Remembering Operation Market Garden which began 63 years ago today. In particular: <table class="datatable" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="97%"><tbody><tr id="tr_name"><th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Name:</th> <td id="td_name">PICTON, RAYMOND KENNETH</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_initials"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Initials:</th> <td id="td_initials">R K</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_nationality"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Nationality:</th> <td id="td_nationality">United Kingdom</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_rank"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Rank:</th> <td id="td_rank">Staff Serjeant</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_regiment"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Regiment/Service:</th> <td id="td_regiment">Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_unittext"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Unit Text:</th> <td id="td_unittext">1st Wing</td> </tr> <!-- <tr> <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="30%">Force:</td> <td id="td_force"></td> </tr>--> <tr id="tr_age"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Age:</th> <td id="td_age">23</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_death"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Date of Death:</th> <td id="td_death">25/09/1944</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_service"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Service No:</th> <td id="td_service">894207</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_information"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Additional information:</th> <td id="td_information">Son of Percival and Mabel Picton; husband of Margaret Picton, of Swindon, Wiltshire.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_type"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Casualty Type:</th> <td id="td_type">Commonwealth War Dead</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_grave"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Grave/Memorial Reference:</th> <td id="td_grave">3. A. 10.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_cemetery"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Cemetery:</th> <td id="td_cemetery">ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <input name="target_h" id="target_h" type="hidden"><input name="certificate_h" id="certificate_h" value="certificate.aspx?casualty=2661416" type="hidden"><input name="errmsg" id="errmsg" type="hidden"><!--<input name="results" id="results" type="button" class="formbutton" onclick="navigateElement('target_h');" value="Search Results" /> -->
Although my granda Pte Dominic Toye RAMC didn't die, he did spend the rest of the war as a pow, he was attched to 7th KOSB.
If I could recommend a book to read about Arnhem try "It never Snows in September" by Robert Kershaw. It is an excellent account of how the Germans managed to hold the line in Sept 1944 after the rout from France the previous month. Well worth a read.
Agreed, it is an excellent book and for the German side, this website is also very good: Defending Arnhem © 2007
My uncle, Sgt Jim Gamble was one of the 'First In' as mentioned in a couple of books. He was in 21st Independent Parachute Company. He survived the experience but never talked about it. Attached is his wedding photo from 1944 to Susan and a photo from 21st time in Norway near the end of the war.
Anybody know of a good site where I can read soldiers personal accounts of landing and fighting on this day 1944? cheers marcus
My uncle, Sgt Jim Gamble was one of the 'First In' as mentioned in a couple of books. He was in 21st Independent Parachute Company. He survived the experience but never talked about it. Attached is his wedding photo from 1944 to Susan and a photo from 21st time in Norway near the end of the war. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/other-anniversaries/6907d1190044662t-remembering-arnhem-jimwedding443-jpg http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/other-anniversaries/6908d1190044684t-remembering-arnhem-jims5three13-jpg Coincidentally I was just looking at details of a forthcoming book on the 21st on that excellent website: Defending Arnhem books_© 2007
Paul, Did you pick a Swindon lad on my behalf? I wonder if Ray Picton took off from one of our local airstrips just north of Swindon.
No mate, I have some of his gear he took into Arnhem. It came out, but he didn't. He was a D Day vet as well, having dropped into Ranville with 6AB. He was co-pilot, his pilot got out. Ray Picton was originally buried in the grounds of Oosterbeek church.