The Sanatorium in Son
In 1944 the town of Son had a catholic hospital called ‘Sanatorium Heilige Hart van Jesus’ (Holy hart of Jesus).
The hospital treated people who suffered from TB and had about 100 patients. On 17 September thousands of paratroopers
and gliders landed on the fields just north of Son. Bringing in gliders with a medical detachment. The detachment consisted
of 52 men of the 326 Airborne Medical Company. Just after landing, they set up field hospitals and temporary aid stations on
the drop-and landingzones.
In 1944 the town of Son had a catholic hospital called ‘Sanatorium Heilige Hart van Jesus’ (Holy hart of Jesus).
The hospital treated people who suffered from TB and had about 100 patients. On 17 September thousands of paratroopers
and gliders landed on the fields just north of Son. Bringing in gliders with a medical detachment. The detachment consisted
of 52 men of the 326 Airborne Medical Company. Just after landing, they set up field hospitals and temporary aid stations on
the drop-
In the meantime, the 506 PIR was moving into the town of Son to capture the bridge over the
Wilhelmina canal. Second and third battalion entered Son through the main street leading up to
the bridge, but were held up by an 88mm gun at the Aloysius boys school. First battalion
experienced some heavy resistance on the west side of Son. They came out the woods just
behind the Sanatorium and got hit by 88mm guns positioned close to the canal. The 88mm guns
fired into the treeline and made a lot of casualties.
When the paratroopers finally reached the bridge over the Wilhelmina canal it was blown up by
the Germans. Blowing metal and wood sky high and swept many troopers of their feet.
During the fighting, the friars of the Sanatorium were already evacuating the patients, bringing
them to a safer place. When the division discovered that there was a hospital in town, they
decided quickly to move the aid-stations from the dropzone towards the Sanatorium.
Early in the afternoon, the first wounded were being treated.
Inside the hospital five operating rooms were prepared to treat the seriously wounded. In the
garden of the Sanatorium, tents were set up with a big red cross on top. On the first day of
Market Garden, 107 patients were treated at the hospital.
At the hospital in Son over 2600 operations were carried out. After four months the Americans
decided to move their hospital to Nijmegen, leaving the Santorium behind. Until 1958 the
Sanatorium was a convent. It was renamed to ‘huize Zonhove’ and treated people with multiple
handicaps. In the 1980’s, the building was demolished and replaced by small groups of houses.
Just after the fighting in 1944, a friar of the Sanatorium placed a white cross in the garden, on
the spot where American paratroopers lost their life. Years later, the cross was replaced by a
monument.
Wilhelmina canal. Second and third battalion entered Son through the main street leading up to
the bridge, but were held up by an 88mm gun at the Aloysius boys school. First battalion
experienced some heavy resistance on the west side of Son. They came out the woods just
behind the Sanatorium and got hit by 88mm guns positioned close to the canal. The 88mm guns
fired into the treeline and made a lot of casualties.
When the paratroopers finally reached the bridge over the Wilhelmina canal it was blown up by
the Germans. Blowing metal and wood sky high and swept many troopers of their feet.
During the fighting, the friars of the Sanatorium were already evacuating the patients, bringing
them to a safer place. When the division discovered that there was a hospital in town, they
decided quickly to move the aid-
Inside the hospital five operating rooms were prepared to treat the seriously wounded. In the
garden of the Sanatorium, tents were set up with a big red cross on top. On the first day of
Market Garden, 107 patients were treated at the hospital.
At the hospital in Son over 2600 operations were carried out. After four months the Americans
decided to move their hospital to Nijmegen, leaving the Santorium behind. Until 1958 the
Sanatorium was a convent. It was renamed to ‘huize Zonhove’ and treated people with multiple
handicaps. In the 1980’s, the building was demolished and replaced by small groups of houses.
Just after the fighting in 1944, a friar of the Sanatorium placed a white cross in the garden, on
the spot where American paratroopers lost their life. Years later, the cross was replaced by a
monument.
Photo: the cross placed by the friar and the new
monument. ‘To them, who fell here, 17 Sept 1944’
monument. ‘To them, who fell here, 17 Sept 1944’
Photo: The Roman Catholic Sanatorium - Heilig Hart van Jesus (Holy Heart of Jesus)
Photo: the front entrance of the Sanatorium. Notice the soldiers of the 326 Airborne
Medical Company standing in the doorway.
Medical Company standing in the doorway.
Photo: the garden of the Sanatorium full of tents and ambulances.
Photo: ambulances and jeeps of the 326 AMC ready to pick up more wounded men.
Picture is taken in front of the Sanatorium.
Picture is taken in front of the Sanatorium.
Photo: a partial of an aerial picture showing the Sanatorium with red cross tents in the garden.
In front of the Aloysius boys school, bottom right, you see the 88mm gun position.
In front of the Aloysius boys school, bottom right, you see the 88mm gun position.
