I AM A Dutch journalist doing research on the airborne landings that took place near Arnhem in September 1944. More specifically, on the fate of 13 Platoon of the Border Regiment and the pilots of the glider that took them to Arnhem on that Sunday, September 17 1944.
To that end I would like to get into contact with one of its members: Evans, 3864100, Frank, Pte, missing 25.9 1944, PoW 91881, Limburg s/d Lahn, from Chester.
My search led in 2004 to the publication of a widely acclaimed book in Dutch on their experiences.
However, I was not able to contact the mentioned Frank Evans. I hope that through your newspaper my last effort will find him or his relatives. This is of some importance to me as I am preparing an English translation of the book. This is in brief what it is about. as explained on the back cover text:
“13 Platoon, the Story of Horsa 166 tells the story of the search for the men aboard a huge Horsa glider that sailed into the Battle at Arnhem on September 18 1944.
“Both the pilots and the airborne troops go their separate ways and go about their tasks to carry out their orders, possibly never to see each other again. 54 years later one of the pilots, Sergeant Morley ‘Taffy’ Williams, visiting the Netherlands for the annual commemorations of the battle, meets a Dutch journalist.
“Mr Williams talked about the wish that has been with him for many years to find out what happened to his passengers of that fateful flight to Arnhem.
“That request started a search that lasted more than four years and which in the end led to a new and moving personal story of the Battle at Arnhem.
“As a fascinating consequence, the search has led, more than 60 years after the event, to several unexpected renewed personal contacts between the pilot and some of his passengers and relatives. It also rekindled the search for several of Morley’s passengers that are missing to this very day.”
HAKS WALBURGH SCHMIDT
Telephone number + 31 412 636470
