BIRTHDAY
ERIC
100 Today!
John Eric Postles joined up in January 1942 becoming Trooper Postles 10602580, one of the legendary '1060 boys', a large intake of men from north-west England for the Reconnaissance Corps. Reconnaissance meant gathering information, often from behind enemy lines or in battle, and getting it back safely, in person and by radio so it could be used to plan tactics or find a safe way to advance. The Reconnaissance Corps' official mottos 'From One Learn All' and 'Beaten Paths are Safest' reflected this role, while their unofficial motto 'Only the Enemy in Front (every other beggar behind)' describes where they often found themselves.
Eric Postles' Regiment, the 61st Reconnaissance, was to play a critical role in the Battle for North-West Europe from 'D' Day to February 1945. By then they were so decimated from their engagements with the enemy that they were disbanded and dispersed to other Regiments. Eric was in the first wave of those landing in France, endured the bitter campaign to expand the Normandy bridgehead, led Montgomery's Twenty-First Army Group across France and liberated towns and villages across Belgium with fierce fighting as the Germans dug in their defences along the canals. 61st Recce were with the Guards in the forefront of Monty's 'Market Garden' effort to reach the Airlanding at Arnhem across the Lower Rhine in the Netherlands (the famous 'Bridge too Far') and then spent two drear months on the front-line there as water levels rose on their 'Island'. With the infantry division they were attached to (50th Northumbrian) returning to Britain that December, the Regiment was in process of being broken up at Izegem in Belgium when the Germans launched an unexpected new attack in the Ardennes. Seizing their discarded vehicles and weapons the 61st went into action alongside the Americans in the 'Battle of the Bulge', obtaining vital information in the freezing conditions of a mountain winter. With the enemy eventually pushed into Germany, disbandment was resumed and Eric went to join the 49th Reconnaissance Regiment back on the flooded 'Island', patrolling and observing the V2 rockets launched from the northern Netherlands. Arnhem was at last taken by the Allies in April and Eric was involved in the liberation of Lunteren, Amersfoot and Utrecht before VE Day on 8th May 1945.
Eric married Gladys, his wartime sweetheart, in 1947 and worked for the War Office, then Her Majesty's Prison Service; receiving the Imperial Service Order on his retirement. One of the few remaining 61st Reconnaisance Regiment veterans, he lives in the north-west, near enough to enjoy the support and appreciation of the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment Living History Group.
Hearty Congratulations on your 100th Birthday Eric
and many thanks for your wonderful contributions to this blog.
Eric with the 61st Reconnaissance Re-enactment Group on 20th August 2022.
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