Lieutenant Eric Kiaer

Lt. Eric Kiaer 3 Commando KIA 06/06/44. Picture cropped from a photo in the gallery after he was identfied by his brother Stanley. Eric was originally in No 10 Independent Company (IC) before moving to No 2 IC then No 4 IC and No. 3 Cdo. He 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 his escape and return, 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 to Stanley Kiaer for this account and please let us know if you have any further information about Eric Kiaer.

The above details and posting courtesy of Nick Birkinshaw who can be contacted with any information via the forum.

In Memory of Lieutenant 130209 ERIC ARNOLD KIAER
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)and No. 3, Commando
who died on 06 June 1944. His brother Leslie Herbert Sonne Kiaer also fell.
Remembered with honour at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

(CWGC details added by Pete R.)