On 21 March 1944,25/26 Battery was revived, with officers and men coming in the main from 126 Medium Battery of 16 Medium Regiment. The Regiment was then at Felixstowe, the Battery was equipped with 5.5inch guns.

The Honour titles of the Battery were "The Battle Axe Company" and "Maude's Battery". The Battery organistation was normal with a CPO and ACPO in Battery HQ and two gun troops, "A" and "B", each of four guns, each gun had three officers, troop commander. GPO and troop leader.

War Diary Lieutenant Baines:                      

21 September 1944: Entered Holland at Valkenswaard, very tidy after Belgium.        

22 September 1944: In action at Eindhoven. Trying to get through to Nijmegen but road blocked by German counter-attack.            

23 September 1944: In action at Oedenrode, with 101 US Airborne Div.                         

24 September 1944: US gliders land on position. Several crash. One American soldier joins us. Presuambly absent from his unit. He stayed and worked in the cookhouse for about 3 weeks.     

25 September 1944: A Yank cemetery started next to our guns. Very many dead from 101 US Airborne.        

26 September 1944: Some 88mm shelling from west. Gnr Lyons (aged 17) got shell-shock and had to be knocked out. Road behind us cut by German tanks again. 

27 September 1944: On to Nijmegen. Fearful jam of British and American transport on single road. All vehicles for five Divisions. In action east of town. Bombed and shelled. First rounds into Germany at 19.00hrs.                

28 September 1944: Go as LO to 456 US Parachute Battalion, 82 Airborne Div, armed with 75mm at Groesbeek, south of Nijmegen. Main bridge over Waal, nearly destroyed by German swimmers. German aircraft continually overhead.                                                    

29 September 1944: In OP in windmill at Groesbeek looking at Reichswald. Many shells much too close. Leave windmill and go to Orchard. Shelled again, nearest about 5 yards away. Realised eventually I must be under observation!.                                              

30 September 1944: Heaviest enemy shelling here yet. Machine gun bullets over US fire Direction Centre where we work in trenches under a tent. German 6 Para Div and 2 Panzer Div expected to counter-attack, waffles and syrup for breakfast.

1 October 1944: German counter attack at 01.00hrs. Infantry got to within 600 yards of us. Shelling really bloody, 210mm mortar all round, lost of light stuff, machineguns, nebelwerfer. Called for battery to fire for Americans all night. Guns are also firing 180 degress opposite up towards Arnhem. About 100 enemy rounds on Battery position, one gun knocked out, L/Bombardier Rees (CP Signaler) killed, Sgt Graham and Gnr Hussey wounded. 82 Airborne Infantry very, very good. Suspect Dutch sympathisers telling Germans where guns are as CB is do accurate every time guns move. On German rations as road behind is cut.                                        

2 October 1944: Battery moves one mile south to cover 82 Airborne better. B.Troop on cross-roads by monastery. Troop CP in cellar of house. First time indoors since ealry day in Normandy. People very charming, 2 girls, one blonde (Maria) and one dark (Els).                

4 October 1944: Guns well dug in. Bty CP in monastery with RHQ.  

5 October 1944: "A"Troop shelled with three casualties. Moved and shelled again. We dig deeper.                                                       

8-26 October 1944: Stayed in the same position. Little happened. A certain amount of counter mortar and "artillery duels". General Horrocks came and spoke to us, saying how well we had done and that we would now have to wait till Antwerp opened, when 30 Corps would again lead the hunt.                 

31 October 1944: At OP at Waal and fired eight troop shoots.   

10 November 1944: Very heavy shelling. 170 rounds on postion Gnr Wagg (George Lindsay batman) killed. Freddie Smith and GunnerCollip wounded, four guns temporarily out of action. Cookhouse destroyed.   

11 November 1944: Moved back to Nijmegen. Canadians take over, allnight move south to Sittard to take over from 9th US Army. At 13.00hrs in action near Brunssum. 50th Division TT we had followed for so long was disbanded at Nijmegen, this meant that we no longer belonged to any particular division and were a bit "spare", as will be seen in the remaining months.                               

13 November 1944: Battery went to Germany.                                                   

19 December 1944: Battery came from Belgium, and went to Tilburg, best billets yet, all in houses in beds.                                   

20 December 1944: Regiment went to Ardennes. 

4 February 1945: Moved to Eindhoven          

5 February 1945: Battery moved to Mook.    

7 February 1945: Prepare barrage, immense fire plan for Operation Veritable.                   

8 February 1945: D-Day for Operation Veritable, the biggest barrage ever, We fired 492 rounds per gun.Next day we went into Germany.                                                     

8-18 April 1945: Back into Holland,took position north of Tilburg.                              

19 April 1945: Back to Germany.