10686626 Dvr Edward (Ned) Start

250 Light Company RASC

Att 1^st Parachute Battalion

Dvr E Start joined the army in February 1942. The 250 Divisional Airborne Light Composite Company RASC served as part of 1st Airborne Division and was initially raised from the former 31 Independent Infantry Brigade Coy RASC, and given the initial designation of 1st Airlanding Brigade Group Coy RASC (WEF), based at Newbury Race Course in December 1941. This subsequently altered to 1st Airborne Division Composite Coy RASC in May 1942. Ned carried out his Parachute training at Ringway and after his 8 jumps, 6 from a DC3 and 2 night jumps from a balloon, he was posted straight to the Para  RASC.

Their remit, was to provide logistical support for their formation, both on land, and in the air. The Parachute Platoons of 250 Coy had a secondary role as the Defence Platoon of the Brigade to which they would be attached, for which a greater degree of Infantry training would be required.

Re-supply by air, was a new concept about which, little was known and the Coy underwent extensive training. Advice could be sought from RAE experts (within the AFEE). Development was made more difficult still by the restrictions placed on basic supplies and telecommunications. During the period from May 1942, following a move to Amesbury Abbey and redesignation as 250 Divisional Airborne Light Composite Coy RASC, much was done to acquire and hone the necessary re-supply by air skills, including much consideration given to preventing damage to air-dropped supplies. The OC in this period, Major M St John Packe considered the use of a wicker laundry Pannier, and thus came into being the Wicker Airborne Pannier. On 8 February 1943, their efforts came to fruition when a demonstration took place before a most distinguished audience.

In May 1943, along with HQ 1st Airborne Divisional Column and other RASC Coys, 250 (Airborne) Lt Comp Coy departed for North Africa. In North Africa the Coy undertook further supply and pannier packing training, teaching two other Coys within the Column. The Coy was placed on standby for Operations Re-supply to Sicily although this did not subsequently take place. While in Sicily Ned was tasked with recovering the bodies from two crashed Horsa gliders and helped with the burial. The Divisional Column was required to provide re-supply by air for the Eighth Army (as necessary) and consequently supply dumps were established. Part of 250 Coy took part in the Airborne Op Simcol in Italy (under Capt Gifford and Lt Sibbord) in Autumn 1943. This was the first Operational Re-Supply by Air by an RASC unit in mainland Europe.

Other Coy members stood by for deployment in Italy before the Div Column was returned to the UK (via HMT Monarch of Bermuda - surviving a collision with HMT Duchess of Bedford and returned safely to Gibraltar to effect repairs).

Once back in UK, landing at Liverpool in December 1944, the Coy were based as Longhills Hall, Branston in February 1944 after a short stay in Boston to undertake further Re-supply by Air course and practice supply drops at Brigade and Divisional level. They were present at Harlaxton Hall for the visit of HM King George VI in mid-March 1944.

By late July 1944 the unit was back to Field Strength (12 Officers and 458 ORs) and began preparing for the next 1st Airborne operation. 250 Airborne Lt Comp Coy took part in the 1st and 2nd Lifts to Op Market Garden.

On 17 September 1944, two Parachute Platoons were supplemented by 12 Horsa Gliders.1 and 3 Parachute Platoons were scheduled to deliver the ammunition and supplies required at the Bridge. However, due to dispersal, this task was undertaken solely by 3 Para Pl , who were subsequently retained at the Bridge and assisted in the defence. On the 18^th September , after being tasked with the collection of CLE containers from  DZ X  Ned and his section comprising of L/Cpl Hirst, L/Cpl Plant ,Dvr J Taylor and a civilian bus driver who’s bus they had taken were ambushed on the way to the DZ. The bus driver had insisted that if they were captured by the Germans he would say that he was forced to work for the paras.L/Cpl Plant took cover behind a tree as the Germans were firing an AT gun an the bus. L/Cpl Plant was hit in the neck by small arms and was killed. Ned and the rest of the section made there way to a nearby house and a vicious fire fight broke out. With all the ammo used the only thing Ned could do was wait for the Germans to come. He was expecting a grenade to come through the window but it never came. The door was kicked in and the Germans forced them out. They were taken to a barn and were interrogated by a senior German officer.

The 2nd Lift on 18 September saw the remaining 2 Para Platoon and 23 Gliders (20 Horsas, 3 Hamilcars) emplane from RAF Keevil, Brize Norton and Tarrant, Rushton with the Coy vehicles to equip Divisional troops of the Parachute Regiment, RE and RAMC.

From then on Ned spent his time being moved around Holland and ended up in Linberg  where he spent 5 weeks then onto Stalag 4b with the rest of the Airborne prisoners taken from Arnhem. Moved again to Saxony to work on a timber mill,  Ned had no boots just some wooden clogs and an old Russian over coat to wear.

On 30 September 1944, the survivors departed from Brussels and the party arrived at Morlands Hotel, Lincoln on 7 Oct 1944, before moving to new billets at Washingborough Hall in late January 1945 after a short stay at Canwick Camp from early December 1944. It was during this period that the American Bronze Star of Sgt McDowell was confirmed.

Ned’s camp was liberated by the American forces and after being sent back to Blighty new kit was issued and he was sent on leave. After his time in the cage Ned had lost a lot of weight and his mum did her best at building Ned up with meat puddings and cake, This must of worked ok because Ned had to go back to stores to get new kit as he had grown out of his first issue, Shortly after returning home he met his wife to be Audrey.