Chotie Darling

Hotton War Cemetery

4th January 1945 – the Allies continue their counter-offensive with the US 1^st Army advancing to the north of Houffalize so some units are only 15km away British XXX Corps attacking north-west of La Roche-en-Ardenne on the flank of the US troops.

6^th Armoured Division meet determined opposition at Bure (between Rochefort and Saint Hubert).

(From Brits in the Ardennes and The British in the Battle of the Ardennes.)

 

Corporal ‘Skip’ Ricketts of ‘A’ Squadron continues his account of the fighting at Wavreille:

“The following day the 7th Parachute Battalion and the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry joined to attack the village of Wavreille again. The tanks advanced across the open ground, firing as they went and the paratroops sprinted from position to position. Casualties were high, and we lost five tanks, but the village was captured.”

(Published in the 61st Recce Old Comrades Association newsletter.)

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on this day in 1945:        

        Sergeant Stanley Thomas Edwards (age 25) of Terriers, High Wycombe

        Corporal Gerald Trickett Metcalfe (age 22) of Great Eccleston, Lancashire

        Trooper John William Steward (age 29) of Bradford, Yorkshire

        Sergeant Alexander Young (age 25) of Peebles        

who are all laid to rest in Hotton War Cemetery , south of Liège, Belgium.

(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)

We will remember them.

 

Anthony Rampling recalled that Sargeant Alex Young formerly belonged to 43rd Recce and had survived the wreck of the Derrycunihy. 

 

Sandy Handley commented:

‘Sadly we had several casualties in the Ardennes but considering we were front line troops our casualties were light but one casualty was one too many.’

He ‘went back to the Ardennes in June 1992 with the old boys of 61st Recce and placed a posy on the graves of six men of our 61st Recce Regt who got killed whilst on patrol in the Ardennes.  Revisiting the Ardennes for this coachload of old comrades of the 61st Recce was nostalgic but this time we were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and lovely roads and this time it was summer.  What a contrast to the bitter cold of that winter of 1944/5 wondering what was waiting around the corner.’ (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

Roy Howard also visited Hotton War Cemetery – photos of the graves are featured in his book of the 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’.

Attacking with the 6th Airborne

On 3^rd December the Allies launched a major counter-offensive in the Ardennes.  Montgomery deployed XXX Corps from the north-west of the German salient and General Hodges’ US 1^st Army from the north, all aiming towards Houffalize in the centre of the ‘Bulge’.

The 6th Airborne Division, who had played a critical role in Normandy were the first of XXX Corps to attack, moving east through the Beauraing and Wellin area towards Bure.

61^st Recce were with them, carrying out reconnaissance in the area south of Rochefort. 

Corporal ‘Skip’ Ricketts of ‘A’ Squadron published this account of the action in the Old Comrades Association newsletter:

“By the morning of January 3rd 1945, the weather had become our worst enemy. We attacked on this day in a driving blizzard. Snow was falling continuously and the roads were ice-bound. Consequently, little progress was made, although the 6th Armoured Division reached the outskirts of Bure where the 13th Parachute Battalion and the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment became engaged in heavy fighting. Further North, at Wavreille, the 7th Parachute Battalion gained a footing in the town.

The approaches to Wavreille were reconnoitred by two Troops of the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment; under the command of Lieutenant M A Urban-Smith and Lieutenant W. Fling. They had with them a section of the Belgian Special Air Service mounted in Jeeps and bristling with machine guns. This section was commanded by a Sergeant who was a Belgian nobleman and who owned most of the land over which we were operating. Consequently, he was most anxious to assist in the expulsion of the Huns. Halfway to their objective they spotted some Germans coming up behind. They quickly opened fire and those who survived surrendered. Slogging on through snow and sleet, they reached the outskirts of Wavreille and immediately became violently engaged with the enemy. Aided by the Belgians, they drove the enemy from the village but were counter-attacked strongly and it became necessary to withdraw.”

(also published in ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

New Year's Eve dinners - Sunday 31st December 1944

As Usual

Sunday 31^st Dec.

Chotie Darling,

                                    Surprisingly enough I have another day free, so thought I’d write you a few more lines.

            As we were ‘working’ over Xmas, we had to postphone our Xmas dinner, and we are now looking forward to it tonight.  I’ve managed to get two bottles of whisky for about 22 shillings so we won’t go short of a wee nip, as all the other officers have the same ration.

            I’m sorry to say my mate Geoff Winzer (The Dooke) was rather badly wounded yesterday when doing a patrol that I had previously done some few days ago – Xmas Day I believe.  I haven’t seen him since – he’s miles back now of course – so I can’t say exactly how bad he is, but it’s reckoned he’ll be in dock for at least six to eight weeks.       

            Eric (Schoolmaster) Macey* and I share a room in a café in this little village**.  The people are very good to us here – we had lunch with them today, a glorious meal comprising soup with toast, a dish consisting of every conceivable vegetable mayonnaised with eggs and salmon, followed by boiled chicken, white sauce and mashed potatoes à la crème. The meal went on for hours and hours ending with coffee and cigars.  Having then assisted each other to rise from the table we had our photos taken in the snow outside.  I'm now resting preparatory to another bout at six-thirty tonight.

                I received a parcel from the Church yesterday which was very kind of them.  I’ll try to write them just as soon as I can, but I’m pretty pushed for time.

                I hope you received my cheque for Xmas – if it doesn’t arrive, let me know & I’ll send another.  As soon as I get a chance I’ll send you some ‘parfum’ or something – but there just aren’t any shops here.

                Have just re-read Huxley’s ‘Crome Yellow’*** - an excellent way of spending the odd minutes spare on patrol.

Well, Darling I’ve really nothing to write about – nothing I can tell you.  

Don’t swear on my getting leave will you?  I certainly can’t get home in under six weeks.

                                              All my love, Darling

                                                             Dicker

 

*see post for 29th December 1944.

**probably Honnay, between Beauraing and Wellin, south-west of Rochefort.

***the first novel by British author Aldous Huxley.

 

These photos are labelled ‘Honnay le 1.1.1945’ but fit the scene described in Dick’s letter for 31st December 1944.  Only the girls’ names are added to the label Esther, Lucienne and Victorine. The soldier next to Dick is presumably Lieutenant Eric Macey and Dick describes the other man as an ‘old boy like Joe Stalin’ in his 1945 diary where he also mentions he stayed with them at Honnay ‘some five days’.

A very able Commander - Saturday 30th December 1944

As Usual

Sat 30 Dec

Chotie Darling,

                                    I’m very sorry, Precious, for not having written you before, but it just hasn’t been possible.  I’ve now got the first free day for nearly a fortnight, so everything depends on today.  The mail has been very poor lately – I received your letter and calendar, for which many thanks, Darling.

            I’ve been at it for a fortnight, as I say, so Xmas was just another day.  I had an indifferent breakfast and a worse meal about 10 pm when I got back from patrol.

            Weather here has been quite good – very cold but plenty of sun.  The countryside here is really lovely quite like North Wales, and a wonderful change after the Nijmegen Bridgehead! (I had nine weeks there!)

            I hope you are keeping fit, Darling and warm!  It’s bitterly cold in armoured cars as the engine is in the rear and you get no protection from the wind.

            We shot another three Boche on Xmas Eve (one nearly shot me first) and another five on Boxing Day, which puts my troop in the lead again.  What a gruesome business!

            Hope Margaret is progressing well – I shouldn’t wonder the baby was late this weather!

            On Xmas Day the Squadron Leader* had a terrific crash in his jeep whilst out visiting the various troops.  They carted him off with severe concussion and he’s expected to be in hospital for at least a month.  So much the worse as he’s a very able Commander.

            Diller has been home on leave I believe, but I’ve heard no news of Brinner lately.  He’s supposed to be getting some leave I believe.

            I’ll enclose this letter** with the three little books*** I bought in Malines – if you would just keep them safe, Darling.  As I say it’s not much good sending them home as mother’s sure to throw them away in the Spring.

            I must close here, Chotie Darling –

                                                All my love Precious          

                                                            Dicker.

 

*Major Frank Harding had been the B Squadron leader from 12^th June 1944. He received the Military Cross for B Squadron’s role in the operation at Amayé-sur-Seulles and Condé-sur-Noreau in Normandy, the advance across France into Belgium and the holding of 15 miles of the Belgian Escaut Canal including Oudenaarde from the 4th  to 7th September.

‘He never spared himself and his cheerfulness in any difficulty or danger has been a great inspiration to his Squadron’ (from his Military Cross citation).

 

**Perhaps because it was enclosed with the books, this letter seems somewhat freer with military information than Dick’s usual correspondence.

***my mother kept these three little leather bound books Dick bought (in Antwerp) but they eventually fell apart from love and use. One contained four Shakespeare tragedies (Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet) and the others were philosophical essays I think.

© Chotie Darling

 

 

On 30^th December the Germans launched a heavy but unsuccessful attack on the corridor connecting Bastogne to American forces south of the German salient.  The US Army began a major counter-offensive from the south on the same day and the British attacked Houffalize, north of Bastogne in the centre of the German bridgehead, meeting fierce resistance.

 

Dick may have been out of the fighting that day but Don Aiken had records including 61^st Recce at Houffalize on 30^th December.  The Regiment certainly experienced tragedies that day....

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 30th December 1944:

          Trooper Dennis Robert Carter (age 20)

          Trooper Richard Charles Collingwood (age 27) of East Molesey, Surrey, killed in action as part of the Anti-Tank troop.        

who are laid to rest in the Hotton War cemetery, south of Liège, Belgium.

 

Mark Howard recounts how his father Roy Howard (of ‘A’ Squadron) remembered the awful accident that killed both men.  Their armoured car was forced off the road by an American lorry in full flight from the advancing Germans and, rolling down a bank, burst into flames.  Roy administered morphine to one of the men as he lay dying trapped inside. (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes another comrade who died on 30th December 1944:

            Trooper Thomas Webb (age 19) of Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire

who is laid to rest in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, between Bruges and Gent, north-west of Brussels.  A number of isolated graves from various communal cemeteries and churchyards in Belgium have been brought into this cemetery since the end of the war

(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.) 

We will remember them.

Bravery and the Belgian SAS

“During our time in the Ardennes we saw Belgian paratroopers.  These daredevils had jeeps with a machine gun mounted - not much protection or armour there.”  (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

Lt J.W Cunningham of 'B' Squadron's 16 Troop recalled: "a Belgian SAS Troop was also atached (to 29th Armoured Brigade).  Their officer had been killed riding a horse through a minefield.  Their armoured jeeps mounted Vickers gas operated maching guns with a very high rate of fire.  They had to be restrained somewhat.  They were very confident." (From 61st Reconnaissance Veteran's Memoirs).

The Belgian paratroopers would have belonged to the 5^th Special Air Service, an elite airborne unit consisting entirely of Belgian volunteers.  They worked as a reconnaissance squadron in the Ardennes, supporting the 6^th British Airborne Division.

Sergeant Hollingworth was acting as the wireless link for a patrol of Belgian SAS in the village of Han-sur-Lesse, between Rochefort and Wellin, when they came under fire from machine guns and a tank.  He used his armoured car to engage the enemy, enabling the Belgian patrol to withdraw safely and returning to tackle a German patrol and ensure the escape of the SAS.

 

On the same day, 29^th December 1944, Dick’s room mate Lieutenant Eric Macey was in action with Corporal Mulcahy near Tellin (between Rochefort and Saint-Hubert).  They moved their armoured cars into an exposed position to draw fire and locate the enemy.  Then having laid down smoke and covering fire to enable the other car to retreat Lieutenant Macey remained there until the enemy positions, including a tank, were confirmed.

Also on 29th December, C Squadron’s Lieutenant Michael Anthony Urban-Smith and Lance Sergeant Kenneth Scott Moorhouse were operating south-west of Saint Hubert, 12 miles in front of the Brigade’s position.  Finding all crossings for the river L’Homme blocked, and with orders to recce enemy positions, they led two patrols on foot across the river in daylight.  The patrols located and engaged the enemy near Hatrival, moving behind the German forward outposts to check positions.

(See Military Cross citations for Lieutenants Macey and Urban-Smith and Military Medal citations for Sergeant Hollingworth, Lance Sergeant Moorhouse and Corporal Mulcahy in 61st Recce Battle Honours.)

‘Forward on foot alone and under fire’

On 27^th December 1944 61^st Recce were in the Celles area between Dinant and Rochefort.

Sergeant William Henry Hollingworth of 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment earned the Military Medal for his role in the Ardennes.  On 27^th December he took his troop to recce the blown bridge at Villers-sur-Lesse, west of Rochefort. Going forward on foot alone at the bridge he discovered several Germans and narrowly escaped an enemy patrol.  Re-positioning his armoured car he then attacked the next patrol, killing or wounding all the enemy.

 

On 28^th December 1944 ‘C’ Squadron’s Lieutenant Patrick Laing removed a road block of 10 trees while under mortar fire and, encountering another road block, went forward on foot under fire to locate the enemy outpost (a house being used as the HQ for a garrison) and estimate their strength. Lieutenant Laing returned to Val de Poix (south of Rochefort and east of St Hubert) later in the Ardennes conflict and, finding the village still occupied by Germans, put the information to good use.

(From Sergeant Hollingworth and Lieutenant Laing’s citations – see 61st Recce Battle Honours.)

 

On 28^th December the American 1^st Army divisions successfully defending the Elsenborn-Monschau area launch a counter-attack against the Germans gaining valuable ground.

The Tipping Point

The limit of the German advance was reached on 25^th December and from the 26^th December the German army started to withdraw.  Bastogne was reached and relieved by the US 3^rd Army from the south.  11th Armoured Division was replaced by the British 6^th Airborne, having pushed the enemy back from Celles near Beauraing, the tip of the salient.

61^st Reconnaissance Regiment remained in the Ardennes and Dick’s troop shot five Germans on 26^th December. 

 

Eric Postles remembers further action in the Ardennes:

"We moved up to Celles, Houffalize and Rochefort.  With the weather improving our planes were able to give support and break up the enemy attack.  We once helped a farmer with a difficult calving for which he was most grateful.  The snow was so deep we didn’t have to worry about mines. 

One incident of note was when 13 Troop of our Squadron came across a King Tiger (the biggest and newest of the German tanks) and its crew surrendered after its commander was shot by the troop’s sniper when he put his head out of the turret." (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

An icy Xmas

Sandy Handley continues his account:

 “Christmas 1944 was cold and threatening snow.  We were mainly out in the open, seldom inside bricks and mortar – surprising what a body could put up with.  I know sitting in our Humber was really draughty at times.

 Christmas Day 1944 we were not on Recce patrol.  Our HQ decided the forward troops should have some fresh meat instead of tinned corn beef or tins of stew, which tasted horrible.  They sent some fat pork and potatoes.  Of course, we hadn’t the equipment to cook.  We boiled the pork in a large biscuit tin and the same with the potatoes.  Some earth doused with petrol was used as a fire.  I thought HQ needn’t have bothered.  It was a poor effort, all the messing about, and I always have hated fat pork anyway.  They say ‘hunger finds no fault with the cook’ but this was ridiculous.  Later I opened a tin of corn beef and had biscuits spread with our ration of margarine and jam.  I can’t say that we were starved – the ration packs we had were OK.”

(From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

Some troops may have been enjoying a little more luxury. In the newsletter of the Old Comrades Association Max Murphy, of B Squadron’s anti-tank troop, recalled spending Christmas 1944 at the ‘Chateau de Wepion’ - presumably the beautiful Chateau de Dave, also known as Fernan- Nunez Castle, on the banks of the River Meuse south of Namur.

 

However, by Xmas day it had become extremely cold in the Ardennes:

“Christmas Day saw the peak of the German advance, and I remember that on that day on returning to base, after a bitter cold day of patrolling through the snowy forests, we were all handed a Christmas celebratory bottle of beer. When I opened my bottle and tried to drink from it - nothing came out - the beer was frozen solid! The only solution was to break the bottle and lick the beer like an iced-lolly.
We spent the next few days in patrolling the hills and woods of the Ardennes, amongst the thick snow and ice which often made the forest trees look like fairyland.”

(Extract republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine' by kind permission of Don Aiken.)

 

Dick mentions that his squadron leader, Major Frank Harding, was injured on Xmas day in a ‘terrific crash’ when visiting the troops in his jeep. Suffering severe concussion he was likely to be hospitalised for a month.  Eric Postles includes this in his account of Christmas 1944:

"On Christmas Eve we were issued with bottles of beer but next morning although we had a big stove burning all night, the bottles were frozen solid and the beer was useless.  For the first time we were issued with self-heating cans of chocolate drink and soup.  We just had to ignite the core wick and the contents were quickly hot. 

We came under the command of 29 Armoured brigade then joined with units of 6 Airborne Division from the UK.

We left the bridge, moving forward to support attacks against the German spearhead.  The deep snow made foot patrols difficult and the Germans again fired airburst shells, which looked more sinister against the whiteness of the snow.  American troops were fleeing madly from the German advance and unfortunately early in the action an American lorry, being driven much too fast, hit our squadron leader’s jeep, which was parked off the road on a bend.  Major Harding was badly injured but he survived the war.  Our armoured cars were constantly patrolling between British forces and the US army, who bore the brunt of the action to squeeze the enemy back."  (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

Roy Howard tells an amazing tale of Christmas Day 1944 in his book of 61^st Recce ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ (Brewin Books 2004).  Temperatures were the lowest recorded for sixty years and he was on a mountain near Dinant, crouched in a hole in the snow wearing white camouflage overalls.  They heard the occasional Christmas carol from German troops in the valley below who the RAF attacked the next morning.

 

Close encounters

“Another Recce patrol we did in the Ardennes, our light Humber leading as usual, this time on a winding narrow road.  We came slowly round a corner and so quiet - we saw two heads just above the ditch at the side of the road.  Immediately I had my Bren gun at my shoulder.  Dan said quietly “Give’em a burst” but I said “be sure they’re not Germans dressed as Yanks”.  We had been informed previously that the enemy were imitating the Yanks.  Although we were 10 yards or so from these two Germans, Dan, our cool Corporal took a look through the binoculars and said “they’re Gerry alright – fire away”, which I did.  The two heads disappeared in a split second and Dan told the driver to reverse quickly.  We didn’t want to get too involved; we reversed around the corner, just in case.  I didn’t know whether I’d hit any of the two Gerrys but we had to be careful – they may have had a Spandau or a Bazooka pointed at us.  I think they were as surprised as we were.

When we had gone about 50 yards in reverse the engine packed up.  Of course we were afraid at any moment Gerry would come round that corner or come along the hedgerows and sling a grenade at us.  Dan said to the driver “What’s up?”  After a pause our driver said “We’re out of petrol.”  Whereupon Dan shouted at him and said in unprintable words “Get out and fill the tank from the spare jerry can and be quick about it”.  The driver got out and unstrapped the spare jerry can and slopped it in the tank, put the cap on and quickly got back in the car and got started.

Although it was very cold in the Ardennes I think we were all sweating while this was going on.  Soon we were reversing away from danger – I thought the further away the better. 

These situations stay in the memory all the time.”

(From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

Dick recounts that his troop shot three Germans on 24^th December.

 

61^st Recce’s Corporal Mulcahy, working with the Americans, also had a close encounter with the enemy that day:

'On 24^th December when his patrol reached Beauraing (east of Givet) they were asked by the American officer in command there to go forward to give the order for a bridge over the Lesse (a tributary of the Meuse) about 10 miles ahead to be blown.  The American officer had only jeeps with him which he did not wish to send forward as there were reported to be tanks in the area.  As the American officer stressed the urgency of the bridge being blown, Corporal Mulcahy, without hesitation, drove forward to the bridge at 40 mph, and in spite of being fired on by an enemy tank, contacted the officer on the spot and the bridge was blown.'

(From the citation for Corporal Mulcahy’s Military Medal - see 61st Recce Battle Honours.)

 

The German advance towards the Meuse had nearly reached Dinant on 23^rd December but suffered important losses (some inflicted by the British 11th Armoured Division11^th Armoured Division) and was forced to withdraw on 24^th December.  Fierce defence of the Elsenborn Ridge by US forces on the northern shoulder of the salient was also successful in diverting the offensive aiming for Liège. 

 (From the Centre for Research and Information on the Battle of the Bulge.)

Into the Ardennes with 11th Armoured Division

Sandy Handley and Anthony Rampling continue the 61^st Recce story:

“I thought we had said farewell to our trusty old Humber (Liktor) but on that cold, misty December morning we started off, this time to Namur in the Ardennes.  In convoy it took about 24 hours, stopping and starting.” (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

“When we got to Brussels it was packed full of traffic, military and otherwise, and the streets were full of girls waving at us.”  We couldn’t get through for all the girls surrounding us.  (From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61st Recce - pers comm).

 Sandy:

"We eventually joined up with the Armoured Brigade of 11 Armoured Division.  The plan was to hold the line of the River Meuse from Namur to Givet, then patrol farther forward.”

Tony:

“Eventually we got to the Ardennes and we were told to keep going until we met resistance which we did.”   We were in the front as Recce.

 

Eric Postles remembers guard duty on the Meuse: "On 21st December, Army Headquarters ordered the regiment to become immediately operational and throughout the night we worked to re-equip.  By the night of 22^nd we were manning the River Meuse bridges from Namur to Givet.  The weather had gone bitterly cold and very heavy snowfalls meant that our Airforces could not fly.  Our troop was in a deserted café near one of the bridges.  Guard times were shortened and we wore woollen balaclavas and white smocks for camouflage in the snow.  The balaclavas were provided through Lady Mount’s appeal to soldiers’ relatives to knit them.  My mother knitted several of them."  (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

Colonel Brownrigg explains the role of 61^st Recce in the Ardennes:

“We joined the armoured brigades of the 11^th Armoured Division in the Ardennes, first sitting along the length of the Meuse from Namur to Givet and then gradually patrolling farther forward, until towards the end of the campaign we had a battle ground of our own with a front of 20 miles between the Americans and the rest of the British.  Day after day the armoured cars set out to find and kill as many of the enemy as they could, and daily they met anti-tank guns and tanks.  And when the armoured cars could not get on, the assault troops penetrated deep into enemy territory.”

(From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

 

IWM archive photo of 11th Armoured Division badge 

(SAVE THE IWM STUDY CENTRE)

The 11^th Armoured Division, known as the Black Bull, had been almost continuously engaged in action, since it landed in Normandy on 13^th June 1944 with British VIII Corps.  Deployed in Operations Epsom and Goodwood to take Caen and Operation Bluecoat near Caumont, it famously liberated Amiens enabling the crossing of the Somme during the advance through France and was also involved in the liberation of Antwerp.

After Market Garden, where it was tasked with securing the right flank of the advancing ground forces, it was engaged in clearing pockets of German resistance remaining west of the Maas/Meuse river.

At the beginning of December units of the 11^th Armoured Division were in reserve near Ypres but were ordered back into action to hold a defensive line along the Meuse between Namur and Givet to resist the German advance in the Ardennes.

 

61st Recce started patrolling straight away. The citation for Corporal John Frederick Mulcahy’s Military Medal includes this description of his patrols:

‘His armoured car troop was engaged in continuous patrolling between St Hubert and Rochefort* from the 22nd to the 29th December 1944. The situation throughout was extremely uncertain, as the area of these patrols, about 10 miles forward of any main Allied position, covered the tip of the German salient, and while the Americans were holding firm on the flanks, in many places there were no troops to bar the progress of the German tanks in the centre.  For most of the period Corporal Mulcahy’s car was the leading car of his troop.  Every day they made contact with the enemy, three times with German tanks.  During this time Corporal Mulcahy’s handling of his car was so skilful and courageous that it became a byword in his squadron.’

* a distance of about 13 miles/20 km south-east of Dinant, between the Meuse and Bastogne i.e. the direction of travel for German forces.

(See 61st Recce Battle Honours http://61st-reconnaissance.weebly.com/medals--awards.html 61st Reconnaissance Regiment Living History Group.)

 

Don Aiken was also involved in action from the first day:

 “We arrived at Namur a few days before Christmas, and were immediately given the task of contacting a forward unit of US Engineers who had been instructed to blow a bridge over a small river whenever they sighted the German advance. The orders had now been changed to 'blow up the bridge regardless', but radio contact with the Engineers had been lost.

We set off on our mission and we were shocked to see convoys of US troops retreating in total panic. They threw us some fags and shouted that we were going the wrong way.

We approached our destination, and turned a corner to see that the road ran down into a steep valley, with a similar road running round and down the cliffs on the other side. At that moment we heard a loud explosion and knew that the bridge had been blown. We continued for a short way down the road before spotting the US Engineers running up behind the hedgerow and waited for them to arrive. It was then that I observed a German tank on the road across the valley and, almost immediately, a puff of smoke from his 88 mm. gun. There was a whoosh as the shell screamed over my head and took a lump out of the road and part of the tyre from the armoured car which stood a few yards behind me. Within a few seconds our armoured cars had disappeared up the road and round the corner, in reverse."

(Extract republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine' by kind permission of Don Aiken.)

 

A Massacre and an Accident

17^th December 1944 – the US 82^nd and 101^st Airborne (see previous Chapter) are released from reserve to reinforce American troops in the Ardennes.  

At Malmedy, south-west of Menschau, 86 American Prisoners of War are murdered by their SS captors.

In the Battle of Schnee Eiffel/St Vith (south-east of Malmedy) the Germans sucessfully trap up to 9,000 Americans who surrender on 19th December.

 

On 17^th December Dick appears to have been involved in a traffic accident. When driving a car between Marktstraat and Grote Markt in Izegem he knocked a lady, Elza Lammertyn, off her bike and she broke three ribs.

Here’s the (mouse-chewed) police report of the incident:

A Bath and a new Battle Dress - Wednesday 6th and Friday 8th December 1944

61^st Recce Regt

RAC BLA.

Tuesday (sic) Dec 6^th

Chotie Darling,

                                    Many thanks for your letter from home, which I received yesterday.  Yes, Darling, you can come as my batwoman any time you like – though I don’t think I’d get much work done.  Perhaps it would be better to wait until I get back to England, and I’ll apply for you then…. Let me know if you’re on, and I’ll start teeing-up the necessary formalities.

            I expect Margaret’s baby has arrived by now.  Give her all my best wishes won’t you Darling?  I’ll try to write her if I can find time.

            I was very lucky last night, hearing the whole of Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio'* – his only opera, in German from Munich.  'Turandot' was also on but of course I wasn’t to know that.  Actually, I heard the last note – as I switched from Munich to the Home Service.  It was the first time – believe it or no – that I’ve heard ‘Fidelio’ in its entirety, which was quite a thrill, as you can well imagine.

            Well, my darling, I suppose you’ll be back again by the time you receive this.  I expect you managed to have a pleasant, if lazy time (knowing you….).  Don’t forget to let me know of anyone you happened to meet – though I don’t suppose there’s many of the old stagers about – unless they also happen to be on leave.

            Yes, 'Fanny'  is quite a good book**, but Sadleir has no need to write, as he’s rolling in money, anyway.  The film, of course, was shocking – but then I expected that.  Merle Oberon’s effort at George Sand*** will be equally ludicrous – she just hasn’t the ability to play that extraordinary woman.

            Did I tell you I read HE Bates ‘The Poacher’?  It’s a very fine piece of writing – which I can heartily recommend.  I must admit I was sitting in front of a fire – always a luxury out here - with the old pipe, which may have influenced my criticism.      Got a new battle dress**** today (a great thrill) but don’t yet know when I’ll be able to wear it to advantage.  I rushed it to the local tailor (there’s only one in this wretched village) and got the lapels faced-up.  He (the tailor) couldn’t speak any English and I can’t speak any Dutch so you can imagine the proceedings.

            Ronnie has just turned-up with a bottle of ’29 Bordeaux, so it looks likes being a happier evening than I expected.

 

            Two more days have elapsed since I wrote the foregoing – though nothing of any interest has happened.

            I’ve moved once again, but still find myself in the inevitable farmhouse.  The last one we were in was really ideal.  Our usual practice was to do a week or so ‘in the line’ and have a week back at the farm in reserve.

            The three Armoured Car Officers (Geoff Winzer, Eric (Schoolmaster) Macey and I) used to share a room, with the equally inevitable stove (no Dutch houses have open fires) and of course the radio.  There was always plenty of work to do, especially on the cars, but we usually had the evenings free, and spent most of them with the Burgomaster.

            The Rhine (they call it the Maas in Holland*****) flowed by, some hundred yards from the farmhouse, and there was a cluster of gaily-painted barges alongside the dyke.  Had it been spring it would have been very pleasant – though I spent many happy hours wandering along the dyke road on the few sunny days we did have.

            To come back to earth – I hope to get a bath this afternoon – the first for six weeks or more.  Always a great occasion.  Must close here to tee it up with the Squadron Leader.

            Tons of love, Chotie Darling   

                                   Dicker                                     PTO.

 

P.S.  Do you think you could get me some leather buttons?  About this size:- (drawing of circle 1.4 cms across) for utilizing battle dress?  I need about 30.  Also four of five big ones for great coat?

            Let me know if there’s any chance won’t you?

                                                                        Love

                                                                                    D.

 

*Thomas Mann, the great German writer, commented when Fidelio was performed in Germany soon after the war:

"What amount of apathy was needed [by musicians and audiences] to listen to Fidelio in Himmler’s Germany without covering their faces and rushing out of the hall!”

The music and theme of love, liberty and justice “for all men…will always represent an appeal to our conscience” (Wilhelm Furtwängler, German composer, 1948).

**the novel “Fanny by Gaslight” by Michael Sadleir.

***Merle Oberon, and Anglo-Indian actress, played George Sand, the French writer and Chopin’s lover, in a biographical film of the composer released in 1945 – “A Song to Remember”.

****’Battle Dress’ was the standard uniform in the British army made of woven wool (serge) with a short jacket that buttoned to high-waisted trousers.

*****Dick has got confused – the Maas is a separate river flowing east and then south of the Rhine.

© Chotie Darling

 

Eric Brewer wrote against 5th December that he:

“Moved to Ell, near Weert (south-east of Eindhoven and west of Roermund) in a civvy’s house.  Having a good time.”  (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

Dick was presumably at Mill and then at Ell, near Weert,

when he wrote this letter.

 

"Holding bits of the line"

Eric Brewer’s diary for 3^rd December reads:

“Moved today to Mill (got relieved by the 59th*).  Spent the night in a café.”  On December 4^th he was still at the same place.

*possibly the 59^th Anti Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery, part of the 43^rd Wessex Division.

Colonel Brownrigg’s account of 61^st Recce continues:

“In December, to our immense sorrow, the axe fell on the 50^th Division.  The Regiment, thus orphaned, survived for a time, thanks to our Corps Commander, who rang up the Commander-in-Chief in my presence to say we would be worth a brigade to him.  But after holding bits of the line for the 49^th* and 53^rd** Divisions we were ordered back to Iseghem to disband.” (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

*the 49^th (West Riding) Division, symbolised by a Polar Bear, was serving with the First Canadian Army.  They garrisoned ‘the Island’ between Arnhem and Nijmegen during the winter of 1944.

**the 53^rd (Welsh) Infantry Division was attached to XXX Corps and had been fighting to remove the Germans from the western bank of the Maas.  It was based around Roermund (south-west of Eindhoven and Weert) until 18^th December.

 

Eric Postles recalled working with the 53^rd Division:

"30 Corps General Horrocks tried to keep the regiment as Corps troops but we only got a brief respite before disbandment.  We helped 49 Division who had taken over “the Island” and took over from the Monmouths of 53 Division on a canal near Venlo.  The lock gatehouse was built into the bank and was reached along a long, white-taped, deep, muddy track, which ran through a minefield.  We found an injured cow stuck on the stairs but dare not kill it because of the smell it would create.  It was moaning all the time.  All through the day and night the Germans fired rifle grenades – not a very accurate weapon – at the house plus mortar fire.  We were glad to leave the place and the moaning cow."

(Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

Operation Noah

Dick had not left trouble behind him with the flying-bombs of Malines. On 1^st December Eric Brewer wrote in his diary:

“Gerry started to flood the area. The water has risen 2ft, many Gerrys trapped.”

and on the next day:

“Water still rising – Gerry blew another dam last night and the place is quite bad.  Many Gerrys gave themselves up because the flooding had trapped them.  They are nearly all air force chaps.”

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

Operation Noah was put into effect but many local men refused to leave 'the island' with the evacuation leading to its new name 'Men's Island'. Reading the account of looting on 'the island' by Easy Company (and the British!) in 'This Band of Brothers' one can understand why they were reluctant to leave.

Major-General Douglas Graham

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 26^th-27th         Place ELST

‘The lull in enemy activity continues.  Apart from the Schmeisser which fires every night from NORTH of our extreme right hand positions, and a few enemy who have been seen, there has been little to report.

V2s continue to be launched from NORTH of ARNHEM.

An enemy HQ was located by “C” Squadron in a house at 723730 and engaged by our artillery.  Direct hits were observed.’

 

On 27^th November Major-General D.A.H. Graham returned to 50^th (Northumbria) Division as Commanding Officer.  Douglas Graham, CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath), CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) and DSO (Distinguished Service Order) and Bar (an additional award to the DSO), MC (Military Cross) had commanded the 50^th from January 1944 to 17^th October.

During this time the Division had played an important role in Operation Overlord and the Normandy Campaign (particularly during the battle for Tilly-sur-Seulles) and a supporting role with XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden.

 

The news that 50th Division was to become a training unit back in Blighty was now shared with their Reconnaissance Regiment, 61st Recce.  Eric Postles writes:

"At the end of November came the shock news that 50 Division was to be returned to England.  Although a Territorial Army Division it had been in action more than any other division.  They had been part of the BEF in 1940, at Dunkirk and then straight out again to North Africa in the Knightsbridge Battle where one of its brigades was cut off and had to surrender.  This included my cousin Harry Smith.  They were also in Greece, Alamein, the Mareth line, Tunis and led the invasion of Sicily and Italy before coming back to the UK for D-day.  We had only been with them for a very short time but the Divisional Commander was fulsome in his praise of the part we played." (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

A Bombshell

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 20^th       Place ELST

‘Last night was uneventful.  “C” Squadron were troubled by a Spandau which fires straight down the autobahn and interferes with their admin arrangements.  The area was engaged by Maching Guns of 2 CHESHIRE (2^nd Cheshire Battalion) and was silenced.

The Commanding Officer attended a conference at Divisional HQ this afternoon.  It is an understatement to say that the news was a bombshell.  The Division is to return to the UK as a training Division on a greatly reduced establishment.  It is planned to disband several units of which the Regiment is one.  It may be possible to lessen or even avert the blow.  For the meantime nothing is being said.

Mining and wiring continued at a good pace today.  Spasmodic shelling and mortaring of the Regiment’s forward positions continued.’

Top Brass, a V2 and the dangers of laying mines

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 19^th       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 20^th 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)

An escaped American from Kassel

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 17^th       Place ELST

‘The regiment – less “A” Squadron – moved to the ELST area and was in position by 1900 hrs.  Regimental HQ is established at 709693, with “B” Squadron right in area 7370, and “C” Squadron left in area 7171.  The weather could not have been worse but with some adjustments it will be possible to put most of the troops under cover of some sort.

The take-over was quite peaceful and it appears that there are no positions in close contact.  The rain continued and a forward position in “B” Squadron’s sector was flooded out and had to be withdrawn.’

 

Dick returned to the ‘Island’ on 17^th November. 

“B” Squadron were on the front line near Bemmel until early December.

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 18^th       Place ELST

‘Today has been spent in making preparations with the Royal Engineers to mine the Regiment’s front.  In addition Squadrons are wiring as fast as they can.  The sappers are due to start mining tonight.

There has been little enemy activity today and apart from three men seen by “C” Squadron this afternoon at 721717 shelling and mortaring has been slight, though ELST and BEMMEL have had their usual daily plastering.

At 2000 hrs a US infantryman walked into RHQ.  He was from 2^nd US Infantry Division and had been taken prisoner by the Germans at NANTES at the end of August.  He escaped from CASSEL (Kassel in central Germany, between the Ruhr and Leipzig) and aided by civilians had reached ARNHEM then making his way through the enemy front line.  He regrettably knew very little of the enemy facing us.

Arrangements were made today for the evacuation of the ‘island’ should the enemy breach the dykes – Exercise ‘NOAH’.’

 

Eric Brewer might have appreciated this.  On 18^th November he wrote:

“Moored in a position, Bemmel near Arnhem - about the coldest and wettest position I have ever been in.  There is 2 ft of water in the slit trenches and we have to stand in it. Three chaps went ill tonight. I reckon I shall have had it if I stay here.  Plenty of Spando fire.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

Music from Germany - 16th? November 1944

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 16^th       Place WINSSEN

‘ “A” Squadron relieved “B” today in area 6071.  Orders were today received for the Regiment to take over the sector EAST of ELST from 151 Brigade.  Relieving an Infantry Brigade has now ceased to be a novelty but this particular sector has extra problems as “A” Squadron are still to remain under command of 501 RCT at ZETTEN.’

Eric Brewer wrote: “Moved to base at Venssen (Winssen) in a civvy house.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

 

61^st Recce Regt

RAC BLA

Chotie Darling

                                    Many thanks for your last letter – which I received whilst ‘on the job’.  However, I’m now in a cushy area once again so I can now reply at ease.

            I was very pleased to see that you had enclosed the photos, darling – they’re very very good indeed.  I’m afraid I had to part with one of them – Ronnie the ‘artist’ wanted one to keep.  Don’t mind do you?

            Glad to hear you got the magazine – I also thought the stuff in them pretty good.

            As regards the perfume, I may be able to get some in the future – but I don’t quite know how.  You see there’s nothing here – all that sort of thing is in Belgium, and I said goodbye to Belgium months ago.  Also there’s the snag of changing guilders into Belgian francs – no mean task as the Field cashier is never seen within 20 miles of the ‘front’ and I’m certainly never 20 miles from it!  However, I’ll see what I can do – Brinner may be  able to manage something.  I could have got some in Antwerp but I haven’t sufficient Belgas – only guilders.

            Don’t tell Margaret, but Ted’s crowd haven’t fired a shot in anger for about 8-9 weeks!

            Nothing much to do here – we’re in a little village, which is very deadly but as there’s so much to do in the way of personal and vehicular maintenance we find our time is pretty occupied.

            I’m anxiously awaiting a letter from Brinner as his last P.S. said he had just been granted 7 days leave before joining his unit!

            We’ve had a little snow here but not much.  As the ground was wet, it didn’t lay anyhow.

            Have read Graham Greene’s ‘Stamboul Train*’ (Guild Books) which I can recommend.  I think you may have read some of his other efforts – ‘Brighton Rock’ ‘Ministry of Fear’, ‘England made me’ ‘A Gun for Sale’ (filmed as “This Gun for Hire’) etc, etc. 

            There’s a helluva dearth of books in the Squadron.  Never seem to be able to get anything to read.  I carry about 30 books on my car – but I’ve read them a good many times now – and anyhow they’re all in French.

            I’ve got the devil of a lot of washing to do this afternoon – looks as though it will take me about four hours.  The laundry system over here is lousy as there’s no marking ink available and you never get the same stuff back again.

            Must close here for lunch will write some more this afternoon.

           

Well, Darling, I’ve had lunch and got the stove cracking so I’m beginning to thaw out for the first time for days.  We’ve also got the radio going.

            Eric, Geoff and Charlie from ‘C’ Squadron went to the Burgomaster’s last night for a game of bridge so ‘Junior’ (Ronnie) and I sat in here and managed to get a wonderful programme from Munich.  It was announced in German and consisted entirely of Italian Operatic records.  We had that beautiful tenor/Baritone duet from ‘Fozzer del Destino’ (Verdi)** sung by Gigli and Corrado Zambelli*** - easily the finest recording of this particularly lovely duet.  Also an aria by Janina Arangi-Lombardi (- the second soprano in the world before the war) from Donizetti’s ‘La Favorita’****.

            ‘Junior’, luckily, had brought a bottle of Burgundy so what with a warm fire, mellow wine and Verdi, we simply revelled.  What it is to be simple-minded!

            Must close here to get back to earth and laundry!

                        All my love, Precious

                                                            Dicker.

 

*a novel set on the ‘Orient Express’

**’La Forza del Destino’ (The Power of Fate’), an opera by Giuseppe Verdi set in Spain and Italy.

*** Corrado Zambelli was an Italian bass and Beniamo Gigli was the most famous tenor of the early 20^th century.

****a grand opera in French by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, also set in Spain.

© Chotie Darling

Rising Water

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 13^th       Place WINSSEN

‘Lieutenant P.E.D. BAMPFIELD* joined the unit as Intelligence Officer today from the 42^nd Battalion R (Royal?) Tanks.  The water level at NIJMEGEN bridge has risen greatly in the last few days.  It is believed that the enemy is now in a position to flood ‘the island’ by blowing the dykes on either the River WAAL or NEDER RIJN.’

*later disabled – see supplement to the London Gazette. 

 

Eric Postles recalled the cold and wet:  "The weather grew colder and we now wore our tank suits, jerkins and ‘long John’ woolen underpants.  Conditions were made worse when the Germans breached the river bank which resulted in wide areas being flooded.  Slit trenches were made unusable and wellingtons were provided."  (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

On 15^th November Eric Brewer was: “on forward outpost on the River Patrol floating about. Behind us somewhere saw two chaps crawling so we changed our position.  Blooming cold tonight – plenty of Spando fire etc.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

Home from Home - Sunday 12th November 1944

61^st Recce Regt RAC

BLA.

Sunday Nov 12^th

Dearest Chotie,

                                    Well, Darling, believe it or no, but I’m writing this in an armchair in front of a lovely fire, which makes a bleak November afternoon quite a pleasant prospect.

            Many thanks for your last letter, Darling, and the promise of the gloves, as we had our first snow yesterday and it’s not exactly July here.  It’s OK when you can keep on the move but travelling in the vehicles or standing about in trenches in night isn’t my idea of a picnic by any means.  Always grumbling aren’t I??

            There’s a ton of books in this house – also a Blüthner grand*, so I manage to amuse myself during my ‘free’ time.

            I’ve just had a letter from Brinner with news that he’s leaving the RHU** and joining a regiment – with seven days leave and a short course first.  I don’t know where he’ll be spending the leave or the course so I’m anxiously awaiting his next letter, as I may be able to meet him shortly.

            Have you heard any further news of going abroad? Don’t do anything too rash will you?  I don’t quite see to what part of the world you can go to.

            I was in this same house about a month ago so it’s home from home as far as I’m concerned.

            The owner is a protestant minister, a man of considerable intellect and general broadness of horizon.  I may have mentioned him before – he’s quite a polyglot, speaking French and English with equal fluency, as well as German, Dutch, Flemish & Russian!

            He’s very charitable.  It’s difficult to imagine an English minister giving his house as a home for unmarried mothers, as he is doing here.***

            He wears plus fours, knee-length training-boots and a Norfolk jacket, which you must agree is quite a combination.  I suppose him to be about 35-40 years of age.

            Had a bottle of good English beer today – the first drinkable beer I’ve had for about three months – but one bottle doesn’t go far.  I also had some tobacco from Brinner so everything’s fine.

            It’s rather a pity you’re in such a spot at this time of the year – in the summer it would have been ideal – though you might well winter in Egypt…. I reckon we’ll have it pretty cold.  It’s only when it’s wet as well that it gets really miserable.

            I must close here, Darling to get some sleep as I’m up rather early in the morning.

                                    All my love, Chotie Darling

                                                                                Dicker

 

* Blüthner, based near Leipzig in Germany, are one of the ‘big four’ piano manufacturers so Dick is referring to a high quality grand piano.

**Replacement Holding Unit?

***In the 19^th century Ottho Gerhard Heldring founded a foundation (the Ottho Gerhard Heldringstichting) in Zetten for the reform and education of prostitutes.  At the turn of the century a famous Lutheran pastor, Hendrik Pierson, was its president and a local college is named after him.  Around the shelter (‘steenbeck’) a whole complex of large and smaller houses grew, all focused on the care, upbringing and education of vulnerable girls and young women.

© Chotie Darling

2 Canadian Corps

On 9^th November 1944 50 (Northumbrian) Division joined 2 Canadian Corps.  This appears to have been a temporary arrangement since, in early November, Montgomery had announced that most of the Division would return to England as a training division. Many of the reinforcements assimilated to make up the Division's losses (488 officers and almost 7,000 ‘other ranks’ since D-Day) were to be posted to other formations on active service.

2 Canadian Corps, under the leadership of their Commander, Lieutenant General Guy Simmonds, had spearheaded the British-Canadian advance from Caen to Falaise (see Operation Totalize and the Big Push begins ) and then captured Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais and Ostend.  Leading the First Canadian Army they had been heavily involved in the Battle of the Scheldt - attempting to open up access to the critical port of Antwerp, since the beginning of October.  German resistance on the Scheldt finally ended on 8^th November 1944 and the Corps were then tasked with expelling German forces from the eastern provinces of the Netherlands and then driving them out from the west bank of the Rhine – ‘the Island’.

 

 

Not everyone was pleased the Canadians had arrived:

    “I remember a small place called Ewyk* by a canal.  We were billeted in a house which was to us a little luxury after living mainly in the open.  We were occupying the attic of the house; the Dutch couple were so friendly.

    Not far away was the canal.  Our driver and myself got friendly with the two daughters on a barge.  One name I remember was Gerada. She always mentioned that she had a Dutch Fiancée, so we were on our good behaviour and a day or two later some Canadians had muscled in so I thought we’d better move along.  I didn’t want no bad feelings and get thrown in the Canal.  So we parted amicably. 

    We wasn’t in these places long enough to get a romance going so Gerada is just a memory of a pleasant Dutch girl.  Of course one wonders where they are now, perhaps after the war they continued chugging up the Canal, married and so on.”  (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

*Ewijk is a village west of Nijmegen bridge and south of the Waal.

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 10^th       Place ZETTEN

' “B” Squadron relieved “C” today.  The relief was uneventful and completed by 1800 hrs.'

 

Eric Brewer of ‘B’ Squadron had written in his diary for 6^th November:

“Moved to Zetlon (sic) on outpost. Plenty of Spando fire also shelling and mortar.”

 

Dick and ‘B’ Squadron were at Zetten, on ‘the Island’ east of Elst, until the 16^th November 1944.

 

Zetten, Winssen and Opheusden

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 1^st-2^nd   Place ZETTEN

‘ “A” Squadron continued to hold their positions at ZETTEN.  The area is quiet apart from spasmodic mortaring and shelling and the only extra commitment is the daily Armoured Car patrol to OPHEUSDEN.  This battered village is unoccupied, abandoned by the enemy and only entered daily by our cars, an American and usually a German patrol.  The entire area is heavily mined (Schu-mines* mainly), and the Americans suffer almost daily casualties from them.

                   Place WINSSEN

The remainder of the regiment are resting at WINSSEN, overhauling equipment and cleaning up etc.

*German anti-personnel mine with a wooden body making it difficult to detect with metal detectors.

 

Dick was in Antwerp, Belgium

from the 2^nd to the 4^th November 1944

when he returned to Winssen.

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC November 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 1^st-2^nd   Place ZETTEN

‘ “C” Squadron relieved “A” today.  The relief was unfortunately marred by a stray mortar bomb which burst alongside a “C” Squadron carrier killing 1 Other Rank and wounding 4.

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the 'Other Rank' who died on 3rd November 1944:

          Trooper Frederick Stanley Ronald Smith (age 28) from Collier’s Wood, Surrey   

who is laid to rest in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. 

(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)

We will remember them.

'Towrope'

Lieutenant Laing, a former Technical Officer and then a troop Commander in “C” Squadron, and Captain Joe 'Towrope' Meredith both received honours for their recovery of 20 vehicles over five nights at Driel, all of which had been left by previous units as beyond recovery.  They were often within 500 yards of the enemy, under shell and mortar fire, while effecting these recoveries.

Lieutenant Patrick Anderson Laing (of one of the Unfortunate Incidents en route to Belgium) received the Military Cross for this and other deeds while Captain Joseph Meredith received the MBE:

“No officer has served the Regiment better or more loyally than Captain Meredith, either during the period of training at home or during active service abroad.”

(See 61st Recce Battle Honours.)

P.S. There is a great picture of Captain Joe Meredith leading RHQ in leaving ‘the Island’ during floods in November 1944 in Jeremy Taylor’s ‘Band of Brothers’  (copied in Roy Howard’s ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’). I would like to be able to post a copy here if anyone can help – it doesn’t seem to be on line anywhere...

 

Anthony Rampling describes leaving ‘the Island’

The Island

“We were pushed out of Arnhem and withdrew a few miles out and we established ourselves and then the Germans flooded the dykes so we were surrounded.  They called us ‘the Island’ and it was very wet and muddy and as we came out of there the armoured cars had to go through about two foot of water to get away from it.”

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 28th     Place DRIEL

‘The relief went well without any interference and the last troop was clear by 2300 hrs.

 

‘B’ Squadron

were now at Winssen on the south bank of the Waal,

north-east of Nijmegen

until 10^th November 1944.

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 29^th–31st        Place WINSSEN

‘The day has been spent in settling in and doing some badly required maintenance.

                             Place ZETTEN

“A” Squadron’s commitment at Zetten is not great and the unit has come through another ‘crisis’ in good shape.  The difficulties facing a Recce Regiment taking on a purely infantry role, in what must be one of the most unpleasant sectors on the 2^nd Army front, are great.  Despite the continual mortaring and shelling our casualties have been very light.’

                                                Lt Col. Commander 61 recce Regiment, R.A.C.

The Durham Light Infantry

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 27th     Place DRIEL

‘There was considerable enemy activity during the early hours of this morning.  Motorised and horse drawn transport was heard moving in the area 6776 and digging at 6876.  In addition there was a certain amount of Machine Gun and Mortar harassing fire.

A company raid by 6 Durham Light Infantry* took place on area 7074 through the “B” Squadron troop established there.  “B” Squadron neutralised enemy fire on the flanks of the attack with Light Machine Gun and Mortar fire.  Few Germans were encountered and our own troops had no casualties.  It is apparent that the enemy is holding the line very thinly and it is believed that all active patrolling is being carried out by SS troops held in reserve.  Certainly the 47 Fortress Battalion has shown none of the aggressive qualities which are apparent in the patrols.

At 0940 hrs “C” Squadron reported 12-15 men moving at 706759 and the artillery engaged the area effectively.

During the day orders were received for our relief by elements of 101 US Airborne Division and much of the preliminary work in the hand over was done.  The relief is due to take place tomorrow night and the Regiment, less “A” Squadron , is to concentrate in the WINSSEN** area.

“A” Squadron go under command of 501 RCT (Regimental Combat Team?) and are to hold a sector of the ZETTEN*** area with outposts forward on the river line and an Armoured car patrol daily to OPHEUSDEN****.’

*Anthony Rampling had met the Durham Light Infantry when he got lost after landing on the Normandy beaches: “They were tough – all they’d got was what they carried.”

**Winssen is a village on the south bank of the Waal, north-west of Nijmegen.

***Zetten is on ‘the Island’ west of Elst.

****Opheusden is west of Zetten on the south bank of the Neder Rijn/Lower Rhine.

'B' Squadron's Assault Troop

On 23^rd October Eric writes: “Slack went away as he got hurt from last night’s do (see Eric’s diary for 22nd October) but I think he will be OK.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 24th     Place DRIEL

‘Last night was again quiet and today nothing was heard until 1345 hrs when two spandaus opened fire from 704747 and 704755.  They were engaged by our Mortars and silenced.

501* RCT (?) on our left sent a patrol across the NEDER RIJN tonight.’

*the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the US 101st Airborne (‘Screaming Eagles’).

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 25th     Place DRIEL

‘The enemy’s policy is still to be low during the day and confine his activities to mortaring and shelling only.  Today has been very quiet again though the inevitable movement started at last light. 

At 1935 hrs an enemy patrol worked its way behind our outpost at 707764.  It was then seen and engages by “B” Squadron assault troop with good results, and some hits were scored.  They were driven back over the railway line taking their casualties with them. 

Apart from Small Arms fire on the railway opposite 13 Troop and some good harassing fire on known enemy localities by 124 Forward Regiment the remainder of the night was peaceful.’

The action involving 'B' Squadron's Assault Troop (Eric Brewer's Troop) sounds remarkably like the event described by Eric in his diary for 22nd October. 

Deserters

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 23rd     Place DRIEL

‘Contact Patrols last night had nothing to report.  The quietness of the last two days was enlivened by a deserter surrendering to one of our Officers at 0900 hrs.  The Prisoner of War – from 47 Fortress* Battalion – had only been in the Wehrmacht (German Army) since June and though willing to talk knew very little.

This afternoon “B” Squadron reported 12 enemy who appeared at 7074 along the line of the railway.  They were heavily and effectively engaged and not seen again.’

*a Fortress (or Festung) infantry division in the German army was used to garrison critical sites.

 

Reg Harper’s account of ‘the Island’ includes “the night we had a prisoner. 

I was Guard Commander, doing my rounds when I encountered the sentry who had ‘found’ this person.  In the pitch black of the Island, illuminated intermittently by a firework or two over towards Arnhem, it was difficult to see who or what we had.  The nearest source of light was the Intelligence Office so there we took him. 

Opening the door, we shoved him in, to be confronted by a bemused IO, Colonel Brownrigg and Sergeant Cotter.  We then divested this disreputable figure of various knives, pistols and what have you, which were in his pockets, socks and anywhere else.  The Intelligentsia questioning him did not get very far, the odd grunt as I remember.  It turned out eventually that he was an American deserter………Oh, the excitement of it all!”   (From the newsletter of the Old Comrades Association.)

Rescuing the British Airborne

Sandy Handley remembers watching for escaped British Airborne:

“Another place in the area our troop had to go to was a small village.  I can’t think of the name, may have been Mary Magdalene.  Our job was to keep a lookout for any of our Airborne chaps who’d managed to get away from the Germans. 

This part of the river was 10 to 15 ft wide.  We had a lookout in the attic of a house which overlooked another building on the other side. We could actually see Germans scuttling about; we had a good target for a grenade or a machine gun but the Officer ordered no firing.  These enemy then disappeared.  I think maybe our Regiment was a bit spread out so maybe we didn’t start anything which we couldn’t follow up. 

The situation seemed to relax a bit and some of the men wandered away from their vehicles.  I sat in my Gunner’s seat on our Humber and started to write to my parents.  Our vehicle was stationary beside a Church with heavy iron railings, all of a sudden we were mortared; the men who had wandered off came running back to the cover of the vehicles.  There was a terrific explosion as one of their mortar bombs came down.  I crouched down.  After a time all went quiet and I peeped over the turret and saw the iron railings were cracked in half and lying on the ground.  I think another couple of inches and our Humber, with me in it, would have gone the same.  I felt too shaky to finish my letter.  After this everyone was ordered to remain with the vehicles.” (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

On 22^nd/23^rd October 1944 more than 100 British Airborne troops, who had been hiding in German occupied territory north of the Lower Rhine, were rescued near Renkum, (a village east of Arnhem, c. 6 km from Driel).  This operation involved Canadian engineers and the famous ‘Easy Company’ (2^nd battalion, 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, US 101^st Airborne – see 'Band of Brothers' ). The rescued men were flown back to the UK and reunited with their comrades who had escaped in Operation Berlin a month ago.

Jammed by the Boche - Sunday 22nd October 1944

POSTCARD Naarde Markt - Sunday 22^nd October 1944

Monday 22^nd (sic)

Chotie,

                        Still trying to get …id of these things!  I’ve had to cross the …lace name out on this …ne for security reasons.  Letter posted with this, and there’s …lenty more to come!

                                    Dick

 

Letter written on Sunday 22^nd 1944

61^st Recce Regt RACBLA.

Monday October 22 (sic)

Chotie Darling,

                                    Have just received your letter of the 18^th, which is pretty good going.

            Your hope that things aren’t going to badly is reasonably justified.  I’ve had three days’ rest – it’s been pretty deadly as I’m the only officer here, but it has been rest nevertheless.

            I go up to Squadron HQ tonight to take over duties of 2^nd in command as Ted goes away for 48hrs leave in Antwerp tomorrow.  It’s my turn next but I don’t know how things will turn out yet.

            Solomon*’s over here somewhere – he was playing in Eindhoven a fortnight ago, so with luck I might see him.

            Missed Pouishnoff** yesterday, when the programme was jammed by the Boche at the last moment.  Was I mad!  I’d waited all day to hear him.  We’re so near Germany that it’s easy for them to jam English stations.

            Glad to hear about your leave - might as well get all you can.

            Thanks for posting some tobacco Darling, it was certainly very welcome.

            Have been doing a little reading lately and at present am struggling through a massive tome entitled – ‘The Arts – Man’s Quest for Beauty’ by Rothenstein and Henry Wood**.  Quite a fine piece of work, though a little deadly in places.

            (They’ve just brought me in a cup of coffee which is made from acorns!  Surprisingly enough it’s considerably better than pukka coffee as made in England.) 

            This book includes Chapters on painting, drawing & design, Sculpture architecture, Music and Dramatic art, so it’s quite comprehensive!  I’ve only got as far as sculpture, so there’s a long way to go!

            Must close here to pack things for tonight.

                                                love

                                                            Dicker X.

 

*Solomon Cutner - a British pianist known simply as ‘Solomon’.

**’The Arts – Man’s Quest for Beauty’ by Sir William Rothenstein and Sir Henry Wood, published in 1935.

 © Chotie Darling

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 22nd     Place DRIEL

'Normal patrolling was carried out last night without incident.  Today has been very quiet except for the usual spasmodic shelling of our forward area.  “B” Squadron relieved “C” during the night without incident.'

 

I’m not sure Eric Brewer would agree that the night of 22^nd October was ‘without incident’.  He wrote in his diary:

“On outpost tonight Gerry came behind us – a small patrol of roughly 10 men.  I noticed them and shouted “Halt, who goes there?” when they were 25 yards away and they were 10 yards away when they stopped.  I wasn’t half scared but they only opened up with Smisy (small arms?) and our Bren gun and grenades soon got rid of them.” 

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

 

Dick and ‘B’ Squadron were now on the front line,

east of Driel on the south bank of the Lower Rhine

until 28^th October 1944.

 

"Quiet" on the Western Front

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 20th     Place DRIEL

'Today has been comparatively quiet and no enemy movement was observed until 1405 hrs when “C” Squadron reported fresh digging in area 7076.  “C” Squadron area was shelled spasmodically from 1420 to 1500 hrs and in response to numerous SHELLREPS a hostile battery at 644785 was dealt with by our medium artillery. 

At 1610 hrs “C” Squadron engaged what appeared to be a periscope on the railway embankment 705755 with light machine gun fire.  The result, a loud explosion, sheet of flame and black smoke indicated that a mine had been hit.

Another small enemy patrol was encountered by one of “A” Squadron’s patrols moving WEST along the river bank at 679762.  A few shots were exchanged without any conclusive results.  Nothing further was seen though our patrol remained in the farm at 678763 until 0530 hrs 21 Oct.'

 

Eric Brewer wrote in his diary for 20^th October:

“Shifted tonight to the other side of Arnhem.  Gerry 100 yards away, one was 25 yds. A few grenades etc.”

The next day he was “cut on outpost tonight – Gerry throwing grenades over our positions and plenty of Spando fire but otherwise quiet.  Can see Gerry walking about, also his outpost.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 21st      Place DRIEL

'Today has been exceptionally quiet.  No enemy movement was observed until 1945 hrs when a spandau fired from 711734 and movement was heard in that sector.'

Another Recce PoW dies in captivity

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 19th     Place DRIEL

'The night has been uneventful.  “C” Squadron moved their Command Post to the area of the sugar factory at 684746 under cover of darkness.

There has been little enemy activity during the morning though spasmodic mortaring and shelling has continued.  This afternoon however the enemy has been more active and at 1405 hrs “C” Squadron located 2 mortars on the NORTH bank of the NEDER RIJN and several vehicles were observed in the same area 7077, and at 1412 hrs some cyclists carrying WT sets.  Dusk brought the inevitable increase in enemy activity and our outposts again reported movement in area 7077.  At 2130 hrs the US troops on our left reported an enemy patrol, approx 10 strong, had crossed the river and landed in area 6675, they were fired on and contact lost.  At 2145 hrs “A” Squadron reported that they had located the patrol in the buildings at 675762 and they were heavily stonked.  Nothing more was heard.'

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 19^th October 1944 as a Prisoner of War:      

Sergeant Edward Harper (age 34) of Exhall, Warwickshire

who is laid to rest in the Utrecht (Soestbergen) General Cemetery (Utrecht is south of Amsterdam).  PoW.

(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)  

We will remember them.

Driel

On 17^th October 1944 Major-General L.O.Lynne relieved Major-General D.A.H. Graham as commanding Officer of 50^th Division until 22^nd November.

 

 WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 17th     Place APPELTERN                 DRIEL (south-west of Arnhem on south bank of Lower Rhine)

During the night orders came from Division.  The Regiment is again to move to the island and to hold the area SW of Arnhem relieving 69 Infantry Brigade.  Recce parties left early and the handover to 43 Recce Regiment was completed by 1300 hrs.

The DRIEL area 6875 is under direct enemy observation from the high ground WEST of ARNHEM and the take over from 69 Infantry Brigade had to be done at night.  Regimental HQ is east at LIENDEN 682708* and the reserve Squadron – “B” – is also in that area.  The ground is so open and roads so bad that the armoured car troops cannot be employed so they form an additional reserve.  The Regiment having to take over a complete Brigade sector, the ground will be thinly held and the present intention is to relieve each Infantry Company with a carrier or assault troop.  “C” Squadron are to hold the right sector and “A” the left.  Only at one point, the railway bridge 7076, is there any close physical contact.  The roads are narrow, treacherous and flanked by the inevitable deep ditches so the problem of moving vehicles up to their new area is nos easy one.

*west of Elst, in the middle of ‘the Island’.

 

Dick was now on ‘the Island’ again but on reserve at Lienden

between Herveld and Elst

until 22^nd October 1944.

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 18th     Place DRIEL (south-west of Arnhem on south bank of Lower Rhine)

The relief was completed by first light and only a few vehicles were ditched in the process.  There was fortunately little enemy activity during the take over.  By day only N/cs are safe moving up to “A” & “C” Squadron HQs and all admin has to be carried out after dark.  During daylight the present intention is to hold the forward psots with skeleton crews, the remainder withdrawing to nearby houses under cover, though by night the slit trenches are manned by all.

That the Germans have plenty of artillery and ammunition at their disposal is known and their outposts are alert.  This was shown when 3 men entered “C” Squadron’s outpost at the same time.  Two shells were immediately fired from NORTH of the NEDER RIJN both scoring direct hits in the building.  One OR (Other Rank) was wounded.  Orders have accordingly been issued to restrict movement in the forward areas to the minimum essential traffic.  Enemy movement was negligible until 1530 hrs when “C” Squadron reported an enemy patrol, 20 strong, in their sector EAST of the railway.  After a brief exchange of shots the enemy withdrew.  The CO moved a Tactical HQ up to “A” Squadron’s command Post at DRIEL tonight.

 

Rather puzzlingly Don Aiken has written in his account of 61^st Recce:

17th October - Venray
18th October - Aachen

Venray is in the Netherlands east of Eindhoven but Aachen is much further south in Germany east of the Netherlands border and the city of Maastricht. The Battle of Aachen was raging at the time between American and German forces on the Siegfried line.  (Extract  republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine by kind permission of Don Aiken)

 

Eric Brewer had moved to ‘near Elst near Arnhem’ on 16^th October where he was ‘in reserve’ with the rest of 'B' Squadron, including Dick, until the 20^th October (from ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004).

Action on the Waal

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 16th     Place APPELTERN (west of Nijmegen, near the Maas)

After another uneventful night the enemy were again active this morning.  At 0900 hrs a “B” Squadron outpost at 441669 was engaged by an enemy SP gun from the North bank of the WAAL.  The outpost was hit and the Troop Commander, Lieutenant A.R.V.STONE*, was slightly wounded.  Enemy movement has been on a reduced scale today.  He is making use of all available cover in his efforts to avoid detection.  Despite this, five men crawling along the road at 395633 and men digging at 462691 were fired on with good results.  At 1900 hrs it was learned that 43 Recce Regiment** are to relieve us tomorrow.  Our future role is not yet known.

*see 'Belgium' for the action that earned Lt. Albert Stone the Military Cross.

**Dick’s Regiment before his commission.

Wamel

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 13th     Place HERVELD         APPELTERN (west of Nijmegen, near the Maas)

'53 Recce Regiment arrived today and the relief of “A” & “B” Squadrons started immediately.  Squadron leaders in the meantime were reccying the new area SOUTH of the R WAAL and covering the SOUTH bank from LEEUNEN* 4968 to the bottle neck between the R WAAL and R MAAS.  At 1300 hrs command at HERVELD changed to 53 Recce Regiment and the unit was installed in its new area by 1600 hrs having relieved 52 (L) Recce Regiment**.  RHQ was established at APPELTERN 578615 “A” Squadron being in reserve in the same area.  The Regiment is now under command of 4^th Armoured Brigade with “B” Squadron centred on WAMEL*** 4367 and “C” on DREUMEL 4163. The present intention is to hold the ground with a ….(pages missing from diary here)

 

*Beneden-Leeuwen is west of Nijmegen on the south bank of the Waal.

**Dick’s future regiment.

***On the Waal west of Leeuwen

****south-west of Wamel, also on the Waal.

 

Dick and ‘B’ Squadron were at Wamel on the south bank of the Waal

until 17^th October 1944.

 

Eric Brewer of ‘B’ Squadron’s Assault Troop had moved to Wamel two days earlier, according to his diary and, in Dick’s language, soon had ‘his feet under the table’:

“made friends with a girl called Annie.  Plenty of 771 (?) round this way…also some Prince’s Greens*” (11^th October 1944)

*the Prince Consort's own Rifle Brigade, also known as the ‘Green Jackets’ for their uniform.

“saw the girl I know – had tea there, also some drinks and a bunch of grapes.  They are funny people, in the day they call everyone Tommies, at night they are scared as anything.” (12^th October 1944)

“still the same position on forward outpost directing artillery fire on Gerry outposts, a bit of action through the night.” (13th October 1944)

“still same place, went to house again for tea.  Gerry fired at the church tower today and brought it down.  Some of our chaps in Store’s troop were up there – luckily the first one hit the church low, they only got a bit of shrapnel in them.  Lucky they did not get more.” (14^th October 1944).

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

Lieutenant Griffiths, Croix de Guerre

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 12th     Place HERVELD

'After a quiet night enemy movement has increased again particularly on “A” Squadron’s front where men digging, ambulances and horse drawn tpt (transport?) have been seen throughout the day.  An armoured car patrol from “A” Squadron moved to the SOUTH bank of the R WAAL in the DRUTTEN* area and watched enemy movement in front of our Forward Defence Lines.  All movement seen today has been engaged by artillery.  “A” Squadron patrolled towards the DODEWARD* area.  Leaving at 1400 hrs the patrol was unable to make any progress cross country owing to the wide ditches.  The patrol Commander (Lieutenant C.R.Griffiths***) then decided to move down the ditch by the NORTH side of the road towards 555693.  At 558699 an enemy outpost was encountered.  The occupant did not need much persuasion to make them surrender and proved to be from 363 Infantry Division.  They stated that a mixed company was holding the area and that morale was low.  The patrol was then fired on by spandaus from the NORTH and mortared heavily from the same area.  It withdrew safely however and suffered no casualties.'

*Druten is north-west of Nijmegen.

**Dodewaard is on the north side of the Waal, west of Herveld.

***See 'Amiens and the Somme' and 'Across the Frontier'  for more information on Lt. Griffiths.  “This Officer’s example of cheerfulness and steadiness in every danger has had far reaching effects on his Squadron” (from 61st Recce Battle Honours.)

'C' Squadron Patrol

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 9th       Place HERVELD area

‘ “B” & “C” Squadrons positions were reviewed and improved during the day.  “C” Squadron’s outpost on the Island SOUTH of HIEN 5769 reported movement on a number of barges which are moored in the creek SOUTH of DODEWAARD (west of Herveld on the Waal).  Intermittent shelling of the whole area throughout the day increased to heavy concentrations SOUTH of 17 Troop’s positions on the railway at 1800 hours.  This was followed by an attempted penetration of the American Forward Defence Lines further WEST at 1820 hours.  Two SP juns and a few infantry were employed by the enemy, though it is difficult to see just what he hoped to achieve by this abortive mission.  Though some American outposts were withdrawn the whole situation was stabilised by 1900 hours.

15 Troop of “C” Squadron have confirmed the number of barges in the DODEWAARD as being 15.  The night was quiet.’  

 

 WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 10th     Place HERVELD area

‘At 900 hrs “C” Squadron sent out a Recce patrol on foot to investigate the barges at 555693.  The patrol – consisting of 2 NCOs – had not returned by 1000 hrs so the to commander – 2/Lt J. ARNOTT – and 1 OR (Other Rank) set off to investigate.  The OP covering them heard the sound of shots and subsequently saw a figure being pulled along the ground by some Germans.  It is feared that all have been made PW (Prisoners of War).  On the rest of the front the day has been generally quiet with a noticeable decrease in enemy shelling.’

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on this day:

          Corporal Roy George Whitehouse (age 23) formerly of the North Staffordshire Regiment who is mentioned on the Groesbeek Memorial (south-east of Nijmegen).

            Trooper John William Gridley (age 20) of Ilford Essex, formerly of the 61^st Training Unit who is laid to rest in the Assisi War Cemetery, south-west of Perugia in Italy.(?) 

who is laid to rest in the Mierlo War Cemetery, east of Eindhoven. (See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.) 

We will remember them.

 

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 11th     Place HERVELD

'Today has been generally quiet with only intermittent shelling of the Forward Defence Lines.  “A” Squadron relieved “C” Squadron  during the day without incident.

Some news of the missing personnel has been received from an American Outpost in the HIEN area (west of Herveld near Dodewaard).  The first patrol was apparently surprise by a party of Germans and taken prisoner.  The second was ambushed and both members wounded.  The Officer was subsequently seen limping away with his captors and 2 SBs (subordinates?) carrying a stretcher.'

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on this day:

          Trooper Maurice Raine (age 19) of West Hartlepool, County Durham    

who is laid to rest in the Utrecht (Soestbergen) General Cemetery (Utrecht is south of Amsterdam). PoW.

(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)  

We will remember them.

The Screaming Eagles

The 101^st Airborne Division, ‘the Screaming Eagles’, is renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, Operation Market garden and the Battle of the Bulge.  It has since paid a prominent role in many military campaigns and is one of the most highly decorated units in the US Army.

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 8th       Place HERVELD (west of Elst)

‘The Regiment – less “A” Echelon – crossed NIJMEGEN bridge at 1030 hours and came under command of 101 US Airborne Division.  We are based on HERVELD 6369 and RHQ and “A” Squadron are located there.  “B” & “C” Squadrons are forward.  The area lends itself easily to defence and Squadrons are mainly behind the American FDLs (Forward Defense Lines?) with the armoured car and some carrier troops forming mobile outposts looking WEST and NORTH over the NEDER RIJN.  In addition “C” Squadron assault troop and “B” Squadron Anti-tank Battery have formed a block on the railway at 580714.  The area was taken over from 52 Recce Regiment* and the relief completed by 1600 hours.  The remainder of the day was fairly quiet with only intermittent shelling of the FDLs.’

*Dick’s future regiment

 

Dick was now on ‘the Island’ again.

The regiment remained near Herveld until 13^th October 1944.

 

Eric Brewer’s diary for 8^th October records: “two counter attacks also shelling which has increased.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

Sandy Handley recalls “After the Arnhem do we was used for line holding, watching long stretches of river or open ground for which our mobility and communications were well suited.  We were sometimes supporting the 101 American Airborne.  Later we had a series of ordinary infantry positions in the lowland between Arnhem and Nijmegen.” (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

 

Field Service postcard sent to Chotie by Dick on 8th October 1944.

With the Yank Airborne

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 6th       Place ELST area        NIJMEGEN

'The regiment moved from divisional reserve SOUTH of the River Waal to our old harbour SOUTH of NIJMEGEN.  By 1400 hrs “A” Squadron were the only sub-unit NORTH of the river.  Efforts were made to have “A” relieved, but the relief was not completed until 2200 hrs.  The day has been generally quiet with some slight shelling of NIJMEGEN at last light.'

 

Dick was now south of Nijmegen again,

away from the front line.

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 7th       Place NIJMEGEN

'Today has been devoted to bathing, maintenance etc.  We have been warned that we return to the ‘Island’ tomorrow, it is believed to the WESTERN sector.'

 

Reg Harper tells of trying to back to Nijmegen to have a bath where Regional HQ ‘had their feet under the table in civvy billets’ by pretending he needed to take a truck back.  Unfortunately he encountered the legendary ‘Towrope’ Captain Joe Meredith, the Technical Adjutant who had organised the water-proofing of vehicles for D Day and who wasn’t to be fooled. Corporal Harper was sent packing, back north over Nijmegen Bridge to ‘the Island’.  (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 Tony Rampling remembers just how important a bath might seem: 

Washing and Shaving

“Well we obviously didn’t wash very much.  They tried to get us to shave, which we did under pressure.  I actually grew a moustache to make myself look a bit older because I looked quite a boy I think.  By and large we stank so much, that, well you wouldn’t have come near us.”  From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61^st Recce (pers comm).

 

On 6^th October Eric Brewer of 61^st Recce’s ‘B’ Squadron Assault Troop wrote in his diary:  “Moved to Arnhem.  Prisoners are only 15 years old with about 6 weeks’ service in.   Plenty of spando fire.  Our guns have been firing all the time.  We are with the Yank Airborne.”

On 7^th October he was:  “Still at Arnhem, east of it” (and remained there until the 9^th). “Gerry put in 4 counter attacks today, also plenty of shelling.  We are with the Yank airborne – they are a fine lot of chaps.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

Roy Howard explained: ‘Owing to manpower shortages in the British 2^nd Army, US 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions were moved north of the Waal to the ‘Island’ to hold the tip of the salient with 61^st Reconnaissance regiment; and remained there until the end of November.  In this period their losses equalled those taken during the Airborne phase.  They became a much blooded Division’.    

The 101^st Airborne Division spent 72 days in combat in the Netherlands from the start of Market Garden  to late November 1944.  They suffered 1,682 casualties in the defensive fighting on ‘the Island’ alone.

(From “March to Victory: Guide to World War II Battles and Battlefields from London to the Rhine” by John T Bookman and Stephen T Powers, published by Haynes in 1986 and “Race for the Rhine Bridges 1940 1944 1945” by Alexander Mckee, published by Souvenir Press 1971.)

 

61st Recce War Diary

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 1^st. Place MILL (south of Nijmegen and Grave, Netherlands)

‘The dawn of another month finds the Regt’s location unchanged.  RHQ still at MILL 6545 with “B” & “C” Sqns East of the village and “C” Sqn patrolling the WEST bank of the R. MAAS.  The Armd Cs are now the only troops committed and the enemy is remaining quiet.

Orders were received from Division that the Regt is to move tomorrow to the NIJMEGEN area and adv parties from 3^rd (Br) Div arrived during the afternoon.  Sqns started to thin out during daylight and by 2200 hrs the relief was complete.  The relief has been on a generous scale – an inf bn relieving one of our armd c patrols at CUYK 7249.’

 

According to his diary Eric Brewer was already on his way: “Shifted to Nijmegen. Passed over the bridge the first airborne captured*…..50 of squadron allowed out to Nijmegen so we tossed up but was not lucky.”  (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

*Nijmegen bridge was captured by the US 82^nd Airborne and XXX Corps on 20^th October 1944.

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 2^nd.       Place MILL (then) NIJMEGEN

‘Most of the early part of today has been spent preparing for the move NORTH.  “A” Sqn are still under comd 69 Inf Bde NORTH of NIJMEGEN and it looks as though the Regt may be complete again before long.  The move took place at 1700 hrs and Sqns were in the new locn – SOUTH of NIJMEGEN – by last light.  RHQ was est at 702585.

 

Eric Brewer describes some action on 2^nd October: “Attack went in today – Yanks and British.  Plenty of fighting going on, also plenty of bombs going over.  Shelling and mortar, 4 hrs, heavy, also a few spando active.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

 

Dick crossed the Maas and moved to south of Nijmegen.

 

Divisions, Brigades and Battalions

30^th September 1944 - ‘The whole of 50th Division was now tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first serious German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd Division across the Lower Rhine. The intensity of the attack on the 69th Brigade and the intensity of their defence can be judged by the fact that 124th Field Regiment Royal Artillery fired a total of 12,500 25-pound shells during the action and 'B' Company of the 2nd Cheshires fired 95,000 rounds of medium-machine-gun fire. For nearly two months static warfare was the norm on the Island. The forward troops rotated regularly. The great bridge at Nijmegen was under constant shellfire and journeys over it were made at full speed. The 50^th Division casualties in the battles on the island in early October were severe: almost 900 including 12 officers and 111 other ranks killed in action, 30 officers and 611 other ranks wounded and another 114 missing.' (From TT 50th Infantry Division.)

 

Colonel Brownrigg describes 61^st Recce’s role:

“After Arnhem we had a long spell of line-holding, as the war began to settle down for the winter.  We had considerable variety, sometimes watching long stretches of river or very open ground, for which our mobility and communications were ideally suited; sometimes supporting our friends the American 101^st Airborne Division:  but eventually in November we had a series of ordinary infantry positions in the ‘Island’ between Arnhem and Nijmegen.  By the time that floods drove us out of our forward positions with water washing the hubs of our vehicles, we had held the line on the extreme west of the ‘Island’, but it was a miserable place, and one’s heart sank every time one crossed the Nijmegen bridge going north.  We started by taking over a battalion position, and finished by relieving a brigade*.”  (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

 

*battalions typically consist of 300-800 soldiers under a Lieutenant-Colonel.  Brigades may consist of three to six battalions led by a Brigadier while a Division eg 50^th (Northumbria) Division, has three or more brigades (ten to thirty thousand soldiers) under a Major-General.

A Corps is either a large military formation of two or more Divisions eg XXX Corps, or a professional branch of the armed forces such as Recce Corps.

Regiments are permanent (and often historical) units of various sizes although many British regiments have now combined to make larger regiments eg 'The Dorsets' were merged to become 'the Devonshire and Dorset light infantry regiment' in 1958, which in turn became part of the large regiment of ‘The Rifles’ in 2007.

 

Eric Brewer reveals that the squadron shifted to Mill (south of Graves and Nijmegen) on 30^th September.  “Out on recce saw the right Ark car that the O/C of a squadron got killed – his name was Major Alexander – also his grave.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

Dick, in ‘B’ Squadron like Eric, would have been located east of Mill,

north-west of Boxmeer in the Netherlands

and west of the River Maas.

 

Eric had found some camera film in a German tank a week or two earlier and borrowed a camera, sending the film home to be developed at the beginning of October 1944.

Eric Brewer on half-track vehicle, in centre (photo courtesy of Derek Brewer who has copyright)

 

 

Eisenhower, Monty and Browning

“Monty stood up in his car,

Having espied from afar

‘Chutes in trees and gliders wrecked,

Arnhem: he gave cigarettes.”

(From ‘Destination Berlin’ by Major Frank Harding MC, in ‘War echoes over thirty years’ published by Arthur Stockwell, 1970)

 

On 25^th September Eric Brewer recorded “Monty and Eisenhower also Chief of the Airborne ('Boy' Browning) stopped and spoke to us today; asked if we were getting our food OK, also if there were any complaints.  He gave us 2,500 fags between us and also told us we were being transferred from being called the 61^st recce to the 50^th.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

Don Aiken’s account of 61^st Recce and Market Garden mentions a similar incident:

“17th September - Advance on left flank of 30 Corps to Mol and Valkenswald
18th September - Hasselt and Eindhoven (link up with US 101st Airborne)
19th September - Grave (link up with US 82nd Airborne)
20th September - Cross Nijmegen Bridge over the River Waal
22nd September - Elst
24th September - South bank of Rhine (west of Arnhem)
Until 17th October - Continuous patrols on "Island" (between Arnhem and Nijmegen)

September 1944
It had been decided to strike up through Holland on a narrow front in an attempt to seize a corridor which would reach over the Rhine and into Germany; opening up the way to Berlin.
Airborne Troops were dropped on a line up through Holland with the objective of capturing all the bridges on the line of advance.
XXX Corps would quickly create the corridor and take over from the airborne troops. The first line of smaller bridges was to be captured by the US Airborne; and the last one (at Arnhem) was to be taken by the British Airborne Troops.
Initially everything went quite well. The advance progressed rapidly; and it was during this time, whilst we were moving up behind the Guards Armoured Division, and in a period when our advance had been cut off by a German attack, that Monty stopped his staff-car, had a few words with us and handed out some packets of fags.
Very welcome !

In a few days XXX Corps had arrived at Nijmegen and captured the large bridge over the Waal. When we arrived at Nijmegen the battle for Arnhem, a few miles up the road, was taking place. This was doomed to failure, as history knows, and I won't add to it here.
The result was that the whole advance bogged down and, with the approaching winter, conditions would soon be unfit to make a further assault to cross the Rhine. We took up various defensive positions along the perimeter of our territory and a few minor successes were achieved up and down the line but it became obvious that we weren't going anywhere for a while.”

(Extract  republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine' by kind permission of Don Aiken)

 

Sandy Handley recalled:

“We eventually went over Nijmegen Bridge.  By that time the airborne drop had turned out very badly, so many casualties.”

(From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

Casualties

24^th September – Urquhart’s wounded are evacuated under medical truce leaving him with 1,800 troops of the 10,000 that landed.  315 men of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Dick's first regiment ) cross the Lower Rhine and briefly hold part of Westerbowing, near Heveadorp (south-west of Oosterbeek). 200 are captured but two reach Urquehart with the plans for evacuation the following night.

At nightfall on 25th September Urquhart’s men are evacuated crossing the Lower Rhine in little boats under heavy fire (Operation Berlin - Arnhem).  Many of the Airborne who made it to the other side of the river were met by former comrades who had, like Dick, joined 43rd Recce from the Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron.  (From From ‘Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17th – 25th September 1944’ and ‘Only the Enemy in Front Every other beggar behind…’ The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946’ by Richard Doherty, Tom Donovan Publishing Ltd 1994)

Eric Postles records that 61st Recce's 'B' Squadron was supporting the 43rd Division Infantry in this rescue: "When it became clear that the Arnhem Bridge was beyond 30 Corps reach our squadron was moved to join 43 Division infantry where we protected their right flank as they advanced to the Waal, crossed it and helped the Airborne survivors back from the Osterbeek area.  The crossing place was just downstream from Driel and the attack took place at night using moonlight (searchlights on cloud) and Bofar gun tracer to mark the boundaries.  43 Division crossed the river and surviving Airborne troops were brought back but the cost in lives of the 43 Division infantry was heavy.  I remember seeing a field full of parachutes of different colours used to identify the contents of the containers, which had been dropped on the wrong side of the river."  (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

Of the 10,000 British troops that had landed in Market Garden that ‘bridge too far’ had lost almost 8,000.  Only 2,163 were safely evacuated in Operation Berlin (1,741 from British 1^st Airborne and 422 from the Glider Pilot Regiment) with 160 Polish paratroopers and 75 Dorset infantry men. 240 escaped later with the help of the Dutch resistance.  1,485 were killed in action or died of wounds while 6,525 were captured or missing. Less than 8% of the supplies intended for the British Airborne had reached them.

The American airborne had approximately 3,200 casualties (2,100 for the 101^st and 1,100 for the 82^nd).

Market Garden had involved over 20,000 paratroopers and more than 13,500 glidermen.  862 aircraft crew were lost.

On the ground XXX Corps had taken 1,480 casualties.

 

On 24^th September Roy Howard of ‘A’ Squadron notes that 61^st Recce were on the south bank of the Rhine, west of Arnhem, and kept up continuous patrols on ‘the Island’ until 17^th October. 

Eric Brewer, who had been in the section of 61^st Recce left behind when the Germans intercepted the XXX Corps salient, recorded that 61^st Recce “shifted to the flank, plenty of mortar shelling and spandos.  A few Gerry prisoners taken today. Also woman.”

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 24^th September 1944:

          Major Stanley George Alexander (age 34) of Tetbury, Gloucestershire     

who is laid to rest in the Mierlo War Cemetery, east of Eindhoven. (See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)

We will remember them.

 

There were other 61^st Recce casualties from Arnhem – Major Rayor lost a leg when he stepped on an anti-personnel mine on ‘the Island’ during the advance towards Arnhem.

Tony Macotta, who had been Colonel Mount’s Adjutant planning for the invasion, took over Major Alexander’s role as commander of 61^st Recce’s HQ Squadron (see Colonel Brownrigg’s obituary for Tony in ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’).

Across the river

 23^rd September – Urquhart’s paratroopers and airlanding men at Oosterbeek are increasingly pressed by the surrounding Germans who are held off by the guns of XXX Corps across the river. Another 200 Polish paratroopers join the beleaguered troops north of the Lower Rhine. (From From ‘Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17th – 25th September 1944’)

 

50^th (Northumbrian) Division were tasked with capturing Bemmel, a village on the ‘Island’ between the Lower Rhine and the Waal, south-east of Elst, where the Guards were still embattled.  By 25^th September they had achieved this but were kept under heavy artillery fire by the Germans.  (From TT 50th Infantry Division.) 

 

Anthony Rampling remembers watching Germans north of the river:

Attics at Arnhem

“When we got near Arnhem we got up into the attics of houses on the side of the river and took some tiles off the roof and could see the Germans the other side, scuttling around.  We didn’t obviously fire at them because that would have drawn fire back onto us – just observed from the attics.  I always remember in the attics there was tobacco leaves hanging up.”  From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61^st Recce (pers comm).

 

According to Roy Howard the supply line for XXX Corps had again been cut, this time at Sint Oedenrode, south-west of Veghel.  Eric Brewer records: “Shelled to where Gerry broke through but not much doing, plenty of shelling through the night.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

Dick’s future regiment, 52^nd (Lowland) Recce, now east of Grave near Oss, were also engaged in heavy fighting to defend the corridor as the Germans pressed in hard from both sides.

Chotie becomes a PT Instructor

Chotie qualified as a PT Instructor on 22^nd September.

 

Her ‘Statement of Service’ and ‘Service and Casualty’ form state:

Attended Initial P.T. Course at No. 2 A.T.S. PT School w.e.f. 30 Aug to 22 Sept 44. 

Result : - “AX”.

 

Meanwhile in the Netherlands the Guards were still prevented from reaching Arnhem bridge by determined German resistance at Elst

The XXX Corps lifeline was severed by the Germans between Uden (south-west of Grave) and Veghel cutting off the front of the advance with the US 82^nd Airborne and part of 61^st Recce. 

 

43^rd (Wessex) Division was brought up across the River Waal and attacked towards Driel, on the south bank of the Lower Rhine, where they linked up with the Polish Airborne. Dick’s former unit, 43^rd Recce protected the left flank of the Division on ‘the Island’. Some of the Polish troops succeeded in crossing the Rhine in small boats and joining Urquhart’s Airborne at Oosterbeek, who were still holding their besieged position.

Ted's crowd - Thursday 21st September 1944

61^st Recce Regt RAC

B.L.A.

Thursday Sept 21^st

Chotie Darling,

                                    Just a few lines (as there’s no news*) to let you know I’m OK and still fighting fit(?)

            I hope your course has softened down a bit (as you should be more used to it by now) and that you’re enjoying your first visit to Scotland.  I never managed to get to Edinburgh when I had my course in Scotland, though I managed to get to Glasgow.

            My hand’s still shaking from testing a new armoured car we’ve received.  It’s funny how driving a car fast makes the old hands so wobbly.

            Heard from Diller this morning from home, where she’s on leave – including a footprint (in ink) of Michael*….Heavy nostalgia!

            Very pleasant house I’m in, writing this – a well-to-do surgeon’s town-house, English Georgian style – front-door on the pavement.  Some very good prints of the Flemish masters.  The countryside here is very dull, being quite flat but the small towns and villages we visit from time to time are very interesting. 

        Managed to buy a fountain pen yesterday for 100f. (10/-) – really very cheap.  I’ve saved about £100 since D-day so I must have a fling occasionally.

        My mate Geoff Winzer hasn’t yet caught us up again nor Jimmy Waddell, who’s still in England.  There’s only about 50% officers with us now – which makes life much duller.  To compensate this however, the area we’re now in is much more interesting, more people, shops & BEER!

        Ted’s crowd are the originators of this new push, though I haven’t yet met him.  Is he still in action?

                Must close here, Darling, for tea

                                    Much love

                                                            Dicker

 

*Dick had to censor the letters of his men and so would have censored his own as he wrote them, leaving out anything that would indicate his unit was involved in Market Garden and possibly trying to put any interceptor off the scent.

**The Williams family dog – I think.

 © Chotie Darling

 

On Arnhem bridge, although fighting had continued through the night, the airborne troops were over-run and forced to scatter through Arnhem.  Most were taken prisoner including Freddie Gough (who later escaped in 1945).  German traffic was now able to cross the bridge to engage and halt the advancing Guards of XXX Corps at Elst (between Arnhem and Nijmegen).  The 1^st Polish Parachute Brigade dropped at Driel, on the south bank of the Nederrijn (Lower Rhine), under heavy fire from the Germans.

52^nd Recce, Dick’s future regiment, arrives in Son en Breugel on the Wilheminakanaal and comes under the command of 101^st Airborne Division.  They move up to Grave on the north-west tip of the salient.

 

Eric Brewer of 61st Recce ‘B’ squadron is moving up Hell’s Highway:  “Moved at 4.30 in the morning to Holland.  Went through to Andover (Eindhoven?) to a place called Halover.  Went out on Recce but things quiet, a few vehicles knocked out here.”  (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004).

‘This latest Airborne effort’ - Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th September 1944

On 18^th September XXX Corps continued their advance, liberating Eindhoven, then linking up with the US 101^st Airborne Division and starting work on a Bailey Bridge* over the Son.  They were now 18 hours behind schedule.  (See Market Garden 1944-2014.)

82^nd Airborne had secured all its bridges except the Nijmegen road bridge where the Germans held firm.

Although more British airborne troops landed the Germans held their drop zone on Ginkel Heath (north-west of Arnhem), by the end of the afternoon so they could not be re-supplied.  Those airborne troops already landed were engaged in fierce fighting and gradually being surrounded.  Colonel Frost’s isolated troops on Arnhem bridge successfully stopped German vehicles from crossing.

*the British portable, pre-fabricated truss bridge invented during WW2 and developed in Christchurch, Dorset.

 

61^st Recce’s ‘A’ Squadron were involved in finding routes from Valkenswaard for the tanks and Roy Howard mentions that it was the Household Cavalry that first met up with 101^st Airborne Division at Woensel, between Eindhoven and Son. (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

 

Letter written on Monday 18^th and Tuesday 19^th September 1944

 61^st Recce Regt RAC

BLA

Monday Sept 18^th

Chotie Darling,

                                    Many thanks for your letter received a couple of days ago.  There’s nothing much of any real interest to tell you – no current news, anyhow.

            We’ve been much luckier of late in getting into some towns instead of the old perpetual fields and orchards.  Have spent several days recently in or near a small town (Wimborne* size) and been able to get a harbour and several other necessities.

            There are plenty of pubs here, and although they are still called cafés, they correspond much more to our conception of a pub.  They also have the excellent idea of having the barbers inside the pub itself so that you can have a pint or two whilst waiting your turn.  Altogether a very happy solution to this queueing problem.

            A lot of my troop have bought scent and powder with enticing Paris labels – but personally I’ve avoided buying any as I don’t trust them.  One of my blokes bought three bottles which cost him 1000 f (£5) which is obviously Black Market stuff.  Maybe I’m sceptical – as usual.

            I’ve been trying to read my Mozart, which is pretty heavy going, being in French.  It’s an excellent book, however, so I’m persevering.  I also have a copy of ‘Gentlemen prefer Blondes**’ in French, which is quite amusing but less instructive.

            Have met a lot of Ted’s crowd*** but haven’t yet contacted him.

            Brinner is still at Base as far as I know – he’ll probably still be there when we get the final ‘cease firing’. 

             I imagine Johnny Jones is with this latest Airborne effort.  Did you hear anything of him when you were on leave?  I haven’t heard a thing.

            We now manage to get a better variety of food, than hitherto – eggs & tomatoes**** (hundreds of them) instead of the endless run of sausage-meat.  We also get a few mushrooms from time to time.  Must close here to do some work.

                                    All my love

                                                Darling

                                                            Dicker

Will write some more tonight.

 

Well, Darling, I couldn’t finish this letter last night because we moved during the evening.

I’ve found out where Brinner is but as he’s some 60 miles from me at the moment there seems no chance of contacting him. 

I’m afraid I can’t write any more as I have a full day ahead fitting new wireless sets to my cars.

                All my love Precious

                                                Dicker.

 

*a small town in Dorset.

**the American novel by Anita Loos published in 1925.

***the Guards Armoured Division.

****Uncle Ted told me he once had to hide out in a tomato field behind enemy lines and just lived on tomatoes for a couple of days - he couldn't bear to eat them after that (Chotie’s Daughter).

© Chotie Darling

The Geel Bridgehead

9th September 1944 – The Guards Armoured Division crosses the Albert Canal at Beringen.

In France de Gaulle forms a Provisional Government of the Republic.

In Bulgaria the pro-communist resistance known as the Fatherland Front takes power and declares war on Germany. The next day Russia enters the capital Sofia.

 

10^th October 1944 – the Irish Guards take an intact bridge at over the Maas-Scheldt canal at Neerpelt, which they call 'Joe's bridge’ after their commander.

Montgomery meets Eisenhower and obtains approval of his plan for Operation Market Garden.

Luxembourg is liberated by the US First Army.

 

11^th September – US troops are the first Allies to cross the frontier into Germany, crossing the River Our from northern Luxembourg.

The RAF ‘terror bomb’ the Medieval city of Darmstadt near Frankfurt in central Germany.

Liberation of Dijon in Burgundy, France.

 

Battle of Geel: on 9^th September the Durham Light Infantry, supported by 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment and the tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, push forward from the bridgehead towards Geel.  They capture the city the next day despite German resistance and counter-attacks, which cut off part of the regiment and drive them back to the south of Geel.  German resistance continues on the 11^th with fierce fighting and losses and the  British are ordered to withdraw.

 

Eric Brewer of B Squadron’s Assault Troop was at the Albert Canal on 9^th September: "Still in same position. Gerry patrols came across on Recce but turned back when coming into contact with our fire.   Gerry mortars and shells still coming over, also a few bombs dropped in the night.   Plenty of refugees coming into our lines from Gerry side".

10^th September: "Still at Canal position. Same as usual except a few shells." (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)

Lt-Colonel Brownrigg continues his account of 61^st Recce:

“Our next real engagement was in the Gheel bridgehead. ‘C’ Squadron under the command of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade was ordered to go over the smaller of the two bridges and reconnoitre some miles beyond.  As they crossed the bridge they came under heavy machine-gun and 20mm fire from close range.  All the Squadron Headquarters vehicles were holed, and soon afterwards the bridge was broken.  The enemy had been reinforced during the night, and the bridgehead was only 300yds or so deep here, the infantry holding it having been continuously counter-attacked.  They were overjoyed to see our armoured cars, which fought their way forward like tanks throughout the day, shooting off all their ammunition. The whole squadron did a great day’s work, but the casualties were heavy.”  (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.) 

Squadron Sergeant Major Robert Dudley Page was in charge of 'C' Squadron HQ vehicles in their offensive across the Albert Canal south of Geel. When the bridge was broken SSM Page ferried casualties across the canal by boat under heavy fire.  He personally converyed essential ammunition supplies to the fighting troops throughout the day under mortar and machine gun fire.  SSM Page earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his 'energy, enterprise and great personal courage'.

Lieutenant Joseph Graham Pilsbury earned the Military Cross for his part in the action that supported the Durham Infantry Brigade in enlarging and maintaining the Geel bridgehead.  Lieutenant Pilsbury, having inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in fierce fighting, was wounded in the closing stage of the battle.

Capitaine-Commandant B. del Marmol's valuable work as Belgian Forces Liaison Officer with 61st Recce at Olen, west of Geel is mentioned on his MC citation.

(See 61st Recce Battle honours.) 

 

According to a 15^th Recce report on 11^th September the 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment were south of Herenthals (west of Olen) and, although enemy were seen north of Herenthals, they no longer appeared to be holding the canal in great strength.

B Squadron’s Eric Brewer and Eric Postles moved to Harbour.

September 11^th: "Shifted to Harbour, going out on Recce tomorrow. Things quiet in harbour."  (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)

Eric Postles recorded under 11th September 1944: "After further skirmishes we finally reached Bourg Leopold, a former Belgian Army training area.  We found a food depot and among other things were frozen peas.  At times both the Germans and ourselves were getting food from it.  While there we were brought up to strength in men and equipment.  Our new troop leader was Lt Cutler (ex 59 Recce).  The 'Swan' had come to an end.  We had taken over 4,000 prisoners during the regiments drive from the Seine."  (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

Don Aiken was also at Bourg Leopold or Leopoldsburg on 11^th September.  Bourg Leopold was across the Albert Canal, north of Beringen (where the Guards Armoured Division had forced a crossing).

To the north two Household Cavalry Lieutenants undertake a daring reconnaissance of the road to Eindhoven in the Netherlands, driving through the frontline under fire to obtain information on the bridge over the river Dommel south of Valkenswaard.

 

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 9^th September 1944:

          Trooper Albert Edward Matthews (age 28) from Brislington, Bristol

            Lance Sergeant Sidney Smith (age 26) from Newbury, Berkshire

and    Trooper Reginald Robinson (age 25) of Oxford, who died on 11th September 1944.    

All are laid to rest in the Geel (Stelen) War Cemetery, east of Antwerp. 

Also        Trooper Stanley Stamp (age 19) from Dagenham, Essex who died on 10th September 1944

and is laid to rest in the Brussels Town Cemetery. 

 (See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)

We will remember them.

 

The Bridge at Eine

6th September - Britain claims victory in the ‘Battle of London’ after 80 days of bombardment.  Of over 8,000 V1s launched, 2,300 reached London.  As further bombing seems unlikely the black-out is diminished to a 'dim-out'.

The Allies attack the port of Emden in north-west Germany but, although 80% of the city's structures are destroyed the shipyards are largely unaffected.

Liberation of Courtrai/Kortrijk and Ghent in Belgium. 

‘C’ Squadron to the north were able to make occasional sallies over the canal to cut off isolated detachments, and one troop made an incursion into the outskirts of Ghent.  As they were shooting-up a German post the Troop Commander was hailed by a local Belgium official, and led round behind the houses to interview the German Commander and tell him to surrender.  The German refused, and the battle restarted.”  (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

There was also action to the south near Oudenaarde.  Eric Postles records the incident at the Eine/Eyne bridge, to the north of the town:

"Our troop was assigned to the bridge at the village of Eyne and because we had lost our main wireless set in the troop leader’s carrier we had a heavy and a light armoured car from 12 Troop for communications and a 6 pounder anti-tank gun from Headquarter’s Squadron.  Because we had run out of maps we had to get help from civilians to find Eyne.  The bridge, which had been blown up in 1940 and replaced by a wooden structure, was intact.  All the houses were on the west bank with a warehouse next to the bridge on the east bank.  We set up position with our Bren guns in the warehouses to cover the bridge and the anti-tank gun was on the left of the bridge and the armoured cars under Sergeant Charlie Wells covered the banks of the canal.  It was Eyne’s liberation and the people gave us a great reception and there was partying all day.  The light armoured car crew established that there was a main road running parallel to the canal on the other side of Eyne.  We felt we were in no danger as we knew that troops from 8 Corps had been moving along the road from time to time.  As there was no officer to take charge, the Sergeants had to organise things.

Bert Mepham and I were on the last guard before stand to.  It was a dark quiet night when, to the north, we saw tracers looping into the night sky.  We immediately roused everybody then returned to the end of the bridge.  About 30 minutes later we heard the sound of tracked vehicles on the other side of the village, then they approached the bridge and stopped.  We were unsure as to whether they were friends or foe but when in the half-light someone walked to the centre of the bridge we realised it was a German officer in his long overcoat and alerted everyone.  There were flashes as Sergeant Atkins on the anti-tank gun took out all the German vehicles, which erupted in flames and explosions.  Our troop’s Bren Guns and the armoured cars’ Besa Gun and Brens opened fire at the same time as the anti-tank gun, killing the German officer and enemy on the other side of the bridge.  They must have been carrying a lot of ammunition as for some time afterwards it blew up causing weird noises and coloured explosions in the air.  A body had been blown into the air and hung on a telephone wire. 

Later in the morning our Squadron leader Major Harding, who spoke fluent German, and Toff Palmer, the medical orderly, crossed the bridge under a red cross flag to negotiate a surrender of the Germans.  Toff had been in our troop up to D-day.  He was Jewish and had volunteered for the medic’s job as he feared being taken prisoner while on patrol.  Before going over the bridge he got some ribbing from us saying that the Germans would keep him.  The Germans, who had several hundred troops left agreed to surrender and lorries were brought up to take them away.  However, they reneged and after threats to shell them, they gave up next day.  The Germans suffered over 60 dead plus many wounded.

Sergeant Atkins was awarded the Military Medal for his brilliant anti-tank gun shooting, which knocked out a self-propelled gun and three half-tracks as well as using high explosive shells on the following troops.  It transpired later that the anti-tank crew had difficulty finding a piece of the firing mechanism as it had been removed while children from the village had been playing on the gun.  12 Troop took over in the late afternoon and next day several hundred wounded and prisoners were taken.  It was all the more remarkable because we had no more than 30 men on our side of the bridge at the time of the action." (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

Don Aiken's account of the action:

"We were positioned thinly along all the bridges which crossed the Escaut Canal. At each bridge was positioned , typically, one Anti-tank gun, a section of Assault troops and one Armoured car. Although the actual coverage probably differed from bridge to bridge.

As night fell we heard the noise of gun-fire at the next bridge further down the canal, and stood ready for action when the fire had abated. It wasn't very long before we heard the noise of approaching German tanks and other vehicles. The first vehicles moved towards the bridge and we opened fire with all we had. The vehicles withdrew away from the canal and we didn't hear from them again. 

We later learned that the gun-fire that we had heard from the next bridge had a little story-line to it.  It is the practice of Anti-tank gun-crews to remove part of the firing mechanism of their gun and conceal it, when they are not on stand-to, so that in the eventuality of being infiltrated by surprise, the enemy would be unable to use the gun.  This had been the case here, when suddenly they had been awakened by the look-out who had heard the approaching Germans. But they couldn't remember where the part had been hidden! Panic set in. They searched high and low - but without success. All the time the Germans were getting nearer. A very strong force, consisting of several tanks, armoured cars and field guns. Soon the leading tank was rumbling onto the bridge.

Found it ! Shaking fingers put the mechanism together; nervous hands adjusted the sights. Then, when the tank was already in the centre of the bridge, - Bang! Bulls-eye!  After a heavy exchange of fire, the Germans took some losses because of the hidden positions of the defending guns, and there was a lull in the fighting. Then a German officer appeared carrying a white flag. The Officer in charge of the bridge defenders met him on the bridge, where it was agreed for the Germans to remove their dead and wounded on condition that they moved back and didn't return. A funny episode which couldn't have worked out better if it had all been planned.” 

(Extract  republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine'by kind permission of Don Aiken)

 

Colonel Brownrigg was slightly more impressed:

“Just north of Oudenaarde a party of twenty of ‘B’ Squadron were holding the bridge at Eyne, with a section of carriers, two armoured cars and one anti-tank gun. 

In the cold half-light of the September morning they heard shooting on the far side of the canal.  Then from the mist there emerged a half-track, a 75mm, self-propelled gun, two more half-tracks and about a company of infantry.  When they were just short of the bridge a German Officer got out of the leading half-track and tested the bridge. 

Sergeant Atkinson, who was in charge of our one anti-tank gun waited until all four vehicles were close up.  Then with four shots he ‘brewed-up’ all four.  Changing to high explosive, he attacked the infantry while the rest of the detachment let loose with everything they had. 

At 1300 hours an officer came under a Red Cross flag to collect the wounded.  Most of them were evacuated by us.  About sixty dead and wounded were counted against no casualties on our side. ‘B’ Squadron Leader harangued the officer in fluent German, telling him to surrender what was left of his force.  The officer agreed to ask his commander, but he returned after an hour to say that he’d had instructions to carry on, as his force was bigger than ours, and so battle was joined again.  But they gave no more trouble.

During the time of the advance into Belgium we took about 4,000 prisoners.  Their disposal was a never-ending nightmare, as there were no cages and we had no transport to get them back to Divisional Headquarters.”  (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

 

“In their advance into Belgium 61st Recce had taken about 4,000 prisoners the handling of whom was a constant problem as no PoW camps had been set up and there was no spare transport to take prisoners back to divisional headquarters.  It was a problem that had to be dealt with by improvising as the regiment continued its progress.” (From ‘Only the Enemy in Front Every other beggar behind…’ The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946’ by Richard Doherty, Tom Donovan Publishing Ltd 1994)

 

Sergeant Sydney John Atkins was awarded the Military Medal for his “cool courage, enterprise and resource in command as well as his skill in handling his gun” while holding the bridge at Eyne.  (See Sergeant Atkins citation in 61st recce Battle Honours.) 

Eric Brewer recorded Sgt Atkins’ achievement in his diary:  “Still guarding bridge.  Anti-tank knocked out three lorries and one Tiger today.  Little activity.  Expect to shift tonight to near Brussels." (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)

 

Unfortunately 61st Recce did have casualties that day:

61^st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 6^th September 1944:

                    Trooper Ernest Harry Branch (age 29) from Sittingbourne, Kent

who is laid to rest in the Kruishoutem War Cemetery, north-west of Oudenaarde. (See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)

We will remember them.

 

Flowers all the way - Tuesday 5th September 1944

Sept 5^th 1944

Chotie Darling,

                                    Must apologise for the long gap in my correspondence but it’s been virtually impossible to write as we’ve been moving too fast for the outgoing mail to be collected.

            It’s impossible to describe the last 10 days – it’s simply been a case of flowers all the way.

            I got the job to guard two bridges in the middle of a large town* – and we were the first Allies in the town!  The welcome we had was amazing – and quite impossible to relate in writing.  We were already covered in flowers – we were soon to be covered with fruit and wine.

            The girls here (and there are many) are all very smart, despite the fact that a pair of women’s brogues (they call them “Swing”) cost upwards of £10 (2000 francs).  They’ve been living very badly for four years, but they had hidden wine and food for us, as they knew we’d arrive eventually.  I’ve got hundreds of addresses to visit after the war – quite hopeless to accept them all.

            I’m afraid this is the only ‘writing’ paper** I have as I lost all my other stuff in a bit of a scramble we had some time ago, and I haven’t been able to replenish them yet.

            All the ‘best’ people here speak French so I’m still OK on that score, though I’ll be scuppered soon, I imagine.

            There are some very charming girls here – one of whom presented me with the complete works of Balzac***, after I’d expressed my admiration for him.

 

Well, Darling it’s now evening and getting too dark to write.

            Had a very happy time ‘on guard’ with scores of civilians around to ask the usual barrage of questions.  My French is improving immensely and I hope to achieve fluency before the war is finally ended.

Must close here Darling – my only wish is that you were here with me.  I should get less conversation from the local girls though…..

 

                                                            Goodnight, my Darling

                                                                        Dicker

 

*Oudenaarde/ Audenarde on the Scheldt / Escaut Canal south of Ghent, liberated on 5^th September.  Dick received many visiting cards from here including those left in his diary: Monsieur & Madame Louis van Eycken of 10, Jules Lacroixstraat; Gaston Gevaert of 6 Meerschpoort, Bevere; Walter van Lantschoot-Colpaert of 45 Baarstraat and Monsieur André Torrelle of 98 Rue de Tournai.

**the letter is written on German Army accounting paper.

***a French novelist and playwright of the nineteenth century.

© Chotie Darling

 

Sandy Handley remembers Oudenaarde:

“The stretch of 35 miles where we held the line of the Escaut Canal, from Ghent to a bridge south of Oudenaarde, was bridges all along.  I remember our car was on one of these bridges in Oudenaarde and some of the residents here had got into a collaborator’s house and proceeded to smash up all the furniture.  As the enemy had almost left the town people went after the collaborators and smashed everything.  Earlier on we had seen some girls, who had been friendly with the Germans, having all their hair cut off. 

In some of the towns and villages the civilian population came out to cheer us on, they seemed really pleased to see us.  Several times a toddler was held up for us to kiss, it was quite moving some times.  It had to be seen to know what you felt like.  To see all those people clapping and cheering, I will always remember this.” (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)

 

Eric Brewer witnessed worse scenes:  "Still at Berchem. Saw the free Belgium people set a collaborator's house on fire, also cut their hair and took them away.  We took some SS back to RHQ and the villagers caught some more but before we knew it they had strung them up...Had tea in one of the local houses.  Also taken to dance by the people at night."

He wrote home: "I don’t think I shall Learn any more French or even see any more French people for a while as we have become all Belgian fans.  I don’t expect I shall have to tell you where I am but the buzz bombs are a decent way from us, I don’t mean in front but behind…

We have had a lot of offers to tea, dinner and supper or been asked to come in and have a drink. If we accepted a quarter of the offers I would always be drunk so what we generally do is say that 'we are full up or had plenty already' but sometimes they won't take that for an answer and we finish up being pulled in for a drink…

Your loving son

Eric XXXX"

(Extract from Eric Brewer’s letter and diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)

50th Division was now centred on Brussels, while the Guards Armoured Division took a brief rest after their high speed advance to the city.

 

5^th September 1944: in France Lille, Poitiers and Saint Étienne are liberated.  Le Havre is heavily bombed by the Allies.

 Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg governments in exile sign the London Customs Convention, the foundation of the Benelux economic union.

 Russia declares war on Bulgaria and Soviet forces enter the country.

Belgium

4^th September – Finland and the Soviet Union agree to a ceasefire.

In the Battle of the Mons Pocket US First Army trap and take prisoner more than 25,000 retreating Germans near the French border in Belgium, south of Brussels.

In the Netherlands the Germans declare a ‘state of emergency’ with the disruption of retreating German soldiers and the dangers of a Dutch uprising.

British 11^th Armoured Division, at the head of the XXX Corps advance, takes Antwerp and thanks to the Belgium Resistance the docks are undamaged.  However, the German 15^th Army took up positions along the Scheldt Estuary limiting use of the port.  The advance of XXX Corps in Belgium halted due to a shortage of fuel. 

50th Division's 231st Brigade (Dorsets, Devons and Hampshires) entered Brussels behind the Guards and took part in the ceremonial liberation parades on 4th September.

 

Anthony Rampling was with ‘B’ Squadron as they advanced into Belgium

Flowers and retreating Jerries

“As we went through villages people were stopping us, covering the vehicles with flowers, giving us bread, wine.  As soon as we could we had to ditch the flowers.

            I remember getting up into a church steeple and you could see the Jerries running and the vehicles retreating into the distance.  This was a very pleasing sight.”

But not all of the Germans were running:

Belgium SS snipers

“We were travelling along a typical Belgium Road, lined with poplar trees and banksides, with cuttings in the banks for entrances to the fields.  At this time I was in the leading armoured car, gunner in a turret, when two Germans ran across the road some way ahead.  These were crack SS soldiers left behind as snipers, intent on delaying us.  They ran into a cutting to a field and when we got there the armoured car backed into the cutting so I was ready to fire at them.

            I thought they would hold up their hands and surrender but they started to fire at the turret, which had an opening for my machine gun, so I had to fire at them.  Whether they were wounded or killed I shall never know as our ground troops took over and we carried on.”  From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61^st Recce (pers comm).

 

“The next day the rest of the Regiment, less ‘A’ Squadron, caught them up (B Squadron) as their anti-tank guns were knocking out soft vehicles at long range on their left flank, and a carrier troop was beating-up an enemy party that had come to blow a bridge on our route.

            By now it was plain that there were a great number of enemy on our left flank, and as we were making for Alost at top speed, Corps Headquarters began to feel alarm that the Germans might try to cut across the Corps route behind the tanks.  We were therefore ordered to stop our advance, and hold the line of the Escaut Canal from Ghent to a bridge south of Oudenarde, a stretch of thirty-five miles with more bridges than we had troops.  In fact, until we were relieved to the south we were covering fifty miles with two squadrons." (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)

61st Recce watched the line along the Scheldt/ Escaut Canal from Avelgem to beyound Audenarde / Oudenaarde (Lt-Col Brownrigg's DSO citation).  In 2 or 3 days over 2,000 prisoners were taken and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy as they tried to break out across the waterway.

61^st Recce’s B Squadron covered more than 15 miles of the Canal including five bridges (Major Harding’s MC citation). C Squadron, at the north end of the stretch, had more freedom to patrol occasionally crossing the canal and entering the outskirts of Ghent.  Although the town was not fully liberated until 8^th September the squadron took out German outposts and liberate local villages including Bottelare.

 

Eric Postles of B Squadron recalled: "30 Corps headquarters was anxious to protect the left flank from attacks by enemy troops trying to get away from the Channel coast and ordered the regiment to seize and hold the bridges on the River Escaut Canal instead of pushing further north into Belgium.  We covered 35 miles of the canal, which was about as wide as the Manchester Ship Canal, from Ghent in the north to south of Oudenarde." (Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

 

Lieutenant Albert R.V. Stone of ‘B’ Squadron received the Military Cross for his part in the capture of an important bridge over the Escaut Canal and destruction of the enemy who were trying to prevent the squadron’s advance. (See Lieutenant Stone’s citation in 61st Battle Honours.)

Eric Brewer wrote: "Pushed on again to Berchem (Kluisbergen, on the Scheldt/Escaut Canal). Came across Gerry convoy in flight. Knocked out 6 but was ordered to leave the rest and push on. We went about 2 mile outside Berchem and came to bridge that Gerry was trying to blow up so we had to guard it.   The people are very nice here. Have had tea and other food in houses." (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)