1st Battalion Border Regiment
1st Battalion, The Border Regiment went into to battle with 788 men, 119 were killed, 22 of them are missing since.
The following graves on Arnhem-Oosterbeek War Cemetery holds the body of a known member of the Border Regiment:
1.C.10, Mass grave in front of Tafelberg Hotel- B. Company soldier.
2.C.17, In front of Hartenstein Hotel.
4.B.4, Westerbouwing, February 1950.
16.B.19, In front of Tafelberg Hotel.
17.A.15, In the garden of the Pieterberg house, Pieterbergseweg, Oosterbeek-a Corporal.
17.A.20, In the garden of the Pieterberg house,Pieterbergseweg, Oosterbeek-A.Company soldier.
18.A.6, In the garden of the Hemelsche Berg house.
18.B.12, By the road from Veerweg to Driel Ferry, B. Company soldier
22.B.20, In the garden of the Pieterberg house, Pieterbergseweg, Oosterbeek- a Private.
23.C.13, under cycle path Utrechtseweg 243, Oosterbeek in April 1981.
25.C.2, Airborne, Along Benedendorpsweg, near the Lower Road to the Westerbouwing restaurant, 13-12-1995.
28.A.4, Valkeniersbossen, Westerbouwing,
30.C.5, In a field North bank of the river Rhine, south of the Old Church.
31.B.4,20 yards east of the Oorsprong house on Van Borsellenweg- A.Company soldier.
Name: JOHNSON, James
Rank: Private
Age: 29
No. 3603507
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:17-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Ina Johnson of Carlisle, Son of Mr and Mrs G. Johnson of Coppull, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Known to have been shot in the leg, and died of his wounds sometime after.
Name: CRIMMEL, John Henry
Rank: Private
Age: 21
No. 1142367
Unit: 11 Platoon B. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Henry E and Maud A.J. Crimmel, of Canvey Island, Essex.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Said to have been killed at the Westerbouwing when an enemy tank opened up at close range, on the 21st September 1944.
The platoon positions were overrun, and the private had to be left behind.
However in May 1949, a search for his body was done in the grounds of the Dennoordhouse grounds, Which resulted in the find of the body of Private E.W. Cobb.
Article from Pegasus Magazine.
National Archive Record WO 361/630
Name: ASTON, Frederick Joseph (Blondie)
Rank: Private
Age: 26
No. 3865747
Unit: 11 Platoon B. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Samuel and Maggie Aston, of Barton, Cheshire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been killed by German Machine gun fire on the Westerbouwing Hill. His body was taken to 11 Platoon Headquarters at the restaurant building, where he was last seen.
Blond hair
Name: WALL, Harry
Rank: Private
Age: 27
No. 3865803
Unit: HQ C. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Dorothy L. Wall of liverpool.
Son of Louisa Wall.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:No specific information about his death available.
Name: MIDGLEY, Frank
Rank:Private
Age: 22
No. 3604971
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:22-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Jesse and Ethel Jane Midgley, of Rochdale, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Said to be hit by a shell at the corner of Van Borsselenweg and Wolterbeekweg, Oosterbeek.
His body was completely obliterated.
However there is also a statement that he was being treated for injuries in a field hospital and that he died after shell had hit it.
Brown hair-5.9ft
(See map below D4)
The unknown Border in grave 16.B.19 on Arnhem-Oosterbeek War cemetery holds some remarks which might indicate that this could be the body of Private Midgley.
photo from the book;
"Zwevend naar de Dood".
Name: HIRD, Edward Emmanuel
Rank: Private
Age: 21
No. 1137162
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:23-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Emmanuel and Annie Hird of Hanley, Staffordshire. Cheshire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Known to have been severely wounded during actions on LZ Z near the Jonkershoeve Farm
and to have died from his wounds while treated at in a Casualty Clearing Station or field Hospital, when this was hit by a mortar
bomb.
His wallet was found inside his smock on 22-09-1944, at the Landingzone around Jonkershoeve by a Dutch civilian, whom kept it. It was shown on a exhibition on the Ginkel Heath in September 1969, it was then handed over to his mother.
Name: ELLICOCK, George
Rank: Private
Age: 21
No. 4397165
Unit: D. Company
Missing since:25-09-1944
Next of Kin: Wakefield
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:No specific information available, exept that he was listen by the MoD as Lance-Corporal.
Name: CERVI, Laurence
Rank: Lance-Corporal
Age: 20
No. 3608007
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Margeret Cervi of Southrey, Lincolnshire. Son of Gladys Cervi of Manchester.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:
Known to have been killed in defensive positions in the Van Lennepweg area on or shortly after 21 September 1944.
Black Hair- 6.0ft.
(See map below C4/5)
Name: MELLING, Eric
Rank:Lance-Corporal
Age: 21
No. 3866035
Unit: 13 Platoon B. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Annie Melling of Wigan, Lancashire. Son of Thomas and Helen Melling.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been killed by a German sniper on the Westerbouwing area, south of the restaurant building on 21 September 1944, according to the MoD records he was buried in a collective grave in or near a wood.
blond curly hair-5.9-.5.10ft
Name: BARNES, William Charles
Rank:Private
Age: 26
No. 3771478
Unit: S. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Lily Barnes, of Bootle, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been killed in the afternoon of 21 September 1944. He was shot on the Pietersberg Estate near 1st Airlanding Brigade Headquarters, he fell in the main pathway, but had to be left behind.
(See map below D6)
Name: EDEN William
Rank: Lance-Corporal
Age: 29
No. 3603438
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:22-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of John Eden and of Mary Elizabeth Eden, of Ribbleton, Preston, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: According to records, he died of wounds in a First Aid Post.
Name: FIDLER, Telford "Chick"
Rank:Private
Age: 22
No. 3602545
Unit: 2inch mortar, B. Company
Missing since:23-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Edith Mary Fidler, of Workington, Cumberland.
Son of Telford and Diane Fidler
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Known to have been killed by a shell in a trench next to a house on the Hemelsche Berg estate.
Curly Black hair
Possible the unknown Border soldier at Arnhem-Oosterbeek War Cemetery Grave 18.A.6?
Name: BECK, William
Rank:Private
Age: 21
No. 3784044
Unit: A. Company?
Missing since:24-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Willian and Lucy Beck, of St Helens, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been killed by a shell in a trench next to a house on the Pieterberg estate.
But also that he was possible killed near the Hoog Oorsprong Estate on Van Borsselenweg.
Possible the unknown Border soldier at Arnhem-Oosterbeek War Cemetery Grave 17.A.20?
Name: ELVIN, William Leonard
Rank:Private
Age: 20
No. 14638663
Unit: D. Company
Missing since:25-09-1944
Next of Kin: London
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been killed in D company positions west of Van Borsellenweg No.32 (Oorsprong Estate).
Name: HARDY, Stanley Ronald
Rank: Private
Age: 22
No. 14212903
Unit: C. Company
Missing since:26-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Hardy, of Edlington, Yorkshire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:No specific information available
Name: BRAGG, Henry
Rank: Private
Age: 21
No. 3608284
Unit: 11 Platoon B. Company
Missing since:18-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of George D and Jane Bragg of Egremont, Cumberland.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Known to have been killed on the
Westerbouwing, whilst operating a Bren gun, by a gunshot wound to the head. According to the MoD he was buried in a collective grave in or nearby woods.
Blond Hair- 5.9-6.0ft.
Information provided by a member of the Border Regiment about the death of Henry (Harry) Bragg.
Collection Philip Reinders)
Name: WILLIAMS, George Maurice
Rank: Lance-Corporal
Age: 33
No. 3523577
Unit: B. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Eileen Williams, of Swindon, Wiltshire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been wounded twice and taken by
jeep from company Headquarters, Veerweg 5, Oosterbeek to the Battalions Regimental Aid Post in the Dennenoord House on the Benedendorpsweg, However he never arrived there, MoD records stated that
he was buried one mile west of Oosterbeek.
(See map below E6)
Name:SEED, Fred
Rank: Private
Age: 27
No. 3718807
Unit: Mortar Platoon, S. Company
Missing since:21-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of James and Betsy Seed, of Longridge, Lancashire.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Believed to have died of wounds.
Brown Hair-5.10
Name: FOWLER, Robert Ball
Rank: Private
Age: 29
No. 3602819
Unit: S. Company
Missing since:22-09-1944
Next of Kin: Husband of Florence E. Fowler of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Co Durham. Son of Harry and Alice Fowler.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been wounded and taken to the Battalion Regimental Aid Post in the Dennenoord House, Benedendorpsweg, Oosterbeek, were he died of his wounds, according to MoD records he was buried in or near a wood at Oosterbeek in a collective grave.
(See map below E6)
National Archive Record WO 361/630
Name: BROWN, George Eric Tiplady
Rank: Lieutenant
Age: 28
No. 162499
Unit: D. Company
Missing since:23-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Mrs Katherine J Brown of Keswick, Cumberland.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information: Known to have been killed by machine gun fire from a German tank in a wood on the Hoog Oorsprong estate, west of Van Borsellenweg 32, reported to have been killed on 21 September 1944.
Name: JARVIS, Francis Edward
Rank:Private
Age: 23
No. 4398559
Unit: 13th Platoon, B. Company
Missing since:24-09-1944
Next of Kin: Son of Henry C and Sarah Ann Jarvis of Sunderland, Co Durham.
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Reported to have been killed whilst in pursuit of withdrawing German troops in the Westerbouwing area, west of the Restaurant building.
Other source mention him been killed at the Oosterbeek Gas works.
Brown hair
Name: THOMPSON, Eric M
Rank: Private
Age: 24
No. 3602898
Unit:D. Company
Missing since:25-09-1944
Next of Kin: Dormanstown
Groesbeek Panel: 4
KIA Information:Known to have been buried by members of the Red Cross somewhere in Oosterbeek on 2 October 1944.