Ronald Arthur Douglas Garnham

Private Ronald Arthur Douglas "Ron" Garnham
12 Dec 1916 - 19 Nov 1961
Biography

Born in Suffolk to Ernest and Lucy in 1939 the family are living at Holland Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk. He married Enid Muller in 1947 in Hendon, Middlesex. Before his death he was living at 67 Landnor Road, Whitnash in Warwickshire.

Postings
Unit or location Role Posted from until
North Somerset Scout Section Scout Section Member Unknown Unknown
National ID
TWEH 213/4
Regiment
The Welch Regiment
Military number
3966566
Commissioned or Enlisted
15 Feb 1940
Occupation

(1939) Shop assistant and provisions salesman

Career

Ron Garnham was very good at making furniture and made the OB hatch for Creech Hill. 

He went on to serve in Glider Pilot Regiment as a Sergeant Pilot, after an unhappy spell back with the 4th Battalion, The Welch Regiment. He managed to be Best man at the wedding of his sister on 3 Jun 1944, just 3 days before D Day. He was captured at Arnhem on 26 Sep 1944 and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. From 2 Oct 1944 he was at Stalag XIIA at Limburg (Lahne) staying there until 26 Nov. He then moved to Stalag IVB at Muhlburg (Elbe) until 20 Apr 1945. By 12 May he was back in the UK and by 17 May was back home.

Address
20 Holland Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk
Other information

Returning to Arnhem 16 years after the war for a commemorative trip, Ronald Garnham decided to ask after the Dutch postman who had riden up to him on a motorcycle while he waited at a dispersal point (Glider Pilots acted as infantry after landing, but would initially form up at such points waiting to be allocated where they were most needed). Ron gave him a cigarette and the pair chatted as they smoked before the postman rode off. The returning Glider Pilot had no idea how to track him down, but asked one of the Dutchmen accompanying his party as tour guides. Incredibly he proved to be the very same man he had met in 1944. Ron invited back to England for visit to his mother's home in Felixstowe

References

www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/ron_garnham.htm 

1939 Register 

Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire 

WW2 Medal Card 

Felixstowe Times 3 Jun 1944, 19 May 1945, 24 Sep 1960