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Information request
Eric Heijink from Enschede, in the Netherlands, is searching for any Coldstreamers who have information about the liberation of Enschede on 1st April 1945. He has set up a website www.secondworldwar.nl/enschede for those of you who have information and want to get in touch with him to help in his quest to find people that liberated Enschede.
Please see below an e-mail from Mr. Antoon Verbakel in the Netherlands
seeking information about an action that took place during the 2nd World
War. If anyone can help Mr Verbakel please contact him direct. His contact details are in the email below.
CAPTAIN(RETD) R W C MATTHEWS
ASSISTANT REGIMENTAL ADJUTANT
OFFICE DD: 0207 414 3263
FAX 0207 414 3444
MIL: 94631 3263
FAX: 94631 3444 www.coldstreamguards.org.uk
From: verbakel1931@home.nl
To: charliebirchr@coldstreamguards.org.uk
Subject: KIA of four Coldstream Guardsmen
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:29:10 +0100
Respected Mr. Matthews,
I am a member of a Group of investigators, looking after the W.W.2-history of the little town of Uden and environs (The Netherlands).
One of the cases in our enquiry is the killing in action of four Coldstream Guardsmen on Saterday, 23rd of September 1944 in Volkel, a little village, belonging to the municipality of Uden.
It took place at the end of the Operation Market Garden, by the liberation of our region.
We know that a Sherman tank has been hit by German A.T. fire and that crewmembers of this tank were killed. But there are other sources, learning us that maybe two tanks were involved and were put our of action. The war diaries of the 5th Bn Coldstream Guards does not given sufficient information (see kopie of the diary below).
Killed during this action (and buried in Uden War Cemetery) are:
Gdsmn A. Archer, 275249, 1st.Bn. Coldstream Guards; Gdsmn W. Burton, 1486885, 5th Bn. Coldstream Guards; Gdsmn T.J. Carpenter, 263707, 5th Bn. Coldstream Gurds and
Major W.F.D. Long of Wraxell, 5084, Coldstream Guards.
Our question is: has your association the disposal of additional information concerning this fact and so yes, are you willing to share this info with us?
For us it is a very important info, using for the description of the local history of Uden.
Now is following a part of the War Diarys of 1st and 5th Bn. of Saterday 23-9-1944.
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
1944 September 23
East of UDEL
Battalion less one Troop continued move South with 2 companies of 5th Battalion
COLDSTREAM GUARDS attacking VOLKEL under command 101 U.S. AIRBORNE DIVISION..
Battalion harboured area East of UDEN at 5541.
5th Bn. Coldstream Guards
The Battalion will
move off as soon as Brigade inform us that UDEN is clear.
The leading Squadron will go as far down the road to UDEN as possible, and then
the Company/Squadron Group will be called forward to deal with whatever enemy
are found ot be holding things up.
The column moved off at 1045 hours and at 1130 hours reported that they had
reached the WOOD at 5541 and were meeting strong enemy opposition from the
houses and heath area just to the West of VOKEL.
The Commanding Officer then moved up the 1 Squadron/1 Company Group and the
Command Post to behind the wood, and gave out orders for the attack on VOKEL.
At 1310 hours No. 1 Company will advance from their F.U.P. behind the wood and
close up on a barrage from the Heavy Mortar Platoon which is coming down on
VOKEL from 1250 hours.
From there they will be helped on to their objective by fire from No. 2
Squadron now in position and a Section of 3” Mortars under command of the
Company.
As soon as the village is cleared No. 1 Squadron will move up to support them
in holding the village.
The attack went in at 1310 hours and by 1400 hours the Company reported that
they were in the outskirts of the village and meeting strong opposition.
They were also troubled by heavy mortar fire put down by the enemy just North
of the village.
However, the enemy mortars were successfully located and silenced by a heavy
concentration from our Field Artillery.
During the attack the Company Commander Major The Lord LONG was killed and the
other Officer in the Company wounded.
At 1500 hours the tanks reported that No. 1 Company was now firmly in
possession of the village and that only a few Germans were still holding out.
The Commanding Officer then ordered No. 4 Company to clear up the Wood to the
Left of the road, and No. 1 Squadron to go round the village and cut the road
to LANGENHEUVEL.
Patrols of HONEY tanks went through the village to the South and reported that
the enemy were withdrawing towards BOEKEL in large numbers and TYPHOONs were
ordered to go and deal with them.
With interest we are looking forward to your answer and we thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Antoon Verbakel, Paukenstraat 74, 5402HL UDEN. The Netherlands.