Operation Market Garden Capture Nazi Hi-Power

[mrclark303]

Morning all,

This is a particularly interesting Market Garden Capture Nazi Hi Power, with a very interesting history. This piece passed through my hands a few years ago on its way to a private collection.

It came with provenance detailing the origin of the piece and how it happened to come into "Airborne" ownership.

I will omit names, as its not my place to repeat them, but below is a potted history as I recall it from the supporting documentation.

It was captured by a Private in 1 Para, who after parachuting in on the 17th September noticed a German welcoming committee running toward him.

He rapidly sorted himself out and opened up on them with his Mk5 Sten, by this point the lead German was almost on top of him, after dispatching him, his Sten apparently jammed, so he grabbed this Hi-Power from the dead German and proceeded to dispatch the remaining gentleman , who was also intent on giving him a very warm welcome to Holland.

He kept the pistol through the rest of that doomed operation and was fortunate enough to escape and was eventually evacuated by the Americans.

The four notches on the pistol grip are testimony to the close nature of the fighting at times, as it was called into action on three other occasions.

So to the pistol itself, it was kept after the war and became a "sock draw special" as so many such pistols did, eventually being surrendered to an RFD a few years back, who had it deactivated and it came onto the UK market.

I have never seen a Wa marked Hi-Power in as good condition, it was stunning, almost factory fresh in fact. Its a shame it was deactivated, but there we go, it was and nothing can be done about that now unfortunately..

It was a pleasure to own, for the very short time it was with me, it's a testimony to an extraordinarily brave group of men, who paid a very heavy price on that fateful Operation.

A generation that's sadly nearly gone now, but one we will always owe a dept of gratitude.

Enjoy the pics chaps..

Cheers, John.

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[Bob Womack]

Fascinating!

Bob

[Gil Boyd]

Hi John,
Shame you can't name names or PM me their details as stories get embelished on matters such as this over the years, and unfortunately there's always someone around who can throw light on darkness when it comes to Operations such as this.

Just a couple of points on what you have been relayed:

1 PARA dropped on RENKUM and were totally unopposed, not a German in sight on the Sunday the 17th September 1944.

If he was rescued by Americans at ANY time during Op Market Garden, it would have been on PEGASUS 1...... a month after the battle in October, where the famous Americans who became known as THE BAND OF BROTHERS mopped up those PARA's hiding in and around the area and evacuated them over the Rhine.

If you could PM me his details I will be only to pleased to provide you with some detail on his service during the battle as I have the full record of all those that served on Operation Market Garden, all 11,515 multi force names which I have been working on for many many years to ensure accuracy of facts.

[mrclark303]

I will ping over a pm Gil, events recalled are from memory, so I could well have made an error regarding dates, bear with me, be in touch later on with the info I have.

Cheers, John.

[Gil Boyd]

Hi John,

No worries, as I have the operational facts, which may assist in real provenance of the pistol for you. Shame as you say its been deactivated.

[browningautorifle]

THE BAND OF BROTHERS mopped up those PARA's hiding in and around the area and evacuated them over the Rhine.

And the men operating the boats were from the Canadian Engineer Regt from Chilliwack BC, a camp I've been to and lived at many times. One of their more famous feats... When I joined up, there were still men serving that had been there...

This Hi Power is almost spot on for mine, except I'm quite certain mine had European walnut slabs...NICE!

[Brit plumber]

That's pretty neat. Probably from the last month or 2 of production.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Is there a reliable resource for approximate date of manufacture using the serial number?

[mike1967]

[QUOTE=browningautorifle;378873]And the men operating the boats were from the Canadian Engineer Regt from Chilliwack BC, a camp I've been to and lived at many times. One of their more famous feats... When I joined up, there were still men serving that had been there...

If memory serves me correct the COs name was Tucker.

[browningautorifle]

the COs name was Tucker

I can't say about that, are you referring to the Engineers? I also have seen an M1 Thompson that came back. American carried, German captured, Canadian captured and returned here. All names carved in the wood.