Bevrijding Dieteren WWII

Short lifestory: Thanks to: Philip Hozier
John Redford was born in 1925, in Wigan to Thomas Redford and Margaret Ellen Hosier. The 7th of 8 children, he was the youngest son. His ambition was to train as a vicar, and was one of the founding members of the 15th Wigan Boys’ Brigade (an organisation similar to the Scouts) in Abram, the small village he lived in. Had he returned from his serving in the army, he would have been its leader (Captain).
He was killed in action just north of Paarlo on 29th January 1945, aged 19, just 4 months from the end of the war.

John Redford in militair uniform. Met dank aan:/Thanks to: Philip Hozier

In the St. John's church in Abram there is a Roll of Remembrance on a plaque are the names listed of the men from Abram who got killed during WW1 and WW2. In the section “AND ALSO IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945” John Redford is listed.

John Redford is also listed on the Roll of Remembrance in St. John Church in Abram. Met dank aan:/Thanks to: Charles Etches

In Abram the 15^th Wigan Boys’ Brigade was formed in the October of 1944. John Redford said he would be Captain when he came out of the Army. In the meantime Mr John Sharratt said he would take on the role of Captain. Sadly John didn’t come back and died serving his country.

John Redford in militair uniform. source: 15^th Wigan Boys' Brigade and Girls association

Als Brits soldaat maakte hij als Private onder nummer 14735816 deel uit van de 1/5th Bn. Queens Royal Regiment voor aanvang van operatie “Blackcock”. Hij maakte dus de bevrijding van Dieteren, Susteren en Echt mee totdat hij bij het gehucht Paarlo zou sneuvelen op 29 januari 1945. Op de eerste lijst opgenomen kort na de bevrijding van de kruisen op de militaire begraafplaats in Dieteren stond 30 januari 1945 genoteerd!

We lezen in de "War Diary" van de Queen's het volgende over de gevechten bij Paarlo:

War Diary unit: 1/5th Queen's Royal Regiment
Month and Year: Jan 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. F.H. Freeland
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of events and information
K-793823	27	1530	Slight shelling of Bn area
		2030-2315	Fighting patrol to destroy enemy in houses 813833 has battle there with approx. 30 inf, inflicts
			casualties + suffers 2 wounded
	28	-	Some shelling of Bn area during morning.
	29	2400-0500	Standing patrol to 805831, ambushed there, 8 missing, 1 killed, 2 escape + is replaced by another patrol.
			A+ B Coys start attack to clear PAARLO, 8184 + HOLST 8183 with indirect object of persuading
			enemy to blow bridge at VLODROP, 843830.
		0620	B-Coy report HOLST 8183 clear } opposition met, mortaring causes 8 casualties, enemy
			A-Coy report PAARLO 8184 clear} withdraws over R.ROER
		1430	D Coy move to clear areas 8083 + 8084 rep to R.ROER
		1545	D Coy contact enemy near River and after sharp fight clear houses at 800843
		1610	Enemy having retired to North bank of R.ROER, D Coy return
		2200	A Coy heavily shelled + mortared
		2220	Counter attack on A Coy by approx. 50 enemy, crossing river by rubber boats, commences, some
			infiltration and confused fighting occurs in North of PAARLO 8184 where 1 pl. is overrun but
			continues to fight back.
	30	0015	Fighting still in progress in same area, situation obscure, communications cut, 1p of Tks now
			supporting + engaging enemy
		0050	Enemy begin to retreat, situation eases, but 8 Pl still in trouble.
		0220	Enemy driven off, have suffered by casualties, 4 P.W. taken. We have 4 casualties
		1800	change over of Coys effected (D Coy of 9 DLI are in PAARLO 8184)

Meer informatie vond ik ook nog terug bij de Recommendation van Major Robert Maxwell voor zijn onderscheiding met Militairy Cross. Robert Maxwell zou later een bekend mediamagnaat worden.
We lezen hierbij:
During the attack on PAARLO on 29 Jan '45,
Lt MAXWELL was leading his platoon when a heavy artillery
concentration fell on and near the platoon killing and
wounding several men.
The attack was in danger of losing momentum,
but this officer showing powers of leadership of the
highest order controlled his men with great skill and
kept up the advance. During the night another platoon of
this company was counter attacked and partially overrun.
An attempt to restore the position with another platoon
failed but Lt MAXWELL repeatedly asked to be allowed to
lead another attempt wich request was eventually granted.
This officer then led two of his sections
across bullet swept ground with great dash and
determination and succeeded in contacting the platoon who
had been holding out in some buildings.
Showing no regard for his own safety he led
his sections in the difficult job of clearing the enemy
out of the buildings, inflicting many casualties on them,
and causing the remainder to withdraw.
By his magnificent example and offensive
spirit this officer was responsible for the relief of the platoon, and
the restoration of the situation.

Van de militaire begraafplaats te Dieteren werd John Redford circa 27 september 1946 herbegraven op de Militaire begraafplaats te Nederweert.

Grafsteen John Redford op de War Cemetery in Nederweert

Misschien zijn er nog mensen die informatie hebben over die tijd zoals verhalen of foto's. Neem dan contact op met de webmaster info@deetere.nl wellicht kan het bijdragen aan de geschiedschrijving van onze streek en mogelijk ook van belang voor familieleden van onze bevrijders!

In memory of those who fought for our freedom Herinnering aan onze bevrijders Private John Redford
Legeronderdeel: Nummer: Geboren: Overleden: Begraafplaats:	1/5th Bn. Queens Royal Regiment 14735816 1925 29 januari 1945 Paarlo Nederweert III.C.12
Short lifestory: Thanks to: Philip Hozier John Redford was born in 1925, in Wigan to Thomas Redford and Margaret Ellen Hosier. The 7th of 8 children, he was the youngest son. His ambition was to train as a vicar, and was one of the founding members of the 15th Wigan Boys’ Brigade (an organisation similar to the Scouts) in Abram, the small village he lived in. Had he returned from his serving in the army, he would have been its leader (Captain). He was killed in action just north of Paarlo on 29th January 1945, aged 19, just 4 months from the end of the war. John Redford in militair uniform. Met dank aan:/Thanks to: Philip Hozier In the St. John's church in Abram there is a Roll of Remembrance on a plaque are the names listed of the men from Abram who got killed during WW1 and WW2. In the section “AND ALSO IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945” John Redford is listed. John Redford is also listed on the Roll of Remembrance in St. John Church in Abram. Met dank aan:/Thanks to: Charles Etches In Abram the 15^th Wigan Boys’ Brigade was formed in the October of 1944. John Redford said he would be Captain when he came out of the Army. In the meantime Mr John Sharratt said he would take on the role of Captain. Sadly John didn’t come back and died serving his country. John Redford in militair uniform. source: 15^th Wigan Boys' Brigade and Girls association Als Brits soldaat maakte hij als Private onder nummer 14735816 deel uit van de 1/5th Bn. Queens Royal Regiment voor aanvang van operatie “Blackcock”. Hij maakte dus de bevrijding van Dieteren, Susteren en Echt mee totdat hij bij het gehucht Paarlo zou sneuvelen op 29 januari 1945. Op de eerste lijst opgenomen kort na de bevrijding van de kruisen op de militaire begraafplaats in Dieteren stond 30 januari 1945 genoteerd! We lezen in de "War Diary" van de Queen's het volgende over de gevechten bij Paarlo: War Diary unit: 1/5th Queen's Royal Regiment Month and Year: Jan 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. F.H. Freeland Place Date Hour Summary of events and information K-793823 27 1530 Slight shelling of Bn area 2030-2315 Fighting patrol to destroy enemy in houses 813833 has battle there with approx. 30 inf, inflicts casualties + suffers 2 wounded 28 - Some shelling of Bn area during morning. 29 2400-0500 Standing patrol to 805831, ambushed there, 8 missing, 1 killed, 2 escape + is replaced by another patrol. A+ B Coys start attack to clear PAARLO, 8184 + HOLST 8183 with indirect object of persuading enemy to blow bridge at VLODROP, 843830. 0620 B-Coy report HOLST 8183 clear } opposition met, mortaring causes 8 casualties, enemy A-Coy report PAARLO 8184 clear} withdraws over R.ROER 1430 D Coy move to clear areas 8083 + 8084 rep to R.ROER 1545 D Coy contact enemy near River and after sharp fight clear houses at 800843 1610 Enemy having retired to North bank of R.ROER, D Coy return 2200 A Coy heavily shelled + mortared 2220 Counter attack on A Coy by approx. 50 enemy, crossing river by rubber boats, commences, some infiltration and confused fighting occurs in North of PAARLO 8184 where 1 pl. is overrun but continues to fight back. 30 0015 Fighting still in progress in same area, situation obscure, communications cut, 1p of Tks now supporting + engaging enemy 0050 Enemy begin to retreat, situation eases, but 8 Pl still in trouble. 0220 Enemy driven off, have suffered by casualties, 4 P.W. taken. We have 4 casualties 1800 change over of Coys effected (D Coy of 9 DLI are in PAARLO 8184) Meer informatie vond ik ook nog terug bij de Recommendation van Major Robert Maxwell voor zijn onderscheiding met Militairy Cross. Robert Maxwell zou later een bekend mediamagnaat worden. We lezen hierbij: During the attack on PAARLO on 29 Jan '45, Lt MAXWELL was leading his platoon when a heavy artillery concentration fell on and near the platoon killing and wounding several men. The attack was in danger of losing momentum, but this officer showing powers of leadership of the highest order controlled his men with great skill and kept up the advance. During the night another platoon of this company was counter attacked and partially overrun. An attempt to restore the position with another platoon failed but Lt MAXWELL repeatedly asked to be allowed to lead another attempt wich request was eventually granted. This officer then led two of his sections across bullet swept ground with great dash and determination and succeeded in contacting the platoon who had been holding out in some buildings. Showing no regard for his own safety he led his sections in the difficult job of clearing the enemy out of the buildings, inflicting many casualties on them, and causing the remainder to withdraw. By his magnificent example and offensive spirit this officer was responsible for the relief of the platoon, and the restoration of the situation. Van de militaire begraafplaats te Dieteren werd John Redford circa 27 september 1946 herbegraven op de Militaire begraafplaats te Nederweert. Grafsteen John Redford op de War Cemetery in Nederweert Misschien zijn er nog mensen die informatie hebben over die tijd zoals verhalen of foto's. Neem dan contact op met de webmaster info@deetere.nl wellicht kan het bijdragen aan de geschiedschrijving van onze streek en mogelijk ook van belang voor familieleden van onze bevrijders!