Afferden

WAR DIARY of 52^nd (Lowland) Recce Regt RAC February 1945

– Lt Col J.B.A. Hankey OBE

Date 19^th     Place AFFERDEN 8038:             2 casualties              Weather – Wet

Strength - 932 men, 188 tanks/armoured cars/guns                

‘Quite heavy shelling and mortaring in whole area during night.  No casualties but ‘A’ Squadron lost a white scout car which was set on fire.  One OR (Other Rank) killed, and Captain Hedley, 2^nd in command ‘B’ Squadron slightly wounded by snipers.  ‘C’ Squadron took over from 1 G.H. (Green Howards?) in AFFERDEN.’

 

52^nd Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 19th March 1945:

Corporal Thomas Thomson (age 25)

and is laid to rest in the Milsbeek war cemetery near Gennep.

(See Roll of Honour for Milsbeek and Ottersum and photo.) 

We will remember them.

 

WAR DIARY of 52^nd (Lowland) Recce Regt RAC February 1945

– Lt Col J.B.A. Hankey OBE

Date 20^th Place AFFERDEN:          3 casualties              Weather – Wet

Strength - 929 men, 188 tanks/armoured cars/guns                

‘Again shelling and mortaring on Regimental front.  ‘A’ Squadron has three casualties by mortar fire.’  155 Brigade Operational Instruction No. 2 attached.

 

Date 21^st  Place AFFERDEN:          5 casualties              Weather – Fine

Strength - 924 men, 188 tanks/armoured cars/guns      

‘Still holding line and being mortared and shelled at intervals during day.  5 casualties including 2^nd in command of ‘A’ Squadron, Captain Hathaway.  3 stragglers* attached.  Prisoner of War taken by ‘B’ Squadron.  Future Operations Order issued.’ 157 Brigade O.O. No:10 attached.

*Stragglers are personnel (or vehicles, ships, aircraft) that have become separated from their unit, column, or formation without purpose.

 

Date 22^nd Place AFFERDEN:          1 casualty                 Weather – Fine

Strength - 923 men, 188 tanks/armoured cars/guns

‘Still holding line and being mortared and shelled as yesterday.  ‘B’ Squadron 1 fatal casualty.’  52 Recce Regiment Ops Instr No:2 attached.

(From the War Diary of the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

52^nd Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 22^nd February 1945:

Trooper John Greathead (age 21)

and is laid to rest in the Milsbeek war cemetery near Gennep.        

(See Roll of Honour for Milsbeek and Ottersum and photo.)

We will remember them.

 

(See also James McQuarrie’s of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Afferden.)