HAMLETT, PRINCE OF OAK BAY by Jean James 2004
In 1939, Ernest Hamlett was called up, posted to the Durham Light Infantry and assigned service number 4462122. He was based at Palace Barracks in Belfast for six months training and later, in 1940, transferred to the Border Regiment, which was to form part of the 1st Airborne Division. He was in the 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment, which had its headquarters at Carlisle Castle, on the border of England and Scotland. Here, he became a member of HQ Company's Signal Platoon, serving as a signaler in Italy, Sicily, North Africa and Arnhem, Holland from 1940 to 1945. He was one of the veterans of the historical "Arnhem Drop", as chronicled in Cornelius Ryan's, A Bridge Too Far.
On 17th September 1944, Hamlett arrived at Arnhem, by glider, as part of the 1st Airlanding of the Battle of Arnhem. He was attached to 19 Platoon, D Company as a signaler. On Tuesday, 19th September, Lieutenant John Bainbridge was ordered to move his men to a crossroads north of Heveadorp to observe and report on any enemy movement heading eastwards towards lower Oosterbeek. Due to heavily wooded terrain, the number 18 wireless set that he operated did not work properly, and Hamlett was unable to contact Company HQ, based a mile away, to confirm that they had arrived at the destination.
The next afternoon, a German armoured car, and infantry was observed moving towards No. 19 Platoon's position from a westerly direction along the Oosterbeekscheweg, unaware that British opposition was dug in ahead of them. Once within range a PIAT destroyed the armoured car with a single shot, while a Bren gun caused the infantry to disperse into the woods. As this action had exposed the Platoon, they could no longer observe enemy movements on the road, so Lieutenant Bainbridge divided his men into two groups and ordered a phased withdrawal back to D Company. Hamlett and Ron Graydon ran down the road together, eventually meeting up with C Company, before being able to return to D Company later that night. On this particular occasion, Graydon was carrying the set and Hamlett was operating it. The men carried the set on top of a full kit - not an easy task for a 5' 5", lightly-built man. Graydon later recalled, with a giggle, that Hamlett still had the earphones in position as they ran.
Communications continued to be a problem for the troops because of the wooded terrain and faulty equipment. The faulty equipment contributed greatly to the disaster of Arnhem. While in a slit trench near Westerbouwing , just outside Oosterbeek, Hamlett tried in vain to raise a signal and, wondering if there was something wrong with the batteries, he asked Corporal Larry Cowin, 3602473, for a relief while he went in search of batteries. Corporal Cowin, himself, changed places with him. After doing so, the corporal took a direct hit inside the trench. Hamlett carried him to the casualty station, but he died of his wounds. The incident remained with Hamlett for the rest of his life. 
During the battle, a mortar bomb struck Hamlett's foot and broke his ankle but, fortunately, it did not explode. "It didn't explode, Ron!" he had exclaimed to his signaler partner, Ron Graydon. Without food for many days, Hamlett's unit subsequently ran out of ammunition on September 25. By September 26, he was one of only nine D Company Border Regiment men still standing. These soldiers included Private Ron Graydon, 3605381, (signaler), Private Charles Nixon, 3600613, Lieutenant Alan Green, 247201, (commander, 20 Platoon, also wounded ), Private Joe Maguire, 14583475 (signaler), Private Ronald Mawdsley, 14672551 (signaler), Staff-Sergeant Tom Northgraves, 3601365, (19 Platoon) and Staff-Sergeant Dennis Goulding, 3599543 . Others in the regiment had either escaped across the Rhine, unknown to Hamlett's unit, or were lying dead or seriously wounded. As the problem with the malfunctioning wirelesses had plagued the battle, the only way of communicating with the various units concerning the escape in boats across the Rhine was by courier (or runner). Unfortunately, Corporal Alan Fisher, 3460491, (21 Platoon), who was carrying a despatch to advise all units to withdraw across the Rhine, was unable to deliver the message to all of the units stationed at various rendezvous points. This included Hamlett's unit. Fisher kept the note for 60 years and presented it to Sergeant Northgraves at a Border Regiment reunion in 2004, saying "Sorry, I'm a bit late with this, Sir.". The note is now on display in the Border Regiment museum at Carlisle Castle, Cumbria.
On September 26, a group of Germans emerged from the woods and surrouned the unit at gunpoint, announcing, "For you, the war is over, Tommy!". They offered the men some of the full strength Capstan brand cigarettes that had been dropped with supplies, intended for the British troops, and that had landed in the enemy camp. Hamlett was given prisoner of war number 118075, and sent to Stalag XIB, at Fallingbostel, Germany, traveling in a crowded, dark cattle rail car in appalling conditions, the men becoming so thirsty that they resorted to drinking their own urine. His ankle received no treatment except for a bandage but, despite the injury, he was made to work down the Bad Grund lead mine for the next seven and a half months. The mortar bomb had blown the gaiter of Hamlett's ankle when he was hit, and he had to find an old boot to support his swollen broken ankle so that he could work. If the prisoners did not work, they were not fed. All they were given to eat was thin cabbage soup, but a few of the overseers in the mine took pity on the men and slipped them crusts of black bread. For their compassion, the prisoners gave them the coffee from their rarely received Red Cross parcels. Dysentry, head lice, boils under the armpits, and various other problems were rampant in the camps. These men of Arnhem survived the many hardships and indignities, not only because of enormous courage and fortitude, but also because of their compassion for, and co-operation with, each other: a true Band of Brothers.
A gentleman and a soldier to the end, Hamlett will best be remembered for having survived these hardships with his honour, sense of humour and compassion for others still in tact as, even in these harsh circumstances, he would not allow his cheerful side to desert him. He did his best to raise smiles from those around him, and always felt there were others worse off than himself. There was a record player in the hut at the prison camp. After finishing his shift at the mine he would always put on the only record they had, called "Hail Smiling Morn!", to awaken the next shift who, in return, pelted him with their boots. Hamlett was described by fellow signaler, Ron Graydon, as being as brave and as fine a fighting partner as a man could wish for, always doing his best to find a cheerful perspective, no matter what the situation.
In April, 1945, with the war almost at an end and American forces nearing the area, the Germans quickly evacuated the prisoners from the mine and forced them to join a column of other workers who were marched eastwards for the next three days. The men were very weak and struggled to walk, and those who collapsed were shot by the guards, as were those who tried to help them. The Americans, furious at news of this atrocity, caught up with the column shortly afterwards and the atrocities were avenged. (This march is described in the book, Last Escape by John Nicol and Tony Rennell, published by Viking Penguin.) Traveling with his American liberators, Hamlett was present at the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, and he never forgot the scene, declaring himeslf a very lucky man in comparison with the inmates at Belsen. Since Hamlett had been posted missing, Hamlett's wife had received no word of his fate until, a living skeleton himeslf, he arrived on her front doorstep one day, carrying a Red Cross parcel. He had been listed as "missing in action" for seven and a half months. After convalescing for a few weeks, he returned to lighter duties until demob in 1946.
Hamlett was born at 37 Buxton Street, Manchester, on the 17th June, 1914. He was schooled at St. Andrew's in Ancoats and, at the age of eleven joined the 27th Manchester Division of Boys Brigade, based at Jackson Street in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. It was here, under the tutelage of Dan Griffin, that his life-long passion for music began, being particularly fond of military music, brass bands, and the bagpipes; he learned to play the cornet, euphonium, piano, and was a wonderful percussionist. Hamlett would go camping with the Brigade and developed an interest in outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, cycling, and sports - especially cricket. Leaving St. Andrew's at fourteen years old, he furthered his education by taking night school courses. He became an officer in the Boys Brigade and remained with them until his call-up came at the age of twenty-six.
Upon demob, Hamlett transferred into the Territorial Army in Manchester (service No. 22244845), taking a parachuting course in Oxfordshire, becoming a member of the Parachute Regiment (TA) and earning his wings as a paratrooper . He served four years with the Territorials, receiving an exemplary discharge on November 28th, 1950. Upon discharge from the 1st Border Regiment, Hamlett's military conduct was also recorded as being “exemplary” and he was given the following testimony: "Much above the average in every way. Smart, clean. Has done very well in the unit. Is able to hold a position of responsibility without supervision. Thoroughly recommended for good employment. A pleasant personality.", signed by A. S. Richardson, No.67 Transit Camp, Dovercourt, 15th January 1946.
After the war, he returned to his job as a warehouseman at Sutcliffe's, Manchester, before leaving to become a commercial traveller at Langden's in Liverpool which, amongst other things, supplied tents and uniforms to the British military. A member of the Commercial Travellers’ Association, he specialized in blue jeans, and was the first commercial traveller to introduce them into Britain after the war. He worked for Cooper (which amalgamated with Lee to become Lee Cooper), before moving on to H. Varley, with whom he won the top salesman award several years running. As usual, Hamlett was always immaculately turned out, and achieved success as a salesman by offering good, friendly service, being polite and honest, and 'going the extra mile' to help.
In 1958, Hamlett moved to Heald Green, Cheshire, where he lived until the mid 70s when, at the age of 62, he moved to Canada to be near his family. He immediately found employment at Edward Chapman's, an exclusive menswear retailer in Vancouver. A British Columbia resident for over twenty-five years, he served with the Commissionaire Corps in Victoria for thirteen of them, during which time the Lieutenant Governor awarded him two medals. Hamlett returned to Arnhem with his wife, for the first and only time, in 1994, where they stayed with a family at Velp. He was ever a great proponent of the Dutch people.
Hamlett lived out most of his later years as a resident of scenic Oak Bay on Vancouver Island, but unfortunately became disabled with Alzheimer's disease, spending the last four years of his life as a resident of a veterans' care facility near Vancouver. He passed away on May 27, 2002, (Memorial Day in the USA). During his stay at the George Derby Centre, staff noted his good humour, sense of fun, musical abilities, his desire to share and co-operate with others , and his gentlemanly manners and demeanor.
A soldier and a gentleman. We will remember him.
Thanks, Dad. Keep smiling.
Thanks also to Mark Hickman at www.extraplan.demon.co.uk and Ron Graydon for help with this biography, and the information obtained from When Dragons Flew, by Stuart Eastwood, Charles Gray and Alan Green (mentioned above) - a history of The Border Regiment, in which Hamlett is mentioned on page 134.
SEE STORIES: "Back to Arnhem, 60 years Later" and "Blackcurrant Jam"
CLICK ON THIS LINK: PALACE BARRACKS MEMORIAL GARDENS, BELFAST
BOOKS TO READ: "THE LAST ESCAPE "& "WHEN DRAGONS FLEW
The following poem is from an anthology of poetry composed by the late Colin Fowler, who served with the 20 Platoon D Company of the First Airborne, First Battalion, Border Regiment. A collection of his poems can be found in the book, When Dragons Flew, which is a book about the history of the Border Regiment, and in which Ernest Hamlett also gets a mention.
ONE WAY TICKET by Colin Fowler
Those lazy coils of tow-ropes laid
Along the runways all displayed,
To herald an amazing feat,
The take-off, of an Airborne fleet;
Dakotas, Stirlings, in position
Airborne troops of the First Division,
All waiting for the last command
To lift this army from the land.
The word at last, the engines roared,
The tow-ropes leapt with one accord,
Between the planes and Horsa gliders,
Linking tugs and glider riders.
Lifting the first the gliders rose,
The tow-ropes whipped from tail to nose.
September Forty Four it was, at noon as I recall,
A sunny day, a pleasant day, a day to suit us all,
And as we climbed into the sky,
A sight so marvelous met the eye,
Three hundred Horsa gliders flew,
Above the slipstream, straight and true.
Then out unto the Netherlands,
This giant fleet prepared to land,
The canopies of parachutes
Just filled the air like summer fruits.
As idle domes they floated down,
To land so softly on the ground;
Then suddenly our hearts stood still,
The tow-ropes gone, and what a thrill
To watch the ground come up to meet
The gliders of this airborne fleet.
We hit the ground and skidded on,
The landings safe, the first job done,
Machine-guns chattered, rifles cracked,
But through all this the troops unpacked,
Then moved off at a hasty pace,
Eight miles to go, to each that place,
Called ARNHEM.