Five: Warrant Officer 2nd Class W. A. Woodman, 1st Air-Landing Light Regiment, Royal Artillery, a veteran of the Arnhem operations who won a mention in despatches

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, in their original addressed card forwarding box, together with the recipient’s identity discs, a worn ‘Airborne’ shoulder flash and Army sporting prize medals (3), two of them inscribed to ‘Gnr. W. Goodman’, extremely fine (11) £400-500

William Andrew Goodman, who was born in February 1909, enlisted in the Royal Artillery in January 1929.

Advanced to Battery Sergeant-Major in February 1943, he presumably joined 1st Air-Landing Light Regiment, R.A. about the same time, for it was embarked for the Middle East in May of the same year and subsequently employed in the Italy operations. Thus valuable support being lent to the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in Campobasso in September, and equally the 2nd New Zealand Division in attacks on Orosogna in December. The Regiment was next deployed in support of the 2nd (Independent) Parachute Brigade and 78th Infantry Division, up until January 1944, when it embarked for the U.K. and rejoined the 1st Airborne Division.

Having then participated in operations in Normandy in mid-August 1944, Woodman and his colleagues participated in the mass airborne operation in Arnhem in September. The unit’s part in “Market Garden” is described in numerous histories, not least for its role in establishing a defensive perimeter around Oosterbeek. Of its original strength of 372 officers and men, 200 were reported missing and another 38 killed.

Woodman was subsequently mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 May 1945, refers), and transferred to the Army Reserve in December 1945.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, and Soldier’s Release Book; a service sheet for commemoration of those members of the 1st Air-Landing Light Regiment, R.A., who fell in action at Arnhem, St. Botolph’s Church, Boston, 3 October 1944; War office forwarding letter the recipient’s M.I.D. emblem; several wartime photographs, including the guns of the 1st Air-Landing Light Regiment in action and two portraits, one of them in uniform, and the recipient’s Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve.

Surname is Goodman not ‘Woodman’