Humble war hero Joe dies, aged 94
AWWII hero who survived being shot during the disastrous Operation Market Garden has died aged 94.
Joe Mawdsley passed away unexpectedly at his Ormskirk home on Wednesday, November 5.
Seven weeks earlier, he had returned to the Netherlands to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, in which he fought in the Parachute Regiment aged just 19 and was shot by a sniper.
He suffered injuries to his back and arm and was later captured and spent the rest of the war in a PoW camp.
During the emotional visit with his son, Graham, and other survivors, Joe paid tribute to his fellow soldiers who never made it home.
He told BBC News: “It’s the remembrance of these lads that never got back. I was lucky myself.
“I don’t want them to be forgotten.
“We don’t want any more wars. Nobody wins.”
During Operation Market Garden, portrayed in the 1977 film, A Bridge Too Far, 35,000 British, American and Polish troops parachuted or glided behind German lines in a bid to open up an attack route for Allied forces.
The operation succeeded in liberating the Dutch cities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen, along with many towns, creating a 60-mile salient into German-held
territory and limiting V-2 rocket launching sites.
But it failed to secure a bridgehead over the Rhine, halting at the river.
In the subsequent fighting around Arnhem more than 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers were killed, nearly 6,500 were captured and five Victoria Crosses awarded.
Describing those experiences earlier this year, Joe said: “Very apprehensive, didn’t know nothing.
“When you’re that age, you probably have no fears. You probably were frightened but not as you thought you would be.”
Back home, he was a regular fixture at Ormskirk Cricket Club where he was the oldest member and was held in high regard.
Representatives of the club paid tribute after learning of Joe’s death. Tim Dickinson said: “On a personal note I’ve known Joe for over 40 years, and a nicer person I have yet to meet.
“Genuine, caring, thoughtful are a few of the words that spring to mind, all his friends at the club will miss Joe but his memory will live on.”
Steve Manswell added: “Would just like to say I’ve never met anyone like Joe. A true one-off, the perfect gentleman, never a bad word to say about anyone, always asking and inquiring about our Hannah, Joe and Jill.
“He really was a genuine bloke. A hero in my eyes and so humble. I’ll miss you Joe.
“Cricket Saturdays will be weird without you there in that window with your cuppa and butties.”