Hello all, I'm a bit confused at to the identity of an officer who fought at Arnhem and was wondering if anyone could help? The person concerned is shown in the Arnhem ROH as Capt. John S Douglas, 2ic of B Coy, 11 Para who was KIA, however there is a Lt. Donald M Douglass who is shown as serving with No.4 Platoon, B Coy, 2 Para. Now I know the surnames are spelt slightly differently and the ranks aren't the same, but if you look at the pics attached (Douglass on the left, Douglas on the right) I think you'll agree there is a very striking similarity between the two! So, my problem is this. Are they the same person, are they related at all or has there just been an error made somewhere?? All the best.........
One theory that has just sprung to mind. Could the B Coy, 2 Para Douglass have been promoted to Capt and transferred to 11 Para prior to Arnhem? Of course this only works if they are the same fella but there are two distinct entries on this site with different service numbers etc 1st British Airborne Division officers -- D
Paul Capt J S Douglas (Army No 228396) is shown on strength of 11 Para from 14.3.43 he was KiA at Arnhem on 21st September (Oosterbeek 2.B.1)- Lt D M Douglas (Army No 276864) is shown on the March 1945 POW list. I'd say that proves that there's no doubt that they are different people - could be brothers again though!! John
Hi John, I think you're probably right in saying that the names belong to two seperate people but those pics are surely too similar to belong to different individuals? As for the brother theory, well Donald Douglass (2 Para) is shown as having a brother in the RAF named Peter Norman Douglass but nothing more than that. I have found extracts from Donald's diary and he never mentions a brother in the 11th Battalion. Also Donald's father wrote to both General Browning and General Urquhart asking for information about his son Donald (he was a POW after Arnhem) but again he never mentions any other sons? I am starting to think that this is simply a case of the ROH website assigning the wrong picture to the wrong man. IMHO the picture they say is of John Shewell Douglas (11 Para) is in fact Donald Douglass (2 Para). This theory would back up the fact that the 1st British Airborne Division Officers website which I linked to in a previous post has no picture shown for the Douglas of 11 Para. Now what's the betting someone will come up with new info which proves I'm completely wrong (again!!) All the best..........
Paul I'm confused which RoH website are you referring to where these pictures are posted? As regards Peter Norman Douglass - he is on CWGC RoH with a date of death in 1940 - that would possibly explain why he wasn't mentioned in the Father's letter in 1944. John
Paul I'm confused which RoH website are you referring to where these pictures are posted? As regards Peter Norman Douglass - he is on CWGC RoH with a date of death in 1940 - that would possibly explain why he wasn't mentioned in the Father's letter in 1944. John Hi John, When I said that there was no mention of the brother I meant the "possible" brother from 11 Para. The site I'm referring to is this one: MARKETGARDEN.COM - A BRIDGE TOO FAR Sorry if I didn't make it clear mate, All the best........
Paul Have a look at 1st British Airborne Division officers -- D. He seems to have got it sorted out John
Paul Have a look at 1st British Airborne Division officers -- D. He seems to have got it sorted out John Yes mate, that was the other site I was referring to and that's why I think they are two different people but the pics have got mixed up. You can't trust anything you see on the web these days!! All the best.........
Paul "You can't trust anything you see on the web these days!! " Those words might come back to haunt you!! I've just found this on that untrustworthy thing they call the internet. A book by Don Douglass published down under. Photo of him as a POW - looks as though it may help solve your dilema John
Paul "You can't trust anything you see on the web these days!! " Those words might come back to haunt you!! I've just found this on that untrustworthy thing they call the internet. A book by Don Douglass published down under. Photo of him as a POW - looks as though it may help solve your dilema John Well that's definitely the Donald Douglass of 2 Para!! Nice find mate!
Those words might come back to haunt you!! I should have put the caveat "Unless you see it on WW2Talk!"
Goodger or Anderson?? Can anyone confirm this guy's name please? In the book "By Land, Sea and Air" he is named as Private Osmond Goodger of D Coy, 2nd South Staffs but on one of the Market Garden sites he is named as Private Gilbert Anderson of 11 Para? Personally, I think it is Goodger, as there is another pic of him in the book clearly showing a South Staffs shoulder flash on his battledress! All the best.............
Paul This is from a photo of D Coy South Staffs taken at the corner of Annastraat/Utrechtseweg on the early afternoon of 18th September. At this time I think you'll find that 11 Para were still on their way to Arnhem!! John
Paul This is from a photo of D Coy South Staffs taken at the corner of Annastraat/Utrechtseweg on the early afternoon of 18th September. At this time I think you'll find that 11 Para were still on their way to Arnhem!! John My thoughts exactly John! I've emailed the guy that runs the site and asked him to have a look at the pics again! All the best.............
He was identified a couple of years ago by Mr Tony Ridder as being Anderson, this information is what we had for the Roll of Honour, I think it also mention in "Zwevend naar de Dood"but don't have this at hand. If it is Anderson, from 11 Para, change could be that he got involved with South Staffs, from the LZ or so, there is also the photographs of the "lost" para with civilians in Oosterbeek, found it always rather strange that all of them are fully packed, and he has no stuff at all and no helmet!
Philip I'm sorry I disagree. The Staffords are easily recognisable by their smock adaptations. If you talk to any Staffords veteran they'll tell you that they added a pocket to the rear inside of their smocks in which they carried equipment - it also made sitting on the glider more comfortable. (see the attached photo of Stafford POWs at the Museum in which these pockets are clearly visible) If you look at the photo from which this Goodger/Anderson extract has been taken you can see that the soldier standing on the left clearly has such a "lump" in the rear of his smock. There is no doubt in my mind that they are Staffords and I believe that both Robert Edwards and Osmond Goodger (named on the photo) and many other members of D Coy were in contact with the Author during his research for the book. Hackett didn't receive his instructions from Mackenzie to send 11 Para into Arnhem until 1530 hrs on the 18th. By that time the first lift of the South Staffords were dealing with snipers and machine guns that they had encountered in the woods at the railway bridge near Mariandaal and D Coy were detached to deal with them. How on earth could Anderson have got from the DZ to join up with them. John
Goodger or Anderson?? Can anyone confirm this guy's name please? In the book "By Land, Sea and Air" he is named as Private Osmond Goodger of D Coy, 2nd South Staffs but on one of the Market Garden sites he is named as Private Gilbert Anderson of 11 Para? Personally, I think it is Goodger, as there is another pic of him in the book clearly showing a South Staffs shoulder flash on his battledress! All the best............. Named and shown the same here mate but HP, theory makes sense. Gilbert Anderson - PARAS - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour
I remember the name of Osmond Goodger as quite unique and he bought two or three copies of By land Sea and Air off me some years ago and I think wrote me a letter after he'd read it.....I feel he would have mentioned if he wasn't him in the photo....... I will look to see if I have an address.....
Have you dropped a line to Airborne Assault Museum, I think you will find that they can be very helpful
