War Diary: 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

Month and year: September 1944

The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment September 1944 war diary covers a rapid advance from the Somme through Belgium, seizing Scheldt bridges at Termonde, assault crossing of the Albert Canal and moving to Holland, where the battalion fought to capture and hold Bemmel near Nijmegen.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1398

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WO 171/1398 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

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Page 1 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
FRANCE	1	0730	Bn continued pursuit of retreating enemy and moved to area PET CAGNY	B/1
1/100000 Sheet 14			SOUTH of AMIENS, later pushing on to WARFUSEE ABANCOURT 3054 with "B" Coy on bridges over SOMME at SAILLY LAURETTE 3258.
" " 10	2	0014	Bn moved to fresh concentration area RIVIERE 4093 arriving 1930 hrs in heavy rain. Rfts 3 offrs and 156 ORs arrived,
	3	a.m.	Rn left RIVIERE and moved to ARRAS arriving 1330 hrs. Bn at short notice to move on. Several reports of enemy stragglers investigated by carrier
			patrols without result. Percentage of bn allowed in town during evening. Fine day.
BELGIUM Ref Map	4	0630	Move forward to TOURNAI where bn concentrated with possible role of defence of town or further move. 1330 hrs bn continued as advance guard to Bde	B/2
1/100000 Sheet 7			GP via NINOVE to ALOST where tumultuous welcome given by civilians. Bn took up positions covering approaches to ALOST from NORTH and NORTH-WEST
8 and 3			and sent "B" Coy gp forward to TERMONDE to seize bridges over SCHELDT. Same enemy still about but no trouble caused and bridges area occupied.
			"D" Coy later moved to TERMONDE area. Bn continued occupation of area HOFSTADE-GYSEGEM-TERMONDE patrolling NORTH
	5		and WEST. Enemy contacted at ZELE and engaged. Carrier patrol to BRUGSCHEN surprised approx 250 enemy with H.T. resting. Carriers killed
			4 and took 147 P.W. Further 85 enemy incl one offr who ran away were later rounded up. Other isolated gps of stragglers were collected by local
			resistance personnel and handed over. Total PW 326 incl 5 offrs. Prisoners handed over incl one agent carrying collection of passports and
			identity documents as well as complete German offr's uniform. Fine weather.
Sheet 3	6		CO took control of local resistance movements in TERMONDE area, co-ordinated
			work of O.F., Armee Belgique, and local gendarmerie. No contact with enemy. Fine weather continued, Carrier patrol to WILLEBRUCK - no contact.
	7	1730	Bn moved to WESTERLOO024808 arriving 080300 hrs.

Page 2 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	8		Orders for assault crossing of ALBERT CANAL to widen bridgehead already
			made against considerable opposition by 6 & 7 GREEN HOWARDS. Bn to cross canal an left flank of other bns and to clear up enemy strongpoints in
			village of HET PUNT. Bn moved to assembly area 029884.
	8-9		Assault crossing of ALBERT CANAL. Complete surprise achieved and operation
			successful. 2 offrs and 48 ORs PW taken and 10 men of GREEN HOWARDS recaptured from enemy. Bridgehead extended to WEST during morning. Bn	C, E
			HQ 042861.
	10		Little enemy activity on bn front except for snipers and small parties of infantry. Quiet night.
	11		Enemy counter-attack to right of bn sector was repulsed. Enemy on bn front move active and shelling increased. Capt. E. J. CREWS died of wounds	B/3, B/4
	12		Fine day. Enemy inactive. 2130 hrs bn relieved by 7 SEAFORTH and withdrew over canal to area 0874	B/5, B/6
BELGIUM	13		0830 hrs bn moved to BEERINGEN 2375 to take over close protection of	B/7
Ref Map 1/100000			ALBERT CANAL bridges from 1 DORSET of 231 Bde. No enemy activity except for two bombs dropped 2030 hrs. Fine day.	B/8
Sheet 4	14,15 16,17	) )	Bn remained same location - reorganisation and rest. Bde Cond inspected three coys. Baths, theatre and cinema arranged.
	19 20	) )	Bn remained in assembly area. Weather fine. Plans for move forward and final task completed.	B/9, B/10 B/11
Sheet 1/100000	21		Move 1600 hrs made very slow progress until Bde given priority on road and bn finally arrived NIJMEGEN area at 221400 hrs.
HOLLAND Sheet 5	22		Bn took over task of close protection of NIJMEGEN bridges from bn of 43 Div. Bn HQ 710635.	B/12
	23		Enemy aircraft active in bridge area at 0930 hrs. Showery.	B/13, B/14
	24		1130 hrs bn ordered to attack through WELSH GUARDS to capture BEMMEL.	B/15

Page 3 of 3

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	Attack timed for 1600 hrs. Little information about enemy. Two coys
	"B" & "D" forward met considerable opposition on southern outskirts of village and advance was held up. Active patrolling and local fighting
	during night and plans made for fresh attack a.m. 25 Sep.
25	0700 hrs attack on BEMMEL was renewed from the WEST with "C" and "A" Coys	B/16, B/17, B/18
	forward. "C" Coy successful and attained objective with help of tanks of WELSH GUARDS. 84 PW taken and many casualties inflicted on enemy. "A"
	Coy met stronger opposition and were assisted by "D" Coy moving up from SOUTH By 1800 hrs bn was established in BEMMEL,
26	Bn remained in BEMMEL with enemy active on NORTH and EAST. Positions reorganised slightly for better defence. Enemy shelling of village	B/19, B/20
	continued throughout day and night.
27	1500 hrs "A" Coy attacked EAST to clear enemy as far as 744 Easting.
	Attack successful and 9 PW taken. 233 Fd Coy came under comd to assist in holding the increased bn area.	B/21, B/22
28	Bn remained same locations. Enemy shelling increased and some SP guns were active. Own patrolling established presence of enemy to EAST in some	B/23, B/24
	strength.
29	Bn HQ moved to 730676.
30	No change in locations. Enemy attack on "A" and "G" Coy fronts was	B/25
	preceded by extremely heavy artillery preparation. Enemy repulsed with heavy losses and own positions remained intact. Quiet night.	B/30, B/31, D