https://nebula.wsimg.com/a36a227b75...1553F553BBD27F066&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 Report on Nicklin's death. The grid reference given in this report is not where he was killed but rather where he was buried. All in all 71 men were buried at 158471 - an Nicken was one of them...
The artillery pieces were in "Hingendahls Wäldchen" a bit to the south - where the "L" of "ELLERN" is on my marked map...
I’m fairly certain the 2 artillery guns were in Nakaths Waldchen? Hingedahls was known as Axe Handle wood and Major Kipping was killed there. The account of is assault doesn’t mention any guns. Happy to be corrected, but that’s as I know it ( which I got from Nitrowski’s book)
I am absolutely sure. Nitrowski even has a photo of one of the guns in Hingendahls Wäldchen on p. 79 and an aerial on p. 105. I roamed these woods many times (with a metal detector, too) and I stood in what was left of the dug out emplacements. Three guns of 3rd Battery of Fallschirm Artillerie Regiment 7 were stationed there. But - you do have a point. I just looked it up in Nitrowski: There was one gun of that battery in Nakaths Wäldchen (p.82). The "Arbeitsgeschütz" ... is the gun that is used for finding proper ranges for the battery. It fires some shells to get a feel for the target area. It is a bit detached from the others so any retaliatory fire won't hit the whole battery. Was this a German specuality because of the overwhelming firepower of their adversaryies in 1944/45?
How can we be sure that’s the wood where he was found? It seems strange to me that he wasn’t found until a couple of days after the drop, bearing in mind that little wood is smack bang in the middle of the DZ? Not saying you’re wrong, but would like to see the confirmation of it is possible?
The paras moved away from the DZ into Bergerfurth and the woods to the south of the DZ. So the DZ became "no-man's" land" for the remainder of the 24th. Germans held wood south of Mehrhoog and the village of Mehhoog with a good view of the DZ, Germans tried counterstrikes across the DZ, in the evening of 24th German patrols reentered it. Another counterstrike with self propelled guns at 6 AM on the 25th. (sketch in Nitrowski p. 82) So, no moving around on the DZ for 3d Bde but defense from establish positions. Nitrwoski is usually very reliable, basing many of his findings on German veterans' accounts. By the way, the burial in "Tip of Spear" is more likely taking place on the 26th - the captions in that book get it wrong quite a few times. And - finally - I met and talked to group of 1 CPB veterans on the DZ in 1987 who told me about the location. Sometimes even nowadays visitors place crosses or pictures there in commemoration of Nicklin - happened just recently, the brother of the owner's wood (Paul Zimmermann) told me a few months ago. I went to primary school with Paul. What else can I say...
As I said, I’m not saying you’re wrong, just interested in the exact facts. One veteran I know form 8 Para was one of the men who had to “sweep” the DZ for supplies and dead/wounded and was away from his battalion a couple of days. Maybe they didn’t venture as far North as that wood.
Well, Nicklin was buried on the 26th, so probably found late on the 25th or on the 26th. Which is not that long after the drop considereing that there was still shooting on the 25th, the DZ being under observation from the Germans. There was lot to do, as you just pointed out … Do you have the full war Diary for 1 CPB? It's very good in describing the atmosphere of those days.
Yes that’s true. I think I have a photo copy of the diary, but it’s typed up on Pegasus Archive in any case I’m sure?
I just looked - it seems to be complete in Pegasus Archive. It's the narratives in the appendices which tell a good story… well, that's what "narratives" are for...
Gents, Digging in folders I found the following news clipping written by a Canadian reporter who was present at the burial of Lt-Col. Jeff Nicklin. Regards ...
Great - what an excellent and vivid account of a grim task. And the surroundings are well described too! Thank you, Cee!
Alberk, I am curious about the attached photo. The man to the right looks like Lt-Col. Fraser Eadie who became CO of the Canadian Paras after the death of Lt-Col. Nicklin. Fraser Eadie wore a ring on the small finger of his left hand as does the man here. Just wondering if it was shot at Bergerfurth - does the building in the background look familiar? Also it is cropped somewhat from the original in the Canadian albums which is blurry. . Regards ...
It was shot in Bergerfurth - the buidling in background is the "chapel". It was, if fact, a small church with the chaplains lliving quarters attached. I should have a caption for that photo somewhere, it gives both names, I think the soldier on the left is indeed Faser Eadie. The round window in the gable is visible in the Canadian photo too. This building was taken down in the early 70s. As children we played in it after it was abandoned and before it was demolished...
