Lt. Eric Kiaer 3 Commando

Lt. Eric Kiaer KIA 06/06/44

During research on 3Cdo I have received information from Stanley Kiaer, brother of Eric. Stanley has identified Eric in a photo in the gallery that shows Eric sat next to John Pooley. I have cropped this photo to include Peter Young, John Pooley and Eric Kiaer and have attached it to this post. Information in this post has been kindly provided by Stanley Kiaer.

Eric was originally in No 10 Independent Company (IC) before moving to No 2 IC then No 4 IC and 3Cdo.

Eric was a POW in Italy and escaped (with others) walking the length of the Apennines for 3 months before reaching allied lines (this was mentioned in dispatches). There was a joke in 3Cdo that Eric was lazy as this was only a short walk!!

After escape from POW camp Eric was in Holding Commando in Wrexham when he heard about plans for an invasion of Europe at which point he volunteered for this action.

An account of the Action in which Eric was killed can be found on page 311 of March Past by Lord Lovat.

Eric was brother to Leslie (10th Para Battalion 3 Platoon) KIA in Arnhem shortly after Eric?s death. Eric?s Brother in law was Max Harper-Gow.

Thanks again to Stanley Kiaer for this account and please let us know if you have any further information about Eric Kiaer.

Regards

Nick

Hi Nick

Thanks for this posting. I have included some of the details from your forum message in the No.3 Cdo In Remembrance album where you posted the photo. I have also updated the photo so it only shows Eric and included some details from the CWGC entry. Thanks to Stanley for providing the information.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/3/3+cdo+fallen/Lt_+Eric+Kiaer.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Nick

You may want to mention to Stanley that we also have a photo of his brother's grave at Bayeux

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/BAYEUX+Cemetery/3+cdo+graves/E_+KIAER.jpg.html

Hi Pete

thanks for for cropping the pic that looks much better. I will send a copy of the picture of Erics grave to Stanley too. Stanley is going to look into Erics service in more detail so he may have more information for the forum in the future.

Nick