Bevrijding Dieteren WWII

Thanks to Angela daughter of James Robertson:
Before James Robertson joined up the army in 1941 he was a coal miner in Scotland.
He served as trooper with the 1st Lothian and Border Yeomanry under number 7938816, he was driver of a Flailtank.
On 23rd January 1945 James Robertson driving a Flailtank of C Squadron at Aphoven near Heinsberg, Germany when his tank was hit and set on fire by shells fired from close range.
His account of this accident: (also thanks to: John Bagley)
“After our tanks were hit I managed, though wounded in the chest, to get out of my burning tank, getting my face and hands burnt. A machine gun opened on us, killing Tpr. Nicholls. Tpr. Naylor and I tried to make our way back, but were rounded up as we were unarmed. The others were also taken prisoner except Tpr. Lawlor, who had been killed in his tank. Sgt. Hunter and others were made to carry me to a house where I was placed in a cellar. I was promised an ambulance, but when none arrived at the end of 20 minutes I was marched out, my wounds having been dressed. During that night I was marched back with no food or water and when day broke was placed again in a cellar, where my boots were taken away. My guards had apparently got hold of some drink, as they were making great noise. About midday I was marched out and was lucky enough to have found a pair of farmer's boots. While we were marching along a road our guns started shelling and we all got into a ditch until it stopped. As the Germans did not bother to look for me, I made good my escape, crawling away from that area. Despite the fact that I was in great pain from my wounds, I wandered about avoiding all parties of Germans who appeared to be manhandling back their guns, and eventyally spent the night in a haystack where I was wretchedly cold.
The following morning, half starved, I set off again and spotted a church at which my tank had been firing the day we were hit. I came across a farmhouse which seemed to be void of life apart from a few chickens. I found some bottled cherries, dran the juice and ate some of the cherries. When almost completely exhausted I saw a small party of men in the distance. In my desperation I did not care whether they were friends or foes, and waved to them. They saw me and fortunately turned out to be a stretcher party of the 52nd Div. They carried me to an ambulance on an old door. “
Later he was rewarded a Military Medal because of his bravery.
My father was subsequently promoted to sergeant and transferred to the RTR.

Recommendation for MM Trooper Robertson page1.

Recommendation for MM Trooper Robertson page2.

Trooper Robertson receiving the MM from Field Marshal Montgomery. Thanks to: Angela MacKirdy

Transcription of the Recommendation:
At APHOVEN on 23 Jan 45, the tank of which Tpr. Robertson was the driver received a direct hit from an 88 mm just below the co-driver's hatch, killing the co-driver and wounding Tpr Robertson. A fire started in his compartment which he extinguished, and he then tried to reverse the tank out of range but it was hit again and the crew were forced to evacuate.
Robertson was wounded by shrapnel in one arm and in his chest, he had also received burns to his face and hands. When the crew got out a machine gun opened fire on them and although they tried to get back they were pinned to the ground and soon surrounded by Germans who forced them to surrender.
Robertson's wounds were roughly dressed with field dressings and he was then made to march through the night without food or drink. Next morning the Germans removed his boots and soon after the whole party came under heavy shell fire and dived for cover. Robertson decided that this was his chance to escape and accordingly crawled away whilst the shelling was still going on and the Germans still underground.
He spent the whole of that day dodging parties of Germans moving back, and as they were in the villages, spent the night in a haystack still without food or drink and in a temperature of something below Zero. Next morning he recognised a Church Tower in the distance as being one his tank had been firing at and made for it. After a time he saw a party of men moving in his direction, he could not tell whether they were friend or foe and accordingly concealed himself until they came close and he was then able to identify them as British. He was carried back to the R.A.P. and there received proper medical attention for the first time for 48 hours, before being sent back to hospital.
During all this time he was suffering severe pain from his wounds and burns, he had nothing to eat or drink, and no protection from the bitter cold, but he was determined that he would escape and even after 48 hours was not prepared to disclose himself until certain he was among friends.
He displayed courage, endurance and determination of the very-highest order. He took his chance of escaping, wounded as he was, at the height of the shelling, and no privations and no amount of pain deterred him from his determination to get back to his own side.

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 Trooper (driver) James Ramage Robertson:
Legeronderdeel: Nummer: Geboren: Overleden:	1st Bn. Lothians and Border Yeomanry 7938816 1922 2001
Thanks to Angela daughter of James Robertson: Before James Robertson joined up the army in 1941 he was a coal miner in Scotland. He served as trooper with the 1st Lothian and Border Yeomanry under number 7938816, he was driver of a Flailtank. On 23rd January 1945 James Robertson driving a Flailtank of C Squadron at Aphoven near Heinsberg, Germany when his tank was hit and set on fire by shells fired from close range. His account of this accident: (also thanks to: John Bagley) “After our tanks were hit I managed, though wounded in the chest, to get out of my burning tank, getting my face and hands burnt. A machine gun opened on us, killing Tpr. Nicholls. Tpr. Naylor and I tried to make our way back, but were rounded up as we were unarmed. The others were also taken prisoner except Tpr. Lawlor, who had been killed in his tank. Sgt. Hunter and others were made to carry me to a house where I was placed in a cellar. I was promised an ambulance, but when none arrived at the end of 20 minutes I was marched out, my wounds having been dressed. During that night I was marched back with no food or water and when day broke was placed again in a cellar, where my boots were taken away. My guards had apparently got hold of some drink, as they were making great noise. About midday I was marched out and was lucky enough to have found a pair of farmer's boots. While we were marching along a road our guns started shelling and we all got into a ditch until it stopped. As the Germans did not bother to look for me, I made good my escape, crawling away from that area. Despite the fact that I was in great pain from my wounds, I wandered about avoiding all parties of Germans who appeared to be manhandling back their guns, and eventyally spent the night in a haystack where I was wretchedly cold. The following morning, half starved, I set off again and spotted a church at which my tank had been firing the day we were hit. I came across a farmhouse which seemed to be void of life apart from a few chickens. I found some bottled cherries, dran the juice and ate some of the cherries. When almost completely exhausted I saw a small party of men in the distance. In my desperation I did not care whether they were friends or foes, and waved to them. They saw me and fortunately turned out to be a stretcher party of the 52nd Div. They carried me to an ambulance on an old door. “ Later he was rewarded a Military Medal because of his bravery. My father was subsequently promoted to sergeant and transferred to the RTR. Recommendation for MM Trooper Robertson page1. Recommendation for MM Trooper Robertson page2. Trooper Robertson receiving the MM from Field Marshal Montgomery. Thanks to: Angela MacKirdy Transcription of the Recommendation: At APHOVEN on 23 Jan 45, the tank of which Tpr. Robertson was the driver received a direct hit from an 88 mm just below the co-driver's hatch, killing the co-driver and wounding Tpr Robertson. A fire started in his compartment which he extinguished, and he then tried to reverse the tank out of range but it was hit again and the crew were forced to evacuate. Robertson was wounded by shrapnel in one arm and in his chest, he had also received burns to his face and hands. When the crew got out a machine gun opened fire on them and although they tried to get back they were pinned to the ground and soon surrounded by Germans who forced them to surrender. Robertson's wounds were roughly dressed with field dressings and he was then made to march through the night without food or drink. Next morning the Germans removed his boots and soon after the whole party came under heavy shell fire and dived for cover. Robertson decided that this was his chance to escape and accordingly crawled away whilst the shelling was still going on and the Germans still underground. He spent the whole of that day dodging parties of Germans moving back, and as they were in the villages, spent the night in a haystack still without food or drink and in a temperature of something below Zero. Next morning he recognised a Church Tower in the distance as being one his tank had been firing at and made for it. After a time he saw a party of men moving in his direction, he could not tell whether they were friend or foe and accordingly concealed himself until they came close and he was then able to identify them as British. He was carried back to the R.A.P. and there received proper medical attention for the first time for 48 hours, before being sent back to hospital. During all this time he was suffering severe pain from his wounds and burns, he had nothing to eat or drink, and no protection from the bitter cold, but he was determined that he would escape and even after 48 hours was not prepared to disclose himself until certain he was among friends. He displayed courage, endurance and determination of the very-highest order. He took his chance of escaping, wounded as he was, at the height of the shelling, and no privations and no amount of pain deterred him from his determination to get back to his own side. 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!