Son of John F. and Florence J. Warnell from Brighton, Sussex

John Alfred (Tommy) Warnell served with the Suffolk Regiment,1st Bat. 

On October 12, 1944, the Suffolks had orders to attack the brickworks on the Bossenhoekweg, from the Oploseweg. But in the windmill on the Oploseweg, a German sniper had entrenched himself, causing many casualties, including battalion commander Major Arthur Ellis, two platoon sergeants, and almost all of the senior NCO’s, who were recognizable by their badges on their battle dress. Eventually, the sniper was eliminated by an air strike with Typhoons. 

What happened to Tommy Warnell on October 13, 1944? Other than the fact that he had been killed on the battlefield in Holland, mother Florence Warnell didn’t have any information about the circumstances in which her son has died. She wrote a letter to the Suffolk Regiment and did not finally receive the letter below from Capt. Stephen Hemingway until February 18, 1945: 

1st Btl. The Suffolk Regt. 
B.L.A
18th Feb 45

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Warnell,

It has just been brought to my notice that you have been inquiring as to the circumstances of your son’s death. I am very distressed to find that you have not heard anything of this before. It was rather a difficult time for us just then. I was myself wounded that same day about an hour after your son was killed and was away from the battalion for some time and I am sorry to say that I am the only officer of the company, as it was when we came out here, who is still left in the company.

The battalion has had rather a difficult attack to do on the 12th October and there had been several casualties. As a result, on the evening of that day your son’s platoon was sent forward to help to hold the battalions forward area during the night and the following day. Fortunately, we had hit the enemy so hard that he didn’t disturb us much that night.

I was commanding another platoon of the company and there were only two of our officers left alive, so the next morning when our breakfasts were brought up, I went forward to the Suffolk platoon area to visit the officer with them, and to see that the men got enough to eat. 

Breakfast was late in coming and it would be about half past nine when we got there. The men came for their breakfast by ones and twos and went back to their positions which were just in front of a brick factory.

A few had not had theirs and one or two others including your son and myself, were walking back to be in positions when all of a sudden, we were shelled. It only lasted for a few minutes but the shells were coming over fast and literally landing all around us. The shrapnel from one filled the tea container with holes. I dived into a trench and stayed there until it was over.  When I got out, I found your son close to me. He had been hit in the back of the head by shrapnel and must have died instantly. I should say one of the first shells over did it and I didn’t think he had time to make for the trench before being hit.

There was nothing we could do for him but see that he was reverently buried, which we did.

The name of the place where he was killed is OVERLOON. It is close to the small town of Venray in south eastern Holland.

I know there is nothing I can say to lessen the pain of parting. You will already have realized it. Your son was doing very well out here and was a good soldier and N.C.O. from the fact that he was getting promotion. Naturally his own platoon missed him very much. They had been together for long enough to be quite deeply attached to one another, and although I never had the privilege of commanding his platoon personally, I finally have to admit that it was the best platoon in the battalion. Your son was of a number of soldiers who could always be relied on to be cheerful and to do their jobs whatever was happening. We could do with more men like him.  

May I finally say one rather personal thing? I have been with our battalion for two and a half years and I have seen many of them killed and wounded. Whenever it happens, I think of God. I am certain that death is not the end. In fact, I believe it is the beginning and it seems to me that as a man’s spirit leaves his body that he is drawn nearer to God and nearer to a happiness that is greater and finer than any of us have ever known.  

My brother was killed nearly four years ago and several of my friends (officers and men) have been lost and I have been able in spite of the passing to feel happy about it, knowing as I do that all is well now with them and that we should not wish to hold them back.

If there is ever anything I can do for you or tell you, which may be of help, please do not hesitate to write.  

Believe me.

Yours very sincerely,

Stephen Hemingway (Cpr)

John Alfred (Tommy) Warnell was temporary buried near Th.J. Janssen, Baansestraat in Overloon. In May 1947 he was reburied at Overloon War Cemetery. 

Bill and Leigh Gilbert from Burnham, Buckinghamshire

“Fighting through to Hitler’s Germany” by Mark Forsdike 

Leo Janssen