13 Field Regiment RCA-2 Battery 22 Battery 44 Battery 78 Battery- Priest 105mm

Unit No.

16 October 1944: The Regiment move to a new gun position near Biervliet. As the regiment was continually engaged on targets, the batteries moved one at a time, the first battery moving at 14.20hrs and the last battery coming into position and reporting ready by 22.48hrs that night. 180 rounds per gun fired that day. The push towards Ijzendijke was difficult for the artillery, as the advance was on a three battalion front. The individual attacks had to be planned so that the guns could give their support to each one because the North Shores and Queens Own were moving toward so close together, it was difficult to obtain permission to fire until the location of their forward companies was definitely known.

17 October 1944: On the night of 17th a line crew of the 78th Battery left BHQ to lay line to their OP. They took the wrong turning in the road, passed through a town up to the forward infantry positions and beyond. Enemy mortar fire and MG fire were falling close, so they left the driver and the carrier in a protected position and continued forward on foot, laying line as they went.

18 October 1944: Next morning Gnr L.C. Rasmussen the carrier driver, returned to report nothing had been seen of the four members of his crew. When the advance of infantry cleared the forward area the next day, men of the regiment were able to follow the line to its end, They found their rifles and some kit with a spool of wire opposite a German dugout. They had laid line right up to an enemy stronghold. Subsequently it was found that of these four men Gunner Renault had been killed and Lance Bombardier Hiltz, Bombardier Porter and Gunner Spencer taken POW.

Ijzendijke was heavily shelled by the artillery and then taken by the Queens Own.They passed through Waterland Kerkje (Zeeland), towards Oostburg. The targets were now very limited as many were out of range for the guns.

19 October 1944: The Regiment moved to a new gun position near Ijzendijke. The 22nd Battery and 44th Battery moved first. They had just reported ready on to new position when a target was called for. From then on to midnight the guns were kept busy. Most of the fire was for the Chauds who had been subjected to a vicious counter attack and who had lost some ground.

20 October 1944: The guns moved forward to Waterland Kerkje, the batteries moving one at a time so that a minimum of 2 batteries were `on the ground` ready to engage targets. During this move a force of `Conga` tanks stopped near RHQ position. In the progress of refilling with TNT an accident occurred causing an explosion which pretty well reduced the area. Fortunately RHQ was preparing to move and was out of action except for Regimental radio sets. All targets called for were engaged. There were about 200 casualties in the general area.

22 October 1944: The regiment fired 205 rounds per gun,making a total ammo expenditure for the past eight days of 1146 rounds per gun, in the afternoon an enemy mortar bomb landed beside a 44th Battery gun wounding most of the detachment of which Lance Bombardier McDonald,Gunner Maynard, Gunner Patterson, and Gunner Auger were evacuated.

23 October 1944: The Highland Light Infanty of Canada captured Schoondijke and enabled the North shores to pass through them.

It was while the North Shores were securing the approaches to Oostburg that Lance Bombardier Shaw won the Military Medal. As a signaller of Dog Troop OP crew with Captain Struthers he showed remarkable courage and intitiative on this occasion when radio communications between the FOO, who had proceeded ahead on foot, and the carrier broken down at a very critical stage in the attack. L/Bdr Shaw realizing the situation took the carrier with batteries and spare parts and worked his way forward passing over a route uncleared of mines until he was blocked by the wrecks of another carrier and by an M.10. From thence he proceeded on foot over a road swept by heavy enemy shell, mortar and small arms fire, reached the FOO and restored communiciations. Artillery fire was immdediately brought down eliminating the machine gun positions.

26 October 1944: Supporting the attack on Oostburg the regiment fired of 250 rounds per gun. The targets mostly concs and stonk on call. One Oboe smoke screen fired which in itself required 100 rounds per gun.During the attack on the hamlet of Marolleput (Zeeland) The North Shores were held up by enemy fire. Under heavy observed enemy small arms fire and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Hogg accompanied by his able Gunner Hamilton, worked his way forward to a house from which he obtained observation over the enemy guns. He was directing fore on the guns from an upstairs window, when a shell from the flak gun penetrated the room and wounded him in the legs. However he continued to direct fire until a second shell from the 75mm gun scored a direct hit, and threw him out of the house and at the same time wounded his able. Although badly brushed and shaken he succeeded in re-entering the house and extricating his wounded able from the rubble. During this operation a third shell hit the house, and it was ultimately necessary to knock a hole in the wall to gain entrance. After assisting his signaller to safety, Catpain Hogg made his way forward to a dyke overlooking the enemy guns, which were still active. In spite of his wounds and constant enemy small arms fire, Captain Hogg directed the fire of the artillery at his disposal onto the enemy guns until they were put out of action. For his action Captain Hogg was awarded the Military Cross.

10 November 1944: The Regiment left Belgium and moved to Nijmegen area. The entire move took about 16 hours. The area was takenm over from 153 Field Regiment. Who had been supporting 101 American Airborne Division. That day Captain Gothard with his OP crew crossed the German border to establish an OP overlooking the flats beside the Rhine. 78th Battery had the most comfortable quarters, with a large house for each troop. Fox troop were fortunate enough to be able to add a piano to their comfortable home. As the line crews had to be in a central position between the guns and the OP. For example 22 Battery crews were well set up in a completely furnished home in shell battered Bergen en Dal about 500 yards from thr front line. The officers and men would often drop in there in the evening on thier way back from the OP to get a cup of coffee and relax on the chesterfields. For the last period the OPs covered the area from Wyler Meer to Groesbeek. The one on the right in Groesbeek was in a house from which the observer looked through a hole in the roof.

17 November 1944: The regiment was in the Nijmegen salient for almost three months. During that time two guns positions were occupied, fiver alternative positions surveyed and another three positions were surveyed for future operations. A limited amount of firing was done. The allotment of ammo would vary from a few rounds per day to periods when there was no restriction. This period in Nijmegen proved beneficial to the Regiment and artillery in general, the guns were accurately calibrated and then checked from time to time by observed shoots.

19 December 1944: The batteries moved to a new gun area near the monastery where RHQ was situated. Guns and ammunition were dug and ammunition was dumped on the position in preparation for the big attack. The details were very secretive but everyone knew that this was the beginning of the much talked of push across the Rhine. The Regiment was situated about 1500 yards from the front line in a strategically important area where heavy fighting would likely take place following an enemy penetration. Eventually it was decided to strengthen the regiments forward gun positions so that they would be a small stronghold in themselves. Throughout the winter there was considerable patrol activity by our infantry in order to obtain prisoners. Most of these patrols were aided by the artillery with some sort of fire plan or harrassing fire programme. Enemy patrols did, at least on one occasion, penetrate to the gun position but none were caught.

8 January 1945: The most noteworthly operation of the winder from an artillery point of view was Operation "Plum". This operation was a daylight raid of company strenght by the North Shore Regiment. The artillery support alloted to this Operation was the largest support any single infantry company had reveived, their role was:

No.1 To neutralize the enemy mortars and small arms fire.

No.2 To cutt off the approaches to the area by shell fire so that reinforments could not be brought up during the raid.

No.3 To engage enemy artillery which might open up during the raid. As enemy artillery activitity had to date been small, and as the raid was not last only an hour, it was felt the enemy artillery was not likely to hamper proceedings and so this phase was considered of minor importance.

The alloteted was as follows. Three field regiments and two medium regiments were to fire in counter mortar and counter smaal arms role. The field regiment would each fire a stonk on parallel lines with the medium regimenyd bringing down concs behind and among the stonks. The regiment was to fire on the stonk closest to our own troops in case something went wrong and it had to changed quickly. The raid was carried out in the afternoon over ground freshly covered with snow. The infantry wore white snow covers and used flame throwing carriers for the first time. Lt J.A.Clark was acting as a second observer from a static OP on the high ground behind, five minutes after the operation started all line communications of the regiment had been cut by enemy mortar fire, but the radio sets were operating to carry the necessary orders. Sgt Kyle, Bdr Brown and Gnr Leicht were wounded while working on the line that day.

Most of the days at the gun positions were very similiar. The daily visits of the ration trucks with the mail were always an important event along with the nightly issue of rum to the men. The front line city played a strange part in the life of the Nijmegen salient. The city already much battered by an allied air raid which was made during the German occupation, was still subjected to shelling anf buzz bombs attacks. It is estimated that the area was within range of about 200 enemy guns which were well coordinated from a high level so that large concentrations of fie could be brought down at one time.

Operation "Veritable" was the name for the offensive of 30 British Corps attacking through the Reichswald forest with the intention of pushing the enemy from the East bank of the Rhine. The artillery for the commencement of the Operation consisted of 1040 gun, not counting the ack-ack regiments. They were to work together for about 12 hours, firing on all known enemy gun positions and strong points within range. The Regiment was to take part in the initial artillery preparation in immediate support of the 8 C.I.B. attack evening.

1 April 1945: Late at night the Regiment went into a concentration area in a forest beyond Zeddam, back into Holland an everyone was glad of it.

2 April 1945: The following morning the guns moved again,we went into position at Kilder to support the advance of our troops. The Queens Own were now enaged, with Captain Lennox and Captain Ward calling down targets as they moved through Wehl on the road to Laag Keppel (Gelderland). On one occasion here Captain Lennox called for his carrier which was some distance behind relaying fire orders from the 18 set over the more powerful 19set to the guns. The carrier coming up missed the road turning and drove past the forward infantry. A German SP Gun fired at them three times before they had a change to swerve off to the right behind a building.

3 April 1945: The guns moved by batteries near town of Achterwehl in sight of the church tower of  Doesburg. The 22nd Battery OPs were in the vicinity of Rade and Oldburgen overlooking the well fortified positions of the enemy. Captain Ethier and Captain Burrows had a good OP overlooking Doesburg.

4 April 1945: The guns moving by batteries to positions near Baak. From here the Regiment fired many Mike Targets on the enemy across the river near doesburg and took part in a large harassing fire programme in support of 9 C.I.B. who were advancing to Zutphen. A great amount of firing was done from this position. Enemy artillery was active too, making the 44th Battery position, which was located near a church, a very hot spot. L-Sgt Thompson,Gnr Gursky and Gnr Pugh were wounded by a heavy calibre shell while walking from dinner.

7 April 1945: The regiment moved to gun positions near Joppe and started off firing with many battery targets taking in an arc of fire from 80 too 360 degrees. The battery positions were widely spread out with the 22nd Battery at the rear of the area.The 44th Battery command post here was particularly comfortamble being situated in the literary atmosphere of a private library. By the 3rd day of the attack on Zupthen the town, including the factory area, had been cleared. The OP´s then moved up to the edge of Ijssel river and engaged targets on the far bank. Captain Campbell and Captain Rumble had an OP in the top of a five story warehouse on the water´s edge. Entry to the building was made by running down the street for about 300 yards in full view of German snipers who did some very effective shooting.

10 April 1945: That night Gunner Barton and Gunner McMally were wounded at the OP by shell fire.

12 April 1945: The Regiment moved to a village below Wesepe (Gelderland).

13 April 1945: The Regiment moved to Heino, as their targets were now out of range, it was not necessary to fire. The same afternoon the Regiment moved again to position themselves for the attack on Zwolle, late in the evening, just in time to record zero lines before darkness fell, the regiment deployed near Wijthmen. Late in the evening, the guns halted and went into positions south/east of Meppel, again the guns did not fire.

14 April 1945: The guns moved next morning beyond Meppel and parked along the side of the road many hours. When the regiment finally did get under way, the convoy travelled quickly going through Heerenveen to gun positions near Joure (Friesland).

16 April 1945: RHQ moved into Bolsward late in the morning and quickly swamped the cigarette market.Able troop of the 22nd Battery was immediately ordered into action. The Chauds had moved south from Sneek in the direction of Woudsend, with the guns of the 78th Battery trailing along the road ready to go into action. They were held up by blown bridge and forced to turn around. Captain Ethier, who had parked in his carrier near the destroyed brisge, had quite a going over for a few minutes by mg fire from across the river. He reported the carrier to be absolutely bullet proof. That night the battery deployed in the old position at Joure.

17 April 1945: The guns of the 78th Battery were no longer needed there and moved from Joure to the 22nd Battery Longerhou. 44th Battery moved towards Koudum, the battery deployed to cover the patrols working to Stavoren.

18 April 1945: The Regiment moved to Makkum. At midnight, operation `Plunder` which began with the crossing of the Rhine,officially ended.

19 April 1945: The Regiment went out of action and moved to Gorredijk.

21 April 1945: The Regiment moved to Germany.

15 May 1945: The Regiment moved to Lunteren, the area was already occupied by 49 West Riding Division.

20 May 1945: The Regiment moved to Zeist where everyone was comfortably billited in private homes, most of wich had been taken over by German soldiers during the occupation.

22 May 1945: The Regiment was together with some other units temporarly put in charge of a force guarding convoys and staging camps of German units in their way back into Friesland. The force was responsible for guarding staging camps at Abcoude and Halfweg and providing escorts along the entire route from Abcoude to Ijmuiden. These duties of guarding and patrolling lasted a week being completed on May 29.

6 June1945: Parade at Utrecht.The leading vehicles of the Regiment in the parade were two jeeps of RHQ. Following the leading jeeps came the guns of the 22nd Battery,the 44th Battery, bringing up the rear was 78th Battery.

10 June 1945: All the guns and the carriers were turned in.

13 June 1945: The Regiment moved back to Lunteren area.

7 september 1945: The Regiment moved back to Canada.