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256114 Lieutenant Peter Campbell APSEY, MC, 1 Rifle Brigade: DOW, 29/03/1945

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by alberk, Mar 2, 2024.

  1. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    Hello,
    while researching the actions of RAMC units in the context of Op Plunder I took a look at the War Diary of 9th Field Dressing Station at The National Archives. This unit took over the dressing station at Haus Vogelsang in Hamminkeln which had previously been set up by 195th Airlanding Field Ambulance. 9 FDS was tasked with establishing and Advanced Surgical Centre beyond the Rhine a few days after the Rhine crossings. This is a page of the war diary:
    9 FDS WD.png
    One sentence touched me: "1 officer was taken over... the officer died within 1 hour of unit's arrival"

    I checked which army officers died on March 29th, 1945 and identified the above victim on the CWGC website. It was Lt. Peter C Apsey of the 1st Bn Rifle Brigade, serving in 22nd Armoured Brigade of 7th Arm'd Div. He was 21 years old.
    Apsey.png

    Lt. Apsey was buried near the dressing station at Haus Vogelsang:
    CWGC Apsey.png

    Just another sad story of World War 2 - but not entirely forgotten...

    9 FDS worked in Hamminkeln until April 3rd, when it moved to Rheine.
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2024
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  2. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    "'A' Company, Rifle Brigade, captured the next village, Raesfeld and later on Gemen, 10 miles from the bridgehead, was cleared by 9th DLI on the night of 28th/29th March. By now 11th Hussars had probed the outskirts of Borken, losing two armoured cars in the process. By nightfall, 5th RTR were in the town centre, which was a shambles taking 90 prisoners.
    On 29th March, the Inniskilling's engaged four carefully hidden anti-tank guns, at Weseke, but the DLI dismounted from their Kangaroos and backed by 'K' Battery, 5th RHA they destroyed or captured all the guns. At Sudlohn, the Queen's and 5th RTR fought against 33rd Panzer Grenadiers, taking 30 prisoners and destroying two 88mm guns. The town itself had been heavily bombed by the RAF and the advance was held up a number of hours while 4th Field Squadron RE filled in the craters and improved the roads so that they could take the weight of the tanks."

    "The town of Stadtlohn, 4 miles north of Sudlohn, proved a harder task, as having been devastated by RAF bombing it proved a good defensive position for two battalions of 857th Grenadier Regiment, which had just returned from Holland. The Inniskilling's shelled the houses occupied by the Germans at a range of 600 yards, while 'A' company, 9th DLI captured a flimsy wooden bridge. While the Inniskilling's became bogged down in the town, 'A' Company 1st Rifle Brigade tried to cross the bridge losing some men in the process, but they managed to prevent some trees being blown down across the roads. They then proceeded to clear some houses during the night."

    From the "Operation Plunder" section here:

    Battles 1945

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
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  3. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Followed in his father's footsteps into The Rifle Brigade.

    From The 1939 Register, residing at No. 3 Sparkford Road, Winchester.

    "Personal Occupation"; "At school".

    Six years. From school, to service, to stomach wound, to the stark soil of a foreign field.

    Service; Sacrifice, with a capital S. The price so many paid.

    Always remember, never forget,

    Jim.

    TNA_R39_2357_2357H_010~2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2024
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  4. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

  5. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    Lt. Apsey was one of 74 British soldiers buried next to the dressing station at Haus Vogelsang. This is a copy of a post war German list from the Hamminkeln Archives:
    Vogelsang.png

    Gut Vogelsang.jpg
    The manor house called "Haus Vogelsang" or "Gut Vogelsang" (Vogelsang estate) in Hammninkeln.
     
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  6. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    Great thread āœ…
     
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  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

    No.3 on the 1939 Register is Bill Apsey. He was OC I Coy 1 RB at Villers Bocage but appears to have moved on by St Joost.
     
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  8. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Official Casualty List No. 1492 (Officers) published 7th July 1944 has Temporary Major W J Apsey M.C. as wounded on 20th June '44, though "Remaining at Duty".

    Then Official Casualty List No. 1510 (Officers) published 28th July 1944 has him as "Wounded" with "D. N. R." (Date Not Recorded). Maybe the earlier wound forced him out of things, or he was wounded again.

    Brothers in the thick of it.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
  9. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I’m actually after the war diary for 1 Rifle Brigade for January 1945 if anyone has it to hand?!
    Alex.
     
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  10. Neil cook

    Neil cook Member


    I'm just going though my father in laws items and he served with lieutenant peter Apsey , and was there when he was killed
     
  11. Neil cook

    Neil cook Member

    Hi , this officer was my father in laws and was there when he was injured . I have photos of the regiment if you would like sone .
    My email is
    Nelly67@live.co.uk
     
  12. Neil cook

    Neil cook Member

    My father in law was in his regiment and there when he was fatally Injured
     
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  13. Neil cook

    Neil cook Member

     

    Attached Files:

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  14. Neil cook

    Neil cook Member

    I was going though my father in laws ww2 photos and in this is Lt Apsey

    da5deb3f43aac431ea16c5ffdad02073.jpeg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2025
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