Advice please on a personal war story.

I have only today discovered this site & it looks great! I am currently awaiting my late father's army service records from TNA & no doubt will visit here many times when it finally arrives. However, my question relates to a cousin of my late mothers. He was a Para & killed at Arnhem 22nd Sept., 1944. His name was Fred Barnett & he was 27 years old. A few years ago my mother was contacted via Ancestry by the nephew of another para who was with Fred when Fred had been wounded. His name was Geoff, & after Geoff died his nephew found notes he had written which told how Fred, despite being badly wounded, had saved the lives of Geoff & a few other Paras. I have the 'official' version of what happened to Fred which differs from Geoff's account.
Would anyone be interested in the story if I posted it here? I wouldn't want to waste anyone's time...

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2644265/frederick-barnett/
CORPORAL FREDERICK BARNETT
Service Number: 2934817
Regiment & Unit: 2nd Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C.
Date of Death: 22 September 1944
Age 27 years old
Buried or commemorated at ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY
Grave Reference: 6. D. 6.
Location: Netherlands
Additional Info: Husband of Ella Dora Barnett, of Coton, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Personal Inscription LIFE IS ETERNAL LOVE WILL REMAIN IN GOD'S OWN TIME WE SHALL MEET AGAIN

 

I'd, personally, be interested.

 

Hi John, in which case I'll post it shortly. Thanks.

 

Yes please Norma.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Frederick Barnett | ParaData

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

The first letter is to my late mother from Marcel Anker who wrote the Book 'The Lost Company' about 'C' company which was largely decimated @ Arnhem. This account of Fred's death is, as it were, the official account & is what our family always believed was accurate. A few years ago my mother received an email from someone we didn't know who had a very different account. A copy of that email is below this first letter. I hope it's of interest to anyone who reads it.

 

One of many. Too many.

Not forgotten.

Jim.

 

Hello Jim - thanks so much for the link which I've just briefly looked at & will look at again. Fred was my mum's 1st cousin & she was terribly fond of him. We grew up hearing all about him. My grandmother was his aunt & he spent his leaves throughout the war with her & her family. My mum would have been pleased to look at the link you sent so I'll do it for her. Thanks again.

 

Thanks Owen - they do show on my screen??? Do I need to start again? Norma

 

Will do!

 

Hi John - finally posted those docs.
Best,
Norma

 

Hi - finally posted those docs., hope they are of interest,
Best,
Norma

 

Thanks for posting this - much appreciated.

 

Norma,

Welcome aboard.

Fred’s name or number have not appeared here before your post.

If you search online with his unit(s) if known or later, so for example: "XXth Anti-Tank Regiment" site:ww2talk.com that may identify threads mentioning them, at a glance without adding much. If you drop the 'th' more may be found.

Searching the National Archives for the subject or unit(s) can identify those who were awarded honours / medals and the existence of War Diaries – which rarely mention individuals soldiers. They do give context and details of activity.

Had a quick look online and found two items.

The first is from the local airborne museum: Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum Google refers to a 2022 talk given on three soldiers, including Fred. their magazine issue covering that is not available. are you aware of them? Their website is in Dutch.

Second, is a Facebook entry; a flower was laid by a relative of one of Fred's comrades. A Corporal Albert J. Holtom.

Fred was on the Bruneval raid, Northern France, under Operation Biting (the Paras first action 8/1/1942)
The reel / photo was on a FB group webpage: Bruneval Raid : Operation 'Biting'

See: 20 reactions | A poppy picked at Bruneval and laid in Arnhem war cemetery on the grave of the Corporal Fred Barnett by Paul Press, relative of the Cpl Albert J. Holtom, who just made an incredible trip on the path of the 2nd Parachute Battalion. The Bruneval Raid was the first operation of Fred Barnett and Arnhem battle his last... Lest we forget! | Bruneval Raid : Operation 'Biting' and for Op Biting: Bruneval (Operation Biting) | ParaData

Taken from the later:

Some research tips next via PM and good luck.

 

Thanks so much for your kind reply. I know the Facebook link you sent as I'm in touch with Nicolas Burcourt in Belgium but I hadn't seen the Utube video which I found very touching. My late mum had done a lot of research into Fred's war & thankfully we have found out a great deal. it's the differing account of how he died which is interesting & I thought others might be interested. In our family he is a hero no matter what.
Thanks again.
Norma

 

Albert Holtom appears in a thread: Searching for info 2 Para the author has deleted her opening post in 2020 and has not been aboard since September 2022.

His long Paradata entry: Albert J Holtom | ParaData

There is a long thread about 2 Para: 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment

 

Hello Norma. Do you have the other two pages of the email?

If you do please (if you want to) would you post them up. It would be good to see them.

Thank you for the items you have already posted, much appreciated.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.