Recovery of bodies after the war.(Battle of Arnhem)- Newspaper clippings Netherlands
HotelAs soon as the people returned in May 1945, the searched for the missing soldiers started.
Civilians reported graves and bodies which they recovered on their return to the Police.
Soldiers who came back to Arnhem and Oosterbeek for the filming of "Theirs is the glory", searched the former battlefield grounds for locations where they knew a comrade was killed of buried.
Back garden Hotel Tafelberg, used as Field Hospital
(Gelders Archief 2867-350, collection L.P.J. Vroemen)
Police reports 1945-1954, Municipalty Renkum
approx locations are marked on the map on the right. Only the reports in which case it is sure that it involves a British soldier are mentioned.
Oosterbeek
No.1 25-05-1945, 15.00hrs, :Officer Kooij reported:
Bothaweg No.33. body of a British soldier inside.
No.2 02-06-1945, In a ditch before the lock on the road towards the Rijnbad, the body of a (British) soldier, British equipment near the body.On 09-06-1945, 16.40hrs this body was again reported.
No.3 07-06-1945, 14.00hrs, Mr Van de Kleut, Bildersweg 16, reports that there still is a body of most likely an British soldier in his basement, near the cherrytree in his garden is also a grave of a British soldier.
No.4 22-06-1945, 12.00hrs, Reported that at Paul Krugerstraat 25, the body is found of a British soldier, the police informed Doctor Giesbers (most likely this was the body of Private F. Parkin of 156 Parachute Battalion).
No.5 24-06-1945, 17.30hrs, A Police detective reported the body of a British soldier near the pond at the Hemelsche Berg near Benedendorpsweg.
No.6 07-07-1945, 13.00hrs, Reported by Mr Van de Kleut, Bildersweg 16, that in a trench in his garden there are 2 bodies of British soldiers, Doctor Giesberts is informed.
No.7 08-07-1945, 22.00hrs Policeman Meddler, reports the body of a Airborne Lieutenant in the Sonnenberg woods near the Verlengde Paul Krugerstraat, Doctor Giesberts informed.
No.8 17-07-1945,Bottom road, Kneppelhoutweg in the woods of Hemelsche Berg
the body of a British soldier.
No.9 01-08-1945, 16.10hrs Near quay of the Heveadorp factory the body of a British soldier is found, policeman Kooijmans and a NCO of the army are goung to investigate, A ID disc if found on the body, G.May, G.E. I1948281. (His fieldgrave is marked in a field along Hoofdlaan, near the junction with Kneppelhoutweg.)
No.10 14-09-1945, 18.00hrs, Policeman Meddler report that he found in a British body in a foxhole on the Sonnenberg Estate. British soldiers at Hartenstein informed, body was picked up and brought to Airborne cemetery.
No.11 20-09-1945, 21.00hrs, H Brink of Geelkerkenkamp, informed the police, that at the Veerweg at the steps towards the Westerbouwing in the woods, and the graves of 2 British and 1 German soldier.
No.12 29-09-1944, 08.30hrs, J Willemsen of Beeklaan, informed the police of British graves in the bank of Veerweg, near the track to Driel Ferry.
No.13 19-10-1945,11.00hrs, Mr Frowein of Van Borsellenweg, reported that near his house there are 3 graves of
British soldiers, and also a number of landmines.
No.14 29-10-1945, 09.00hrs, Mr Gerritsen of Hartenweg, informed that he found the grave of a British soldier at the dyke, near the Rijnbad.
No.15 25-12-1945, 13.00hrs, Mr Jansen of Oosterbeekseweg, informed the police that he found the body of a British soldier in the river near a groyne at the landing of Doorwerth ferry.
No.16 13-01-1946, 13.00hrs, Mr Beumer of Johannaweg reports the finding of the body of a British soldier, near Doorwerth Ferry.
No.16 16-01-1946, 17.00hrs, Policemen Jansen and Boers reported, that near the stonefactory at Doorwerth, they found the body of a British soldier.
No.17 24-01-1946, 11.30hrs, Report from the Hevea factory, that in the floodplains between the Driel Ferry and the factory they found the body of a British soldier.
No.18 31-01-1946,19.00hrs, Mr Evers of Toulon van der Koogweg, reported the grave of possible a British soldier at Kerkpad 1.
No.19 06-02-1946, 12.30hrs, Mr de Winkel of Bildersweg, reports the grave, possible of a British soldier in the garden of a house corner Weverstraat-Van Deldenpad.
No.20 15-02-1946, 16.00hrs, Mr Striker, a plumber who works at Station Oosterbeek-Laag, reports the body of a British soldier.
No.21 26-02-1946, 12.00hrs, Mr D van de Wal of Bato'sweg, informed the police that he found the body of a British soldier at house Vreeberg.
No.22 15-03-1946, 14.45hrs, Mrs Wegh, of Waldeck Pyrmontlaan, Doortwerth, reported that two workmen, found the bodies of 2 British soldiers in the woods.
No.23 16-03-1946, 13.00hrs, Mr J. D. Need of Fonteynalee, Heveadorp, reports the body of an British soldier in the Rhine between Driel Ferry and Heveadorp.
No.24 24-05-1946, 15.20hrs, Mr L.G Heezen reports that at the cannery at the Klingelbeekseweg, he found the body of a British soldier, it later turned out that there were four bodies, 2 soldiers, 1 lance-corporal, and a red cross soldier.
(Most likely the Red Cross soldier was Private R.K. Shaw (16 PFA),The Lance-Corporal E. Brough of the South Staffordshire Regiment, The soldiers Private K. Tarling also of the South Staffordshire Regiment and Private T.W Colewell of 1st Parachute Bn).
No.25 21-06-1946, 11.30hrs, Mr J.L. Gronde of Utrechtseweg, reports that at the Kneppelhoutweg along the lane to the pond are the remains of a British soldier, pocketwatch with number A67068 was found near the remains.
No.26 31-08-1947, 09.30hrs, It is reported that the body of a British soldier was found in a ditch behind the church, at Benedendorpsweg.
No. 27 13-02-1948, 14.45hrs, Mrs Belaerts van Blokland, reported that behind the office of the Gasworks the body is found of a British soldier, which later turned out to be that of an officer.
No.28 18-02-1948, On the Hemelsche Berg estate a body British soldier of the Border Regiment is found with on it a paybook with No.3390615 and a empty wallet (Pte G. Glay). By Mr C Hermsen and Elijzen, information is forwared to the Grave Unit working on the Cemetery.
No.29 20-04-1948, 11.00hrs, Mr J .Fasen reports that he found 2 bodies of British soldiers on the Hemelsche Berg, near the Hoofdlaan, one of a Sergeant, the other body lies in the water (Sergeant Major) (CSM L.Morgan 1st A/L Bde HQ?), Grave unit is also informed.
No.30 30-10-1948, Informed that in the garden of a house a Dreijenseweg, remains and British Equipment is found, on 04-11-1948, 3 bodies of British soldiers were found in the garden en brought to the cemetery.
No.31 31-08-1949,16.45hrs, reported to the police that near the Church at Benedendorpsweg, remains are found of a British soldier, together with a helmet,shoes and a rifle and some handgrenades.
No.32 10-02-1950, 08.30hrs, police is informed that on the Westerbouwing the remains are found of a British soldier ,the Grave unit, marked the location with a white cross, the body was removed on 13-02-1950.
No.33 29-03-1950, 19.00hrs Mr P.J. Hofwegen, reports that he found the remains of a possible British soldier, near the Laundry.
No.34 01-05-1950, 17.30hrs, The body of a British soldier is found on Hartenstein grounds.
Also reported in that at Utrechtseweg 206, a skull and later the remains are found of a British soldier.
No.35 05-11-1952, 12.30hrs, Contractor Wandel, reports that at the Ploegseweg (Zuiderbeekweg) the remains ar found of a British soldier.
Also reported at 17.00hrs, The remains are found of a British soldier at Westerbouwing/Veerweg.
(These remains were re-buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery)
No.36 05-06-1953, British body found on Planken Wambuis.
No.37 29-09-1953, 2 British soldiers found at now (Zuiderbeekweg).
No.38 30-09-1953 Remains found of British soldiers.
No.39 13-10-1953, Body of British soldier, found near Garage Klaassen, Benedendorpsweg.
Renkum
No.1 29-05-1945,Along the Rhine at Renkum Ferry the body is found of a British soldier, and reburied at the General Cemetery.
No.2 05-06-1945, The body of a British soldier is found in the Harbour of Paper Mill Van Gelder, it turned out to be Saunders. C.E. ,6148206, buried at Renkum General Cemetery.
Staff-Sergeant R.H. Saunders, Glider Pilot Regiment)
No.3 04-06-1945, Reported that a body is found in Rhine behind Renkum Bath, it was recovered and identified the next day as Walker G.E or C.E,14433016, also another body was found, that of Booth-Meth, 4919716.
(Driver R. Walker, 4th Parachute Squadron)
(Private R. Booth,2nd Bn South Staffordshire Regiment)
No.4 02-09-1945, 18.00hrs, two boys named Wollenberg and Willemsen, reported that at motorway under construction (now A12) at the Buunderkamp, they found a grave with helmet on it, in which a the name D.Davidson R.A.F. is written with a pencil.
(No such name can be traced so far)
No.5 14-10-1945, Mr de Gooijer, reports dat on the Citoveld, het found the body of a British soldier.
No.6 26-04-1946, 08.00hrs, Mr J Schouten of Doorwerthsestraat, reports that he found the body of possible a British soldier at the dyke between Doorwerth Ferry and the brick works.
Civilian stories
Rev. Kramer was not someone who could sit still: for the days of September 1944 he was a mediator to steal a car (NB the Sicherheitsdienst!) Which was driven from Uithoorn to Gelderland. The same day by the Nooy 'just repainted "and used in the attack on the prison in Arnhem [Dome].
But in the weeks following the Battle of Arnhem, he was often on the move. Rev. Kramer had an ongoing Ausweis came and stole it was an office of Army Group A in Hilversum. The Ausweis was, "Eben in kampf low" (even access to the conflict area). So he went eg. Chris Young Boer raid to Oosterbeek, sometimes it was the goal of food but this time it was gasoline. They thought they could find this or in the garage of Mr. Sanders (From Lennepweg). They found no gasoline, or two corpses of fallen British; the corpses were completely prior dissolution. One of it had an English bible in his breast pocket, with the first page of a job, which could be written by the person who had donated. They buried the bodies in the garden of Mr. Sanders and the tombs were provided with two simple crosses Chris Young Farmer made hastily. Then did Ds. Kramer a huge mistake: he had taken the two identification discs
Castendijk:
Thursday September 28
We find a Tommy in the garage [of Ommershof]. In a fit of mercy, we throw in a load of sand. The Tommy body is located in a pit. The impulse of mercy is soon dispelled, and we're leaving. Tommy, thanks to its excellent camouflage no longer visible haste, but one can still argue blame that he was buried. So it is with all the corpses. We start with enthusiasm and end all too quickly, probably due to the improper amount of food that we process. Although late Dad never stop us before the nose and legs are covered, but if they are covered, we separate from it immediately.
Wednesday, October 11
At 09.15 the expedition leaves, Its Dad, sister [Mähler], Steven, Tom, I do. We all create a small shovel (Moffenschopjes). We bury a guy who beisde a Glider , a glider pilot, we can not buried him, he gets a parachute on his body (of Tommy then). We also buried a 1st Lieutenant. A giant of a man. He is Catholic, and his money is around him. We met the gamekeeper of the Johannahoeve. He has a big dog with him. He shows us a a dead British sergeant, and then goes away. The two-in-a-pit suddenly become buried, that's easy, actually all dying soldiers had to crawl into a hole.
Thursday October 12
The chaplain, sister Mähler, Pa, Steven, Tom and I are going to appear early this morning to bury bodies on the Sonnenberg. Soon shuffles a Jerry behind us. That father and sister Red Cross can best spies, and it is also a fact that the clergy and the Dutch Red Cross here did nothing but spy! We buried five Englishmen and a Jerry.For the Tommies I made the cross and paint with stolen paint his number and name. The Jerries have a cross with swastika or the SS, and the English a Kings crown.
Backer Crum Mariaweg/Paul Krugerstraat, Oosterbeek
The Germans came and summoned the men to come out. They were forced to bury corpses. Everywhere they were everywhere many, many decades, all British. The Germans had already removed their fallen countrymen,
Across from the bakery on the corner of the Joubertweg and Christiaan de Wetstraat, behind the Oranjeweg. With stretchers and shovels, got the S.S. They were then sent to Station Oosterbeek Hoog, where they were divided into teams: Mr.Crum has among others been the Strodorpseweg and he helped at a mass grave at Hotel Dreyeroord, he estimated they buried some thirty men
A Dutch doctor, probably from the Dutch Red Cross had identify the bodies one by one to identify. "You would spew bile there" he told dhr.Crum.
Recoveries and reburials.
Arnhem-Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 16-09-2015.
The re-burial of Driver J.J. Kennell, 2nd Platoon, 250 (Airborne) Light Composite Company,RASC. His remains were found on Ginkel Heath in September 2012.
(photo's A.Vrieze)
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