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12th March 1945

We withdraw for a rest from this hell of a Hochwald Forest through to Wessel, which was our objective, and which we took.

16th March 1945

Sees us in Kessel — still in Germany, a town blasted to the ground, but we find, among the ruins furniture and other domestic utensils in what is left of these houses - we make our homes for a while. I lose my scout car to another driver after falling out with MT corporal, never mind perhaps through that I can get a better rest as it has been no picnic believe me. I think I’ll try D.R’s work now for a change.

28th March 1945

We move today, and this roughly is the plan, a set of 3 bridges have been built over the Rhine by Corps Troops and our job is to punch over and get through any opposition that may be there, we crossed the Rhine on the morning of 1 April, not a Fools Day for us, as yet we have not met much hard fighting

9th April 1945

The past week has seen us in very hard fighting, the worse since Normandy days from the Rhine where we cross at Rees for a few mile all now OK and then its happened we find we are up against 3 German Parachute Armies the 5-6 and the 26th and now after heavy fighting in which we have lost 5 more men and 2 vehicles through point blank shelling, we have built six bridges that way and are now only 30 mile from Breman we have lost lots of guards but have so badly mauled the Jerries that the 5-6 have withdrawn leaving the 26 Parachute Army to hinder us with demolition. There’s lots of food here these Jerries are far from hungry and they look fit, we are eating well with eggs, bacon, pork, milk, and much more than we need, the only worry is time to eat it, and in a safe place as there’s shells and mortars in plenty. I am spare man at present, but am kept busy one way and another.

12th April 1945

We move up some 8 miles today named Breman, not bad eg, and the GAD are now forcing them back hard and fast.

24th April 1945

I have omitted saying that when we left Kessel on 28th of last month a new officer joined us who was a smashing chap as our old officer was promoted and left us for intelligence corps. Now our new officer is dead, it happened like this we were forward troops that is to say up with the tanks and infantry to clear any obstacles, I was driving my truck again as this officer was pleased with my work, I had been by side all day and then we went in front of all to look and measure a crater, that would need filling in by the sappers before the tanks could proceed, a sniper had him, shot him right through the head, he didn’t suffer I could do nothing for him but pull him out of the way and apply a dressing to his head. I was very lucky this time — luck hold out! We were all sorry to lose him so early.

The place we were after Rotenburg is now in our hands at least the 53rd DN took over just as we were going looting too bad for us, before this we took Visselhoyde and took 1000’s of prisoners, we are now sitting on the main Breman Hamburg Autobaun, a two days rest, then Bremen, which is no more than a few kilometres along — this major highway which we have cut.

28th April 1945

Today we lost another good pal who was very unlucky, he was walking along a tank track about a foot deep and he trod on a mine he did not suffer though — thank God, any of us might have done the same. I took his job over, he was buried at Zenen. In the last 2 days we liberated a POW camp where we released 2000 yanks and British soldiers and airman, we then went to another camp which was disease ridden, only the medical was allowed in.

1st May 1945

I am just about to go on leave away from all this, what a treat. I got home on the 4th as my birthday now on the 3rd had a very good time, also was glad, and lucky to be home on VE day that was the 8th May 1945 everybody went mad . We have fought and won on this side, but the cost has been heavy so just a thought for our comrades who fell by our side —
GOD BLESS THEM.

Driver A. Surrey
2115302
19 June 1944 — 10 May 1945

I have tried to make this diary interesting, I am only sorry I did not have the time to put in more details the experiences of this great round to help rid the world of fascism for all time.

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