Penrose | Aylmer
Biography
Aylmer Penrose – better known as Jeremy – was born on December 19, 1921, the youngest son of Brigadier John Penrose MC, of Bickley, Kent, and later of Clyst Hydon, Cullompton in Devon. His mother, Muriel Charlotte Penrose, was the daughter of Hans Hendrick-Aylmer, of Kerdiffstown, County Kildare. He was the brother of Major General John Hubert Penrose and of Guy Trevenen Penrose, who died in 1942 in Tunisia, North Africa in an air raid on his anti-aircraft unit of which he was an officer.
Jeremy came to Winchester College in May 1935 and was in House C, Du Boulay’s, like his brothers. He played cricket and soccer, ran and swam for his House and was a gifted gymnast. He drew and painted with great skill, and it was said he could embellish anything from a menu to a surfboard.
When he left Winchester College in the summer of 1940, he studied architecture at the Edinburgh School of Art until May 1941, until he joined a signal unit of the Royal Artillery.
After he received his commission he joined the 33rd Field Regiment (Infantry) Division and with this division he also landed on D-Day at Sword Beach in Normandy.
The 33rd Field Regiment (Infantry) Division was involved in heavy fighting in Normandy as well as the bombing for Operation Goodwood on July 18, 1944. In early September 1944, they left for Belgium and the Netherlands as right flank protection for Operation Market Garden.
During the Allied advance, supplies ran out and for a time the division had to eat German rations: Honey cookies and frozen vegetables were approved, but meat was not popular. After the failure of Operation Market Garden, in October 1944, the 3rd Division was involved in the successful capture of the village of Overloon, a costly and bloody battle.
For the next four months, the 3rd Division held the Meuse River bank from Cuijk to Vierlingsbeek.
Aylmer “Jeremy” Penrose had served with the 33rd Field Regiment from Normandy to Holland, but unfortunately luck was now no longer on his side. On Oct. 28, 1944, “33 Field” was hit by German anti-battery artillery, dropping more than one hundred shells on the 25-pounder’s positions. Aylmer “Jeremy” Penrose was killed by a direct hit on his command post, He was only 22 years old.
He was temporarily buried on the Rieterdreef in Overloon (near Huysmans) with a total of five of the ten fatalities of the October 28, 1944 direct hit; D. C. Langham-Mason, G. R. Olsen, A. C. Pearce, H. R. Perrins ánd Aylmer Penrose.
In May 1947 they were all reburied in Overloon War Cemetery on Plot I, Row E.
