On Remembrance Day this year we heard the stories of two soldiers with Harrodian connections who fought in the parachute-led attack on the Dutch city of Arnhem in 1944.
Captain Rob Stewart and Headmaster James Hooke led Harrodian’s special Senior assembly on 11th November commemorating Armistice Day.
The occasion always provides Harrodians of all ages with the opportunity to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served their country and this year’s event was especially moving, focusing as it did on the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, codenamed Operation Market Garden by the Allies.
Sixth former, Alfie explained how it was that two of his relations came to fight at Arnhem for opposing countries. On the British side was Alfie’s great grandfather, James 'Paddy' Maloney, who volunteered for the 1st Airborne Division. After serving in North Africa, Paddy was among around 10,000 parachutists dropped with a mission to capture the bridges behind German lines in September 1944.
On the German side was Alfie’s great-great uncle, Casper von Dickmann, a Luftwaffe pilot tasked with bombarding and strafing the British and Polish forces who found themselves hemmed in around Arnhem as their mission ran out of steam and it became clear that Arnhem was 'a bridge too far'.
Both of these men managed to survive a week-long battle that resulted in defeat for the allies, the deaths of 1485 allied servicemen and the capture of 6500 more. But as James Pockney, cousin of Harrodian Head of Art, Laura Caldecott told us, sadly their grandfather was not so lucky.
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Richard 'Dick' des Voeux was the Commanding Officer of 156 Battalion and one of the Founding Fathers of the Parachute Regiment. The battalion arrived with the second lift at Arnhem on 18th September 1944, landing under heavy fire. Two days later, the 4th Para Brigade found itself under retreat under constant mortar fire and pursued by German infantry and tanks.
The defeat at Arnhem cost the lives of 1485 allied servicemen and the capture of 6500 more. Just 27 of the 603 men from 156 Battalion who parachuted into Arnhem were evacuated nine days later.
As the Brigade's rear-guard, Dick’s battalion valiantly fended off German attacks and then launched counter-attacks to push them back. A terrible toll was taken in terms of casualties, with very few men making it into the perimeter and only a handful of survivors escaping across the Lower Rhine. Just 27 of the 603 men from 156 Battalion who parachuted into Arnhem were evacuated nine days later. Dick des Voeux was not one of them: on 20th September, Sergeant Andy Thorburn discovered his fatally wounded commander leaning against a tree. He asked if he could help him, but des Voeux reportedly said ‘No. Move forward. The enemy is in front of you; they need you there’. It is believed that he died shortly afterwards.
General Montgomery, who thought highly of Dick des Voeux gave the eulogy at his memorial service. The picture shows ‘Monty’ with the Des Voeux family. James’s mother (shown in the photo holding Monty’s right hand) was aged only two when her father was killed. Laura Caldecott’s mother (cradled in her mother's arms in the picture) was born after her grandfather’s death. ‘He never held her,’ says James. ‘She carries a great sorrow to this day.’
We wish to thank Ms Caldecott (shown below on the right with the Prep and, bottom, with her mother) for inviting James to address Harrodian Senior students this year but also for delivering our Prep Remembrance Assembly on Tuesday 12th November and for sharing her personal experience of the impact of war on her family, with our Prep pupils.
We Shall Remember Them
James Pockney is raising funds and in the process of attaching talent to make a film inspired by the Battle of Arnhem based on an adaptation of the Memoirs of General Sir John Hackett, who was in command of 4th Brigade, the Parachute Regiment during the battle. The author William Boyd has written a script, Robert Fox (The Crown) is an Executive Producer. For more information please contact James at: jcpockney@gmail.com