Hi All I am looking for details on Ronald Robinson McDonald who was taken prisoner at Arnhem. In Ryan's book A Bridge to Far on page 333 he is the gentleman standing facing the camera at the bulkhead. Yours Aye BruceL
Bruce All I could come up with was a Sapper R R McDonald 1941863 - POW No 14266. You'd have to hope that he filled in a POW Liberation Questionnaire to be certain that he was taken POW at Arnhem John
Can't help with anything new on McDonald I'm afraid but the officer sitting third from the left in the picture is, I believe, Lt Alastair Duncan Clarkson (KIA) of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment. Maybe this will give us some more clues with regard to McDonald? All the best...........
Hi All I know that Ronald R McDonald was in North Africa and Italy as well. Yours Aye BruceL Found another "McDonald", no initials though . Pte McDonald 5389903, Admin Ptn, HQ Coy, 1 Para. He is listed in the Nominal Roll for 1 Para in N. Africa in the book "Churchill's Volunteers".
Hi All The guy I am looking for is a sapper 1882755 Ronald Robinson McDonald C Tp 1 Para Sqn Yours Aye BruceL
Hi All The guy I am looking for is a sapper 1882755 Ronald Robinson McDonald C Tp 1 Para Sqn Yours Aye BruceL OK got him now. He was a member of chalk number 63 to Sicily during Op. Husky in July 1943. That's about it I'm afraid ..........
Tom/Paul Is your chalk 63 Aircraft on 13/14th Op Fustian or Glider on 9/10th Op Ladbroke? John Hello mate, Same answer as Tom I'm afraid . Probably the same DB! ........
Hi Guy's Anyone know anything about the guy who signed the attached letter Yours Aye BruceL Capt Denis Jackson Simpson, 249558, MC, MID. Simpson was a Lt at the time of Arnhem and was taken POW but escaped and made his way back to Allied lines along with three others (see pic). He passed away in March 1989. The Battle of Arnhem Archive 1st British Airborne Division officersX --X S
This is probably well known by now but thought an update might be of interest. The photo of the Paras in the Dakota seen in the opening post is flipped horizontally when compared to the one online at the IWM (K 7586). Peter Vrolijk on a CVA page claims: "The photo was taken on 17 september 1944 at Barkston Heath, these are men of the Pioneer Assault Platoon of the 1st Parachute Battalion and some other men of HQ Company to which this platoon belonged." His naming of the men aligns with the IWM version with 7 men on the right and 5 to the left: "On left hand side from Left to Right Ron George - Kinsey Jack Clements -Wildman - Davies - Standing: Lt John Sutton (platoon Commander) On right hand side from right to left Unknown sergeant with helmet - Coghlan (killed at Arnhem) Unknown with helmet Lt Clarkson (killed at Arnhem) Walter Boldock - King Sergeant Harvey" The man standing at back he claims is Lt. John Sutton. Peter's identification of Lt. Clarkson is in accord with Paul's findings. Note on the right they are named in order of appearance rather than seating arrangement. Regards ...
Hello Bruce, I've only just come across your post questioning the signature to the letter, so I apologise for the late reply. To me it certainly looks like it belongs to Lt. Peter T. Stainforth of the 1st Parachute Squadron RE who were based in Donington, Lincolnshire prior to the Arnhem operation. His army number was 226295. He also wrote an excellent book called "Wings Of The Wind" which is basically a history of his involvement in operations throughout WWII. He uses fictitious names for the actual troops of the 1st Parachute Squadron RE which, although refering to actual and sometimes tragic events, were changed for the sake of the relatives to those that fell. Peter Stainforth passed away on 13th December 2017.
Dennis Simpson Fight To A Finish At Arnhem Bridge from Richard McMillan Daily News (London) 26th September 1944
