Researcher is looking for the identity of a fallen British soldier in the Netherlands

Written by Dirk Paagman

It was a cold and dark midnight on Monday, October 23, 1944 when four companies of the 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders lined up next to Hell's Highway.

Also known as the corridor of Market Garden near Veghel, the soldiers were ready to liberate the village of Schijndel, and with that, the attack on the front line of German Fallschirmjagers was repelled in a bloody fashion.

My name is Dirk Paagman and I am a history teacher and historian from Schijndel, a village in the south of the Netherlands.

I wrote a book about the liberation of Schijndel on October 23, 1994 by the 51st Highland Division and in particular about the 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.

During the liberation of Schijndel, 16 British soldiers of the 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders died.

They are now located in the Uden War Cemetery, Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery and in the cemetery of St Martin's Church in Sint-Oedenrode.

In the meantime I have been able to trace a photo of seven of the 16 Cameron Highlanders and found more information.

I see it as my life's duty to collect a photo of all the fallen Cameron Highlanders to honour them for their sacrifice to give us freedom during World War II.

One of the fallen soldiers during the liberation of Schijndel was Lance Sergeant Mann, John William, Service Number 2939711, he died on October 23 1944, at the young age of 22.

He was part of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and the Son of William and Annie Elizabeth Mann.

"I am looking for more information about John William Mann from Inverness, City of Scotland and also a picture of him."

Can you help me with that?

I would like to use his story and photo for a series about fallen British soldiers at Schijndel for the local newspaper so that we will never forget these heroes, but also to get to know these soldiers well.

You can contact Dirk by emailing: D.Paagman@maurickcollege.nl