大象传媒

Sixteenth September 1944

Since the battle of the Albert Canal, we were used as infantrymen to take, with the Guarys an important place called Eccles, this was also successful, our artillery barrage had it in flames the jerries came out of their bunkers, and after very hard fighting we killed 3000 and took 4000 prisoners not bad eh? The enemy are trying hard now to keep us out of Germany at all costs, but our division will be there no matter how hard the opposition.

Seventeenth September 1944

We now move on, not directly through the Lugfried line, but to and through Holland.
12 CPS 30 CPS and the 11 armoured shall exterminate jerry V.2 weapons, the Rocket, which we know are the Buzz Bombs being directed at England, but not for long and then we鈥檒l be ready for the final round.

Twenty Second September 1944

Today is the first chance I have had to make a note here since the 17th, owing to us having little sleep, due to heavy fighting across the Escault Canal and also forcing and crossing of the Rhine at Nijemgen where American Airborne troops were dropped in thousands, exact number not known, but they lost a lot of men, although the operation was successful. We were supplying them across with materials and meals. Our casualties were slight owing to jerry mainly only using infantrymen and grenades to keep us at bay. Prisoners taken, were hundreds who were glad to be taken just before 鈥楬itlers Funeral鈥�. On the way up to these battles we came through a place called Eindhoven, the first town we reach after crossing the frontier into Holland, we had another marvellous reception, being second only to Brussels, I have more souvenirs. At Nijmengen I met, while waiting with my truck for the Sappers to finish their task, a lovely girl who had evacuated from Amsterdam, she was doing Red Cross work here, she was quite rich and self supporting as her parents were well to do, I had a very nice time with her and when I went she said 鈥渓et me come too鈥� I told her 鈥淚 really wish I could but that鈥檚 not possible鈥� she was 25, she asked for my address which I proudly gave her. Will she write - maybe. I should have told you her parents were in Amsterdam, she, on her own.

First October 1944

Well we begin another month and Jerry still fights on, only fiercer now with his last dying strength, the battles here at NIJMENGEN are equally as hard on the Tilly Caen, now maybe fiercer. But when it came to supplies, RASG in soft transport he caught them from the flanks, it is evident he is trying to isolate us, and the supply route keeps opening and closing hour after hour, our supplies are scarce, but this is the laugh, we have captured German rations enough to feed us for months and months, so we concentrate on getting heavy stuff and ammunition through, this we can cope with, and really our danger is nil, although it may seem hard.
British paratroops have linked up with the American force recently . We must now get through to them soon, as armour which can be used so effectively as only Huns know, as to them we are Churchill鈥檚 butchers. We engineers can now only wait until our Guard and PBI鈥檚 force a decision, we hope and expect it soon now.

12th November 1944 鈥� Nijmegan still

We are in November now, and, after being in good billets, while we were making the roads around usable for tanks, and all kinds of armour to get through, we move toward Arrean, we cross the German border on the 14 November. So this is Germany were the German civilians are cringing, mothers crying, children of 12-16 some happy, some arrogant they have probably lost their fathers and brothers on one of Germany鈥檚 numerous fronts. Some pitiful stories we hear but then we think of our own towns and the way these same people felt when they saw in their minds, most certain victory, now its another story so sod them one and all. The Service Corps are busy here moving them back to give us ease of movement in a long trek through that we hope will come soon, you get a queer feeling here in enemy country sleeping in German houses and most important of all keeping your wits about you for your own good, all the time. The name of the place is Gengelt, just forward from the first German village over this section of the border WEIR. Yes Germany at last after 5 years of waiting, it feels good.

Christmas Day 1944

This is the first time I have felt like writing for a month but our work in that period has carried on, what with mine clearing in SUSTERSELFF that鈥檚 near GANGELT, where it鈥檚 the first time I have seen dogs used for that purpose, and more road repairs, its work for sappers. But I being a driver find work these times a little easier but I have my share of excitement when I go forward with my troop officer setting traps for German patrols as the front now is not moving much while this weather is so hard its mud, mud, mud, rain, rain, rain 鈥� day in, day out, still we can wait a little longer now although there鈥檚 little time to think about it.

We have been living in very good billets in a place named GELEEN, where among other things we had an investiture dinner, a treat we all enjoyed. Our Xmas has been spoilt as we moved from GELEEN on Xmas Eve for 鈥榓ctive ops鈥� on Xmas day, bad luck eh ! and we were so well in with these Dutch people who are so near Germany border 鈥� just 8 kilos from the border into Gangelt and Germany proper, never mind it can鈥檛 be helped. Yes we were all celebrating Xmas Eve, I was lucky kept sober (just), most of the mob were drunk and going in the line at 7 a.m. Xmas Day, it is not their fault though as this move is an emergency, as you may guess - what will it bring. We have been briefed this is it, a move back to Belgium where we must fill in any gaps that appear where the Germans may break through they have broken through once giving the yanks a tanning. The Bosch are threatening two of our main supply towns in Belgium which we must hold at all costs, they are Levanne and Leige, if we lose them the Hun may even take Brussels and that would mean our armies going right back to France, with no supply points left for us in Belgium of real importance, but we are all sure we can hold the Hun. So for now a Merry Xmas from the front.

30 December 1944

Well we are nearing the end of the year and I can honestly say a lucky one for us. The crisis is now over on that last sector and we can all breath again freely thanks to the yanks and the PBI鈥檚 who were in the fray at Xmas time, and there were no gaps for us to fill, and we were left in reserve.

2nd January 1945

The New Year is in and we find ourselves in Kumtich some 20k from Louvaine, its quiet here, and we are still in reserve.

7th January 1945

Today I go to Brussels on a 48 hr leave, the first leave since landing, I visit the brothels, there new to me and my-my I certainly find them interesting.

5th February 1945

Well we are still in Kumtich, Belgium - taking it easy just doing a job here, a task there as sapper, we will soon be moving again, now that the weather is clearing up.

7th February 1945

We move today into Holland, a place called Vought, where, from there we are going in, along with the heavy armour to smash our way through the Reichsuales Forest, that part of the Seigfreid Line that is very heavily defended, from Vought we are here for 2 days make our final preparation.

9th February 1945

We move up just as Sapper of GAD to, if necessary do any mine clearing and fill in craters and generally make the big advance possible. The bosch is sending over bags of shells and mortars, he鈥檚 not kidding, our Artillary are giving him twice as much back as the din is terrific.

10th February 1945

Today at least at night under cover of darkness the Sappers are going forward mine clearing, my job in the light is to get in front of them, and with my Troop Sgt on the BREN in the turret give them any protection needed if it does get sticky, its sweaty work for all of us, the Sapper of course are walking, and all our other transport are staying back. I had a narrow escape, my truck leading the sapper drove over 4 box anti-tank mines in the road, but as luck would have it they were dummies. I, and all of us breath again. Of course we are now in the region of the Reichswald Forest and when we have finished those tasks the Armour will drive right through to strike a heavy blow at the Hun.

14th February 1945

Today is the time chosen for the attack to go in and in we go along with the 2 BTN Welsh Guard for the big fight, how will it end ?

At 3 p.m. we are well in, the barrage now is terrific, us sappers are forward, the guards on our heels just waiting for trouble, and here it is just on our left flank of this forest, movement has been noticed, and a platoon of infantry, go out to find out what it is, they bring in a few Hun.

I am driving all night tonight guiding up the mine cleared lanes - tipper lorries with hardcore to try and keep the lanes usable, it is hard, we naturally show no lights which makes it harder. Well its now morning but still no sleep for me, my Officer wants to go to a Job Group, after that breakfast, and then more road recce鈥檚. I guess this job must be done so no complaints, then forward again to carry out some programme, its exciting though, never monotonous 鈥� no sir 鈥� what with this shell and mortar fire too, never a dull moment, I have just picked off jerry stuff, a belt with a Browning pistol attached, it鈥檚 a corker, I am feeling tired. News has just come in that all our objectives were taken as planned, our casualties were very small. Another round to us British. By the way I find time to write this in my recce car, every minute I get spare, for 2 days I have not washed, that鈥檚 not bad considering where we are and what we鈥檙e on.

21st February 1945

Up to date the battle has been going good, we have taken Gennep, Hommersum, Kessel, Goch.

22nd February 1945

Today the micks, Irish Guards went in 鈥� they walked into a cunning Hun trap and 60 per cent of a battalion was cut up badly, they included 2 majors of 2 companies killed as well as other Warrant Officers too bad the place they tried to take was VRIJ pronounced VREE.

24th February 1945

While battles are going on around us, we have the job of keeping supply routes open in front here, we of course do well for food from these German Farms which although mostly rubble, still contain pigs, chickens and poultry of all kinds, very good eating these days you bet.

25th February 1945

Received word from Pat telling me he鈥檚 keen to join me, see my OC who puts me on a months probation, as he puts it, I may be a bad influence on Pat with my old record, you see out here I am pulling my weight however the OC admits that, but wants to be sure.

10th March 1945

Have now been in action more than 3 weeks, its been very shitty for us, the roads and verges so thick with mines that we must go in front mine clearing. Lost 2 sapper pals through shell and mortar fire, 2 more seriously injured, yes its been hard the last month for us all. But we鈥檙e slowly progressing to our objectives that is Wessel Bridge across the Rhine. We have heard of course that all the Rhine Bridge has been blown.

Its queer when you think of it we were again so close to the Hun while we were bridging a 50 ft gap that our 19鈥� sets could easily hear the Jerry sets, it only goes to prove how necessary it is to send all your messages in code form, incidentally the worst offenders of essential rule are the officers, who quite frequently don鈥檛 bother about code but just give over an ordinary message, which is very bad security. We have been shelled and mortared badly lately apart from casualties through mines, we should go back for a rest any day now. Yesterday my pal Joe caught 2 prisoners while he had his trousers down, shitting, was he surprised, found out later, they both had loaded rifles 鈥� truth !

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