Arthur Hope

Additional information

Grave location: II. D. 12.

Son of Percy Harold Hope and Annie Hope-Doughty.

Arthur Hope’s field grave was situated near Moostdijk No. 153 in Neerkant.

The War Diary of the 8th Battalion Royal Scots states that on 2 November 1944, at approximately 09:30, the battalion had left its headquarters and was heading towards the F.U.P. (Forming Up Point) for an attack on the Moostdijk. During this battalion movement, the lead vehicle, a Universal Carrier (Bren Gun Carrier, a lightly armoured tracked vehicle), drove over a Riegel mine (anti-tank mine). The ensuing explosion resulted in two fatalities among the Signallers (signalmen in a signals unit); there were also four other casualties, including an OC (Officer Commanding | commander of the Universal Carrier) and three OR (Other Rank). Arthur Hope and Peter Reilly Moran may have been the two fatalities in this incident.

Unfortunately, no further information was found until I received a photograph from Jeanette Parker-Russell, daughter of William C. Russell, who was a friend of Arthur Hope and was, in all likelihood, wounded in this accident.

In 2020, however, Jürgen Beekers contacted me; Jürgen had adopted Arthur Hope’s grave at the Nederweert War Cemetery, an initiative of the Stichting Adoptiegraven British War Cemetery Nederweert. Jürgen also got in touch with Jeanette Parker-Russell, as did the Hitchin Historical Society in Hitchin; as a result of his research, Jürgen uncovered the following information:

“William C. Russell was born in 1905 in Kensington (London). He joined the army in 1923 to serve with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots. He served in Aden, Egypt, China and India, amongst other places. In the early to mid-1930s, he left the army to pursue a career in civilian life. He then moved to Stevenage (approximately 10 km from Hitchin). However, William remained attached to the army as a reservist.

In Stevenage, William married Millie and became the father of two children (Billy and Jeanette). On the day Britain declared war on Germany (2 September 1939), William was called up again by the army. He was assigned to the 8th Battalion Royal Scots, which had been completely reformed with only young, inexperienced soldiers. William was assigned to the battalion’s Signals Platoon.

The experience of the ‘veteran’ soldiers assigned to the new battalion was of great value to the mostly young soldiers, who had been torn away from civilian life. They showed the young recruits the ropes in the army and ensured that military life became bearable for them. They also fostered the necessary team spirit and camaraderie within the battalion. Their experience was thus a real boost for the young battalion, and training efficiency improved significantly as a result of their help. It was under these circumstances that William and Arthur got to know each other within the Signals Platoon and became close friends. In fact, whilst they were still undergoing their training in England, William accompanied Arthur on a few visits to his parents’ home. They got on very well, and William promised to take Arthur under his wing and look after him during the forthcoming deployment to mainland Europe.

On 16 June 1944, the battalion landed in Normandy and was deployed almost immediately during Operation Epsom, with the overall objective of capturing Caen. The battalion would become involved in various heavy engagements in Normandy and suffer heavy losses as a result. After breaking out of Normandy, the battalion advanced rapidly through northern France towards Belgium. In Belgium, in mid-September 1944, another fierce battle ensued, resulting in heavy losses near the town of Geel and the village of Tenaard. The battalion also suffered heavy losses during the attack on Best in late September/early October 1944.

From 20 October 1944, the battalion took part in ‘Operation Pheasant’, during which Tilburg was liberated on 27 October 1944. During the celebrations, on the night of 27–28 October, the battalion received orders to move urgently to Deurne to halt a German counter-attack. The counter-attack was halted before it reached Deurne, and in the days that followed the battalion advanced towards Liessel. In the process, the battalion became embroiled in heavy fighting in the Dennendijk woods. Liessel was liberated on 31 October and 1 November, after which the attack on Neerkant began on 2 November. During this attack, a Universal Carrier drove over a bar mine (anti-tank mine), killing two signalmen and wounding four. It was most likely during this incident that Arthur Hope lost his life and William was wounded.

William eventually recovered from his injuries and continued to serve for the remainder of the war. After the war, he returned to his family. However, William would always be deeply saddened by Arthur’s death. He also felt a great sense of guilt because he had promised Arthur’s parents that he would look after him.

After his return, he stayed in touch with Arthur’s parents and visited them on several occasions to share in their grief and his own.”