On 11th January La Roche-en-Ardennes south and east of the River Ourthe is captured by XXX Corps’ 51st Highland Division. On the other side of the Ourthe US 1st Army clears the area of enemy.
At Bande (between La Roche-en-Ardennes and Rochefort) 1st Canadian Battalion, who were working with the 6th Airborne, discover the bodies of 34 civilians massacred by German troops on Christmas Eve.
Colonel Brownrigg continues his account of the deeds of Lieutenant Spreag:
“The next dayLieutenant Spreag, now with Lieutenant Abercrombie, walked 20 miles through shocking country beset with mines to contact the British Divisions to the north. When they reached the Airborne Brigadier* he was so impressed that he at once offered them jobs. By the end of their two-day two-man operation they had walked over 50 miles.”
*Possibly Brigadier Edwin Flavell of 6th Airlanding Brigade or Brigadier James Hill of 3rd Parachute Brigade or Brigadier Nigel Poett of 5th Parachute Brigade who were involved in the Battle of Bure (see Senior Officers of 6th Airborne Division with Field Marshal Montgomery .)
On 12th January – British and US forces link up in Roche-en-Ardennes.
The US 1st Army capture villages a few kilometres north of Houffalize and establish a bridgehead near Malmedy.
‘Despite the snow, the cold, the landmines and the roadblocks, as well as German defensive actions, the British troops continued their advance and hampered the withdrawal plans of the German troops, trying to escape from the pincer movement of the Allied armies.’
(From The British in the Battle of the Ardennes and Brits in the Ardennes.)
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