236820 Lt. Thomas Finlay MacConnachie British Army 6th Battalion, D Coy. Royal Scots Fusiliers from:Edinburgh My father Thomas MacConnachie landed in France in 1944 and fought at Caen, Falaise and through France into Belgium. He was taken prisoner after an assault across the Albert Canal near Escaut on the same day as Operation Market Garden was launched. He was a platoon commander tasked with setting up a consolidation in the village of Aart (now Ten Aart) when they were overwhelmed by a German counter attack. Fortunately he was captured by Wermacht troops (Herman Goering Elite) and avoided the SS who he had bitter experience of confronting. I understand that the action was to consolidate the port of Antwerp and diversionary in relation to Market Garden.
My father continued to serve in the Army until he retired in 1974, suffered a massive haemorrhagic stroke in 1976 and died in 1987. My mother celebrates her 93rd birthday this December having been widowed for the past 32 years. My father's commission certificate, swagger stick and pass out photograph from OCTU still have pride of place on the wall of her home.
My father's Prisoner of War Log is still treasured by the family.
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