R.A.M.C.
Living History Group
by Don Bartrum
Cpl Lunn was in charge of our party consisting of S/Sgt Spear(?), Pte Simmons and myself. They were not form our unit and possibly came from 133 Fld Amb. All Tuesday night there was a bombardment going on. We were overrun on Wed or Thurs, but the Germans retreated when the Glider Pilots counter attacked. Perhaps later that day or the next, we pulled back towards the Hartenstein leaving the coach house in no-mans-land. A R.A. 6lb gun had by that time dug in by the coach house covering the crossroads. We still had to cross to the Schoonoord for rations at least once per day.
Through all the fighting and bombardments we carried on with the wounded. Some in every downstairs room and the cellar, with the Dutch family living in the cellar too. Loo's not working and no running water. There was a pump in the yard which could only be used at night. When we lost someone, we placed them outside the back door and the Dutch Resistance took them away during the night. Eventually we were overrun again and the Germans took us away. I could still see our guards patrolling up towards the Hartenstein so somebody was still resisting. The same German Cpl who captured us appeared on the final day and handed round 20's Players again. We were then moved towards Appledoorn, with hundreds of civilians moving on the road out of Arnhem".
Sadly, Don died of cancer a few years ago, but he was a regular visitor to Arnhem on anniversaries.
Thank you to Andy Youngs for the above account.
Notes:
I cannot find a S/Sgt Spear in my records, although these are incomplete. If anyone can help please let me know.
Pte Simmons is most likely Pte. G Symons (11412225) of 133 Parachute Field Ambulance.
The Coach House may be the Kleine Hartenstein.