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

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:

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.


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


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.

 

"'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.

 

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.

 

Courtesy of The National Archives.



.
Recommendation for Award for Apsey, Peter Campbell Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives



1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, supported by Crocodile flame-throwers, attack the village of St Joost, Netherlands, 20 January 1945 | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London

Also (note: footage not currently available):

SOLDIERS OF 1ST BATTALION THE RIFLE BRIGADE DURING THE ASSAULT ON ST JOOST, THE NETHERLANDS [Allocated Title]

 

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:



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

 

Great thread ✅

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

My father in law was in his regiment and there when he was fatally Injured

 

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