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MR Sheet 12 NW, GROESBEEK, Squares 7453-7452-7554

1st. Dec, Fri.

Weather - bright and clear - overcast later. The location in which the Bn. is now settled was previously a German camp and the quarters are generally comfortable. Unfortunately there are not enough houses for everyone but B.H.Q. staff and the H.Q. of all the Companies are housed in huts with stoves. The men are using as their quarters the dug outs with which the camp abounds. This afternoon a mortar bomb landed in D Coy's. position causing two casualties, neither of which was very severe. Lieut. B.S. Lewis, of # 17 P1., received a small piece of shrapnel in the leg. In the late afternoon a house occupied by members of the ESSEX SCOTTISH REGIMENT, about 75 yards from B.H.Q. caught fire. Before preventive measures could be taken it was ablaze, sending billows of smoke into the air. It seemed impossible that the enemy could fail to see the smoke but the visibility must have been in our favour as he did not attempt to range on it, as is his usual practice. Just before dark, when the fire had burned down somewhat, the fire truck from Bde. arrived and quelled the flames so that no target would be provided in the dark. The Scouts made a patrol tonight and ascertained that the enemy is occupying houses 4 and 5 on alternate nights. An Officer's Mess, for the Officers of B.H.Q. has been established across the road from B.H.Q.. A Coy. supplies the rations for the mess and the staff of B.H.Q. eat with that Company.

2nd. Dec., Sat.

Weather - raining. At a meeting of all Coy. Cmdrs. this afternoon The O.C., Lt-Col B.R.RITCHIE outlined the Bn. counter attack role in the area, and detailed the action to be taken by each Coy. in the event that the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS' or the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE'S positions be over run. Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE also advised the Coy. Commanders that disciplinary action would be taken against anyone found to be in possession of "attractive stores"- watches, binoculars, etc., which had not been declared, and ordered that a check up be made of such stores immediately. Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE also emphasised the necessity for accuracy and completeness in the compilation of 0.P. logs, and urgency in forwarding the 0.P. logs to our H.Q.. The Knights of Columbus runs shows at different hours during the day for the men in the rifle Coys. and in the evening for B.H.Q. and Support Coy. The show today was "Phantom Lady" .

3rd. Dec., Sun.

Weather - fair and cold in morning - raining in afternoon and evening. A Bath Parade was held at 0945 hrs this morning but when the mobile bath was reached it was found to be already over crowded. Church Parades were held at various times throughout the day in the different Coy. lines. The injuries to Lt. B.S.LEWIS were sufficiently slight to permit of his returning to us today - suffering slightly from deafness due to the blast. Today's film was "Blackmail".

4th Dec., Mon.

Weather - cold and showery. Today while working in the rear of the Officers' Mess Pte. LASALLE, N.E., B125523, a prisoner awaiting sentence under F.G.C.M., stepped on what is believed to have been a SCHU mine - although no conclusive evidence is obtain able that it was a mine of this type - and had part of his foot blown off. A notice was immediately circulated to all Coys. emphasising the necessity of keeping to the roadways and well defined tracks through the woods in the area. The Scouts on a patrol last night reported that the houses they have been watching for the past few nights, #s. 4 and 5, has been unoccupied throughout the period. It is felt that they may be able to get a prisoner soon from this spot as the enemy customarily visits these houses on alternate nights.

5th Dec., Tues.

Weather - showery. In the early hours of the morning a Standing Patrol from the Scout Platoon was proceeding to MR 752518 when it was ambushed within twenty-five yards of its destination. Of the first group of three L/Cpl. REED S.W., A57729, and Pte. SNIDER, E.J., B157846, were killed instantly, and Pte. LAMOURI, L.J., B158699, was wounded. The three remaining members of the patrol immediately went to ground, and later succeeded in bringing in the wounded man and reporting what had transpired. Lieut. R.F.DAVEY, with Cpl. WILKINSON, W.J., D81966 immediately went out to the spot where the ambush had taken place and removed all Identification from the men there, as it was impossible to bring them in. The guns in the gun area, nearby, are fairly active today. The film being shown by the K. of C. today was "Chip off the Old Block". In the evening, Lieut. R.F. Davey, with some of his scouts and a carrying party from A Coy. went out to the scene of last night's action and brought back the two men who had been killed there. Lieut. W.J.SHEA, the unit I.0., today attended a meeting at 2 Div. H.Q., where Maj. J.M.WATSON, Div. Counter-Mortar officer explained the functioning of his Office and the assistance it can give.

6th. Dec., Wed.

Weather - Heavy showers. Our guns are more active today than they have been recently. Some of them are located fairly close behind us and the blast when they tire often rocks the wooden shacks in which we are housed. Today Lieut. R.F.DAVEY and the Scout Platoon journeyed to NIJMEGEN to attend the funeral of the two members of the platoon who were killed yesterday. Shows for the rifle coys. during the day continued just after supper tonight the enemy fired some "Moaning Minnies" over our way. It was slightly disturbing to have the quiet of the evening so rudely shattered. One hit was made on a house occupied by elements of B Coy. but no injuries were sustained. Today is the feast of St. Nickolas in this country, when it is the custom to give presents to the children. Some of the men made up gifts of candy, chocolate and cake from parcels they have received from home and by devious means had them delivered to the families in CUIJK who had been so kind to them during their stay there. The boys in the B.0.R., in A Ech. at Malden, played St. Nickolas to the children in the house in which they had their office, filling their sabots with the candies, etc., tear to the hearts of children the world over. On awakening in the morning they found that they had been made the recipient of four eggs and a half pound of butter, each, gifts presumably from St. Nickolas.

7th. Dec., Thur.

Weather - intermittent showers. A Bath Parade was held this morning to the mobile baths just outside MOOK. In the afternoon the TORONTO SCOTS 4.2 Mortars and M.M.G. officers, the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS 3" Mortar officer, Capt. H.D.FREESTON of our 3" Mortars, Capt. D.C.MENZIES, 0.C.Sp. Coy., and Capt. DEGAN, the 5th. Field Artillery representative, met at 1400 hrs. to receive from Maj. E.W.HUDSON, O.C. of D Coy. the fire plan for the attack which his company is mounting this evening. H hour was set at 2000 hrs.. The purpose of the forthcoming operation is to make a quick stab at the objective and catch the enemy by surprise as the objective is on the logical line of any enemy advance. It is hoped by this means to disillusion him in case he should think of becoming ambitious. During the day Maj. E.W.HUDSON had found a piece of ground, near his Company area, resembling very closely that upon which the men would be fighting and had had the advance to the assault rehearsed a few times "dry". Times and distances were closely checked and the whole planned according to the dimensions shown in the Div. Int. Sum. as being the type used by the enemy in front of the Reichswald. The order of march going in was #17 P1. ,one detachment, dismounted, from the carriers, #16 P1. and #18 P1., and the route was down through the position of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS D Coy. to the cross roads at 758523 and then South-West to the road beyond the embankment. This line, the Start Line, was known as "Sally". 17 Platoon took up their position along "Sally" with nos. 4 and 5 carrier sections, dismounted, behind the line, CSM YOUNG, J.P.,D81041, with the 2" Mortars on the right on the line, and the PIATS on the left of the line, firing on the nearest houses of Grafwegsche Straat. No. 16 P1. took the right half of the advance dropping off their brens in cut-off positions on the right flank, and No. 18 P1. followed suit on the left, while one sec. from No. 17 Pl. advanced up the centre, laying a marking tape as they moved. When the first shells of the arty. barrage landed our boys were no more than fifty yards behind them, One sec. of 3" mortars was laying on this target also, "Beer", while smoke was being sifted along Grafwegsche Straat - "Rye" - also from our mortars. At H-2 the barrage stopped and our men on the ground moved in on the attack. At H hour the Arty. opened up on "Whisky Ridge" - 76055150 to 76325172 - and the enemy gun emplacement behind at 76255139 - the 3" Mortars from the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS on houses along Grafwegsche Straat our 3" Mortars on "Gin" - 758516 and the M.M.G. Coy. from the TORONTO SCOTS firing along the edge of the woods 757513 - 765513. At this moment the 4.2 Mortars let loose along "Rye" where it was anticipated the enemy would now be pushing his head up to see what had been happening around "Beer". At the instant the box barrage started the boys from D Coy. hit the enemy emplacements around the two houses at "Beer". They went in with everything going and while it lasted, action was fast and furious. Maj. E.W.HUDSON's orders to the men were that only a severe wound or the capture of a prisoner would make it permissible for anyone to withdraw before the scheduled time of 2015 hrs.. A/Sgt. MORRISON, R., D81090, induced one German to come out of a dug-out and made a present of a 36 grenade to the others who preferred their shelter. The German who came out was handed over to Pte. WHITE, R.F., B116683. Apparently the German had lost his sense of direction as he veered off to one side, and a burst from Pte. WHITE's sten, wounding him in the legs, was necessary to prevent his getting away. Everything went as planned and at 2015 the withdrawal started. As our men approached "Sally" on the way out the enemy, who had apparently a DF task laid on for such an eventuality, started to land mortar bombs in the near vicinity. He kept this up for five minutes and then dropped them all the way up to KNAPHEIDE, presuming that our withdrawal would be by that route. We sustained several casualties in the initial stages of the mortaring and Lieut. T.W. MacKENZIE was one who could not be evacuated and must be listed as missing. The order of march on the way out was the exact opposite of that going in, and once more we used the road by the side of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS' positions. The estimated results of the raid are about 25 enemy killed, a slightly larger number wounded and one prisoner taken. Our losses were A/Sgt. KING, L.J., D81436, Pte. PELLAND, J.S.R., B110751, Pte. WATT, J.B., D71528 - killed, Lieut. T.W. MaCKENZIE, Pte. Martin, R.A., B127860, Cpl. TUPLIN, C.B., F59901, L/Cpl. ELLIOTT, G.F., B128004, and Pte. WALKER, J.E., K54846, missing, and fourteen men wounded.

CUIJK, Sheet 12 SW, MR Sheet 7149

8th. Dec., Fri.

Weather - clear and cold. The Bn. moved today back to their old locations in CUIJK, between 1400 and 1600 hrs, being relieved by the QUEENS OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA. During the evening A Ech. rejoined the Bn., coming from MALDEN where they have been since November 23rd..

9th. Dec., Sat.

Weather - cold with snow. When we awoke this morning it was to find the ground covered with the first snow of the season, and the snow still falling in large flakes. Before long, however, as is frequent in these parts, the snow ceased falling and that on the ground rapidly turned to slush. It was very sloppy underfoot for the remainder of the day. During the afternoon a cloth model was prepared, accurately to scale of the area in which D. Coy. made their attack two nights ago. In the evening all officers in the Bde. attended a lecture by Maj. E.W.HUDSON on the attack his Coy. had carried out. The lecture was very successful and afterwards an innovation was introduced with the serving of coffee and sandwiches to all present.

10th Dec., Sun

Weather - dull and overcast. Church Parades were held today, at 0945 for the R.Cs. and at 1045 for the Protestants. At the latter parade the pipe band led the way to the hall in which the service was held. As Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE will be holding an inspection tomorrow, blanco was made available today to the men, and many of them spent the afternoon and parts of the evening in shining up and removing the tell-tale traces of mud of their recent positions in the field. In the evening the K. of C. ran a showing of the film "Two Girls and a Sailor". The men gave this film a very high rating.

11th Dec., Mon.

Weather - Overcast and cold. This morning the C.0., Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE held a Bn. Inspection Parade, and considering the fact that the men have grown rather unaccustomed to "spit and polish" of late, a very creditable showing was made. In rest areas the men invariably present a much neater and smarter appearance than it is possible for them to give in the mud of the forward areas, but today they excelled themselves. After the parade training was carried out in the various areas made available around the town. In the early afternoon many of our bombers were seen overhead proceeding towards Germany. From the numbers seen it would appear that someone is destined to receive quite a load today.

12th Dec., Tues.

Weather - cold and raining. In the afternoon a Padre's Hour was held. Hon. Capt. E.C.ROYLE took that for the Protestants and Hon. Capt. Kenny from 5 C.I.B. was in attendance for the Roman Catholics. The film shown by the K. of C. tonight was "It Happened Tomorrow".

13th Dec., Wed.

Weather - misty and damp. Today a gas chamber was set up and the face pieces and respirators of all ranks tested therein. Lectures were given on "Security", a very pertinent subject at this time when we are in such close contact with the enemy in static positions. In the area to which we will be proceeding shortly the enemy are located in slit trenches, a mere 50 yards from one of our forward positions, and recently he has taken to playing accordions and the ubiquitous mouth organ. The other evening one man in particular played so well as to hold the attention of all the boys of the ROYAL REGIMENT OF CANADA who were within earshot. Then suddenly he popped up out of his slit trench and called over in perfect English, "Why don't you crazy Canadians go home? It's too wet to fight." The incident was appreciated the more as we have often asked, rhetorically at least, why the enemy doesn't "pack up and go home as he must know he's beaten."

CUIJK, Sheet 12 SW, MR 7149

14th Dec., Thur.

Weather - damp and overcast. Training in the Coys. continues. Today the Coy. Cmdrs. proceeded to the area held by the ROYAL REGIMENT OF CANADA to carry out recces. Of the positions we will be going into tomorrow. Recces. had to be carried out after last light in all cases except that of D Coy..

KATERBOSCH REITHORST MOOK, Sheets 12 NW 12 SW, MR 722518

15th Dec., Fri.

Weather - hard frost. In the morning a clean up of the premises used and the general area was instituted as we would not wish that any regiment have to enter into the filth which greeted us on our arrival here. Elements of Bn. H.Q. moved to the new location around noon, the rifle coys. following during the afternoon. Owing to the proximity of the coys. positions to the enemy's lines the change over could not be completed until after darkness had fallen. The location of the rifle companies is as follows: A Coy. 744505, B Coy. 745507, C Coy. 734500, D Coy. 501492, with B.H.Q. at 722518. There was no indication that the enemy was cognizant of the change over as he took no steps to disrupt it in any way.

16th Dec., Sat.

Weather - dull and overcast. In the positions which they now occupy it is essential that the coys. keep on the alert at night, and accordingly there is a stand to from last light to first light, nightly. The boys do most of their sleeping during the day and when up and around keep well under cover. Tonight a grenade landed in one of the slit trenches manned by A Coy.. At first it was thought that the enemy was making an infiltration attempt but this was later disproved and the grenade was found to be from a cup discharger and the accuracy of its flight merely luck. There was some slight mortar activity during the day but no casualties were sustained.

17th Dec., Sun.

Weather - damp and overcast. This morning our artillery and the BLACK WATCH mortars sent some ranging rounds into the enemy's area. During the morning, from the Arty. O.P., smoke was seen to issue from two places on the far side of the dyke at MR 744500 and the Arty.F.O.O. called for fire on that point. Although the fire was accurate it was not particularly effective as throughout the rest of the day smoke continued to emanate from these points. It is believed that the enemy is most probably dug into the far side of the dyke and practically immune to any type of fire. Our planes were over MIDDELAAR today. One was hit and crashed in flames but the pilot was seen to bail out and landed safely in our lines in the vicinity of the Klooster at ST. AGATHA. Just before 1300 hrs. the enemy shelled CUIJK, where our A Ech. is located and where the ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY are resting. He landed about twenty shells in the area the last of which hit the wagon carrying our reserves of A/Tk. ammunition. The fire thus started burned for almost two hours, and the truck and one adjoining, containing the personal effects of the A/Tk. gun crews were destroyed. When the casualties were listed it was found that Pte. FITZPATRICK, K.W., D143149, had been killed and thirteen men wounded. Tonight a patrol from A Coy. led by Sgt. BULL, G.K., A29034, went out to the dyke at MR 74405035. They moved down the dyke checking the weapon slits when suddenly from across the roadway they were challenged in German. Immediately they made a break to get clear, but had not gone very far when one of the patrol tripped a flare and all had to go to ground, M.Gs. played over their heads and the dying flare landed among three members of the patrol. No casualties were suffered and the party finished their patrol in good order. Today the Bn. I.0., Lieut. W.J.SHEA attended a meeting at 2 Div. H.Q. on Low Grade cipher, Liner system, which will be introduced on 1st. February.

18th Dec., Mon.

Weather - dull and overcast. Today at 1030 hrs. an investiture was held at the Barracks at GRAVE when Field Marshall Sir BERNARD L. MONTGOMERY, K.C.B., D.S.0., C.-i- C. 21 Army Group presented ribbons to officers and men of 2nd. Cdn. Inf. Div. and 2 Cdn. Corps Tps. who have won awards in the field. Brig. W.J.MEGILL, Comd. 5 C.I.B. acted as Parade Comd. for the whole party in the theatre. Two men from each coy. in the regiment attended, and Lieut. T.J.LARKIN was i/c this party. Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE attended title investiture. CSM YOUNG, J.P., D81041, and Sgt. McKINNELL, R., D81213 were presented with the Military Medal. Sgt. McINNES, J.P., D82786 was also to have been the recipient of this award but was unable to attend the investiture having become a casualty yesterday in the shelling of A Ech.. In the evening there was some mortaring of the Company positions but no casualties were sustained.

MR 722518

19th Dec., Tues.

Weather - dull and very misty. During the day the enemy continued to mortar our positions but succeeded only in disturbing the men's rest. The artillery found it quite impossible to observe their ranging shots in C Coy's. area as mist limited observation to about 150 yards. The proposed attack for C Coy. - scheduled for tomorrow night will of necessity have to be postponed until such time as the various supporting arms are able to range with extreme accuracy. By night A Coy. has a standing patrol of 1 Sgt. and 3 OR. in front of the position of their forward platoon. Tonight was very dark and there was quite a wind rustling the leaves in the hedges bordering the patrol position. Suddenly, out of the dark, two Germans carrying pistols, loomed up, outlined against the dark night sky, not five yards away. One of our men immediately let go a grenade, but the enemy heard the click as the striker came down and jumped for cover. The sergeant picked up the bren to despatch them but the oil in the gun had frozen and the gun jammed. A sten was then fired in the direction of the retreating figures, but they got away.

20th Dec., Wed.

Weather - dull and misty. Word was received today that the ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, in CUIJK, had last night apprehended two men dressed in the uniform of the ROYAL AIR FORCE. These men, upon investigation, proved to be enemy agents. At 1400 hrs. an 0 Group was held to brief the various unit commanders concerned on the tasks required of them in connection with C Coy's. forthcoming operation. It will be a Coy, attack on the area 738497 - 737495 and the object will be to grab a prisoner or two, inflict casualties on the enemy, and return to our present firm base. It will be made by three platoons, each with a fighting strength of twenty men and each platoon having separate routes in and out, and separate objectives. While the attack is in progress two sections from the carriers, dismounted, will take over the posns. in 15 Pl. area, and three sections from D Coy. in 13 and 14 Pls. areas, to protect the firm base. Shortly after dark this evening the A/A in the area opened up on two buzz-bombs which passed overhead at a very low altitude. At 1800 hrs. the CSM of A Coy. set out a flare with a 60' trip wire in the course the enemy had used last night in his scouting patrol. At 1900 hrs. the flare was tripped but it must have been done by a rabbit or a chicken as no figures were seen. Nonetheless, in case someone had been lying doggo while the flare was up, the Vickers m.g. which this Coy. has acquired opened up when it might be supposed the Hun would be rising to his feet again evacuating them.

21st Dec., Thur.

Weather - dull and very misty. There was practically no action in the area today. If anything the visibility was even more limited than it was yesterday, and once again ranging by the artillery and mortars had to be postponed. This area is extremely harrowing on the men. They are in slit trenches, and although these have been improved into dug-outs, and oil stoves have been sent up to them, life is very difficult under the circumstances. At night there almost a continual stand to, particularly in B Coy's. area where they are fired upon by automatic weapons, and where cup discharger grenades rain into the positions. The damp makes the life of the men in the line most miserable, and the winds blowing over the flats bordering MAAS River lend to the general discomfort. The men of D Coy. in the forward posn. of that company, are forced to live like beavers on the inundated reaches on the MAAS. They have their quarters in small sandbagged huts built above the level of the small causeways. The only Coy. H.Qs. which can be reached in the daytime are D, which is quite accessible, and B which may be reached only at some risk - of observation-at least. Replacing the flare A Coy. set out a booby trap - 1 Hawkins grenade in the centre and 4 1/2" HE Mortar bombs wired together.

22nd Dec., Fri.

Weather - dull and overcast. The mist which has been plaguing us this last few days has at last lifted and the arty. and mortars have been able to get to work on their ranging programme. There was some mortaring of our positions during the day but it was by no means severe. Most of the action in this area takes place at night and both the enemy and ourselves keep well under cover by day. Up until now only the occasional glimpse of the enemy has been obtained during the daylight hours, but in the last few days, possibly as a result of the temporary success which his armies have attained in the Southern sector, he is becoming either more daring or more foolhardy. In any event it has been noticed that he is not keeping under cover nearly as much as heretofore. From A Coy's. the Scouts observed one Hun reading a newspaper in the open; others seem to wander with careless abandon around their positions. Unfortunately the Scouts could not bring fire to bear without disclosing the location of the 0.P. and the spot they are in is of more value as an 0.P. than as a fire position. Tonight we had a visit from Capt. L.E.L.HARVEY onetime Paymaster of the unit and now with 1 Ech. 21 Army Group. At a meeting at Bde. H.Q. today the I.0., Lieut. W.J.SHEA was advised that there would be a change made in the Patrol policy of the Div.. In the past it has been the policy to send out recce patrols to garner information, and fighting patrols after prisoners, but henceforth we will concentrate more on standing patrols, and lie in wait for the recce patrols which will have to be sent out by the Hun. If we can obtain prisoners by this means it may obviate the neccessity of sending out our own patrols after information.

23rd Dec., Sat.

Weather - clear - sunshine and frost. There was very limited activity on our front today. In view of C Coy's. attack, scheduled for moon-down tonight, the artillery refrained from firing on any targets in the area ahead of that Company. In the afternoon the I.0., Lieut. W.J.SHEA, visited the 8th. RECCE REGIMENT (l4th.CH) and arranged with them that they should lend supporting fire with 3" Mortar and m.g. in tonight's attack. 0n the way back he stopped at the KLOOSTER at ST. AGATHA to visit our 0.P. there manned by Pte. BOOTH, W.T., D83056 - of the I. Secn.. From there he made some observations of MIDDELARRHUIS and its vicinity. The Klooster has been rather extensively damaged by both the Americans and the Germans and there now remain only three monks out of the original hundred or so, the others having removed to a monastery near GRAVE. In the course of conversation with one of the monks - members of the Order of the Holy Cross - the I.0. was asked the inevitable question as to how long the war would last, and Lieut. W.J.SHEA replied that if we were favoured with seven consecutive clear days it would bring the end appreciably nearer, and the monks would soon be able to start rebuilding their monastery. The monk averred that he thought this good weather might be arranged and that he and his brother monks would start praying for it. Maj. MALCOLM MACLEOD, previously with this unit and presently with C.M.H.Q., spent a couple of days with us as the guest of the C.O., Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE, visiting his old friends in the Bn..

24rd Dec., Sat.

Weather - clear - sunshine and frost. After the moon went down this morning C Coy's attack went in. The fire of the supporting arms was extremely well co-ordinated. A Coy's. Vickers m.g. also sprayed the area and received not a few mortar bombs, principally phosphorus in return. The attack, as laid on by Bde. worked exactly to plan. The Platoons reached their F.U.Ps. in good order, and it was at this point that some of the casualties sustained were incurred, one mortar bomb killing Pte. HART W.C., A31364, and wounding four others. The enemy mortaring was most haphazard and it was evident that the Hun did not know from which direction the attack was coming. A good deal of his m.g. and mortar fire was directed towards MIDDELAARHUIS and D Coy. H.Q., indicating that he was confused by the amount of mortar fire laid down on MIDDELAARHUIS by the 3" Mortars of the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE before H hour. The Platoons went in to their objectives, searched the buildings, and returned to their Coy. positions. The attack was unsuccessful in that it did not attain its purpose - the taking of a German prisoner. The Hun had usually occupied the areas attacked and it was simply bad luck that he was not there when the attack went in. The attack had been very well planned and every man had put his best into it. There was great disappointment among the men at the final result. In addition to the casualties listed above, eight more men were wounded, of whom two were not evacuated. The known and suspected enemy mortar positions were engaged by the arty. with air-bursts, and the information handed down by the C.M.0 must have been most accurate. During the hours of daylight there was little action on our Bn. front. In the evening the enemy could be heard playing recordings of the better known Christmas carols - the while they were popping rifle grenades over at us. In retaliation our men waited until he played "Silent Night" then made a liar out of him, furnishing the accompaniment to the chorus on our brens. The sound of feminine voices was also heard, signifying that there is probably some truth in the stories we have heard of the enemy having "camp followers" move with the troops at all times and in all places. There is a prospect that the enemy may attempt an airborne landing somewhere in this area and all ranks were advised tonight to be on the alert for anything of this nature.

MR 722518

25th Dec., Mon.

Weather - clear, sunshine and frost. The day was quiet generally throughout the sector, as far as we were concerned, but the 2nd. Corps saw to it that quite the usual amount of harassing fire was landed in the enemy's lines serving to disturb what might otherwise have been a quiet Christmas for him. There was a decided decrease in the enemy's mortaring propensities, only nine moreps being received in the course of the entire day by the C.M.O.. In view of the prevailing conditions it was considered impracticable to provide the men with the customary Xmas fare today, and the feast will have to be held at some future date. During the past week it has become evident that the enemy has offensive plans for the Northern sector of the Western front. The "Reliable Source" estimates that the enemy has assembled 10,000 troops between the River MAAS and the River WAAL, and much construction work is being done on the MAAS ferries. Engineers with river-crossing material are being assembled, and his troops talk quite freely of an impending crossing of the MAAS and a drive to recapture Antwerp. Mountain troops, Austrians and 55 formations are reported arriving in Holland. The impending threat of airborne or parachute attack remains more nebulous. The enemy definitely has enough troops in Holland to start something - but not enough for a giant pincer. Information available to us indicates, with little possibility of doubt, that there is a plot afoot to assassinate Gen. EISENHOWER, Allied C-in-C. In view of the above threat to this area the 4th. and 6th. Bdes. were today withdrawn from this area and placed under the command of the 2nd. Cdn. Corps. The 5th. Bde. comes under the command and of the 3rd. Cdn. Div., which Division is now holding the sector from NIJMEGEN down to our Bn. area. The BLACK WATCH are on the extreme right of the line. There is some disappointment over the change as it indicates the possibility that we will not be relieved by the 6th. Bde. as we had anticipated, at the end of our two weeks in the line. In the afternoon Brig. W.J.MEGILL, Commanding 5 C.I.B. with Lt-Col. B.R. RITCHIE, O.C. the regiment, went forward to look over B Coy's positions to see if it were possible to improve them in any way. They decided that there was nothing to be gained by any small local change. While there they took the opportunity of conveying their Seasonal Greetings to the men. B Ech., in BEERS, held a party today entertaining 65 Dutch children. Candy and cake were provided and the Ke of C. showed films of "Popeye" and "Mickey Mouse" much to the delight of the youngsters. Church services were held today in A and B Echs. for both denominations. Visitors to B.H.Q. today included Lt-Col. N.L.C. MATHER, G.L., 3 Div., Capt. M.H.CASSILS, of the Public Relations Service, and Capt. J.A.FRASER, of the Army Photographic Service, both formerly of the BLACK WATCH. All Bde. officers also paid us a visit. Since this was not the Bn. "calling day" the C.O., Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE deemed it indeed fortunate that the visitors were carrying their own supply of Christmas Cheer. A recce patrol from C. Coy. went forward in the evening and shortly returned with the information that there were quite a few of the enemy at houses 6,7, and 8. Maj. E.V.PINKHAM, O.C., C Coy., immediately sent out a fighting patrol under the command of Lieut. W.D.SMAILL. The patrol edged close in to their objective, then opened up with PIATS., brens and rifles on the houses and followed in to clean up. They spread not a little confusion among the enemy, and emerged with a prisoner. A recce patrol went forward again to check up on things when the fight was over, saw the enemy scurrying around in the area and assumed that he was evacuating his casualties. This prisoner taken by C Coy. proved somewhat inarticulate - hardly surprising in view of the fact that he had suffered the loss of one testicle. Capt. S.E.GRIFFIN, Bde. I.0., was at Tac.H.Q. when the prisoner was brought in to the R.A.P. and interrogated. He reported the details to Maj. J.M.DELAMERE, Bde. Maj. 5 C.I.B., as the prisoner went, in this instance to 2 Cdn. Div., the change of command not having taken place at this time. At 2230 hrs. the Bn. came under the command of the 3rd. Cdn. Division.

26th Dec., Tues.

Weather - clear, sunshine and frost. Shortly before dawn B Coy. jumped a sentry who, slightly faulty in his sense of direction, misguidedly walked between two of our posts. This man was brought in intact and proved quite informative and was delivered to 3rd. Cdn. Div.. Maj. R. MacDUFF, O.C. of B. Coy. did an excellent job of interrogation on a company level and is to be congratulated on the information he elicited. When the prisoner was brought in to Tac. H.Q. the I.0., Lieut, W.J. SHEA, and the Dutch interpreter attached to the unit went to work on him and filled in the gaps. The Bn. is congratulating itself on securing two prisoners in one night, one before and one after the change over in command, and we are hoping that information secured from them will help to satisfy the curiosity of the higher formations, at least for a while, as to the enemy dispositions on our front. This would permit our forward troops to relax more. The forward companies have a very large front to cover, and in spite of the patrol policy laid down recently, the Bde's. policy has been one of very active patrolling. During the day there was some mortar activity along the front. Every night rifle grenades continue to rain into B Coys. positions, and during the day bullets from enemy m.gs. start whistling at the slightest movement.

27th Dec., Wed.

Weather - cold, misty with frost. The rime in the mornings is very thick and such is the cold that it does not disappear even when the sun comes out. Tonight at 1730 hrs. a standing patrol of seven men, led by Lieut. R.A.LINDSAY, went forward about 400 yards from the Coy's. positions, to prevent any enemy infiltration. 0n reaching the crossroads the Patrol Leader and a runner moved down one branch of the road, and when they had proceeded about 100 yards were fired upon by a schmeiser, from a distance of about 25 yards. They went to ground and had no sooner done so than many enemy automatics in the area opened up. When C Coy. saw this flare-up of activity they retaliated with everything at their disposal. Instead of staying in one position the patrol moved to the cover of slits in the area and laid low until things quietened down, then headed for home again. They decided on the way back that they wanted something to show for all their efforts, so raided a chicken-coop, in no-man's-land, on the way back and rescued one lonely chicken from a lingering death by starvation. Many an anxious moment was spent by the rest of the Bn. awaiting their return at 2300 hrs. Today Maj. W. EWING left A Coy. to proceed to Canada on compassionate leave. The men of his company were really sorry to lose a commander they held in high regard, and for whom they had the greatest respect and admiration.

28th Dec., Thur.

Weather - cold with frost. Today word was received that the Bn. will be pulling out of their present positions and proceeding to the neighbourhood of NIJMEGEN, tomorrow. Officers from the ESSEX SCOTTISH REGIMENT came in today to make their recces. of our positions as their regiment will be relieving us. The news that we are being relieved spread like wildfire, and the men are really delighted at the prospect of spending New Year's Day out of the line. Late in the evening the move was cancelled by the order of the Corps Commander, Lieut.Gen. G.G.SIMONDS, as he felt that it were necessary that he have one Bde. in reserve at all times to combat any enemy thrust, and if both 4th. and 5th. Bdes. were 0n the move his reserve would riot be available. In going out to their Standing Patrol position in front or A Coy. tonight the men were fired upon from two different places. They reported to CSM TURNBULL, A.F., D82922, who went out with them, and setting up a bren, sprayed the area, giving the men covering fire while they reached their position. There was no retaliatory fire.

29th Dec., Fri.

Weather - cold and frosty. To say that the men are disappointed at the cancellation of the move is to understate the case, but they accept it with extremely good grace. Since coming to this sector the Bn. has had patrols out every night. These patrols have been of all types, and in spite of the recent change in the Patrol programme in the 2nd. Cdn. Div. patrolling on our front has been just as vigorous as heretofore. It would appear that the prayers of the monks of the Order of the Holy Cross at ST. AGATHA have proved most efficacious as we have now had that spell of good weather we were awaiting. Daily the artillery give the enemy in front of us a slight dusting up and our mortars participate in this. The enemy's mortars are also very active. There are few flares fired at night at the moon is extremely bright. For this reason, patrolling is most difficult and during the bright period of the mostly confined to Coy. patrols in front of the Coy. positions. The Bn, 0.P. at the Klooster at ST. AGATHA today spotted three enemy mortar positions. This afternoon the SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT who were in CUIJK were pulled out of that town to become part of Army reserve and the Div. Comdr., Maj.-Gen. A. BRUCE MATHEWS, D.S.O., E.D., realising that it was necessary to have a force in CUIJK to combat the air-borne, parachute or ground counter attack possibility called upon the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE to relieve the SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT in that town. The reason this regiment were chosen was that, being in a reserve role in our Bde. they were able to move to CUIJK with the least possible delay, whereas, had either the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS or the BLACK WATCH been called upon, the move could not have been made until after nightfall. This left us with only two Bns. in the Bde., so the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS and ourselves had to pull back one company to occupy the area vacated by the REGIMENT de MAISONNEUVE. Lt-Col. B.R.RITCHIE, the C.O., had already arranged to erect a Bn. reserve by using 2 Secs. Carriers and the Scout Platoon to relieve C Coy. and allow them to come back to the rear area in MOOK to get washed and cleaned up and enjoy a Christmas dinner. It had been the intention of Lt-Col. B.R. RITCHIE to rotate the companies in this manner and give each in turn an opportunity to get rested up for 48 hours at least. This change in the Bde. plan necessitated putting C Coy. into a position formerly held by the REGIMENT de MAISSONEUVE It was decided to have D Coy. take over the hot spot on the hill from B Coy. who have been there since we moved into these positions, moving B Coy. to the comparative quiet down near the River MAAS, which has been occupied by D Coy.. During the take over Pte. WAGER, L.G., F86465, was killed by a sniper's bullet.

30th Dec., Sat.

Weather - cold and very misty. Visibility today was very poor, and there was very little action in the area. The CAMERON HIGHLANDERS of OTTAWA today fired their mortars upon MIDDELAAR and started one small fire. From the 0.P. at ST. AGATHA a gun position was spotted today when the gun was fired in the afternoon from MIDDELAAR. There was quite heavy mortaring of D Coy's. area to which they had a most vigorous reply made in the ratio of at least five for one. In the mortaring Pte. GOODFELLOW, G.B., B119221 was wounded and had to be evacuated.

31st Dec., Sun.

Weather - clear and cold. At 0915 hrs this morning a voluntary Church Parade was held for all available R.Cs. by the QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS of CANADA in a hall in their area in MOOK, and at 1100 hrs a service was held for the Protestants. Today the Medium Artillery fired upon MIDDELAARHUIS fire was directed from the O.P. at ST.AGATHA. Approximately 25 rounds fell in the buildings, the remainder landing in MIDDELAAR Delayed action fuses were used and although the fire was very accurate the actual extent of the damage could not be estimated. Maj. E.W.HUDSON, O.C., D Coy had been at no little pains to convey some glass from the rear area, forward to his new H.Q. and during the afternoon constructed a window in his dug-out. Shortly after the completion of the task a terrific explosion broke the quiet of the front - and the window. Maj. HUDSON, very irate at the destruction of his handiwork immediately called for 40 rounds of 3" mortar on all known and suspected enemy mortar positions, in an attempt to destroy the heavy mortar which had caused such damage. Just as the fire died down they were presented with a casualty. A member of the company walked into one of the Pioneer's monstrosities. The window remained broken. In the evening our Sigs. heard the enemy on our frequency. She interpreter attached to the unit, Sgt. A. van de LEGRAAF, listened in on the line but nothing of vantage was forthcoming. The patrol programme continues to be extremely heavy despite the meeting at Bde. 0n the 22nd. of this month. So heavy has it become in fact, that tonight, one-third of Support Coy. in the forward position, were employed on patrols, making it extremely difficult for them to fulfill their defensive role. As the Old Year drew to a close all was quiet, and the noon was riding high in a cloudless sky.

GENERAL.

During the month of December the Bn. was out of the line for 7 days at CUIJK. Of the remaining 24 days, seven were spent in a Bde. reserve position from which we carried out an active patrolling policy, and 17 in the right Bde. sector bordering the River MAAS in very intimate contact with the enemy.

TRAINING.

The Bn. gained much valuable experience during this period in all types of patrolling.

MORALE.

The Bn. morale was high. This despite foul weather and extremely un-pleasant living conditions, underground, in varying extremes of rain and mud. Forty-eight hour leaves continued during the month.

HEALTH.

The general health was surprisingly good and speaks well for the junior leadership of our Pl. commanders. Common cold was the most prevalent illness. CASUALTIES. From 18th. June to 31st. Dec. there have been over 100 Officers and over 1700 ORs. who have become battle casualties.

HONOURS & AWARDS.

Another member of the Bn. received the Military Medal this month, namely Sgt. McKINNELL, R., D81213.

An analysis of casualties for the month follows:

B.R. Ritchie, Lt-Col.

Officer Commanding

1st. Bn. R.H.C.

INDEX

January, 1945