Research Forum

Milton Road Cemetery - Royal engineers burials
published by Jude on Fri, 26/02/2021 - 12:18

I have found the information about Milton Road Cemetery very interesting and have been intrigued by the listing of numerous Royal Engineers' burials on 23.9.1944. The place of death is given as Taunton but I have not been able to find out how they died and what they were doing in Taunton.

I am sure someone will have the answers so I look forward to hearing them.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 26/02/2021 - 22:36

They were the 23 men of the Airborne Division on board a glider which crashed near Paulton in 1944. This is a description of that part of the cemetery from a CWGC booklet

From CWGC Booklet

This was part of the plan for the British to hold the Bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem. Stirling Bombers towing fully loaded gliders set off from Wiltshire. When over Paulton, one of the gliders broke up and crashed killing its 2 crew and 21 members of the 9th Airborne Field Company. All the men were taken to Weston where they were buried with full military honours. There is now a memorial at the crash site to the men. There is a full description of what happened on the Paulton History Site Paulton History (google.com)

Submitted by Jude on Sat, 27/02/2021 - 15:05

Thank you, Pat, for your explanation of the events that led to the deaths of the Royal Engineers. I am sure we are familiar with the "Bridge Too Far" story but how many of us knew of the tragedy that preceded it? When possible I shall visit Milton Road Cemetery to see the CWGS there.