Gronert, Thomas “Tommy” and Claude, born early in March 1923, in Carn Brea, near Redruth in Cornwall, England, sons of Robert and Lylie Gronert, of Carn Brea Cornwall. His twin brother, Claude died in the same incident and is buried next to him.
They worked together in the South Crofty tin mine, meaning they were classed as essential workers and did not face conscription. However, they both volunteered to serve in the Airborne forces in 1943.
After completing their parachute training the twins were sent to North Africa as reinforcements for the 1st Parachute Brigade. nicknamed Red Devils, under command of General Sir Gerald William “Legs” Lathbury,
General Sir Gerald William Lathbury, GCB, DSO, MBE (14-07-1906 – 16-05-1978) was a senior British Army officer who fought during the Second World War, serving with distinction with the British Army’s airborne forces, commanding the 1st Parachute Brigade in Sicily, Italy and Holland. He later became Governor of Gibraltar from 1965 to 1969
The Gronert twins went on to see service in the Italian campaign, before returning to the United Kingdom. Following their return, the twins were posted to the 6th Platoon of the 2nd Parachute Battalion, under the commandment of Lieutenant Peter Cane.
By September 1944 Lieutenant Peter Cane of 2nd Bn, Parachute Regiment was 25 years old when he landed at Arnhem. He was a combat veteran having already fought in Sicily and Italy. He was leading a group of men through Arnhem when they met and rushed a group of German soldiers. Peter was hit almost instantly. Mortally wounded, he continued to encourage his men, shouting ‘Charge the bastards!’
When the incident was over his men returned to find they could do nothing to save their officer, and Peter, age 25, died soon after. Peter was buried near where he fell and in October 1945, he was laid to rest in Plot 18. Row A. Grave 13-14 of Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
Death and burial ground of Gronert, Thomas “Tommy” and Claude.
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When World War II broke out, the twins initially enlisted in the Hampshire Regiment before voluntarily transferring to the airborne infantry. Their courageous efforts took them to Italy in 1943, where they took part in the fighting as paratroopers. In September 1944, Tommy and Claude were deployed to Operation Market Garden with 6 Platoon, ‘B’ Company.
During this operation, they parachuted into Drop Zone X near Heelsum. Initially, ‘B’ Company seemed successful, and the unit reached the railway bridge over the Rhine at Oosterbeek. Unfortunately, the mission did not go as hoped. A reconnaissance party was sent to reconnoiter the situation, and Tommy was one of its members. Claude was given the task of protecting the rear. During their reconnaissance near the Benedendorpsweg-Klingelbeekseweg railway viaduct.
, German patrols appeared, forcing the Paratroopers to take cover. The Wehrmacht soldiers appeared to surrender by raising their weapons in the air. However, when Lieutenant Cane of ‘B’ Company stepped forward to assess the situation, the Germans unexpectedly opened fire. Lieutenant Cane was killed instantly, and Tommy was mortally wounded. When Claude saw what had happened to his brother, he ran forward to help him. Unfortunately, he was fatally wounded himself, Claude was hit by three bullets in the head. Tommy and Claude Gronert are buried next to each other in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Their gravestones bear an inscription chosen by their mother: “The winds of heaven blow gently here where those who were so dear to us lie asleep.”
At the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek, Row 18, Grave 17 and 18, Their headstones bear identical inscriptions chosen by their mother: ‘Winds of Heaven blow softly here where, lies sleeping those we loved so dear lie Thomas and Claude Gronert, twin brothers who were killed on 17 September during fighting with the SS at Oosterbeek Laag Station. The brothers were not required to serve in the army because they did important work for British industry as miners, but had volunteered, to the dismay of their mother. When Thomas was hit during the firefight, his brother Claude came to his aid. Claude was hit in the head and both brothers died seconds apart. They had been born within a short space of each other 21 years earlier. Due to the chaos after Market Garden, their mother did not receive news of the death of her twins until June 1945. , They were found by their friend Jack Edwards.
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