• Casualty list, 4th Bn. The Dorsetshire Regiment, Operation Market Garden

Date of birth:

September 25th, 1919 (Watford/Hertfordshire, England)

Date of death:

September 25th, 1944 (Oosterbeek/Gelderland, The Netherlands)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Arnhem Oosterbeek
Plot: 14. Row: C. Grave: 4.

Service number:

5950925

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Rank during Operation Market Garden:
(Acting) Sergeant
Platoon Sergeant 2 Platoon, A Company

MISSING 25.9.1944, KIA 25.9.1944

Robert William Bidewell was born on 25 September 1919 in Watford, Hertfordshire. According tot the 1939 Register his occupation was a retoucher (photo gravern) and he lived on 19 Longspring, Watford. He married Iris W Blake in 1941.

In order to make the evacuation of the remnants of the 1st Airborne Division possible, the 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment was ordered to cross the Lower-Rhine at the Westerbouwing Heights, just west of Oosterbeek, on the night of 24/25 September 1944. According to a letter dated 29 May 1945 by Private Alfred Berry (6020303) of 2 Platoon, A Company to the War Office Casualty Branch, this is what happened to Acting Sergeant Robert William Bidewell in the morning of 25 September 1944.

"Dear Sir,

With reference to the enclosed list of soldiers, 5950925 L/Sgt R. Bidewell was the only one that I knew personally. He was my platoon Sgt with 2 Platoon, A Coy the 4th Dorsets. On the early morning of Sept. 25th 1944 we were proceeding through a thick wood after crossing the river at Arnhem to contact men of the 1st Airborne Div. Sgt. Bidewell was a few yards in front of me when we were proceeding in single file, he being near the front of the column. Two German troops came towards us with their hands up feigning surrender. They were a few yards from us when they separated and an enemy machine gun opened fire on the column between them. Sgt. Bidewell was mown down and in my opinion it was definitely certain that he was killed. This statement can be verified by 5989711 Cpl J H Trotter, C Coy 4th Dorsets, who is here at this camp with me. Cpl Trotter also states that 14359587 Pte R.J. Stevenson was also killed at the same time as Sgt Bidewell.

There are several ex P.O.W.'s here of the Dorset Reg. and another man 3660023 Cpl F. Amos, 'B' Coy 4th Dorsets states that 3659800 Cpl W. Leech tried to swim the river back. He also states that 3657293 Cpl S.W. Johnson was killed before crossing the river.

These men will verify their statements if necessary.

Yours obediently,
Pte. A. Berry."

(Acting) Sergeant Robert William Bidewell was field-buried near the Westerbouwing, just west of Oosterbeek. According to the Graves Registration Report Form of 37 Graves Registration Unit, he was reburied at the Commonwealth War Cemetery Arnhem Oosterbeek late 1945 or early 1946.

Son of Harry and Eva Bidewell, of Watford, Hertfordshire; husband of Iris Winifred Bidewell (maiden name Blake) of Watford.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

• - British Army casualty lists - Other Ranks 1577(26), 1801(5)
  - War Office: Enquiries into Missing Personnel, 1939-45 War
  - CWGC Casualty details
  - ‘"Roll of Honour" Battle of Arnhem September 1944’ 5th revised edition 2011, compiled by J A Hey
  - England & Wales Births 1837-2006
  - 1939 Register

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