We Tell Their Stories: Crossing the Rhine & the Invasion of Germany

As VE Day draws ever closer, we examine some of the stories of the Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives in the Invasion of Germany and the Crossing of the Rhine.

We Tell Their Stories

The Invasion of Germany

Image: Men of the Dorsetshire Regiment cross the Rhine aboard Buffalo amphibious personnel carriers (IWM (BU 2452))

Before Victory in Europe Day could be celebrated on May 8, 1945, the Allies faced the fearsome prospect of invading Germany itself.

This meant their opponents would be fighting for their very homeland, something that hadn’t happened in the First World War. Commonwealth and US soldiers had to contend with some of the most fanatical opposition faced in Western Europe to date.

Allied elements had begun crossing into Germany in late 1944, but the major attacks did not begin until early 1945.

The first was Operation Veritable, also known as the Battle of the Reichswald. On February 8, the largest Allied bombardment since the Battle of El Alamein hit German positions along the fortified Siegfried Line.

The fighting in the primeval Reichswald Forest was bitter and bloody. By March, however, the Allies had penetrated the dense woodland and had broken through the wide flood plains of the Rhine Valley.

The Rhine Crossing took place in late March 1945. Operation Plunder saw over one million men, 9,200 tanks, 6,500 guns, and 1,600 aircraft of 21st Army Group, under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, assembled to cross the mighty Rhine.

21st Army Group was a multinational force. Fighting under its banner were British and Canadian units, but also American, Polish, Dutch, Belgian, and Czech formations.

Starting on 24 March, the Allies bludgeoned their way over the Rhine. By the 27th, they had established a bridgehead 35 miles wide and 25 miles deep.

Now over their chief obstacle in force, the Allied forces in Germany split into three groups: 

• The Canadians turned north into the Netherlands
• The US turned east in the Ruhr Valley
• The British turned northeast towards the German coast

Within a month of the Rhine Crossing, German Dictator Adolf Hitler was dead. The Fuhrer had committed suicide in his Berlin command bunker as Soviet Red Army forces closed on the German capital.

With pressure mounting in both east and west, Nazi Germany’s days were numbered. But make no mistake: the major operations that formed the invasion of Germany were just as deadly as any endured by the Allies in the war in the West so far.

Casualty stories of the Invasion of Germany

Here, we share the stories of some of those killed in the build up to the Rhine crossing and the subsequent invasion of Germany in early 1945.

Sadly, they never got to experience VE Day, but their efforts and sacrifice form part of the greater efforts that ensured victory in Europe.

Captain John Alderson MC

Image: Captain John Alderson MC (Copyright unknown)

John Alderson was born on Christmas Eve 1915 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India to parents John and Dorothy Alderson. John was one of four children. He had an older brother, Arthur, and two sisters, Joan and Barbara.

John was educated at Westminster School as a King’s Scholar between September 1928 and July 1934. It seems he was also a keen sportsman. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI between 1929 and 1931 and Westminster’s Cricket First XI and Football XI between 1932 and 1934.

At Westminster, John served in the Officer Training Corps, foreshadowing his later military service, reaching the rank of Sergeant.

After completing his education, John worked for Lloyd’s Insurance Brokers. He married his wife, Diana, on 21 September 1939 in London. The couple lived in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

The Second World War had broken out a few scant weeks before John’s marriage and, like millions of men across the UK, John was called up.

John was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders on 14 January 1940. He was promoted to full Lieutenant in July the following year and attached to the special forces of No.3 Commando, leading No.6 Troop.

John’s career continued when he was promoted to temporary Captain on 13 March 1944. He was appointed Regimental Intelligence Officer later that month.

On D-Day, on 6 June 1944, John landed on Sword Beach, Normandy, with No.6 Troop. The Commandos moved through Ranville and onto Amfreville where they clashed with the Wehrmacht troops on the 8th. 

During the battle, John was wounded in the knee but was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. His medal citation reads:

“On the morning of 8th June 1944, this Officer was holding a position astride the Le Plein – Languemare Road with one Officer and forty-seven men.

“The troop was attacked by a company of German infantry which established itself in front of the position.

“Captain Alderson attacked with great determination, leading the assault with a T.S.M.G (Thompson submachine gun). He himself accounted for a number of the enemy and his men were so inspired by his leadership that they carried on after he was wounded and cleared the entire wood which remains in our hands.

“Besides approximately 15 enemy killed there were 36 prisoners.

“Owin to Captain Alderson’s skill and courage our own losses were no more than one killed and nine wounded. This success was largely due to Captain Alderson’s fine leadership.”

After recuperating from his knee wound, John rejoined his unit on 18 March at Smakt in the Netherlands, on 18 March 1945.

On 7 April, No.6 Troop crossed the river Weser in support of No.45 Commando. The special forces unit night marched to Leese, Germany, to capture a V-2 production facility on 8 April 1945, assisted by Royal Armoured Corps tanks.

John was hit by a sniper’s bullet during the operation and evacuated by ambulance. However, he sadly succumbed to his wounds later on 8 April 1945. 

Captain Alderson was initially buried at Bohmte but was moved to Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany, on 27 August 1947 where he rests to this day.

Chaplain 4th Class The Rev. James William Kenny

Image: Chaplain 4th Class The Rev. James William Kenny (Copyright unknown)

James was one of three sons born to James and Matilda Kenny of Blackpool, Lancashire. Tragically, the Kennys were no strangers to military loss. James Sr. had been killed in action in Egypt in the First World War.

Possibly due to his compassionate nature and strong faith, James pursued a career in the clergy. He was educated first at St. Joseph’s College, Blackpool, before moving to the seminary at Ushaw College, County Durham.

James was ordained on 29 July 1939 at English Martyrs, Preston and appointed as Assistant Priest at St. Joseph’s Church. At this time, he was also Honorary Chaplain to Carlisle Castle’s servicemen.

James was one of two Carlise priests called up to serve as Army Chaplains; in James’ case, he was attached to the Airborne forces, joining 6th Airborne Division in August 1943.

With the paratroopers, John parachuted into France a few days after D-Day in June 1944. His role saw him deliver the sacraments to dying and wounded soldiers, particularly in the bloody battles for Caen as the Normandy Campaign intensified.

He is recorded as carrying a wounded soldier to safety after being cut off in the swirling fighting around Caen. James returned to the UK while 6th Airborne was reinforced and reequipped in preparation for the invasion of Germany. 

Having served in the Normandy airborne operations, James would go on to take part in the largest Allied airdrop of the Second World War: Operation Varsity.

Seeing 16,000 men inserted by parachute and glider over the Rhine into enemy territory, Operation Varsity is still the largest airborne operation in military history. 8,000 of the airborne soldiers assembled for this stage of Rhine Crossing came from British 6th Airborne.

The Brits’ major objectives were the village of Haminkeln, the Diersfordt Wood and the River Issel. With amphibious troops moving in nearby, the airborne were able to achieve their goals. Varsity was a complete success.

But it was not without cost. 6th Airborne suffered 1,400 killed, missing, or wounded. Among their numbers was Chaplain 4th Class The Rev. James William Kenny.

James was killed in action on the first day of Operation Varsity, aged 32.

The priest was first buried near Mehr, Germany but was moved to his final resting place in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on 18 March 1947.

Warrant Officer Class II George Alfred Fox MBE

Image: Warrant Officer Class II George Alfred Fox MBE (copyright unknown)

A native of West Hartlepool, County Durham, George Alfred Fox was the son of John and Amy Fox. He was born on 1 June 1911 and had an older brother, William.

George had served in the Army before the Second World War, leaving his job as a labourer to enlist in the Green Howards on 18 November 1929, aged 18. The young soldier signed up for an initial term of seven years with a further five in reserve.

George was stationed at Aldershot barracks in the south of England where he attended a Preliminary Physical Training Course. He also boxed for his battalion, winning several trophies for his pugilistic skills.

George married his childhood sweetheart Edith on 29 July 1931 at All Saints’ Church, Preston-on-Tees and they would later have a daughter. His seven years regular service ended on 23 April 1936. He was discharged at Portland with his conduct described as “exemplary” by his Commanding Officer.

George spent the next three years working for an engineering firm while also serving in the Reserves. With storm clouds gathering over Europe, he was recalled in August 1939  and posted to the 303rd Infantry Training Centre, where he put his years of experience to use training novice infantrymen.

From here, George enjoyed several promotions. At first, he reached Colour Sergeant before being appointed Company Quarter Master Sergeant for 10th Battalion, Green Howards, on 13 August 1941.

This was followed by a further promotion to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant in June 1943. At this time, his battalion became part of the 12th (Yorkshire) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. 

As George was part of the support and logistics section of his unit, he did not have to train as a parachutist. Nonetheless, George applied for Parachute Course no.84 on 20 September 1943. He was unfortunately turned down due to sciatica.

Nonetheless, George landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day to support his battalion. His cheerful disposition, supreme organisational skills, and dedication to duty saw George decorated as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). His award was gazetted on 1 February 1945.

The citation, as published in the London Gazette, reads:

“After the Battalion had had heavy casualties at Breville on the night of 12th/13th June 1944, R.Q.M.S Fox arrived soon after the position was taken and on his own initiative brought up hot tea, ammunition, and drinking water for very tried men, despite the fact that a counter-attack was probably imminent.

“His efficiency and cheerfulness at a time when the battalion was expecting a counter-attack was an example to all and had a steadying effect.

“When the battalion withdrew to refit, it was R.Q.M.S Fox’s efforts on re-equipping the battalion which enabled the battalion to be ready again for action, fully armed and equipped, twenty-four hours afterwards.

“R.Q.M.S Fox has been acting as Quartermaster of the battalion since 15th June 1944, a post which he was carried out with extreme success. His organising powers have been of immense value in reorganising the battalion.”

The citation further praised George’s coolness under fire, stating that his cheerfulness, thoroughness and devotion to duty was at all times exceptional. For his conduct, George was also Mentioned in Despatches on at least one occasion.

George followed his unit through France and up in the Ardennes Forest to counter the massive German attack in the Battle of the Bulge.

Not many know that Commonwealth troops were involved in the Ardennes Offensive, but over 55,000 fought in the battle’s northern sector. In George’s case, he helped hold the line at Venlo.

George was part of the support staff of the titanic Operation Varsity as part of the Rhine Crossing in March 1945.

Sadly, he was not able to fully support his troops in the field as his Horsa glider crashed in the airborne drop outside Hamminkeln on 24 March. George was killed outright.

His loss must have been keenly felt by the men of 12th Battalion as they could no longer depend on the ever-reliable RQMS Fox to keep them fed and equipped.

Edith Fox collected George’s MBE alongside their daughter from King George VI at BUkcingham Palace in October 1946. 

George was initially buried close to where he died outside of Hamminkeln but in November 1946, he was moved to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. 

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