‘We’re so tremendously proud’ ...tributes as Battle of the Bulge paratrooper hero dies at age 97
TRIBUTES have been paid to Second World War paratrooper Tom Schaffer who has died aged 97.
The former butcher’s boy was only 18 as Nazi forces launched the month-long Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in December 1944.
He was later dropped behind enemy lines as the Allies advanced into Germany, one of 16,000 airborne troops in Operation Varsity in March 1945. After landing near the northern Rhine, the men set up a bridgehead and captured 3,500 German soldiers in bitter fighting.
The action paved the way for the Nazi surrender two months later.
Tom’s daughter Christine said the family were “tremendously proud” of him. He was treated as a hero on commemorative trips to Normandy and Holland.
Tom, from Mill Hill, North London, volunteered for the Paras and was with the 6th Airborne division at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes.
His battalion lost 61 men in the campaign but Tom was unscathed.
His first target in Operation Varsity was Diersfordt Wood, 200ft above the Rhine, with the goal to capture communications centre Wesel then the Ruhr’s crucial industries.
Tom recalled: “My only thoughts at the time were ‘Let’s get this done’.We lost a lot of men, but the operation was a success and we captured 3.500 German soldiers.”
Tom was later sent to the Middle East and South East Asia. Following his discharge from the Army in 1947 he returned to work as a butcher for 40 years.
He was awarded the Dutch Liberation Medal in 2019 and often joined veterans’ visits to France and the Netherlands.
Tom died in a London hospital after a long period of ill health and is survived by daughters Christine, Trish and Elaine, seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. His second wife died from a bee sting in the neck in Arnhem.
Christine said: “He would not talk about the war, which I think is typical of his generation, but we are all so tremendously proud of everything he did.
“He was very patriotic and would visit the Cenotaph every year until the last couple when his legs did not work any more.”
Dick Goodwin, honorary secretary of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Tom since 1998. Tom was a regular on our charity trips, always accompanied by his great friend John ‘Pinky’ Pinkerton who also served with the Parachute Regiment.
“He was part of our veteran collection team raising thousands for the charity he loved so much. He was a real character who was always smiling and joking. We always referred to him as the poster boy of the charity!
“He will be greatly missed by so many.”
Paul Raison, veterans officer for The Parachute Regimental Association, said: “Tom Schaffer was the epitome of a veteran of the Parachute Regiment from his era.
“Always cheerful and larger than life, he was a pleasure to be around. He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him or had the good fortune to have met him.”
Tributes were also paid to Tom online, including from residents of the Netherlands.
Henny Molijn said: “Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service and our freedom.”
Caren van Dijk added: “I’m really shocked to hear our Tom passed away. He was always such a gentleman. We are going to miss him. RIP.”