Glasgow Reservist Recreates Grandfather’s WWII Journey in Netherlands

An Army reservist from Glasgow, Colour Sergeant James Gould, recently commemorated the 81st anniversary of his grandfather’s involvement in World War II by visiting a battlefield in the Netherlands. Gould retraced the steps of his grandfather, Private Thomas Polson, who fought against Nazi forces in the critical Operation Infatuate, which aimed to liberate the island of Walcheren in November 1944.

During this poignant visit, Gould, 51, and fellow reservists engaged in a battlefield study, reflecting on the significant challenges faced by Allied troops. “It was incredible to walk the same ground my grandad did,” Gould remarked. Polson was part of a larger effort during the Battle of the Scheldt, a crucial operation designed to secure the port of Antwerp for Allied supplies.

Private Polson rarely spoke of his wartime experiences, choosing instead to lead a quiet life after the war as a hairdresser in Edinburgh, where he passed away in 1999. The assault on Walcheren involved intense fighting in flooded conditions as British and Canadian forces sought to overpower German defenses. Allied troops faced formidable obstacles, including a fortified hotel known as the Hotel Britannia, which served as the German command center. The hotel was liberated after a week of fierce combat, culminating in the surrender of Oberst Reinhardt and approximately 600 German soldiers on November 3, 1944.

Gould highlighted the personal significance of this battlefield study, stating, “It wasn’t just a professional exercise; it was personal.” He emphasized that standing where his grandfather once fought deepened his appreciation for the sacrifices made during the war. In 1994, Polson returned to the Netherlands to attend commemorative events marking the 50th anniversary of the operation.

The impact of military values extended beyond the battlefield for Gould’s family. Polson remained an Army reservist after the war, and Gould believes his grandfather’s disciplined approach influenced his career as a barber, where he owned three shops in Portobello. “He took some of that Army precision with him, the discipline, the care, the attention to detail,” Gould noted.

Gould’s own journey in the military began in 1996 when he joined the Army reserves at the age of 21 while training to become a baker. His decision was spontaneous, inspired by a chance encounter with a recruitment office in Glasgow. Over nearly three decades, he has served in various capacities, including operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, he serves as the Regimental Mentoring Support Officer for 6 SCOTS, focusing on recruitment, mentoring, and community engagement.

In his exploration of family military history, Gould discovered that his great-grandfather, Charles Fisher, also served in the armed forces, fighting in the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I. He is actively collaborating with the Royal Scots Museum to piece together the stories of four generations of his family. “It’s fascinating to uncover more of their story,” he said. “It really makes you realize how strong the link between service and family can be.”

Reflecting on his recent battlefield visit, Gould expressed a profound sense of continuity with his family’s military past. “It’s quite something to see that picture now and realize I’ve stood in the same place,” he remarked. He underscored the importance of history in understanding present-day military service, stating, “You can’t understand what we do now without understanding what they did then – and to carry that legacy forward means a lot.”