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Second World War

Father: Donald Bremner

Step 1

Rory visited his brother Nigel, who had inherited the family archive. Among many photographs, letters and memorabilia, Rory found letters written by Donald whilst he was serving with the British Liberation Army in the 1940s. They suggested Donald had seen significant front line action.

One letter mentioned that Donald and the company he commanded were the first to enter a small city called 's-Hertogenbosch, but had not received credit for their achievement.

Step 2

To find out more about this particular battle and the rest of his army service, we ordered Donald's military service record. We discovered that as part of the East Lancashire Regiment, Major Bremner landed in Normandy 23 days after D-Day. He and his company were part of the hard-won campaign in France and by autumn 1944 had made their way into Holland.

Step 3

We contacted the museums of Donald's former regiments. The regimental museums put us in touch with historians who explained that when the Allies reached Holland, they had to break through German front line defences.

As a priority, Donald's division needed to secure the supply hub of 's-Hertogenbosch: an occupied Dutch city with vital transport links. Donald's letter had insisted that his company was the first into 's-Hertogenbosch. Rory wanted to clarify whether this was the case.

Step 4

Our historian contacts put us in touch with a local expert, Luc van Gent, who had spent many years documenting the battle of 's-Hertogenbosch.

Luc revealed that under cover of darkness and heavy British artillery fire, Donald Bremner led his company unseen and unheard into the city along the railway track. Luc also confirmed that Donald’s company had indeed been the first to reach the city.

Step 5

Next: Post-War Germany