ARNHEM... AGAIN!

A friend of mine gave me this the other day in the hope I could find out a bit about his relative...

MAJOR ERNEST CLARKE M.B.E.

Was a Captain in the 6th Airborne Division when they landed at Arnhem. Joined the Army at 19 and retired as a Major at 54. He also served in the Green Howards, and the KOYLI. After the war he went to Nigeria to train their Army for five years.

I pointed out that it was 1st Airborne Div that landed at Arnhem and that, that didn't necessarily mean he couldn't have been there, as 1st Airborne Div's defence Platoon came from 6th Airborne. A quick check of 'Who's Who at Arnhem' brought no joy. We are decorating at the moment so most of my books are packed away. So I can't have a quick look in 'Go To It!' in case my mate has his bridges mixed up! Anybody ever come across this chap in their research? Any information would be appreciated and acknowledged when I pass it on.

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Hi Jamie,

There is a Captain E. Clarke listed as Quartermaster for the 12th (10th Bn The Green Howards) Parachute Battalion in the Normandy Orbat on the Pegasus Archive. He also is mentioned in the Normandy 12 Para WD:

9th August 1944
Place: Le Plein
0730 - Pl of B Coy took over fwd posn. Slight enemy shelling during morning. Capt Clarke QM, and 100 ORs joined from U.K.

He remained the Quartermaster for 12 Para on the Rhine Crossing with a couple mentions in their WD

24th March 1945
Place: Wimbish
0715 - Bn emplaned for operation VARSITY at Boreham airfield.
0730 - Bn took off. Sea party 'B' proceeded to Tilbury under Capt + QM E. Clarke to embark for BLA.

28th March 1945
Place: Erle
... Sea tail 'B' Party under Capt & QM E. Clarke joined the Battalion.

Also check Para Memories by by Eric Barley and Yves Fohlen, Up the Airborne, and 12 Para in Germany by Lieut.-Col. K. T. Darling. A couple of these are available on site if I can find the links.

Regards ...

 

Thanks for that Cee, I've got a copy of Para Memories kicking about somewhere, I'll have a peruse.​

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Jamie,

The Lieutenant-Colonel Darling document can be found on the Pegasus Archive. There are a few brief mentions of your man towards beginning and end. Brithm also put up scans of the Darling booklet on WW2Talk.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/varsity/rep12thBnGermany.htm
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/55116-lcpl-ogrady-12th-parachute-battalion-in-germany-24th-march-16th-may-1945/

The first part of Up the Airborne is on the Peg Archive. Member Geoff also added scans of the complete work in a forum post.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/rep12thBn.htm
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/23964-12th-parachute-battalion-yorkshire-reg/

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks Cee, much appreciated. I've passed everything on to my mate, he's a tad overwhelmed to be honest... then again he didn't know about the vast ammount of knowledge and research that abounds on this Forum! Thanks again.

 

I am the grandson of Major Ernest Clarke mentioned in this forum and I have been reading this interest the articles that you have highlighted about him. I am trying to piece together my grandfather's army career, in particular during WW2. I can see that on the D-Day landings and the Rhine Crossing he was Captain QM and was in charge of the "sea tail party" I am trying to find out what this means. I am not in the forces so please excuse my ignorance

 

Part of his job as Captain, was as the unit's Quartermaster. 'Seaborne tail party' were the ones not selected for the combat jump. Their task would have been to cross the Channel, then motor up the Airborne corridor to their mates. They would be bringing the heavy equipment, supplies and ammunition. Hope this helps a tad?

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Thank you Jamie, much as I thought. I would be interested to know who your friend is that you mentioned in your first thread about my grandfather. He is quoting words from the obituary that was in the papers when my grandfather died in 1977. The family story is that he was at Arnhem and flew in by glider, but I am struggling to find any information on this. Also he wrote a letter to his sister shortly after the Varsity landing in March 1945 and it mentions that he lost his RQMS. I have since worked out from Lt Col Darling's diary on pegasusarchive that this was George Fox who was killed when his glider crashed. It sounds like my grandfather was very lucky to have lead the sea tail party instead of being in the glider with his RQMS. I thought I might try and trace the family of George Fox to see what they know. My grandfather was mentioned in despatches for gallantry in north west europe and he was also awarded the MBE for this in 1946.