Bevrijding Dieteren WWII

William Clifford Sambourne werd geboren 8 augustus 1910 in Worle, Somerset als zoon van William Sambourne en Florence Beatrice Annie. Op 19 mei 1934 huwde hij in Keynsham, Somerset met Blanche Evelyn Harvey. Volgens de Census in 1939 woonde het jonge koppel 13 Belmont Road in Bristol. Als beroep staat Letter Press Printing. Daarna is hij dus in militaire dienst getreden. Volgens gegevens op de site: durhamlightinfantry1920-46.weebly.com(zie verder op deze pagina) trad hij oorspronkelijk in dienst bij de Somerset Light Infantry en per 18 april 1944 overgeplaatst naar de 11th Durham Light Infantry totdat deze werd opgeheven en hij terecht kwam bij de 9th DLI.
Op 13 januari 1945 is hij tijdens een gevecht bij Baakhoven gesneuveld. Hij diende toen bij de 9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry onder nummer 5680970 en was ingedeeld bij de ‘D’ Compagny.
We lezen in het boek The Gateshead Gurkhas het volgende over zijn inzet op 13 januari 1945: “Heavy enemy counter-attacks were launched on the 1st/5th Queens in the Bakenhoven area and two sections of the battalion The Carrier Platoon was sent up to Gebroek as support. It arrived to find that the situation had been cleared up by the Queens. One platoon of ‘D’ Company had also been sent up to Bakenhoven. One man in this platoon, L/Cpl. W.C. Samboume, was killed and two wounded by mortar fire while carrying ammunition. ”

Kaart van Britten met het gebied Baakhoven/Dieteren voorzien van coördinaten zoals die ook voorkomen in het verslag hieronder.

Verslag(War Diary) van de 9th DLI die de operatie bij Baakhoven beschrijft

War Diary unit: 9th Durham Light Infantry
Month and Year: Jan 1945 Commanding Officer: L/Col. H.J. MOGG
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of events and information
Buchten	13		The morning went on recces? for an exercise near MUNSTERGELEEN, in
			canal crossing. Three sections of canal were dugout by R.Es, and
			the stream in front of MUNSTERGELEEN answered for the second obstacle.
			The plan was for an advance on a three company front, one coy of 1/5 QUEENS
			under command to replace C Coy. Start lines were taped for each
			company, and it was found that the use of tape during snow conditions
			was unsatisfactory, as it was not possible, with unit resources, to
			dye the tape dark? enough to show? up. The Kapok bridges gave no trouble
			but several ladder bridges broke, + they were in general too short. The
			breakages were caused by dropping the Ladders, + Covering oopes?
			were suggested. It was also found necessary to have carrying
			parties from outside coys, as too many men were required.
Buchten	13		C Coy were shelled again during the afternoon.
		1800	Coy 1/5 QUEENS reported an attack on their forward fl: in BAKENHOVEN. A
			German force came through the orchards + surrounded the house at 664763
			but was firmed? down by the rest of the fl., + a force from Coy H.Q. The
			Germans inside the position were finally wiped out, and a number ? more?
			killed outside the perimeter as they withdrew. QUEENS casualties were
			sixteen; three dead Germans were found in the village, + several more
			were seen outside the wire.
		1830	QUEENS Coy asked for reinforcements, + two secs? of the carrie fl.? were ordered
			to go up to GEBROEK. One tp? of tks was also called for, to be ready to go forward.
		1900	The tp? of tks? was ordered up to GEBROEK, + the C.O. told C Coy to be ready
			to counter attack BAKENHOVEN. D Coy stood to, with one fl? at ten minutes
			notice to move. Heavy arty fire was brought down N. + E of BAKENHOVEN
		1910	C Coy reported that all was quiet, but very shortly said that the Germans
		1930	were still there, + that reinforcements were urgently required.
			The two carries secs? dismounted at GEBROEK, + went forward on foot, to
			find the situation finally cleared up. The wounded were got away in
			carriers, + aun? brought up from GEBROEK by carrying parties. One pl? of D
			Coy was also sent up to BAKENHOVEN, + the rest of D Coy came up to GEBROEK.
			One man of D Coy was killed, + two wounded, while carrying ammunition; hit
			by a mortar stonk at 660757. The D Coy pl remained at BAKENHOVEN,
			but the carries secs?, + the rest of D Coy, were withdrawn to BUCHTEN.

Thanks to the Durham Light Infantry 1920-46 website.
Prior to the main attack the 1/5 Queens attacked Baakhoven on the 13th January 1945. Although the initial attack was successful a strong German counterattack resulted in the DLI carriers and two sections of ‘D’ Company being sent forward to bolster the Queens. When they reached Gebroek it was learnt that the situation had eased considerably as a result the 9th DLI carriers were employed in moving wounded back from the front line then returning with ammunition to the forward positions, it was during these operations that one of the carriers were hit by mortar fire killing one man, 5680970 L/Cpl William Clifford Sambourne, and wounded two others.
William Clifford Sambourne had originally enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry transferring to the 11th Durham Light Infantry on the 18th April 1944 following the disbandment of the 11th DLI William joined the 9th DLI. He was Killed in action (CWGC) on the 13th January 1945. He rests today Row K Grave 8 Sittard War Cemetery.

Grafsteen William Clifford Sambourne in Sittard

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