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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 783284 | 1 | COs conference 0900 hrs. Quiet and uneventful day weather dull and inclined to be wet. CM OP sent in 5 shell & 7 mortar reps. Two patrols went out during night 31/1, a contact patrol with Norfolks and a recce patrol from D Coy whose object was to establish firm base at 798289 and find out if enemy where in area 803288. Recce patrol went to 802290 and saw 4 enemy crossing railway from East to West but otherwise nothing to report. Patrol had a tragic ending, owing to a misunderstanding the forward recce party were fired upon by the people at the firm base, killing a Serjeant. | ||
| 2 | CO held conference 0900 hrs. Another quiet day. CM OF submitted 12 shell and 12 mortar reps but no shells or mortars fell in Bn area. A recce patrol provided by C Coy went out during night 1/2 to discover if enemy occupied houses at 792285 & if there were mines in area of wood 791285. Patrol did not reach houses as they heared noises coming from there & noticed that tracks in the vicinity were in constant use. Track was prodded form 200 yds from 792284 but no mines were found. A & D Coys supplied mine laying parties, A Coy carrying out their task according to plan but D Coy were not so fortunate. An enemy patrol was encountered causing 2 casualties so the party withdrew without laying mines. Weather during the day was dull and cold. | |||
| 3 | A quiet night. COs O Gp 0830 hrs followed by a recce party, consisting of CO & Coy Comds leaving Bn HQ at 0930 hrs to make a recce of a position East of OVERLOON & returning at 1330 hrs. Representatives of SOUTH LANCS arrived at Bn HQ 1500 hrs, inspected Coy posns, & left at 1645 hrs. CO held a further O GP at 1830 hrs. Counter Mortar OP had a comparatively slack day owing to less enemy mortar & shell activity, sending in 4 shell & 4 mortar reps. Standing patrols were out during night 2/3 but had nothing to report. Weather again cold, rain beginning to fall at 1830 hrs & continuing through the night. An RCs service was held at RAP at 1200 hrs. | |||
| 784321 | 4 | Bn began at 0900 hrs to move to new location opposite SMAKT, at present occupied by 1 KOSB our post being taken over by SOUTH LANCS. The complete change over was effected by 1200 hrs. Enemy shells & mortars fell in forward Coy areas during afternoon & early evening & CM OP established in Bn HQ area, submitted 1 shell & 9 mortar reps. Standing patrols were out during night 3/4 but had nothing to report. Weather cold & dull. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 784321 | 5 | Another quiet night. CO held conference 0900 hrs. Brigadier visited Bn HQ 0930 hrs & made a tour of the Coy posns. Baths were arranged for the Bn & MO held foot inspection. Enemy shells & mortars fell in Bn area at intervals throughout the day, CM OF obtaining 10 shell & 8 mortars reps. 3 standing & 1 recce patrol were out during night 4/5 but revealed nothing of importance. Patrols did observe two green verey lights fired by enemy which may have indicated his shells were falling short. Weather during day cold & dull. A party left Bn HQ for 48 hrs in Brussels. | ||
| 6 | Rain fell throughout night. A Coy LINCOLNS were relieved by C Coy during the morning. An exceptionally quiet day, no enemy shells or mortars falling in Bn area, CM OP submitting no reps. 2 standing & 1 recce patrol were out during night 5/6. The recce patrol from A Coy & B Coy's standing patrol had nothing to report but D Coy's patrol heared a noise which sounded like a small rail car, coming from the railway in front of them. Again a very cold day but dry. | |||
| 7 | Once again a quiet night. COS O GP at 1400 hrs. Representatives from LINCOLNS arrived at Bn HQ at 1500 hrs prior to taking over Bn posns. Another very quiet day CM OP again having nothing to report. Weather was rough with occasional storms, very cold. 2 standing & 3 recce patrols went out during night 6/7. 1 recce patrol reported hearing voices coming from 793312, another recce patrol, reported bridge at 791312 as concrete & intact & bridge at 791307 concrete & blown. Other patrols had nothing to report. | |||
| 8 | Another quiet night. At 0830 hrs D Coy observed 6 enemy crossing their front, opened fire & scared the enemy off. Occasional shelling in Bn area by enemy Infantry gun. CM OP obtained & submitted several shell & mortar reps. Standing & recce patrols were out during 7/8 but had nothing to report. Weather again cold with hail & rain. O GP 1600 hrs | SEE MOVE ORDER No12 | ||
| 726380 | 9 | Bn relieved by 2 LINCOLNS, change over beginning at 0930 hrs & completed by 1600 hrs. Bn came out of the line to a rest area, a mile South East of ST ANTHONIS. Move was carried out in appalling weather, rain, hail & sleet which was almost continuous throughout the day. A party left for Brussels at 0830 hrs. During night 8/9 2 standing & 2 recce patrols were out but revealed nothing of importance. | SEE O.O. No 10 | |
| 10 | Rain throughout night continuing cold & stormy during day. Admin being carried out during |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 726380 | 10 | Bn's rest period. Several parties visited cinema & ENSA shows during afternoon & evening. CO held conference 1730 hrs. | ||
| 11 | Weather cold but fine. REME inspection of Bn vehicles. parties visited various entertainment in vicinity. MO carried out a further foot inspection. Party visited TAF , inspecting TEMPEST & TYPHOON aircraft. Party to Corps Rest Camp. | |||
| 12 | Weather cold & stormy. Bn had bath day. Church parades were held for RCs & CEs. Party left at 0830 hrs for 24 hrs at Div Club. | |||
| 13 | Weather again cold & wet. REME inspection of Bn motor cycles. War Office controlled stores check. Party left for Div Club. Representatives of 2 LINCOLNS visited billets prior to taking over Bn position. Recce party to new location left Bn HQ 0915 hrs returning at 1200 hrs. O Group 1500 hrs. | SEE MOVE ORDER No13 | ||
| 771324 | 14 | Inter Bn relief carried out, Bn taking over posn occupied by 1 KOSB, about half a mile in rear of the position opposite SMAKT. Move began at 0830 hrs & was completed by 1300 hrs. During the afternoon Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. MONTGOMERY KCB DSO visited Div HQ & distributed decorations awarded for recent battles. The four members of the Bn receiving decorations were Capt MONTGOMERY MC, C/Sjt SHARKEY DCM, Cpl REID MM, and Rfn CHARLES MM. A group photograph was taken of the recipients with the C-in-C & GOC, the recipients subsequently receiving a photograph. A party left for Div Club at 0820 hrs. CM OP established at Bn HQ submitted 3 mortar reps. Weather still cold & stormy. | ||
| 15 | CO & 2 i/c carried out an inspection of Coy posns during morning. At 1700 hrs CO & IO went to Bde O Gp and it was disclosed that a renewed attack was to be made upon the enemy bridgehead West of the MEUSE. The attack was to be initiated from the South and each Division taking part was to attack in a North Easterly direction with the object of assaulting the enemy defences from a flank. With 3 Br Inf Div this meant that 9 Br Inf Bde who would probably launch the attack, had to move to posns South of VENRAY, relieve units of 11 Armd Div and this Bn was allotted the area of HELDE-VEULEN, partially occupied by 3 RTR. A party left for Div Club before proceeding to Brussels. Another party visited a Cinema show in HEIMOND. CM OP sent in 4 mortar and 1 shell rep. Weather cold but fine. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 771324 | 16 | Enemy shells fell in Bn area at 0200 hrs. CO held conference 0900 hrs and then spoke to all coys on the War situation since D day and up to the present time, - The favourable way in which Bn casualties compared with other units - Importance of Christianity and also Brussels leave. 2 i/c and IO went on recce of new area during the afternoon. A very quiet day no shell or mortar reps being submitted. Parties went to Div Club and a concert at Gemert. Weather again cold but fine. A white frost overnight. | ||
| 17 | Enemy shells fell in Bn area at 0700 hrs. CM OP had a slightly busier day obtaining 8 shell and 1 mortar rep. Again parties were despatched to Div Club & a concert at GEMERT, also a party left for Corps Rest Camp. Authority for promotion of Sjt DYER of A tk pl to commissioned rank came through today. Another white frost overnight, weather cold throughout day, rain beginning to fall at 1630 and continuing all night. | |||
| 18 | Enemy shells fell in Bn area between 0630 and 0700 hrs. Coy Comds on recce of new area at 1400 hrs returning at 1700 hrs. O Gp at 1800 hrs. CM OP sent in 3 shell & 3 mortar reps. Party visited concert at GEMERT during the afternoon. Weather fine. | MOVE ORDER No 14 | ||
| 19 | Bn moved to new area by march route, the first Coy leaving at 1010 & Bn in posn by 1400 hrs. It was an unpleasant march owing to the muddy state of roads & tracks but vehicles made the journey without any casualties. A CM OP was established on arrival & submitted several mortar & shell reps. Weather fine. | |||
| 20 | CO's conference 0900 hrs. Mortars fell in Bn area causing two casualties. CM OP obtained 15 shell & 8 mortar reps. Party visited HELMOND and saw a play, another party left for 24 hrs at Div Club. Weather wet throughout day. | |||
| 21 | Shells landed in Bn area between 0615 & 0645 hrs. CO held conference 0900 hrs. Church services were held for RCs at 1030 hrs & CEs 1130 hrs. Baths were arranged for the Bn. An O Gp was held at 1800 hrs. Bn area was again shelled from 2000 hrs to 2350 hrs causing two casualties in D Coy. CM OP sent in 2 shell & 7 mortar reps. A patrol was sent out by B Coy under Lt EWART to find out (a) if bridge at 763209 is suitable for marching tps & vehs (b) Width & depth of ditch from br 763209 to 763213 (c) condition of track from X rds 758216 to br 763209. The required infm was obtained under the most difficult conditions. Weather milder than of late but inclined to be stormy. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 771324 | 22 | Bn area shelled fairly frequently between 0300 & 0500 hrs. CO held conference at 0900 hrs & then attended Bde O Gp at 1000 hrs. It was learned that patrols from 2 LINCOLNS had visited objectives, which were to be taken on the following day, & reported them clear of enemy. An O Gp was held at 1500 hrs. Comparatively little shelling or mortaring was experienced during the day, only 3 shell & 1 mortar rep being submitted. Rain throughout the day. | See O.O No 11 | |
| 23 | Quiet night. Previous plans altered owing to 1 KOSB & 2 LINCOLNS taking the Bn objective but Bn stood by at 1 hrs notice to move during the day because it was thought that we might be required to pass through the KOSB & go forward to more advanced objectives, but mines & road blocks had slowed their progress & although tney met no enemy, it was darkness before they had reached our original objective. Shells fell in Bn area between 1830 & 1900 hrs. Again a wet day & Bn was fortunate i being able to remain under cover for the whole day. | SEE MOVE ORDER No 15 | ||
| 822233 | 24 | CO held conference 0900 hrs. Bn at 1 hrs notice to move. At 1000 hrs new was received that Bn would move at 1200 hrs to KLEINERLOO, recce party leaving at 1145 hrs. Bn moved to new area & Coys were in posn by 1430 hrs. Two American airmen were brought to Bn HQ at 1700 hrs by member of local resistance movement. Airmen were shot down while attacking VENLO almost 2 months ago & had been in hiding since. A German deserter belonging to 2/20 PARA Regt gave himself up to C Coy. Bde O Gp was held at 1800 hrs & Bn O GP at 1930 hrs. A party left for 48 hrs at Corps Rest Camp. Weather stormy throughout day particularly so while move was taking place. | ||
| 25 | Enemy mortars fell in Bn area during night. C Coy moved from MOLENHOEK to 852244. A very quiet day, no enemy shells or mortars falling in Bn area. A party left Bn HQ at 1500 hrs to spend the night at Div Club and then proceed to Brussels on the 26th. C Coy & the Carrier pl were both forward of their posns during the night 24/25. Their posn was close to the line of the BEEK & their role was to prevent any infiltration of the enemy across the WANSSUM canal before the tps moving Northwards from HORST could cover the ground to our East. The Carrier Pl had a particularly difficult night, it was extremely dark & as a small body of men some distance forward of our nearest posns the utmost vigilance had to be maintained by every man throughout the night, as enemy were reported either by the Carriers or C Coy who were more comfortably situated near the canal about half a mile further North. During today 15 Scottish Division occupied TIENRAI & subsequently pushed North to |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 822233 | 25 | BLITERSWIJK on the MAAS thus clearing all enemy to our immediate East. We were thus released from our commitments on the BEEK & C Coy & the Carrier pl were withdrawn to their original posns. Weather again stormy. | ||
| 26 | A very quiet night. C Coy reported having seen rockets fired from posn 810230 at 0620 Hrs. C of E Service was held at 1100 hrs, the Brigadier attending, and RC Service held at 1200 hrs. There was enemy air activity between 1800 & 2000 hrs when a few bombs were dropped in VENRAY area. Weather quite fine. | |||
| 855254 | 27 | CO's conference 0900 hrs. News came through at 1100 hrs that Bn would move during night to MEERLO. Bn eventually moved at 1600 hrs & were in posn by 1900 hrs, A & D Coys in BLITTERSWIJK, B Coy in MEGELSUM & C Coy in MEERLO. Bn HQ was shelled between 2300 & 2345 hrs causing 4 casualties, at the same time B Coy area was also shelled causing 2 casualties & a 15 cwt completely destroyed. Some useful information was obtained from members of local resistance movement about enemy still in this area, which was forwarded to Bde. Weather fine but cold. | MOVE ORDER No 16 | |
| 28 | I OP established 872273 at 0830 hrs. Bde O Gp 0930 hrs. No shelling in Bn HQ area but OP reported considerable shelling & mortaring in A & D Coy areas. A patrol went to 854266 & clashed with enemy, after an exchange of shots & grenades enemy moved to house 853268. A patrol to MELLING was fired on by 2 MGS & rifles from 855271. Another patrol reported farm at 864273 occupied by 4 enemy & a spandau firing from there. A party left for A Echelon prior to proceeding to Brussels. Weather fine during morning but rain throughout afternoon & evening. | |||
| 29 | Quiet night. Occasional shelling during day in Bn HQ area. Enemy snipers & MGS active on A Coy's forward Pl front causing 3 casualties. A civilian who stated he had swam the MAAS on the previous evening was sent in by A Coy for interrogation & subsequently taken to Bde. Track between MEGELSUM & BLITTERSWIJK flooded at 869259 to a depth of 2 feet, water still rising. I OP manned at 0920 hrs received a direct hit at 1115 hrs, causing 1 casualty. New OP established 872273 obtaining a number of shell & mortar reps. Otherwise nothing to report. Weather fine. During the day a plan was evolved to eject the enemy from the remaining bridgehead he held between East WANNSUM & the MAAS. The CO held |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 855254 | 29 | conference with Coy Comds & gave orders as per Appendix. Much valuable time was spent in reconnaissance & comds at every level had plenty of opportunity to observe the ground over which they were to fight. | SEE O.O. No12 | |
| 30 | Zero hour was at 0500 hrs and soon odd bursts of spandau and shots of rifle fire were heared from Advanced Bn HQ. At 0545 the first reports came through from the two leading Coys. Both had successfully breached the belt of wire which marked the outer ring of enemy defences. C Coy on the left found some R mines attached to the wire but these were disarmed by our Pioneer Pl & a breach made without difficulty. Opposite D Coy, however, the wire had attached to it some concealed charged, they were inaccessible without moving the wire & so the Pioneer Section working with D Coy had no alternative but to set them off. The explosion made an alarming noise but the strong wind must have concealed the sound and the enemy did not apparently hear it. breach was then made by the Pioneer Pl and the first Platoon passed through. It was clear from the nature of the weather and the ground that this attack would not be an easy one. The night was clear and a strong wind kept the sky free of clouds & allowed a bright moon to shine down with unabated intensity. The ground on both sectors was extremely flat, & opposite C Coy quite devoid of cover so that in the moonlight the advance would plainly be frought with difficulties. At 0545 the leading Platoon having advanced along the WANSSUM RD came under heavy machine gun fire from the orchard on the left of the rd & houses on the right hand side. This little settlement is named HELLING & soon it proved to be strongly held. The Coy Comd, Major MURPHY, appreciating what had happened from his Headquarters by the wire, ordered a second platoon to work up the left flank along the edge of the flooded BEEK. This Platoon had worked forward with success to a point almost level with the first platoon on the rd when it too was pinned by close range MG fire from the Western corner of the orchard. Plainly the German had the ground well traversed by fire & that the moonlight allowed him a complete view of our tactical manoeuvres. Thereupon Major MURPHY decided to withdraw these two platoons to the original joining up position in order to bring mortar & artillery fire to bear upon the stubborn position. Great work was done by the Company runner Rfn BEATTIE in transmitting this message to the two platoon comds under heavy MG fire. On the right however it was unfortunate that just after receiving this message Sjt HAMMERSLYY, the Platoon Comd, was wounded & evacuated, and it seems fairly certain that the order to withdraw never reached one section of his platoon or the Pioneer pl Comd, LT SHIMMIN, and his seven Pioneers who had closely followed up the right hand platoon. At all events only five men from the platoon and no pioneers returned to the forming up position. Subsequently Major MURPHY observed five riflemen being taken back under German escort, |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 855254 | 30 | one carrying a Red Cross flag and another a stretcher from HELLING to WANSSUM. Later Lt SHIMMIN and Sjt RAFFERTY were also seen going back under German escort, and that afternoon a civilian told us that he had witnessed the passage of 15 British soldiers through WANSSUM, 3 of whom were walking wounded. Six graves were subsequently discovered in the orchard at HELLING where our dead had been buried by the local Dutchmen. C Coys casualties in this action were 6 killed, 4 wounded and 12 missing, while the Pioneer Pl lost 1 Offr and 7 ORs missing. On the left, D Coy under comd of Major BIRD were more successful. At 0415 the Coy moved from BLITTERSWIJK and its defensive commitments from North to West were taken over by A Coy and at 0545 the leading platoon passed through the wire and set off towards the first objective, the some 300 yards West of the breach in the wire. A spandau opened up in the direction of this party at close range but hurt nobody, and Lt CAMPBELL the platoon comd led his men forward in a charge upon this position but found it abandoned complete with spandau and panzerfaust. The second platoon under Lt HANCOCK had a similar experience in the left hand edge of the wood. Coming under intense MG fire from the wood, they advanced into the wood using the same tactics of throwing a grenade and then rushing the position. This was done with great initiative and dash, but has the wood came thicker so progress became slower, and when they finally reached the objective it was to find that the enemy had fled. The third platoon was now ordered forward by the coy commander, and, having survived without a casualty a severe spell of German harassing fire along its line of approach, this platoon under Sgt. BROWN advanced without further difficulty to the coys. first objective. Nor was there any further trouble in gaining the second objective, a wood some distance North West of the Windmill. The third objective, a wood to the left to the second was, however, not so easily gained. Two or three German positions were located and attacked with 2" Mortars and PIAT fire but not until two platoons had launched a joint attack was this stubborn resistance broken. Not until the end did the Germans leave, but then they left in a great hurry abandoning weapons and equipment. Now it was fully daylight it soon became clear that although the Boche had given ground before the determination of D coys attacks, he retained a perimeter defence of WANSSUM, which he had as yet no intention of giving up. D coy were now established firmly in the Western end of the woods south of the WANSSUM - BLITTERSWIJK road but two or three wooded areas to the North of the road were known to contain Boche. Between WANSSUM and D coy the enemy ejected from the woods, had reorganized his defences in the area of a house some 700 yards away. Nor was there any evidence of withdrawal from the vicinity of HELLING. Equally plainly no further movement in daylight was possible for our troops, in view of the flat and open character of the ground. Therefore a plan was made by Lt. Col. HARRIS to renew the |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 855254 | 30 | attack by night, employing a third coy which was to attack in a North Westerly direction from a point South West of D coys wood. Extensive reconnaissance was carried out by it Comd Capt GAFFIKIN and his platoon comds but not much of the ground could be seen and the frequent doses of mortar and shell fire increased difficulties. More information and assistance was in fact obtained from air photographs. Finally a plan was evolved (see appendix). Meanwhile C and D coys had continued to be offensive. Accurate mortar fire and several "MIKE" targets were put down on HELLING. D coy spent the rest of the day sniping at the Germans, Rfn HOPPER killed or wounded six with a sniper's rifle and Rfn. ROBERTS two more. On his side the Boche continuously shelled our positions and occasionally harassed them with MG fire. |