One for the Arnhem, (and Boulogne/Calais 1940), researchers

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by ChrisR, Dec 24, 2017.

  1. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Speaking with a neighbour, she mentioned a relative of hers was killed at Arnhem. William Charles Kill, aka Bill Kill, who was from the Chessington/Hook area of Surrey.
    Looking through the records at The Archives I see that he died of his wounds on 28 September ’44, and he is buried at Arnhem’s Oosterbeek cemetery.
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    The official records I have looked at don’t provide the circumstance of his wounding (where he was, or on what date it occurred), but I was wondering if there are any books or articles that have been published with accounts that might mention Bill?
    My neighbour has provided some photos of him.
    Bill 1.jpg
    [ Bill 2.jpg
    Bill 3.jpg
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    I am interested in bomb disposal and that’s how he came up in conversation, as apparently he’d been involved in BD with the Royal Engineers earlier in the war. Before he joined 1 Parachute Squadron he was with 691 General Construction Company RE, and was MID for his efforts during the withdrawal from France.
    [​IMG] Bill 4.jpg
    Can’t find any references to BD in 691’s war diary, but they were in London during the blitz, so it may have been during that period he got involved.
    Anyway, there is a report in 691 Gen Const Coy war diary of the French withdrawal that some may find of interest, so I have included it here. –
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    Any extra info on Bill I can provide to my neighbours family would be much appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 9, 2022
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  2. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

  3. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    L/Cpl W C Kill was with C Troop 1 Parachute Sqn RE at Arnhem. He is recorded as being wounded on the 20th September and dying of his wounds at the British Airborne Hospital, King Willem III Barracks, Apeldoorn, on 28th September. A couple of good books have been written about this Company and their exploits at Arnhem - these are "With Nothing Bigger Than a Bren Gun" by Niall Cherry. Sadly this is out of print and now very difficult to obtain. However, Harold Padfield, one of those from this Troop that occupied the Limburg Stirum School, adjacent to Arnhem Bridge, wrote a book, published in 2014, called "Twelve Mules and a Pegasus" which may still be available.
     
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  4. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Thanks for the quick responses. Much appreciated.
    (I'll add those books to my abebooks.com check list!)
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Fascinating Chris. Interesting to see how he retained his coloured FS cap and wore it on leave with RE collar dogs on his battledress. Does she have any photos of him on a motorcycle ? :)
     
  6. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The fact that William Kill is documented as dying of wounds in the Airborne Hospital at Apeldoorn suggests that he was not part of the 1st Parachute Son RE that reached the bridge as those wounded taken POW there were taken to German Lazarettes, such as St Jospeh's in Apeldoorn. It would appear therefore that he was a member of the half troop of C Troop that remained behind on the 17th to help clear the Landing Zone after which they moved into the Oosterbeek perimeter. It was here, in his trench near Sonnenberg House, that Kill was wounded by shrapnel from an air burst. It is reported that Gilbert Taylor was killed by the same air burst but his date of death is reported as the 21st September.
     
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  7. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Thanks for providing some detail. I'll pass all this on.
    Sorry, no motorcycle photos - these were all she could get.
     
  8. edward finch

    edward finch Member

    i would be very interested in seeing the photos mentioned of L/Cpl Kill, i cant seem to access the above images. we have an Arnhem memorial service every year for the men of the 1st Parachute Squadron RE as they were billeted in our village Donington in Lincolnshire for 9 months before Arnhem. All the names of the fallen are read out & we have the last post at the memorial for the Squadron Battle Honours. We have a display of photos etc in the church hall but unfortunately none of William Kill. RE Arnhem Oak & Memorial .jpg RE 1st Para Squadron Royal Engineers Eileens Flower Festival Display.jpg
     
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  9. edward finch

    edward finch Member

    it would be amazing if you could repost the photos of L Cpl William Kill, thankyou
     
  10. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    There might be some info on him in the 361/640 file about 1 Parachute Squadron, I don't have this one or else I would have posted it. But no doubt someone would like to post it for you.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2022
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  11. edward finch

    edward finch Member

    Thankyou a very senior member of this group kindly shared the file from the National Archive with me a few years ago, this page includes L Cpl Kill, i just hope that his photos are reposted.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 8, 2022
  12. edward finch

    edward finch Member

    L Cpl William Kill entry in the 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers Roll of Honour in St Mary & The Holy Rood Church in Donington Lincolnshire.
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. edward finch

    edward finch Member

  14. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Apologies - Don't know why my photos dropped off, but then again I'm no computer whizz.
    Lost a lot I'd posted on various boards in the past because of Photobucket. Thought Postimage was sound - Apparently not!
    Have managed to find those of Bill and re-posted using the 'direct upload' method, so should now be here to stay! Will use that method for photos from now on.
     
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  15. edward finch

    edward finch Member

    Thank you so much ChrisR for taking the time to repost the photos. I will now be able to add his photo to the display at this Septembers service.
    i know it was several years ago but may i ask do you still have contact with your neighbour who is the relative of L Cpl William Kill.
     
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  16. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Hi Edward,
    Check your in-box - just sent you a message.
     
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