web hosting short URLs photo sharing

WAR DIARY

1st. Bn. Black Watch (RHR) of Canada

Month of April, 1945

TEREBORG.

MR 0570, Ref. Sh 4004, Tereborg

Holland.

1st. April, Sun.

Weather - fair, clouding up later. Operation - PLUNDER. At 0100 hrs. the attack on the town of TEREBORG commenced. Progress was good until the area of the windmill at 064697 was reached, when A Coy. came under heavy fire from automatic weapons. Some of the tanks from the FORT GARRY HORSE were located on the lower rd at approx. 062694 with others on the right flank near VINKSCHE BEEK, and they were called upon to give cross fire upon the windmill area. Shortly following this the Scouts attached to A Coy. brought in 10 prisoners and two - one of whom claimed to be an Ober-Lieutenant- were questioned by Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, the Acting C.O.. The officer asserted that he had been left with 25 men to guard the approaches to the town, but that the ten who were made prisoner were all who remained, the others having been killed or taken their departure. Further prisoners were brought in from this area and they were a pretty mixed bag. A section from the Carrier platoon took the road on the left flank of the advance and proceeded beyond the tanks. From there they reported that they had been able to spot the flash of an enemy gun near the LOVINK Iron Works, and also that they had seen two vacated gun positions along the road they had travelled. The coys., for this operation, have been issued with #46 sets, and up until now these proved most satisfactory except in the case of B Coy. where some difficulty in maintaining contact was experienced. A Coy. was again held up temporarily by m.g. fire just short of their objective, but the men of the coy. went in fiercely and after some hard work at close quarters gained their objective, the area around MR 0670. In one instance two of the men of the Coy. were crawling forward when one of the enemy appeared from a slit trench and, possibly because he was out of ammunition, clubbed one of the men with the butt of his rifle. The other A Coy. man rolled over and shot the German. While the man who was clubbed was decidedly groggy for a spell, he was able to continue with nothing worse than a headache. Only five slight casualties were sustained by the Coy. in the attack while eighteen prisoners were taken by them. Since communication with B Coy. following through A were not of the best, the Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, went forward at 0422 hrs.to see for himself how things were progressing. B. Coy., under Capt.R.F.DAVEY, had a long street of houses to pass down to reach their objective, and they started off searching each and every one of them. After half the distance had been covered Capt. R.F.DAVEY felt that the progress being made was too slow and decided to go right in on his objective, without any more searching being done so the coy. walked down the street the remaining 500 yards to their area, around the church at 0570, having not a shot fired at them en route. One of the stretcher bearers with the company was endeavouring to dress the wound on a German prisoner they had taken when the wounded man grasped him and bit his ear. Tac. H.Q. moved up to "Bowline l" , A Coys. area at 0500 hrs.. At 0620 hrs. Brig. W.F. MEGILL, D.S.O., Commanding 5 C.I.B. called there and found everything proceeding satifactorily C Coy. moved on to their objective, and gained it without firing a single shot. The last Coy. to go in was D Coy. and for a short spell they experienced quite a little action. From the short road at 06156970 they cut SOUTH to the end of the woods and then started working their way NORTH/WEST up through the woods. Here they came under intense fire from rifles, machine-guns, and rifle grenades. One platoon disengaged and made its way round to the Northern end of the woods. Some prisoners were taken as they endeavoured to escape across to the belt of wood on the left of D Coy's. line of advance and as the squeeze-play started to work more prisoners were taken and more attempted to escape to the wood on the left. Lt. A.E. TWEDDELL of B Coy., had been out with a patrol to check the bridge at 04606975 and on the return trip this patrol picked up the escapees from D Coy's. attack. At 0725 hrs. we were able to report "Bowline" clear. Rear B.H.Q. moved up and established at 064697 around 0800 hrs.. In the coys. the morning was spent in checking the Coy. areas and then cleaning up and resting. In all we took 61 prisoners and suffered 11 casualties, only one of which was serious. At 1230 hrs. the Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT was called to Bde., and upon his return a Huddle Green was called for 1315 hrs. at which time the Coy. Cmdrs. were advised that it is the intention that we clear to the NORTH of DOETINCHEM, beyond the positions in which the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS are presently engaged. The move was scheduled for 1430hrs. and the Bn. moved off on time. We had not progressed very far before we had to vacate the road. Our Bde's. was held up and the other Bdes. in the Div., whose axis will be to our right, were to pass beyond us. Accordingly, while the men occupied fields to the side of the road, Tac. H.Q. was set up at 03147191, temporarily. At this spot the Bn. remained for the duration of the afternoon, and at 1650, Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, the Acting C.O. went to a meeting at Bde.. Upon this return an O Gp. was held the purpose of which was to delineate new objectives laid down for the BLACK WATCH. Once again the men will be riding in in the tanks of the FORT GARRY HORSE, and our Support Coy. vehicles. The move up started at 1900 hrs. but when we had reached a point at 009747 it was discovered that we had gone one block too far. Since we could not proceed farther through the town it was decided, at an O Gp. held in a somewhat demolished building by-the roadside, to go back a block and swing round on our objective from the EAST following the route from the SP at 00957460 up the road leading around to the right of the town to the junc. at 01247525 - cross roads at 00967533 - to the right again to road junction at 011756 and left to our objectives. The light was very bad and due to this and the numerous roads, C Coy., the leading company, pancaked at 00647584 instead of at 00447606. A Coy., following, turned left towards their objective and 003755, when they ran into trouble. A S.P. gun, firing from the South-West scored a direct hit upon one of the tanks upon which the men were mounted setting it on fire, while another S.P. firing from the South, hit another tank and damaged the locking piece, causing the tank to cast a track. A Coy. were now under considerable fire, and with 8 men wounded and 12 missing, Maj. E. MOTZFELDT granted the Coy. Commander, Maj. V.E. TRAVERSY, permission to withdraw to reorganise.

DOETINCHEM

MR Squares 9778-9777, 9878-9877, Ref. Sh. 4003, Doetinchem

HOLLAND.

2nd Apr., Mon.

Weather - cloudy in morning, fair and warm later. Maj. V.E. TRAVERSY brought A Coy back to the region of Tac H.Q at 00607584 and C Coy. were sent forward to take the road junction at 00447506. When Maj. V.E.TRAVERSY reported in to Tac H.Q. he advised the Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, that an attack had been mounted by the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS, ten minutes before his arrival at the point they had been stopped, which had accounted for the enemy being very much on the alert. B Coy. was to follow through C, to its objective, the corner of the wood at 000752. A barrage was laid on for the Field Artillery and the 4.2 mortars of the TORONTO SCOTS but upon enquiry we found that the forward elements of the CALGAR HIGHLANDERS were too far forward to permit this. Instead B Coy. went in with no artillery preparation and experienced little resistance in taking their objective. D Coy, with the objective of LANGERAK at 993764 went in next, and instead of moving through B Coy. and forward, they passed the B Coy. positions and crossed to the main road at approx 995762. No sooner had they reached this point than they encountered an enemy officer riding a push-bike along the road. Upon being halted the officer pulled two egg grenades from his pocket as he dismounted and threw them into the midst of the platoon, meantime making a dash for freedom to the fields at the side of the road When the explosions of the grenades were over the men fired a few rounds each after his retreating figure, but more pressing business prohibited their chasing him just then. Later his body was found, litterally riddled. One more prisoner was taken in a cellar in the way in on the objective, which was secured with little further trouble. At 0200 hrs. tonight the time changed from zone A to zone B. A Coy. remained in the region of Tac H .Q., and we reported all objectives secure at 0410 hrs.. Shortly after this we received orders to move forward again and an O Gp. for the new move was called at 0550 hrs.. On this move we will be a lone column heading north with flank protection negligible. At 0645 hrs. we moved off in the direction of LAAGKEPPEL, for which town the 3rd. Can. Inf. Div. are also driving, from the outher side of the OUDE ISSEL River. We drove ahead experiencing little in the way of opposition. Some civilians came out of their homes to advise Maj. C.S. MacLAREN, O.C. of D Coy., that there were two German soldiers hiding in a cellar. The Coy. Commander decided to ignore them rather than hold up the column and send men back with only two prisoners. The Germans decided otherwise, however, and as the column moved off, they dashed out of hiding and clambered aboard his jeep, insisting that they be made prisoner and remained there until some prisoners passed, on the way back escorted by men of C Coy., to whom they were passed over. Capt. F.O. BURGESS, L.O. from 5 C.I.B. came up the column and received a progress report from Maj. E. MOTZFELDT. This visit was followed by one from Brig. W.J. MEGILL, D.S.O. who gave orders for us to curl up immediately since, as yet, the Bde. had been unable to fill in behind us. At this time C Coy. the leading company, had reached the Y junction at 976782 where they found the left fork cratered, and they came under fire from two S.P. guns and small arms. A meeting was held at Gr. ZANDE, 979780, when Coy. positions were allotted, and Tac H.Q. was established at 9812 7764. The chief of the Dutch Underground movement in these parts called upon the C.O. and offered all possible assistance. After a talk with him and an examination of his credentials, Maj. E. MOTZFELDT asked him to send forward two men to the town of HUMMELO to find out that opposition was in that area. An anti-tank gun was set up to the left of the road at C Coy's. position, and from the gun site, the crew were able to spot an S.P. and an armoured car at 9705 7845. In response to our request Bde. permitted the 5th. Field Arty. rep. with us, Maj. J.H. LAKE, to call down fire upon this posn.. The tanks with A Coy.at "Mabel 3", opened fire on some enemy seen near a haystack at approx. 978774 and in this instance the enemy were seen to dive hurriedly for the shelter of slits in the area. At 1250 hrs. we sent back for hot meals to be brought up to the men, and five minutes after this we were advised that elements of the 3rd. Div. had reported 50 enemy in the area of 993743, moving towards us, and asking that we should advise if we were able to locate them. Quarter of an hour after this message was received, Bde. notified us that the axis of our advance was not clear and asked to send back a force sufficiently large to keep it open until the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS had reached this point. Elements of the FORT GARRY HORSE together with some of our Carrier Pl. were despatched on this errand. No sooner had they left than the T.O. Capt. A.R.HANNAH, arrived with the hot meals and reported that he had been stopped by civilians and warned that there were enemy in a house at a corner just ahead. He marshalled his convoy, told all the drivers the story, then all the vehicles whipped around the corner and away, without a shot being fired at them. Maj. E. Motzfeldt then went out and visited the men of two of the companies while they fed. The men who had gone to HUMMELO were awaiting him upon his return, with the information that there were only twenty of the enemy in that town. As Maj. E. MOTZFELDT had had no sleep in two days he was prevailed upon to go to bed for a spell and Maj. V.E.TRAVERSY came in to Tac. H.Q.. at 1745 hrs. Brig. W.J. MEGILL, D.S.O., arrived at Tac. H.Q. and told the C.O. that he wished the BLACK WATCH to advance upon and secure the town of HUMMELO and its environs. A Bn. O Gp. followed and the time for the move was set at 1930 hrs.. The tanks gave cross-fire support shooting B Coy. in to their objective, the area of the road junction at 972794. In spite of this support the men of the company had a number of the enemy to deal with, which they did in no uncertain fashion - taking a number of prisoners. Upon consolidation at this point D Coy moved forward against the town itself. The lines men from 5 C.I.B. had been laying their line close behind the leading company, and as D Coy. went in the Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, was in telephonic communication with Bde.. Our artillery gave the town a shaking up before the men advanced, then the company went in fast. The estimated 20 Germans in the area had certainly multiplied and in the town the men had to engage in house clearing and many a tussle at close quarters before they were eventually able to report that the objective had been taken. Word was received that the 3rd. Div. Artillery were preparing to take action against the town and the C.O. immediately notified D Coy. to be prepared to head for the cellars, at the same time advising Bde. that our Coy. was in town. A Coy. then moved in to a posn. near the road junction at 977797 while C Coy. remained where it was - patrolling the woods around its area. Over the phone the C.O. was able to report that the BLACK WATCH had completed the task allotted to it the fourth objective the men have taken in less than 48 hours. The men quickly settled down in their new positions and wherever possible tried to catch up on some sleep, while Tac. H.Q. moved up and established at 97137969.

HUMMELO

969797, Ref Sh 3903, Steenderen

3rd. April, Tues.

Weather - warm and sunny. Quite a number of prisoners were taken in the attack on the town, and during the night many more were brought in from the various areas around the town, and from the town itself. From interrogation the C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, elicited the information that the enemy had moved 320 men into the area yesterday afternoon. Many of these are now prisoners, and our bag for this attack is in the neighbourhood of 150. The men were able to relax somewhat today, and wash and clean up. From many civilian and Dutch underground sources information was tendered today on the dispositions of the enemy in the area. The leader of the resistance movement in the area was most helpful in drawing sketches of the area and in the vouchsafing of information - all of which was immediately passed on to Bde. During the morning the 4th. Bde. pushed on beyond us and established a bridgehead across the canal. Tac H.Q. was a most busy place today, seeing a constant procession of visitors - local inhabitants offering information and representatives from other formations seeking it. At 1800 hrs. Maj.E. MOTZFELDT, the Acting C.O. called an O Gp. to give details for a move scheduled for early tomorrow morning near NOORDINK. Tac H.Q. was to establish at 01658592 but when we arrived there it was to find elements of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS in occupation, so we moved on and set up at 023866. The Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, and the I.O., Lt. J.G.ROBERTS, were called to Bde. and upon their return we were ordered to prepare for a further move, up to the Twenthe Canal, across which the 4th. Bde. had a bridgehead. The move up commenced at 1520 hrs. and we proceeded to the woods in sq. 0496. Here we settled in again and at 1900 hrs. Maj. E. MOTZFELDT called an O Gp. to outline the task which lies ahead ahead of us. The REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE and the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS will enlarge the bridgehead across the Twenthe Canala, and the BLACK WATCH will go through and take the town of LAREN. At 2130 hrs. the Bn. crossed the canal and moved up to a concentration area. One 88mm gun persistently fired in the neighbourhood of the canal crossing, and the region of Rear B.H.Q., causing however, no casualties, though there were some anxious moments in the neighbourhood of the company cookers.

LAREN

MR 0600 Ref Sh. 15, Lochem, 1:50,000, Holland.

5th. Apr., Thur.

Weather - mild, and bright sunshine. Around 0100 hrs. the C.O. was called to Bde. where the final Bde. plan was outlined. The REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE and the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS had already been committed with the former meeting determined opposition largely in the form of panzerfaust (the German equivalent of our PIAT), s.a.fire, and the occasional mortar. The task undertaken by the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE was to enlarge the bridgehead farther NORTH, and to secure the approaches to LAREN, establishing a firm base for the BLACK WATCH attack on the town. The CALGARY HIGHLANDERS would push Eastward and secure the right flank which they did with little difficulty. On his return to Tac H.Q., Maj.E .MOTZFELDT briefed the Coy.Cmdrs who then returned to their units to await the announcement of the zero hour which would depend on the progress of the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE. Order of march:- C,B,D, and A Coys.. At 0745 hrs. the Bn. moved to the F.U.P. behind the positions of the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE. The leading two coys. were mounted on the tanks of the FORT GARRY HORSE (A Sqn.) and our own Sp. Coy. vehicles. While moving up the axis, about 100yds. beyond the F.U.P., the leading coys. came under heavy s.a. and Anti-Tank fire from a position which we had understood to be held by the R. de MAISONNEUVE, and from the town itself, and the men on the tanks had to take cover in the ditch. Following immediately the deployment of the rifle coys. on the axis and the establishment of Tac H.Q. at 050995, about 300 yards behind the leading coys., the German announced his determination to defend the town in the form of shells from an S.P. gun, s.a. fire, and 8cm. rockets. C. Coy. suffered quite heavy casualties in the initial bombardment and one of the tanks was knocked out. At the same time, two of the rockets landed in the barnyard of Tac. H.Q., wounding the Acting C.O., Maj. E. MOTZFELDT, the Scout Officer, Lt. A.G. GUAM, the I.0., Lt. J.G. ROBERTS (who was not evacuated), and Cpl. SHARPE, G.D., C120579, of the Scout platoon, who later in the day succumbed to the injuries sustained. The I.0. called upon Maj. V.E. TRAVERSY to take command, and the Maj., after going up on foot to see the commanders of the leading companies, quickly sized up the situation and ordered these companies to withdraw and dig in, and deploying the Anti-Tank guns on the F.U.P., formed perimeter defense of that area. Maj. V.E.TRAVERSY, after a consultation with the 5th. Field Artillery rep. , Capt. E. BILLOW, and the Sqn. commander of the FORT GARRY HORSE, formul ated a new plan which among other things consisted of assaulting the town in three phases instead of the original two, the first phase being, of necessity, the elimination of the opposition emanating from the two points which the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE were reported to have taken, A brief O Gp. was called when the new plan was outlined to the Coy. Commanders, The revised plan called for a heavy concentration of field and medium artillery on the town of LAREN , during which the coys. would go in on their objectives. The Brigadier and Capt. S.E. GRIFFIN, I.O. at 5 C.I.B. called at Tac H.Q. at 1000 hrs. and found Maj. V.E. TRAVERSY in complete command of the situation. The attack on the start line commenced at 1115 hrs. and all the coys. moved on to their first objectives, experiencing very little difficulty in so doing. The final phase was then commenced calling for the coys. to move forward to cover the Northern end of the town, The enemy was dug in in the wood beyond the town but was not aggressive except to the movement of A.F.Vs. One of the carriers of Sp. Coy. was knocked out as it was moving up to C Coys. position. The town and its approaches was securely held by us by 1600 hrs. though B and C Coys. had not a little trouble from m.g. fire for some time longer, and our 3" mortars had to be called in to reduce some sniping activity . The CALGARY HIGHLANDERS contacted A Coy. on the right flank every three hours from 2000 hrs. on.

6th. Apr., Fri.

Weather - overcast. Early this morning the FUSILIERS de MONT ROYAL went through Coy. at MR 065011. Today Lt-Col. SYDNEY W. THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., late of the SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS of CANADA was appointed C.O. of the BLACK WATCH. Capt. R.DAVEY O.C. of B. Coy. was today promoted to the rank of Major. He moved to A Ech., now also established in LAREN, and will proceed to England tomorrow on a short course. Lt. T.J. LARKIN, of the Anti-Tank platoon was promoted to the rank of Captain. The of C. showed a movie tonight in a somewhat damaged cafe on the edge of town. The day was spent in re-equipping and regrouping.

7th. Apr., Sat.

Weather - overcast with showers. The men spent a quiet day today. In the late afternoon an 0 Gp. was called where it was announced that we will be moving up tomorrow to a concentration area on the outskirts of HOLTEN, which town will be the next Bn. objective. Movies were shown in the afternoon and again in the evening.

HOLTEN area.

098098, Ref Sh 15., Lochem, 1:50,000

8th. Apr., Sun.

Weather - misty and cold during the morning, fair and warm later. At 0315 hrs. the Bn. was advised that H hour for the move had been set at 0545 hrs.. Later a further message set the H hour back one hour. The Bn. passed the start point, MR 066005, Coy., at 0645 hrs., the order of march being, C Coy., Tac. H.Q., A, B, D Coys., Tanks, Sp. Coy., R.A.P., Rear B.H.Q., Tanks. By the time the Bn. crossed the bridge at 078059the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS had taken all their objectives, meeting little or no opposition, and the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE were curled up on the left ready to go through the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS to their objective, known as REO. By 0900 hrs. C Coy. was ready to lead the Bn. advance on BENZ - the BLACK WATCH objective. As the Coys. advanced there was a great deal of s.a. opposition, but despite this, cautious advance kept casualties at a minimum, and the enemy had been forced to withdraw by 1245 hrs. From South-East of C Coys. snipers continued active, so the C.O., Lt-Col.S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., sent the carriers in a semi-circular route through C Coy. and to the East, and with our brens spraying them from front and rear, the snipers soon decided that they had had enough. The REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE, on the left, were experiencing very heavy m.g. opposition from the line of the railway, and they were unable to make much headway. The C.O. decided to push A Coy. forward to the road junct. at 109099, and at l700 hrs. sent a patrol from C Coy. out beyond A, to see what enemy were on that flank. When the patrol returned to report no opposition, but the road mined, it was decided to take the Bn. on, and into HOLTEN. D and A Coys., each with tanks in support moved off at 2000 hrs. The tanks fired from North of B Coy's. position and set a few buildings on fire, and when D Coy. advanced they were surprised to find the inhabitants jubilantly dancing near the burning buildings. It was only then discovered that the houses hit had been occupied by the enemy who had beat a hasty retreat. Sniper activity was extremely heavy and progress was difficult until Capt. B.S. LEWIS, in command of D Coy. , countered by using all 2" mortars in the Coy.- firing literally hundreds of rounds, and the anti-tank gun attached to his Coy, which fired in the neighbourhood of 200 rounds, with excellent results. At 1845 hrs. D Coy saw the men of A Coy approuching and they linked at the road junction at 102103. To reach this point A Coy. had had to advance in the face of fierce fire from three m.g. which caused five casualties, and of sniper fire from the buildings on the route As the company came in to close quarters the enemy had departed hurriedly leaving their rifles in the embrasures formed by windows. The tanks fired upon all building which looked as though they might make good strong points, and the whole operation was an excellent example of the effective work which may be accomplished and the saving in time, trouble - and more important, lives- when full and willing co-operation exists between the infantry and the supporting arms. Once in the centre of the town it was decided to exploit farther, and A Coy. went on to the top end of the town and cleared it out. In the evening's engagement A Coy. took three objectives originally scheduled for the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE and D Coy. took the fourth. Civilians later reported that the majority of the enemy had departed upon receipt of our preliminary bombardment. In the later stages a photographer from the Film and Photo unit arrived to take pictures of some of the men of D Coy. house-clearing.

RIJSSEN

MR 1713, Ref Sh. 14, Almelo

9th. Apr., Mon.

Weather - fair and warm. The day was spent in re-grouping and refitting and checking eqipment. At 2000 hrs. we moved to RIJSSEN taken during the course of the morning by the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE, where we halted for the night. In the morning we will exploit to the North.

NIJVERDAL

MR 1419, Ref Sh. 14., Almelo, Holland.

10th. Apr., Tues.

Weather - fair and warm, bright sunshine. With B Coy. in the lead, the men once more riding on the tanks of the FORT GARRY HORSE and our Sp. Coy. vehicles, the Bn.started the push North at 0730 hrs..No opposition was encountered in the early stage and the advance developed into a pursuit with the Coys. doing no more than report their objectives as they passed them. At cross roads MR 125209, C and A Coys. took the road to the East on a parrallel axis of advance, B and D Coys. continuing on the main road. Objectives were reported simul taneouslfy in many instances and the companies were not slowed down until they reached the OVERIJSSELSCH KANAAL.The bridge here was blown, but by using planks the men were able to effect a crossing. At this time the Dutch underground came to our assistance by providing a small ferry which they had hidden from the enemy, and by its use we were able to bring across all our Bn, vehicles. The Coys. pancaked about 400 yards up the road while further plans were being formulated. The Engineers started work on the reconstruction of the bridge and guaranteed to have the tanks across in six hours, and the help of every able bodied Dutchman was given to this end. The Coys. had a meal at this point then continued the advance on foot, C Coy. proceeding to LEMELE where the C.O. Lt-Col.S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., was present to greet them as they passed through, having driven up there in advance in his carrier. B Coy. here took up the lead following up the axis to the next water barrier at l09334, reaching here about 1800 hrs... By now the bridge over the OVERIJSSELSCH KANAAL had been built and the tanks came up to rejoin the unit. The bridge over this second canal was also down and progress was halted on the South bank. Carriers from Sp. Coy., commanded by Lt. R.F.BARTLETT went out to recce the woods in square 0834 and found no enemy there. B Coy. crossed the canal in much the same fashion as in the previous instance the other coys. crossing on a footbridge found by A Coy. about 400 yards East of the main road. Capt. T.J. LARKIN of the Anti-Tank platoon made a recce and was successful  in finding a bridge of strength sufficient to permit of the passing of the Bn. vehicles, at 128313. This crossing was completed by 1945 hrs. and we had just passed the cross roads at 1383l5 when elements of the 8th. RECCE REGIMENT contacted elements of the Polish Div. for the first time. C Coy. went forward and found snipers along the railway short of OMMEN at 106357. They called down fire from mortars and from two Field and one Medium regiment, and this fire was most accurate, landing among the enemy's slit trenches. A "hate" stonk was laid on the town itself. Brig. W.J. MEGILL, Commanding 5 C.I.B., decided that the Bn. should pancake sat this point until the morning. Patrols were sent out along the river to ascertain enemy strength there, and recce patrols were moving around the area all night long. A loud explosion was heard, and this was presumed to have been caused by the enemy blowing the bridge leading into the town. In the evening the enemy dropped a mortar barrage in the area but the only damage caused was one Signals wire cut.

OMMEN

109368, Ref Sh. 14., Almelo.

11th. Apr., Wed.

Weather - fair and warm. At dawn a patrol from C Coy. went forward to investigate the bridge leading into the town and found that with little difficulty it could be crossed by infantry as there was only a four foot gap in the middle. The patrol proceeded farther into town and saw two Germans, on bicycles, and fired upon them. The patrol withdrew and reported, and when the C.O., Lt-Col.S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O ., M.C., received this informatton he decided to have C Coy. go on, with a bulldozer and tanks, the former to clear felled trees from 107360 to the canal and the latter to be in position to give close support if necessary. C Coy. were required only to establish a strong patrol in the town, but first thing we knew, the coy. had reported the town cleared. The other companies crossed immediately afterwards and swung to left to guard that flank of the main axis, taking up positions in the VARSEN area, in square 0836. The men settled down for the day to clean up and rest.

VARSEN area

Sq. 0836

12th. Apr., Thur.

Weather - cloudy and mild. Since reports have been received of enemy activity in the village of OUD LEUSEN, plans were formulated this morning for an attack on that town and for the clearing of the enemy from a road block therein. A Coy. under the command of Capt. M.M. BRANDLEY, was called upon to do the job, with one S.P. gun and our 3" mortars in support. At 1345 hrs. the men started off on their march and established contact with the enemy shortly after l500 hrs.. The town was quickly cleared and the company withdrew bringing 18 prisoners back with them. There were no casualties in our force. In the afternoon a member of the Intelligence Branch of the Dutch Underground made his way through the enemy lines, from ZWOLLE, and contacted us. The information which he was carrying was direct from the chief of the retistance forces in that town and was extremely important, wherefor he was immediately taken to Bde. where Capt. S.E. GRIFFIN, the Bde. I.O., after interviewing him, had him escorted to H.Q., 2 Cdn. Inf. Div. right away. We were advised at 1700 hrs. that there was no move scheduled for us, but at 2000 hrs. a Huddle Green was called at Bde. We will move immediately to HOOGEVEEN MR l559, to counter a threat of enemy infiltration there, from the West. As the column was formed and ready to move off a civilian came forward to report that there was approx. one company of the enemy approaching our positions from the West. This information was passed on to Bde. immediately, and we were ordered to leave one company (A Coy.) in its present position to take care of this matter. At 2130 hrs. Bde. advised as to pull out the Company which we had left behind and have them contact the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE carriers, who will be taking over their sector, on the way out. Transport for this coy., however, was not immediately available and it was perforce necessary to instruct them to wait at the cross roads at OMMEN for transport, which will be advised to pick them up there. The company made no contact with the Regt. de MAISONNEUVE on the way out, as the carriers of that unit had followed a different rout going in - nor did they see any signs of approaching enemy before pulling out. The night was very dark and moonless, but in spite of this good time was made after the move off which commenced at 2145 hrs..

HOOGEVEEN

MR 1559

13th. Apr., Wed.

Weather - warm with bright sunshine. The town of HOOGEVEEN was reached at 0100 hrs. but it was 0420 hrs. before A Coy. arrived. On arrival here we were advised that during the course of the day we would be proceeding to ASSEN, and that the recce. party under Maj. R. MacDUFF, 2 i/c, would depart for that town at 0800 hrs.. Due to postponements from our senior formation it was 1100 hrs. before this party left. Brig. W.J. MEGILL, D.S.O., Commanding 5 C.I.B., called at H.Q. to confer with the C.O., at 1145 hrs., and a Bn. O Gp. was set for 1300 hrs.. At this O Gp. the Coy. Commanders were advised that the 6th. Bde. is now beyond ASSEN - which has been cleared with the exception of a few snipers. The 4th. Bde. is going through the 6th. and will attack the city of GRONINGEN from the South. It is the intention that, if resistance there is stubborn, the 5th. Bde. will attack the town from the West. While we are in ASSEN the town will be out of bounds to all ranks, and the men will be continued to their coy. areas. Representative from the units in the Bde. will patrol the town, and the patrol from this unit will be under the command of Lt.W. SPARROW, our Carrier officer. We will move from here in T.C.Vs., S.P.guns, and Sp. Coy. vehicles. The Bn. moved off at 1515 hrs. and the route was via MUIL, 1366, SPIER, 1470, BIELEN 1774, and HOOGHALEN 1981. The Bde. Dis.P. was at 207876, and our dispositions in the town were as follows: Tac H.Q. - 209890, A Coy.- 300882, B Coy.- 195895, C Coy - 198887, D Coy - 206875, Sp.Coy - 203894. As we left HOOGEVEEN we saw some of the Paratroops from the French Army who had been dropped a couple of days previously to secure bridges and road junctions, their task completed, returning in captured enemy vehicles. Shortly after our arrival in the town of ASSEN a Captain of the Paratroops called at Tac H.Q. to advise us that there was one enemy sniper operating near at hand and asked if we would send out a party to take care of him. Odd rifle shots could be heard from different areas, and a platoon under Lt. W. A. BARRETT , of C Coy. went out looking for the man indicated; no trace of him could be found. Today we saw some of the prisoners who had been taken in this town and many of them could not have been more than 15 years of age - if that. An O Op. was called at Bde. at 2220 hrs., where orders were given out for a move in the morning.

EELDE

MR 2105, Ref. Sh. 2805, Haren

14th. Apr., Thur.

Weather - cold with bright sunshine. Recce parties left this morning at 0630 hrs. for EELDE, and the Bn. moved off for the same destination at 0915 hrs. On arrival Tac. was established at MR 216056, with the Coys. in the immediate area. At an O Gp. called at 1115 hrs. the Coy. Cmdrs. were advised that the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS will be attacking HOOGKERK, and that when the town is secured we will go up and relieve them, permitting them to go on towards GRONINGEN. Should they meet with much resistance, however, we will go through them and swing East on to GRONINGEN. At a Bn. Huddle Green at 1440 hrs. order of march and timings were laid on and we moved at 1500 hrs.. As we moved up the main axis we could hear the explosions and see the smoke from demolitions in the environs of the city. The CALGARY HIGHLANDERS met no opposition in HOOGKERK and after we had pancaked in the town around 1700 hrs. they moved on towards the city. During the afternoon and evening this unit secured about 35 prisoners from the various parts of HOOGKERK. D. Coy. received a civilian report of some enemy in their neighbourhood and went out hunting for them with negative results. B Coy. on the other hand had 16 prisoners come in to them of their own accord, carrying a red cross flag at the head of their group. Tac H.Q. which had been established at the school at MR 176144 moved forward to the group of houses at MR 192141 just after dark. At 2200 hrs. a civilian report reached rear B.H.Q., located at MR 174143 that there were some enemy around; accordingly Sgt. van de LEGRAAF Interpreter attached to the BLACK WATCH went out with two men and returned with eight very willing prisoners. A crossing of the Canal on the Eastern edge of the city had to be made, and B. and C. coys. were selected for the task. The Scouts under Lt. W.A.WESTWOOD had made a recce of the canal approaches, and had located some barges at MR l96158 which might be utilised to facilitate the crossing. Capt. E.D.PRICE and Maj. J.F. BAILEY, O.Cs. or B and C Coys. respectively, elected to make the crossing under cover of darkness. They conferred with Lt.Col . S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., Officer Commanding the BLACK WATCH, at Tac H.Q. before proceeding, and led their coys. off at 2355 hrs. The outskirts of the city of GRONINGEN had received quite a pounding from our artillery and not a few fires lined the horizon.

GRONINGEN

MR Sq. 2015-2016-2014, Ref. Sh. 2705, Groningen

15th. Apr., Fri.

Weather - mild, overcast. On liaising with A Coy. of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS while passing through them, B and C Coy. Comdrs. ascertained that that unit had managed to find a means of crossing the canal, and they decided to take advantage of it, rather than go the long way around. Maj. J.F.BAILEY and Capt. E.D. PRICE with Sgt. MAY of' B. Coy. of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS crossed the canal in a rowboat to see for themselves, and upon their return they decided to take their coys. across at this point. A barge was swung across the canal leaving a gap of about 4 feet which the men were able to jump with comparative ease, heavy-laden though they were. B Coy. men proceeded to their objective the area of the Railway bridge at MR 202147 meeting no opposition. C Coy. at this time were clearing the area farther East. To do this the houses had all to be checked, and the Coy. evolved a novel method. Parties were formed to check all. the houses, still occupied by the civilians, and access was gained by first, ringing the door bell, and then standing on the door-step waiting admission. No enemy were encountered by the men in the performance of this duty, and at 04100 hrs. the companies reported that they had pancaked. A Major from the R.C.E. on his way to visit our H.Q., was wounded by a sniper while en route. At 0700 hrs. A and D Coys. moved up from the HOOGKERK area to make the crossing at the same point as the other companies. A Coy. managed to get over safely, encountering sniper's fire from the Water Tower at MR 206145 and this latterly stopped. However, only two secs. of the leading pl. of D Coy. and the Coy. H.Q.,  were across when fire opened up again from the same place, but this time the fire was from l.m.g. and 20 mm., raking the barge each time an attempt was made to cross. At this juncture we received some more assistance from some Dutch bargees who brought along another barge, with decks much lower than the first and lashed it in place behind the higher barge, thus affording cover to the men who now crossed on the second barge. At first light B Coy. had cleared three more blocks of houses, and in so doing cleared A Coy's. initial objective. After crossing over, A Coy. passed through B to the North, and with D Coy. on the right flank the four rifle coys. moved Eastward to the Park. Tac H.Q. moved up to MR 203145 at 0945 hrs.. A small ferry was found and used to take over the C.O's. jeep and a carrier for the use of the Pioneers, and the T.O.. Capt. A.R. HANNA secured a rowboat to ferry the rations over to the other side of the canal at a spot immune to the fire from the water tower. The railway bridge at MR 202147 is of the swing type, with a central support, and it had been swung out and the gears locked. The Pioneers blew the worm gear and with a carrier on each bank, straining in opposite directions, were able to pull it around bridging the canal once more. While this was proceeding the Scouts were dispersed in the area to give covering fire should the occasion arise. B Coy. had one casualty from sniping, and D Coy. experienced not a little fire from the South bank of the canal until the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS were able to clear that area to the South of us. A flame section went up to A and D Coys. who used it against strong points later in the day. The other two companies experienced no fire during this period, although the 20mm. in the water tower was still, fairly active as were others on the far side of the town. On approaching the park it became necessary for all the coys. to take cover and edge their way forward through the back gardens until they reached the houses facing on the park itself. Here a pitched battle ensued, lasting over two hours, with our men using PIATs and brens, rifles and grenades, as well as 2" mortars against an enemy dug in in bunkers and slit trenches, returning our fire from 20mm, m.g. and s.a.. The opposition encountered at this stage was by far the heaviest encountered so far in this operation. 'At 1555 hrs. all the 2" mortars in the coys. laid down heavily on the park and the flame sections fired a few bursts. Then the rifle coys assaulted the park. The enemy gave ground reluctanty, but upon being convinced that we meant to oust him from his prepared defences fled or capitulated. At 1615 hrs. Tac H.Q. moved across the railway bridge to a school at 203148. Brig. W.J.MEGILL, D.S.O, Commanding 5 C.I.B., called at Tac. at this time to get the local picture, and ordered that D Coy. keep a close watch on the canal bank to their South for any Germans attempting to get away from the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS across the water. In a position just short of the Railway Station A Coy. H.Q. was attacked by about 25 of the enemy. The signallers dropped their sets, and everyone else what they were doing and dashed out firing in all directions. The Germans seemed rather surprised at this reception and when one or two of them had been hit, the others decided to surrender, with the exception of the officer with them, who made good his escape. The REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE passed through our positions and swung South to clear the centre of the town, and after they had passed beyond us our rifle coys. were ordered to pull back to the Western edge of the park and make themselves comfortable for the night. Our casualties for this day have been one killed and seven wounded, and we have taken two hundred and forty seven prisoners.

16th. Apr., Sat.

Weather - warm, with bright sunshine. At an O Gp. held at 0730 hrs this morning the C.O., Lt.Col. S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., advised that it is the intention today to move on and clear the North East portion of the town lying between the OOSTERHANRIK KANAAL and the railway line as far East as the building line. The order of march will be B, C and A with D Coy. extended along the rim of the park. B Coy. moved off at 0800 hrs. through SUNBEAM 1 to MORRIS l and from there to AUSTIN 1, C Coy. following to MORRIS 1, and A to SUNBEAM One. Tac H.Q. took over the building which had been used as A Coy. H.Q. at the railway station at MR 212156. Sniping was encountered as the Coys. pushed forward and just before noon our 3" mortars were called in to shoot A Coy. on to their final objective. C Coy. experienced little trouble in getting in on MORRIS 3, but B Coy. on AUSTIN 3 saw 20 enemy on the far side of the canal in front of them. Our section of the city was reported clear at 123Ohrs.. A Dutch civilian report that 200 of the enemy were preparing to counter attack D Coy. from the South West caused an alert which was quite uncalled for. It might here be said that that the average civilian report has been found to be quite worthless. The Germans across the canal continued to bother B Coy. most of the afternoon, until a bomb from a PIAT killed four of the enemy. After that there was no more heard from that quarter. A Dutch policeman started a rumour that the town was about to be bombed by the Germans, and that they were going to endeavour to retake it. The flags which had been hung out disappeared like snow in the Spring. Our reception from the civilians in this town lacked the warmth that we have experienced elsewhere, We gain the impression that they are much more curious than thankful, - however, it was necessary for the Bde. to inflict some damage on the centre of the town, in the attack, and we have remarked in other towns that the warmth of the welcome accorded us is in direct inverse ratio to the amount of damage the town has sustained. In the afternoon a movie was run for the men of the rifle coys. At 1400 hrs, we received orders from Bde. to put one company across the canal, to form and hold a bridgehead. A Coy. was selected for the task and preparations made when the Engineers decided that they were not in favour of bridging at the site selected and the operation was postponed. In the early evening an O Gp. was held when the C.O. announced that the operation would go on again as planned. Also, Maj. C.S.MacLAREN, O.C. of D Coy. was advised that next day he would take a fighting column of his company, with supporting arms out to the West as far as DRACHEN. He left immediately to recce the rout in his jeep and had gone almost half way when he decided to turn back. On the return trip he encountered a 60cwt. from the ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOONS proceeding up the axis of his advance, and upon stopping this vehicle to make enquiries found that the L.A.D. of the ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOONS had been established in DRACHTEN for the past two days. The next day's operation was accordingly cancelled. The tanks, with guns and m.g., and our 3" mortars firing H.E. and smoke laid fire across the canal for A Coy's. advance. Sgt. van de LEGRAAF located six boatmen who knew where there were two large barges about a mile down the canal, and together with them he helped tow them up to the crossing under cover of the tank and mortar fire. The barges were strung stem to stern and barely reached across the water barrier, and when A Coy. made the crossing the boatmen stayed to give a helping hand in holding the barges in place and in helping our heavily laden boys across. A secn. of Carriers was also used at this time to give added fire power from their brens. At first the going was comparatively soft, and 30 prisoners were taken in the first 20 minutes. The civilians in the village reported that there were anywhere from 250 to 300 Germans on the outskirts preparing to counter attack so to guard against this eventuality, Maj. V.E.TRAVERSY O C. of A Coy. called for the assistance of C Coy. as his men were widely spread out in the area, around NOORDERHOOGEBRUG. Artillery and mortar fire was called down on all possible f.u.p., and before dark both companies reported that they were settled in. At 2230 hrs. the whole plan was called off and the coys. were ordered to withdraw back across the canal to the positions previously occupied. In the attack, one man was wounded. It might here be recorded that on the following day a column from the 6th. Bde. going north of the village took 220 prisoners.

17th. Apr., Sun.

Weather - warm with bright sunshine. Equipment, refitting and regrouping were carried out today throughout the Bn.. A meeting was held for all. C.Os. and 2s i/c. of units in the. Div. this morning, where among other things was emphasised that severe penalties would be incurred should anyone be found looting. A directive was also handed down on the proper method of handling p.o.w.. This information was circulated to all coys. to be read to all ranks. At 1800 hrs. tonight the pipe band played retreat in a square beside the railway station, and as ever, gathered a large if somewhat incredulous audience.

18th. Apr., Mon.

Weather - very warm, with bright sunshine. This last few days we have been experiencing very warm weather and Bde. has now advised us that the men may walk out without tunics. Bath Parades were laid on today to a Bath house in one of the Southern suburbs of the city. A really excellent shower was provided. Movies were shown in the afternoon and evening. A Huddle Red was called at Bde. followed immediately by one at B.H.Q.. Tomorrow morning we will be moving well in to Germany and the movement orders were issued at the meeting this evening. Vehicles were loaded and all preparations made for an early start.

LASTRUP

MR 905578, Ref Sh. N2, Osnabruck. GERMANY, 1:100000

19th. Apr., Tues.

Weather - warm, high wind. The Bn. vehicles moved off at 0630 hrs. and crossed the Bde. start line, South of the town at 0804 hrs.. We proceeded South to BALKBURG, then East through ULSEN 4233, NEUFNHAUS 4733, NORDHORN 5427, SUDHOLNE 6532, LINGEN 7l36, HASELLUNNE 6353 to LASTRUP which we reached at 1740 hrs., after a ride of some 120 miles. The TCVs for the Coys. could not leave GRONINGEN until 1400 hrs. and it was past midnight before they were all in the new area. A Huddle Red was called at Bde. at 1900 hrs..

AHLHORN

MR 345760, Ref Sh. M2, Oldenburg

20th. Apr., Wed.

Weather - showery - high wind. An O Gp. was called for 0730 hrs. when the orders for today's move were passed out. The Bn. moved at 0915 hrs. North, to a Bde. concentration area. B.H.Q. was established at 345760 and the coys. were located in the immediate vicinity. Canteen parades were held during the course of the afternoon for all Coys..

21st. Apr., Sat.

Weather - raining and high wind. At 1045 hrs. Brig. W.J.MEGILL, D.S.O., Commanding 5 C.I.B., accompanied by Capt. S.E. GRIFFIN, I.0. at 5 Bde., Called to confer with Lt-Col..S.W.THOMS0N, D.S.O., M.C., Officer Commanding the BLACK WATCH. Later in the day the C.O. was called to a meeting at Bde. H.Q. and at 1900 hrs. a Bn. O.Gp. was called. The CALGARY HIGHLANDERS will push off in the morning advancing North along the main road and at 0700 hrs. the BLACK WATCH will follow. At DOHLEN the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS axis will be to the left with that of the BLACK WATCH to the right. Start line willl be at MR 338782. The order or march will be D, C B Coys with A Coy. in reserve. The report lines will. be successively Cher, Durant, Willys and Rolls. At Chev. we will pick up the S.Ps. from the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS. It is reported that there are considerable mines and road blocks in the area, and accordingly one sec. of our pioneers wi'l move with the leading company. F l Ech. only will move with the Bn..

HUNTLOSEN

MR 365885, Ref Sh 3015, Grossenknetten

22nd. Apr., Sun.

Weather - high wind and showers. The Bn. moved off on time and made good progress up through the town og GROSSENKNETTEN. Additional alternative report lines and objectives were allotted, using the code name STANLEY. At 0917 hrs. the limitations imposed on F 2 Ech. were lifted. Stanley 1, at MR 359875 was reported by D Coy. at 1009 hrs. and Stanley 3 at 1023 hrs.. In the line of men advancing up the road could be seen Honr. Capt. A. REOCH, our padre, shouldering a man's rifle or bren, and handing out cigarettes here and there. The padre walked all the way with the men. The report line Durant was reached by D Coy. at 1052 hrs. At this time C Coy. took the lead and swung to the right to Stanley 4 at MR 369881 and from there pushed on to Stanley 6, MR 374886, which they reached at 1138 hrs.. Tac. H.Q. was now operating from the school at MR 365886. While C Coy. had been moving in on their objective B Coy. had been proceeding up the main axis, where they encountered a crater at MR 374889. They pancaked until a bulldozer could be brought up to fill in the hole and permit the S.P.guns to accompany them on to Report line Willys, reached at 1130 hrs. Upon reaching the first bridge at MR 379895, B Coy. found it blown. Lt. S.S.MACKELAR managed to get two sections of his platoon across the stream, swimming, but at 1342 hrs. the Coy. was told to bring back the secns. and consolidate where they were at Stanley 10. A Coy. had managed to have a hasty lunch and pancaked on the axis at Willys. Enemy were seen moving in the open across the network of waterways from B Coy. and what sounded like an S.P. gun was harassing them from SANDHATTEN. Capt. E.D.PRICE, O.C. of B Coy. called upon the 4.2 Mortars of the TORONTO SCOTS to give the town a blast while the S.Ps. with him fired air bursts along the edge of the wood where the enemy had been seen moving around. The Field Artillery also took action against the S.P. when its approximate locn. had been ascertained by the FOO with B Coy.. A labour camp situated nearby containing forced labourers impressed into the service of the Germans, was freed by today's action. A sergeant in the French Army, prisoner since June 1940, came in to Tac. H.Q. to ascertain what steps should be taken by himself and his comrades in returning to their home land and when some of our men spoke with him in his own tongue he became quite effervescent. During the afternoon and evening our forward company experienced some m.g. fire and the S.P., or another, fired a few rounds in to our line causing, however, no casualties. A mobile bath unit moved in tonight and prepared for business on the morrow at MR 368887. Two of the local policemen were impressed into our service to make all the inhabitants of the area cognizant of the rules by which they must now abide. The K. of C. showed a movie in the theatre attached to Tac. H.Q., this evening.

23rd. Apr., Mon.

Weather - warm, bright sunshine. The main trouble experienced by the guards is the sorting of the "sheep from the goats". The freed labourers, Dutch, Polish and Russian are wont to wander at large around the town and it is impossible for the men to check them all. Accordingly it was laid down that the rule applying to the German male civilians - that they may not walk abroad - must, until the arrival of the Civil Affairs representatives, apply to all males. Bath Parades were held today for the companies and the supporting arms. Movies were run in the afternoon and the evening. Maj. R.MacDUFF 2 i/c of the unit, left us today to take the post of Brigade Major at 6 C.I.B., and Maj. V.E.TRAVERSY took over as 2 i/c. with Capt.E.S. DUFFIELD taking command of A Coy., and Capt. S.E.GRIFFIN, I.O. at 5 C.I.B. returning to the unit as Adjutant. Capt. A.R.Hanna, the T.O., has been evacuated suffering from injuries sustained in an accident two days ago. Lt. R.F.BARTLETT of the Carrier Platoon takes over the post of T.O., and command of the platoon devolved upon Lt. W.H.SPARROW. An O Gp. was held at 2345 hrs.. In the morning the Bn. will be moving to the DELMENHORST area, with the rest of the Bde., to an area presently being held by the 43rd. Div. of the Imperial Army. We will embuss at 0745 hrs. in the morning and cross the Bde. start line at MR 347861, at 0815 hrs..

UHLHORN

Sq. 5185, Ref Sh. 3016 Dotlingen, 3017 Harpstedt. Germany.

24th. Apr., Tues.

Weather - warm - bright sunshine. The move was postponed temporarily and it was 10l5 hrs. when we finally started. Bde. start line was passed at 1030 hrs. and short1y after mid-day we arrived at our concentration area at UHLHORN. B.H.Q. was located at MR 512858, the rifle coys. in the immediate area, and Sp. Coy. at HENGSTERHOLZ, MR 5387. Here we had to await a progress report from the 4th. Bde.. For the most part the afternoon was spent in resting, many of the boys catching up on their sleep while basking in the sunshine. The Air Force was very active today against BREMEN, as was the artillery of the 3rd. and 51st. British Divs.. In the evening we could see many fires raging unchecked in the city. The K. of C. ran a movie tonight in the barn at B.H.Q..

25th. Apr., Wed.

Weather - warm and sunny. Another day of rest for the men. Movies were shown in afternoon and evening in the same location as yesterday. In the evening an O Gp. was called. The plan is unchanged and we will go in to action tomorrow morning. Proceeding from DELMENHORST we will. move up to objective FORD and if the going is comparativeley soft, swing right to take ROLLS, bordering on the railway line.

STENUM

MR 5598, Ref Sh. 2917, Delmenhorst.

26th. Apr., Thur.

Weather - chill and showery. The Bn. moved off, embussed, at 0600 hrs. and arrived in DELMENHORST area, MR 5896, at 0645 hrs.. The order of march in the advance to contact will be B, C, D and A Coys.. The leading Coys. started off at 0735 hrs. passing through the GORDON HIGHLANDERS of the 51st HIGHLAND DIVISION and after managing to detour a crater, reported that they were in position at 0800 hrs.. C Coy., passing through B, found another crater at MR 556996 and called for a bulldozer to come up and fill it to permit the passage of the tanks of the FORT GARRY HORSE with the company. A young German girl came down the road from the direction of the enemy lines and informed B Coy. that there were mines laid around the crater, and that there was another crater farther up the road, with felled trees around it. This last was the crater which C Coy had just reported. Until now no opposition had been encountered. C Coy. pancaked on their first objective at 0923 hrs., and D Coy. swung left through them reaching their objective unopposed at 1005 hrs. then sending out patrols which were unable to contact the enemy. A Coy. on the way in to its objective experienced fire from a bazooka which was soon taken care of by the fire from the tanks with that company, and at this time the coy. took two prisoners. At 1027 hrs. just as A Coy. was preparing to move in on its objective they were mortared and suffered one casualty, but the men of the company kept going and within two minutes were on their objective. At 1045 hrs. we reported to Bde. that FORD was ours. Mortar and artillery fire fell spasmodically in the area and a few casualties resulted. Just as the m.m.g. platoon of the TORONTO SCOTS were preparing to pull out and move to a new position a heavy concentration of mortar fire landed right among them, killing one man and wounding five. Brig. W.J. MEGILL, D.S.O., Commanding 5 C.I.B. called at Tac HeQe at 1110 hrs. at which time the C.O., Lt-Col. S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., advised him that it was his intention to push on to ROLLS. Some prisoners were taken by each of the companies and sent in to Tac. H.Q. for disposal . No sooner had A Coy. started the move to its new objective than it was pinned down by rifle and m.g. fire. The fire was returned and after half an hour the company was able to report slow progress. C Coy. at this time pushed out to the Cross roads at MR 545986 where they experienced quite some opposition before they were able to report that the spot was securely held. B Coy., coming up from the rear, followed through C Coy. and pushed on to their position at ROLLS 1 which they reached at 1315 hrs.. Shelling and mortaring of the area continued spasmodically all the time we were there and it did not stop until the Bn. was well on its way to the second objective. The FORT GARRY HORSE had one tank knocked out, but not before it had located an S.P. at MR 557994. Artillery was brought to bear on this spot and no more was heard from that S.P. gun. D Coy. passed through C and B Coys. heading for the factory area at MR 550004, and at 1437 hrs. reported that they were 300 yards short of their objective. All this time A Coy. had been experiencing a lot of well directed fire from m.gs. set along the railway embankment, and this fire reached its peak when the Coy. left the partial shelter afforded by the wood and emerged into the open at MR 564990. The road to the railway was covered by fire and Maj. E.S.DUFFIELD had to lead his company along the ditch. At 1455 hrs. D Coy reached its area and finally pancaked at 1508 hrs. C Coy. bow moved through B, to its position on ROLLS 3 and fire which had been laid down on that area was halted at 1600 hrs.. Eight minutes later Maj. E.S.DUFFIELD reported that his company was pancaked on its objective. From time to time during the day Tac. H.Q. had been moving up, and at 1620 hrs. it made its fifth and final move to a schoolhouse at MR 553997. The anti-tank gun crew with D Coy. spotted an enemy vehicle on the road running across their front, and engaged it, scoring several direct hits. C Coy. met no resistance in the final drive to their objective at ROLLS 3 and were settled in position there at 1725 hrs.. Rear B.H.Q. moved up to MR 553983 at 1800 hrs. and half an hour later the coy. vehicles reported there to pick up hot meals for the men. A section from the Anti-tank platoon deployed with A Coy. as this company had suffered nine casualties today and were fairly thin on the ground, and a section from the Carrier Platoon was also sent up to help out. The enemy used mortars firing 8 and 15cm. bombs, as well as 20mm and s.a. against us and succeeded in damaging a few houses in the area. One house less than 100 yards from Tac H.Q. was set on fire by one of his bombards. While the C.O. was visiting D Coy. a car came speeding round a bend in the road and slithered to an abrupt halt. It contained a Lieut. in the German Artitllery and his driver. He was acting as FOO and had been sent out to find the enemy. (N.B. He found them.) In interrogation of this officer we found that he had followed much the same route as ourselves having been in the Reichwald, Calcar, the Hochwaid, Xanten and Wesel . It would appear that he may reach Canada before many of us.

RETHORN

MR 5599, Ref Sh 2917, Delmenhorst, Germany.

27th. Apr., Fri.

Weather - overcast with heavy showers. Elements of the 8th.RECCE  filled in below us and also commenced patrolling to the North-East of our FDLs.. It had been the intention that they would investigate the area along the road North of us but their vehicles bogged down owing to the large number of craters blown in the roads. The forward Coys. were sent out on patrols today to cover the area as far as the road in front of them, while the Scouts patrolled out to the West towards the positions which the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS attacked and secured last night and this morning. B Coy. sent out a liaison patrol to contact at MR 537994 a CALGARY HIGHLANDERS patrol . During the day a number of prisoners were taken, few of them raising any objection. Pte. JACKMAN, E., A 5012, the cook for C Coy. heard that there was a creamery out to the left of the Coy. Position and figuring that this would mean butter for the boys, started off on a lone recce. Instead of returning with butter he came back with eight prisoners who had been sitting in the creamery waiting for someone to find them and inclined to complain that they had been waiting for a day and a half. In all, during the last two days the Bn. has secured 63 prisoners, including one officer, one C.S.M, and 5 sergeants. Previously it has been remarked that the enemy has paid high tribute to the security training of our armies as he has found that not more than 4% of our men captured will give any information. With his armies it is a very different story as only one corporal taken prisoner by this unit has failed to tell all he knew. In the case of the other prisoners, be they officer, n.c.o ., or O.Rs. they have answered any questions put to them promptly, and, more particularly among the senior ranks, volunteered information. Once more today the enemy fired mortar bombs into the area and this time he hit both A and B Coys.. The damage suffered by A Coy. was negligible, but B Coy had three casualties though fortunately, none were serious. An O Gp. was held late in the evening at which time the Coy. Cmdrs. were advised that we would push to the West beyond the positions held by the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS. The two sqns. of tanks from the FORT GARRY HORSE will be with us.

Area HUDE

Sq. 4899-4999, 5099-5000, Ref. Sh. 2916, Kirchhatten.

28th. Apr., Sat.

Weather - showery and cool. At 0700 hrs. the Bn. moved off. D Coy. was leading on the Northern Axis, and A on the Southern. During the advance the enemy made great use of 20mm. guns which he had in the area, as well as his rifles and m.g. causing one or two casualties in our ranks. In the face of this the Coys. pressed on and at 0855 hrs. A Coy. was able to consolidate on STUTZ 1. At this time D Coy. had arrived at STUTZ 2 and were quite busy endeavouring to clear it up. The enemy appeared to be very active to their North, so Capt. B.S.LEWIS, O.C. of D Coy. called for mortar fire to be laid down 300 yards to the North of his company. At 0920 hrs. when the fire had been laid down the vicinity of the D Coy. area quietened with the Coy. in possession of 28 prisoners. At 0945 hrs. Lt. Col. S.W.THOMSON, D.S.O., M.C., ordered C Coy. to move to STUTZ 4 and A to go to STUTZ 3, and both companies were on the move five minutes after receipt of the order. STUTZ 4 was taken with little difficulty, the company securing 3 prisoners on the move, and Maj. E.S.DUFFIELD was then ordered to send a patrol out 500 yards towards STUTZ 5, B Coy's. objective, which patrol met that sent out by B Coy., securing one officer p.o.w. en route. By 1150 hrs. B Coy. were in position and Phase l of the operation completed. D Coy. now sent a platoon 700 yards up the road twards their next objective but could proceed no farther until the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS attacking on our right flank, reported their forward position taken. C and D Coys. were on their objectives at 1320 hrs and 1340 hrs. respectively. Tac.H.Q. moved up to STUTZ 3, and while there Lt.W.A.WESTWOOD went out with some of his Scouts to pick up some enemy reported to awaitinf capture not more than 100 yards away. The prisoners were taken, and while they were being searched, a single shot fired by a sniper struck Lt.W.A.WESTWOOD in the head, killing him almost instantly. The Scouts pulled their very popular young officer into a slit trench to await burial, and returned with the prisoners. A patrol from the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS and one from A Coy. made contact with D Coy. without trouble. B Coy. on the left flank had stiff opposition for a while, but they were able to overcome it and had pancaked on their objective by 1635 hrs. completing phase 2. The companies settled in, and although the enemy fired 20mm. repeatedly it had no success. Casualties today were one officer killed, Lt. J.T.BROOKS of C Coy. wounded, and 11 OR wounded, while our bag of prisoners was 65, including 1 Officer, 2 C.S.Ms., and 1 sergeant.  In the evening an O Gp. was called when the C.O. outlined the plan to be followed tomorrow when the Bn. goes on in Phase 3 of this operation.

Area HUDE

Sq. 4801-4901, Ref. Sh. 2816, Berne.

29th. Apr., Sun.

Weather - overcast and showery. With A Coy. following B on the left flank D on the right and C in the centre, the Bn. moved off at 0800 hrs.. In 36 minutes D Coy. were consolidating on their objective reporting only light s.a. fire, and a few minutes later this company called for the Pioneers as the area was mined. The anamy at approx. STUTZ 10 became quite active, and Capt. B.S.LEWIS called down mortar fire on the area. B Coy. reached STUTZ 12 at 0917 hrs. and A then started off to pass through them to STUTZ 11. C Coy. in the centre of the line bore the brunt of the enemy opposition today and located an enemy platoon with a 2Omm. at a road block at MR 488014. The tanks with the company were called in and soon alleviated the situation, and the coy. were on Little 10 at 1005 hrs.. The mortars were called upon to help out A Coy. who were temporarily halted, whereupon the coy. moved on and found a road block at 481015. Around many of the road blocks were found mines, and the men had to be constantly on the alert, watching each footstep. At 1150 hrs. C Coy had been successful in reaching its objective, and at this time Maj. E.S.DUFFIELD reported his company under heavy m.g. fire from the railway embankment. The tanks moved up farther ahead of the coy., and brought fire to bear on the enemy m.g. positions, and by 1235 hrs. A Coy. had reached a point 300 yards short of their objective. At 1317 hrs. the coy. finally reached their objective and at 1355 hrs. we were able to report STUTZ complete. The REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE, following up the axis passed through the BLACK WATCH at 1605 hrs.. There was some mortar fire upon the area in the late afternoon and evening but it failed to disturb the men, who were intent on getting some rest after the exertions of the last couple of days. Today's casuaities were 1 Officer and10 OR. wounded and one O.R. killed, while we took 39 prisoners.

Area HUDE

Sq 4801-4901, Ref Sh 2816, Berne, Germany.

30th. Apr., Mon.

Weather - raining. Today B Coy. set out at 0700 hrs. to investigate the country lying to the North of our positions. They went on foot and checked roads and bridges for mines and demolitions, covering the area fully in an endeavour to search out the enemy. They returned just before 1700 hrs., tired, bedraggled, and soaked through, having seen no enemy in their travels. A new area had been found for them near Tac H.Q. and the men quickly set about getting into dry clothing. Bath Parades were held today for the other coys. and the supporting arms, and in the evening a movie was shown by the K. of C..

    Casualties during the month totalled 1 Officer killed and 8 wounded 24 OR killed and 126 wounded. Reinforcements totalled 1238, which figure includes 9 Officers. The Bn. was gratified to learn that during the month nine honours had been conferred on its members. These were as follows:

Lt. Col.S.W. Thomson

Officer Commanding,

1st. Bn. The Black Watch

(RHR) of Canada

INDEX

May, 1945