Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, Service no. 14838109
Born: 1926. Killed in action: 7th April 1945, aged 18
Story
Edward’s parents were Leonard Wagstaff and Ada Bickerdike, who married in Kippax on 26th April 1913, and lived on Robinson Lane. Edward’s brother Alfred also served during the war.
Edward enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment, and was later attached to airborne forces, serving with 5 Platoon, B Company, 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion during Operation Varsity in March 1945 and the subsequent advance. By 7th April the battalion reached Petershagen, in between Osnabrück and Hanover. They continued to proceed east by motor transport and encountered enemy forces defending Wunstorf airfield at around 14:30 hours, although earlier reconnaissance reports had indicated that it had been abandoned, resulting in the ambush of the leading elements of B Coy.
In the ensuing battle, in which the 13th Battalion was also engaged, the 7th Battalion lost 6 killed, and 21 wounded, most from the initial ambush of the four leading trucks of B Coy. But they captured the airfield and valuable equipment.
The battalion proceeded on to its main task, to secure Neustadt and the river crossing. Both A and C Companies entered the town without opposition and were soon established in a suitable house. Meanwhile, the men of B Company had been working up the river to the bridge but were forced to deviate within 400 yards of their objective, which took them onto the main East-West road through Neustadt and left them with both the loop canal bridge and main bridge to cross.
B Company encountered a civilian soon after coming on to the road and Major Reid, the officer commanding B Company, questioned him about the bridge and garrison. The civilian said the bridge was prepared for demolition and stressed the need for speed if it was to be captured intact. This confirmed Major Reid’s original plan, which was to rush the bridge and trust to getting across in time to prevent it going up.
He ordered his men to charge and the two advance platoons under Lieutenant Gush and Sergeant McIvor, and led by the company’s second in command Captain Woodman, had crossed both bridges when the first arch of the main bridge was blown behind them at approximately 00:15 hrs 8th April. Heavy and severe casualties were suffered by the troops on both sides of the explosion but the small party that got across completely routed the garrison and held their small bridgehead all night. In the morning, men from A Company traversed the river in boats to relieve the men who had made it across the bridge.
The battalion war diary records the day’s casualties as 27 killed, 33 wounded and 6 missing presumed killed; most from B Company. Some of those injured later died of their wounds. Private Wagstaff was killed as a result of the bridge detonation. He was given a field burial next to the bridge along with the other members of B Company who were killed. He is now buried at Becklingen War Cemetery overlooking Luneberg Heath, Germany. Plot 15E10 (below):
Norman Morley, William Lawn and William Henry Gorber >>
Kippax Roll of Honour 