大象传媒

Introduction

In September 1944 the Allies launched 鈥極peration Market Garden鈥� in an attempt to break through the across the River Rhine into Germany. It involved both airborne troops taking and then holding bridges crossing the rivers and canals on the way. The last bridge was at Arnhem in the Netherlands. If successful, it was expected the war would have been over by Christmas.

The ground-based troops advancing towards Arnhem failed to reach the objective. The bridge at Arnhem has gone down in history as 鈥楢 Bridge Too Far鈥�. Cornelius Ryan used that expression for his book about the episode, which was subsequently made into a film starring Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford and Laurence Olivier.

Among the British troops advancing through France, Belgium and the Netherlands was one of my uncles, 7517826 Private Ronald Ritson, RAMC, a member of 26 Field Hygiene Section. The long 鈥榤arch鈥� from France for 26 FHS in September 1944 stopped at Nijmegen.

This is his personal testimony of that period given to me in April 2000. Ronald signed a form agreeing that I could record his testimony, that it could be donated to an archive and others could use this if they wished.

Moving forward from the River Seine

鈥淚t was in the September of 1944 when the 鈥極peration Market Garden鈥� started. It would be in the September because that was when they were trying to get to Arnhem. That was when there were paratroops dropped at Eindhoven, and at Nijmegen.

We weren鈥檛 that far away from Paris then, on the Seine. It was on a Sunday. Then we were told to pack up and we were on the move again. All the Division was on the move. Now we saw those Airborne troops coming out of the sky heading to Eindhoven, it was a long way from the Seine.

Going into Belgium and the Netherlands

We had travelled all that night but I can鈥檛 remember where we stopped at. We were moving that fast and it was a long time ago. Anyway, we went into Belgium and we went through to Eindhoven. That鈥檚 in the Netherlands, isn鈥檛 it? I think it was very uplifting when you went into Belgium. Because there were that many people out on the streets waving at you and cheering you.

With us being among the first troops through, it was really an uplift for them, the Belgians. They were seeing British troops coming through in force and not just to be chased back again. In 1940 the last time British troops had went in it wasn鈥檛 long before they had moved back out again!

I think we were moving forward, when all of a sudden there was a stop. I think we stayed for a while before we moved on then. I think it was the Albert Canal we were at then. There had been a bridge blown, and they couldn鈥檛 get over.

So, obviously they had to bring the Engineers up to build a bridge across. We spent a day down there, just amusing ourselves and talking things over and wondering what was going on. We wondered how the Americans were getting on and of course our own troops.

Holding the 鈥楢rnhem鈥� corridor

Of course at that time, there were a lot of aircraft going across. There were American aircraft and the RAF. Obviously they were going over in force to pummel Germany. Then I think we crossed the Albert Canal and we stayed somewhere. I just can鈥檛 remember where it was.

However, I think the Division moved up. They were trying to cut a channel through from Eindhoven up to Nijmegen, or rather a corridor for the Guards Armoured Division to get through to relieve Arnhem. Our Division had the job in holding one side of the Corridor.

They tried to keep the corridor open. However, although the Germans did cut it once or twice they managed to get them back out and hold it open. Obviously it was in vain but it wasn鈥檛 for the want of trying. Then when Arnhem had to be given up, we went forward as far as the Nijmegen Bridge.

Late1944 in the Netherlands

We were stationary for quite a while in Holland. That was when the cook set fire to the railway station. Then we lost our CO Major Hargreaves. It was just before the Christmas 1944. I went with the sergeant to take him back to Paris to do a Staff job. We sent him a copy of the Unit magazine signed by all of us. Our new CO was Major Mann.鈥�

Additional information

According to the memoirs of the CO of 26 FHS, Major Hargreaves, the places they stayed at after leaving Flers in the south of Normandy in August 1944 until his posting to Paris were as follows. After Flers, 26 FHS went south of Paris on the Seine, then round Paris into Belgium, through Brussels, on to the Albert Canal and Antwerp. They then went to Eindhoven - where their Division took over the Phillips factory - Nijmegen and Helmond.

After Helmond, the Section went to Haps where 26 FHS helped ferry patients from a mental hospital in Venlo to Eindoven. After Haps the Division moved to Gemert. It was at Gemert that Major Hargreaves received notification from Colonel Cameron, the ADMS (Assistant Director of Medical Services) of his posting to Paris. Four things that happened during this period stand out and were mentioned both by Ronald and Major Hargreaves.

Firstly, at Flers Staff Sergeant C.A. Miles went to see the Mayor who happily agreed the Unit could play a cricket match against 9 Field Ambulance in the park. Staff Sergeant Miles had somehow managed load the necessary stumps, bats and a ball on a truck that landed on 10 June 1944. What the Mayor and the good townsfolk of Flers thought about British RAMC soldiers playing cricket deep in the French countryside while there was a war going on would be interesting to know!

Secondly, while on the road to Nijmegen at a place they believed to be called Laurain, Major Hargreaves and Private Ritson were treated to cups of tea from a resident, who also gave Major Hargreaves a peacock feather for good luck. Major Hargreaves treasured the memory of what this feather represented all his life. These two small gestures by an unknown person are worthy of remembering about what happened in those times. Exactly where this incident took place is unclear as I have been unable to locate a town or village in northern France or Belgium called Laurain.

Thirdly, Major Hargreaves noted he played in a hockey match at Helmond, organised by the local doctor. However, part way through the second half the match had to be abandoned because a German aeroplane fired on the pitch. Apparently there were no casualties.

Fourthly, at Haps the Unit took over the railway station. Ronald made sure Major Hargreaves was comfortable in his camp bed in the ticket office. It was at Haps railway station that the Unit's cook prepared a lovely 'flamb茅' supper and proceeded to set fire to the waiting room and ticket office! The eventual supper eaten that evening may not have not been as intended. However, at least the fire-fighting skills learnt during training came in useful.

Names of those in the Unit

A member of the Hargreaves family has kindly provided me with a list of the names of 26 Field Hygiene Section in December 1944. These are the names signed on the Unit magazine 'Hygenial Mag' written and printed by one of the members. Ronald had one photograph of 26 FHS from 1944, taken by Major Hargreaves in Britain just before D-Day. However, apart from Major Hargreaves and my uncle, at the time of writing I cannot match the names with the faces on the photograph. The names are included here firstly so that they are recorded. Secondly, they are included in case someday relatives of any of the other members of 26 FHS may come across the article and the photograph. They will then be able to learn a little about what their relative did during World War Two.

The names are: J. Buggle C.A. Miles, C.D. Cox, A. Fraser, H. Evans, W. B. Yeudall, G. Mould, E. Alderman, C.J. Dingle, J. Bradley, P. Nicoll, E.J. Popple, J. Strachan, G.B. Pidd, R. Rowe, L.J. Nice, R. Ritson, L.G. Ebsworth, J. Whitaker, W.E. Andrews, P.A. MacMahon, M. Colston, C.A. Webster, G. Pape, L.E. Nicholson, W. Griffiths, J. Harrison. The officer on the photograph to go with this article is Major E.R. 'Peter' Hargreaves. His replacement as C.O. was Major B. Mann, whom I believe was a doctor from Glasgow. Major Mann also signed the magazine sent to his predecessor.

Conclusion

In February 1945 Private Ronald Ritson obtain leave to marry LACW1 Marie Cranfield at South Norwood, London. Marie passed away in 1990, a few years before I began research about World War Two. Ronald passed away suddenly in July 2000, not long after giving the testimony recorded above.

A few days later, Paul Ritson, a serving member of the RAF and one of Ronald's grandsons took part in the 'Nijmegen March'. This follows part of the route taken by Allied troops in September 1944. Paul had previously promised his Grandad he would give him his medal for completing the march to go with Ronald and Marie's war medals. As promised, after completing the march, Paul's 'Nijmegen March' medal was placed in the same box as his grandparents' medals.

This fine gesture is worthy of recording in this article. It demonstrates that at least some of the post-war generations recognise the achievements of their wartime forefathers.

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