Arthur Whiteside's recollections of Operation Overlord

Date: 6 Jun 1944 to 1946
Location: Europe
Surname/tag: Whiteside

This series of letters were sent from Signalman H Arthur Whiteside during the invasion of Normandy and on into Germany during Operation Overload to his former colleagues at the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times during 1944 and 1945.

Normandy Background Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 21 July 1944 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19440721/068/0005

Normandy Battles at Close Quarters Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 18 August 1944 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19440818/032/0003

At the front they talk of Blighty Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 09 February 1945 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19450209/050/0004

Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 02 March 1945 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19450302/115/0006

Belgian Paradox Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 03 November 1944 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19441103/072/0005

Holland's Plight Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 22 December 1944 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19441222/097/0007

In Germany Now Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 29 June 1945 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19450629/119/0008

This is the Griff Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 09 November 1945 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19451109/055/0004

John Preston also wrote an article in the Lancashire Evening Post on Thursday Nov 4 1976 entitled 'Old notes recall a wartime story' which cannot be located on-line. This article refers to Arthur's 'Overlord Diary' which he kept - originally in journalistic shorthand - and which remains with the family. The diary is mainly a record of the entertainment he attended during the invasion but has other information too,

Arthur told a story which was interesting in a number of ways:

• During the Arnhem Market Garden campaign Arthur was returning from the front to take some leave (R&R). The convoy of vehicles he was in was ambushed by a force of Germans. Arthur survived by crawling under the vehicle and was rescued by a troop of allied soldiers.
• After this episode Arthur proceeded with the allied forces into Germany. He was eventually billetted on a German family of a wife and (one or two) children. The wife's husband had been conscripted into the German army and was not at home, feared dead.
• After approximately 18 months the husband appeared again. He had walked back from the Russian front, where he had been posted with his company following the failure in the ambush at Arnhem that Arthur had been caught up in.
• Although they had literally fought against each other they became and remained very firm friends for the rest of their lives (Personal recollections Chris Hilder).