Richard Lonsdale

For other people named Richard Lonsdale, see Richard Lonsdale (disambiguation).

Richard Lonsdale
Nickname(s)	'Dickie'
Buried	Aldershot Military Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Rank	Lt-Col
Unit	4th Parachute Brigade
Battles / wars	Second World War Operation Husky Operation Fustian Battle of Arnhem
Awards	Distinguished Service Order and bar, Military Cross

Lt-Col Richard 'Dickie' Lonsdale DSO, MC (1913 – 23 November 1988).

Early Life

Lonsdale was educated at Eastbourne College. After enlisting as a private he was later offered a place at Sandhurst and in 1936 was commissioned in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. He went to Jubbulpore with the Leicesters in 1937 and the following year in an Operation in Waziristan won the MC for his successful part in recapturing a picket post.

Second World War

Battle of Arnhem

Lonsdale flew into Arnhem with the Second Lift, on Monday 18th September. His C-47 was damaged by flak which injuring his hand and two of his men, prevented them from jumping. The injury required him to seek medical attention upon landing, which meant he was not with the 11th Battalion as it advance on Arnhem, to reinforce the 1st Parachute Brigade who were attempting to force a passage through to Arnhem Bridge. The Battalion suffered heavy casulties and only a small proportion of its original strength withdraw to Oosterbeek with the reminants of the 1st and 3rd Battalions, and 2nd South Staffords. On Tuesday 19th September, Lieutenant-Colonel "Sheriff" Thompson, commander of the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, ordered Lonsdale to take control of these units. Lonsdale organised them into a defensive position ahead of the Regiment's guns near the Oosterbeek Church, approximatly 100 yards from the river. Collectively, they became known as the "Lonsdale Force".

Lonsdale Force

On 20th September, the Germans launched a series of increasingly heavy attacks against the Lonsdale Force. Although in an isolated position they held their ground. As the battle continued they came under such pressure that Brigadier 'Pip' Hicks gave Lonsdale permission to withdraw his force to a location directly in front of Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson's artillery pieces. It was in the nearby Church, that Lonsdale gave his now famous speech to rouse his exhausted and dispirited men. Standing with a sling around his injured arm, a blood-stained bandage covering his three head wounds and a bandage on his leg, Lonsdale climbed into the pulpit:

"You know as well as I do there are a lot of bloody Germans coming at us. Well, all we can do is to stay here and hang on in the hope that somebody catches us up. We must fight for our lives and stick together. We've fought the Germans before - in North Africa, Sicily, Italy. They weren't good enough for us then, and they're bloody well not good enough for us now. They're up against the finest soldiers in the world. An hour from now you will take up defensive positions north of the road outside. Make certain you dig in well and that your weapons and ammo are in good order. We are getting short of ammo, so when you shoot you shoot to kill. Good luck to you all".

For several days they fought off determined German attacks on what became the last foothold across the bridge. When Lonsdale Force eventually withdrew as part of Operation Berlin, Lonsdale was the last man to leave, swimming across the river despite the wounds he had sustained.

For his conduct during the battle, Major Lonsdale was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order. His citation reads:

"At Arnhem on the 20th September, this officer, although wounded in the hand and arm, was given command of the remnants of three Parachute Battalions who had withdrawn from the town. This detachment, about 400 strong, was allotted the task of holding part of the divisional perimeter.

Major Lonsdale so organised and inspired those under him that in spite of repeated attacks by enemy infantry, tanks and self-propelled guns, the positions taken up were subsequently held until the remains of the division withdrew over the River Lek. Throughout this period of six days the positions were continually mortared and shelled.

Major Lonsdale, although again wounded, organised several counter attacks to regain ground temporarily lost and his personal example and supreme contempt of danger was an inspiration to all those with whom he came in contact."

Later life

Lonsdale was also promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the 3rd Battalion. He left the Parachute Regiment in 1946 and after a spell with the King's African Rifles in Uganda he went into the wine trade and spent several years in Africa. On his return to Britain he settled for a time in the Isle of Man but later moved to Bath.