WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944
– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg
Date 19th Place ELST
‘The Commander of 1 Canadian Corps* visited the unit this morning as did the Divisional Commander Major General L.O.LYNE DSO.
A “V.2” Rocket was seen being launched from NORTH of ARNHEM.
The Sappers started mine laying tonight. An accident regrettably resulted in two men being killed and four wounded.’
*Lt-General Charles Foulkes. 1 Canadian Corps had been fighting in Italy - at Monte Cassino and the assaults on the Gothic and Rimini lines. In February 1945 they joined 1 Canadian Army to complete the liberation of the Netherlands, taking Arnhem in April 1945.
Eric Brewer was : “Still in the same place and plenty of water…Gerry shelling and mortar, also Spando. The infantry sappers laid a minefield tonight.”
On 20th November he recorded: “things are still bad. Another two chaps went ill, I feel pretty bad, all the chaps feel the same. The infantry are still laying mines – one chap dropped one and got his foot blown off. The shrapnel just missed us.”
(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)
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