what don’t send me any money but if wish to send me anything send Cigs please but you can’t register them but they will get here alright so will say Cheerie oh to you all at home with heaps of Love for Ever and don’t forget be Good to tell them all behind and also my two (Love Birds) at home Jennie and Valerie.
 
From Your Ever
Loving Son & Brother
xxxxxxxGeorgexxxxxxx
Sails with Love and Kisses
To You (Ma)”
 
The Battalion played a major part in an attack on Rauray towards the end of June. This was to the east of Caen. On 22/23 July there is a reference to rain and mud hampering preparations for a move the following day to Demouville which is just west of Caen.
 
It may have been around then that George wrote another letter to his family which has been preserved:
 
“Dear Darling Mother & family
 
Just a line or two in answer to your letter and two Snaps, one of the family and one of Pop, but as it turned out to be a good one of Pop, he had to Spoil it with this Usual Carry on of his.
 
Well Ma I am honestly Proud of the family Group as everyone has taken such a Good Photograph especially all the Children not forgetting the Pianist and the Working Man.
 
Well Ma the weather is not to good down here today of course it has had to turn to Rain, but it does not matter as now we are getting used to it now we take it as it comes. ………………………… letter from Fred yesterday and he was telling me about Dorothy been down beside him so it will be a change for him.
 
Well hope you still get all your Company yet I bet there was a right houseful when all that crowd was there together, especially Dolly fancy hearing about her arriving up at Newcastle for a Holiday she would when I was not there but I will write to her if you send me her address and how is Annie going on she does not look any different according to the Snap you sent me she is still the same old face.
 
Well I was talking to Mr Wood yesterday and he is still OK and happy but he is not so Browned off as I am, he is just sick so would you let his Mrs know he is happy  and thinking of all he knows also he is asking kindly after you and Pop and all the family.
 
Well Ma I have a bit more work to do so I will come to a close for now, with heaps of love to you Both and all the family from
Your loving son
And Brother
xxxxxxxGeorge xxxxxxx
Somewhere in France”
 
The Battalion moved to Thury Harcourt on 21 August. This was south east of Caen. It had been decided that the Battalion was to be disbanded and the men would be transferred to other regiments. D Company, to which George belonged, were transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. This took place on 26 August while still at Thury Harcourt.
 
The Commanding Officer, Lt. Colonel C.D. Hamilton, issued a farewell message that day as follows:
 
“General Montgomery’s news that the end of the War is in sight has softened the blow which suddenly hit the 11th this week. We are suffering, for the sake of the War, the fate so many Battalions have had in the past year. Good reinforcements are wanted quickly and we, who had been raised for this emergency, were the ones who would provide them.
 
In the midst of our sadness I would say this. For five years we trained a team to beat the Hun. Our success at Rauray and since will be a Regimental Battle Honour – our overwhelming defeat of the German counter-attack has had a vital effect on the campaign. We have been allowed to prove ourselves – and we were found good.
 
I admire the spirit with which you have already taken the news. Luckily our new postings mean that most friends can be kept together.
 
You have been ‘Faithful Durhams’.
 
That has brought you success in the past. Those standards will bring you through to the future.
 
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL”.
 
The 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment had taken part in the D-Day landings in June 1944 and lost many men as a consequence. A substantial number of reinforcements joined the Battalion in late July when it had returned across the Orne to Beuville, near Caen. It played a part in action to secure a road junction at Vire in mid August. It was shortly after this that George together with the rest of D Company of the 11 Durham Light Infantry joined them. However, they played no further part in the Battle of Normandy.
 
In September they were in Belgium and successfully crossed the Escaut canal as part of the ill-fated Market Garden operation, arriving in Gemert in Holland on 26th September where they received a tremendous welcome. October saw the 2nd Battalion involved in some of the heaviest fighting since the end of June, amid continual rain and mud. At noon on 12 October the order was given for the Battalion to start the attack on Overloon from the north alongside the 1stBattalion of the Suffolk Regiment. Their task involved clearing woods of the enemy, but they faced considerable shell and mortar fire and also mines. The Battalion achieved its objective, but George Rose Elliott was one of the casualties that day. The battalion continued to play its part in capturing Overloon on 12 to 15 October, suffering 49 casualties.
 
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle of 31 October 1944 reported that five Durham Men had been killed in action and included their photos. This included “Pte J.R. Elliott, East Yorks, husband of Mrs J Elliott, of 11 High Thornley, Rowlands Gill.” Unfortunately, this misreported his name which should have been Pte. G.R. Elliott.
 
On 3 November 1944 the following item appeared in the Newcastle Journal
 
“Roll of Honour
Elliott (11, High Thornley, Rowlands Gill), Pte. George R., aged 27 years dearly loved husband of Jennie (nee Wood), and darling daddy of Valerie and son of Mr and Mrs H Elliott of Hazelrigg, killed in action Oct 1944. ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning We shall remember.’ Service in St Barnabas’, Rowlands Gill, Sunday Nov 12 1944, 6.30 p.m. Deeply mourned by his loving wife and daughter, relatives and friends.”
 
George is commemorated on the war memorial in Rowlands Gill.

Aftermath

After George’s death, Jane Elliott went on to marry John Johnson in 1949 in the Durham North Western District.
 
George’s mother, Margaret A Elliott, died in 1957 in the Northumberland South district and his father, Henry Elliott, in 1959 in Newcastle upon Tyne.
 
George’s daughter, Valerie, married David Tinnion in 1961 in the Durham North Western district. They moved at some point to Buckinghamshire and had children there as follows: Paul in 1964 and Karen in 1965. However, Valerie died aged just 42  in Maidenhead, Berkshire in 1982.
 
George’s wife, Jane Johnson, died in 1992 in Maidenhead.
 
George is survived by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
Military records from ForcesWarRecords website
11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry War Diary and other information from North East War Memorials Project  – 70th Infantry Brigade 1939-44 https://70brigade.newmp.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page
East Yorkshire War Diary from Traces of War Website
Information on the East Yorkshire Regiment from a thesis written by Tracey Cragg for her PhD with the Department of History, University of Sheffield 2007 “An `Unspectacular’ War? Reconstructing the history of the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War”.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle Oct 31 1944
Newcastle Journal 3 Nov 1944
Photos, Letters and information from Kevin Corby (George’s nephew), Karen Medhurst (George’s granddaughter) and Maureen Scoines who is George’s adopted sister.

Research Tracey van Oeffelen, Elaine Gathercole