Harrington | Frederick Bennett
Biography
At school, Frederick used to be stared at; he looked a little different from most children, as Freddie has a deformity on his hand which makes it look like he has two thumbs on one hand. This deformity earned him the nickname ‘Freddie Two Thumbs’.
‘How would those kids react now, if they knew I have joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and will soon be going to the front?’ Freddie contemplates as he says goodbye to his family. It’s time to leave, off to war on the European mainland, off to fight for freedom.
Frederick Bennett Harrington was born on April 13th 1911 in the village of Onibury, close to the historic town of Ludlow, in Shropshire, South-West England. He is the son of Benjamin and Jane Harrington. Benjamin has been working as a bricklayer for many years, his wife Jane stays at home and looks after the children. Frederick earns his living with a job as a Cowman, taking care of a local farmers’ cattle, he lives with his parents in Onibury until his departure to the front. Freddie is the youngest of the family that consists of eight children: Violet, Gertrude, George, John, Thomas, Sidney, Ernest, and Frederick.
Finally, on June 13th 1944, Private Harrington is off to to Normandy with the 4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI for short). They fight in one of the toughest battles in Normandy: the capture of Caen, Operation Epsom. The city and its surroundings are much more heavily guarded than the Allies predicted in the days before D-Day. Only after carrying out Operation Goodwood – together with the 3rd Infantry Division – do the troops finally have Caen in hand and can continue towards Belgium.
When news breaks that Hitler is giving up the Normandy region, the advance goes a lot smoother, ‘Could we be in Berlin before Christmas after all?’ Many soldiers are under the impression that the war will be won in no time, but nothing could be further from the truth.
In early September, Freddie and his regiment are on their way to Antwerp, this objective is taken within a short time, or at least, the ports and the city itself. Unfortunately, high command forgets to clear the access roads and waters so Allied supplies still cannot come through.
The soldiers do not have much time to think about this, the 4th KSLI is called to help out with Operation Market Garden. Harrington and his battalion, along with the other troops in the 8th Corps (consisting of the 11th Armoured Division and the 3rd and 43rd Infantry Divisions), commanded by General Richard O’Connor, must defend the Ieft flank and clear it of the German occupiers. The 11th Division advanced towards the river Maas through villages such as Valkenswaard, Asten, Geldrop, Helmond, Deurne, and Gemert, before arriving in Sint Anthonis on the 25th of September. The terrain is swampy and the weather is no help to the men either, heavy rain demoralises the troops. By the end of September, the Division scout and attack the area around Overloon until they are relieved by the Americans.
The American troops, already present in De Peel region for some time, commence the first attack. The area in De Peel proves to be a difficult environment for warfare, which is a major advantage for the German defences. Frederick witnesses the failed attempt of the US 7th Armoured Division and knows that he and his division will also have to attempt the final crossing towards German territory beyond the Meuse River. Once the 4th KSLI battalion is attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, the time has come for the British on October 12th: the Battle for Overloon.
The 11th Armoured Division is deployed to reinforce the left flank in the area between the Holthesedijk and the railway line near Holthees — Smakt. Early morning October 15th, Frederick and his battalion together with the 2FF YEO — 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry – set off from Sint Anthonis towards the east of Overloon. ‘The attack isn’t really prepared, we’ll just wing it!’ one of the officers knows that things have to move quickly; scout, plan and go.
Deploying the infantry proves to be nearly impossible, the heavy rain and relentlessly wooded terrain have turned the entire region into a deadly mud pool. The objective? The Venlo-Nijmegen railway line taken from the attack position near the Schaartven’ area. With great difficulty, the troops reach their starting position, after which they begin the attack at 10:30 in the morning: a creeping barrage, i.e. crawling after the artillery fire supporting the troops.
After only a few metres, shells fly all around the soldiers, ‘our artillery is too close, they must fire further ahead!’ the men shout. ‘Keep going! Those shells are coming from the German gun on the opposite side!’ the commander shouts back. After a while it turns out that it is friendly fire indeed, and the group comes to a halt whilst the artillery is instructed to fire farther away.
Behind the sand dunes, where the battalion is headed, is a hedgerow where the Germans have found the perfect shelter for some machine gun nests. Fierce machine gun and mortar fire flies from all directions, soldiers are shot and tanks are brought to a halt. The machine gun nests are eventually eliminated. Once they breach through the hedgerow, they encounter the next obstacle; an orchard with the Holthesedijk behind it. Around 13:00hrs, the battalions are ordered to advance.
On the other side of the Holthesedijk two machine gun nests were spotted, but at the time it is not clear whether they are still active. Under heavy enemy fire, the group comes to a halt, after which the troops are forced to withdraw from the orchard. Several attempts are made to rescue the wounded men, even with the help of a German POW, who serves as protection for the Schü-mine; small mines made of wood meant to injure soldiers, these mines cannot be found with metal detectors nor by the flail tanks (one of Hobart’s Funnies). Meanwhile, Overloon is being heavily bombed, the noise is deafening and frightening.
After a chaotic and particularly fierce battle on the 15th and 16th of October, the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry brigade is relieved at 19:30hrs and they leave the scene around Overloon, the German border still within reach.
Private Frederick Bennett Harrington loses the battle against the Germans on the 16th of October 1944. For him, the world remains forever quiet after the bloody fighting in the outskirts of Overloon. Freddie is left behind, reported as “Missing in Action”. Nearly 50 years later, he is found kneeling in a trench, in the woods near the Holthees-Smakt football fields. During a British Army exercise on August 20th 1991, his remains are found and are eventually identified through a number of attributes Freddie was carrying with him. Private Harrington has since been labelled “Killed in Action”. Of the 4th KSLI, Private Chilton is the only one still missing despite multiple attempts to find his remains.
Freddie finally receives his last resting place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Overloon on September 4th 1997, over 50 years after his death. Unfortunately, no family members are present at his ceremony; the family is represented by Mr John Selley, son of Robert Selley (an old family friend). Also present are several soldiers who fought with Frederick in the 4th KSLI during the battle of Overloon. Freddie’s relatives safeguard his honour and keep his thought alive. After his burial in Overloon, a small ceremony is held by some family members in his hometown of Onibury. In Overloon, Freddie has a special place, as his grave is outside the normal plot layout, his grave is the only one numbered 15.
A special boy, a special man, he went to war standing tall, kneeling he died.
