- 12 Field Regiment RCA: 11 Battery, 16 Battery 43 Battery
Regimental No.42
1 april 1945: To-day is Easter Sunday and the Regiment spent a very quiet morning with no firing. The Padre held a church parade at 1100 hrs in the Legion Barn which was well attended. Received the order to send recce parties forward from the CO at 1500 hrs. Area reported not completely cleared of enemy yet. Capt Sylvester of E Troop of the 4 LAA Regiment showed up to-day having just returned from England. The Regiment moved at 1800 hrs, the 16th Bty moving first. Complete in new area by 2115 hrs. RHQ located in a very picturesque windmill of the old Dutch type. Being in Holland we can now fraternize again. This windmill is about the strongest command post we have ever had the walls are bricked at least 5 feet thick with about 20 feet of earth filled in at the sides. The weather was dull and cloudy with visibility only fair.
2 april 1945: The Regiment was ordered to have the recce parties standing by at 0600 hrs. New area to be approx three miles due North. 43 Bty started moving at 0930 hrs. RHQ moved at 1300 hrs. The infantry are fanning out at the moment meeting little opposition except from woods. Role of 7 Bde is to move WSW towards Zevenaar. The Regiment fired a number of HF tasks in support of 8 Bde who are heading for the Banks of the river IJssel due north as well as a few Mike targets in direct support of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and C Scot Rs. The weather was dull and cloudy in the morning but cleared up in the afternoon. Visibility was good throughout the day.
3 april 1945: The Regiment was ordered to prepare to move and to have one Bty ready to move by 0600 hrs. 11 Bty moved first, and were in direct support of 7 Bde. A no firing line in effect East of the 84 grid line. Recce parties were called for at 1300 hrs. The whole Regiment moved at 1400 hrs and were ready shortly after. Quite a windy day with the odd showers. Visibility good. Recce parties warned to meet the CO at 0700 hrs.
4 april 1945: The Regiment received the order to move at 0900 hrs and moved North from Wehl to our new area. The gun positions received some fairly heavy enemy shelling. The Regiment was called on to support the 9 Bde. Bdr. Ruck of the 11 Bty was killed while coming to the gun position. He was killed just as he came through the crossroad at Beek. Several shelreps were sent in from the Regiment. We made a recce of the sq in order to be able to support the 7 Bde as their bridgehead across the canal. The Regiment fired several Mike and Yoke targets in support of both the 7 and 8 Bdes. Weather - clear and warm. Visibility good.
5 april 1945: During the early morning the Regiment fired several fire plans in support of the 7 Bde. Our FOOs were netted to 2 Div Arty units as well as our own to ensure sufficient fire. The 7 Bde consolidated across the canal East of Zutphen. At 1000 hrs recce parties called. At 1115 hrs message came to cancel the move. The Regiment fired a considerable number of "M" targets and fire plans in support of our own Bde as well as the 8th. At 2350 hrs word came down that recce parties would be prepared to move off at 0600 hrs to the area.
6 april 1945: Received the order "Prepare to Move" at 0500 hrs and the first bty moved at 1830 hrs. When they got into action at Almen we were told to move the remainder of the Regiment up and to stay on wheels. Recce parties left at 1300 hrs to go to Gorssel and the Regiment took up this position during the afternoon. From this intermediate position the 43 Bty went into action for a short while to fire propoganda shells into Zutphen. The propoganda was brought to us by a rep from Army. The weather continues very favourable and visibility is excellent. We fired a considerable number of targets for out Bde, one sub-unit having cleared the area. Our OPs reported that our arty fire knocked out two SP guns during the day.
7 april 1945: To-day we fired a great number of targets into Deventer. Had some medium shelling of our guns, no casualties and no damage done. We fired some red smoke for the "tiffies". The weather had been perfect for our aircraft and they seem to be making good use of it. OPs report the visibility as excellent. Capt L.F. Kirkpatrick received his majority and takes over command of 16 Bty.
8 april 1945: At 1450 Lt Peach was wounded and was evacuated through the RRRs. We fired a lot of counter mortar targets. At 0855 hrs recce parties were warned to stand by. The Regiment started moving at 1220 hrs. The afternoon was very good for air visibility and as result we fired three red smoke targets and done an air OP shoot. The Regiment was completely moved by 1600 hrs with RHQ. When we occupied this position we were less then 3000 yds from the FDLs.
9 april 1945: The Regiment is giving close support to the Bde, which is to-day advancing from the East into the town of Deventer. In spots the opposition is well organized and quite stiff. A very good day for smoke and the OPs are making use of this opportunity. At 1730 hrs the CO moved with Bde to its new location. Lt-Col R.H. Webb, DSO returned from UK Leave and went straight to Bde and resumed command of the Regiment.
10 april 1945: The 7 Bde is still attacking Deventer and have reached the outskirts of the city. Still a goodly number of targets being fired but the opposition seems to be growing weaker. Another very good day for aircraft and again several red smoke targets were fired. One OP reported that there was practically no opposition in the Eastern side of the town, and that only the occasional rifle shot was heard. The Jerries in the town pulled out into the wood and several "M" and "Yoke" targets were fired on them. Capt W.P. Hair had his carrier, a signaller and a able casualties from enemy shelling late in the evening.
11 april 1945: Capt W.P. Hair reports the following casualties to his crew. Bdr Taylor, Gnr Williams and L/Bdr Kearns. None are seriously wounded but all were evacuated. The 7 Bde cleared the town of Deventer and moved into a concentration area. Recce parties called out at 1200 hrs to recce area. At 1600 hrs we fired a fire plan for the 1 Cdn Div. 7 Bde moved. We had a visit to-day from Brig Clarke the new CRA. To-day was another beautiful clear day and medium bombers went over in strength.
12 april 1945: Still supporting the 1 Cdn DIv on their attack West of the IJssel river. We fired a fire plan in support of the 1 Bde, but after that did very little firing. At 1720 hrs recce parties left, all spare vehicles sent ahead at 2220 hrs. Word came down that the Regiment would not move before first light. We heard on the news that President F.D. Roosevelt died this evening. Weather cool but clear with good visibility.
13 april 1945: Regt moved to new area near Heino and was in action by 0800 hrs. There has been no firing to-day. The recce parties left at noon to recce a new position and the Regiment to this area at 2125 hrs. The weather to-day had been excellent with good visibility.
14 april 1945: To-day has been another quiet one. The CO Lt-Col R.H. Webb, DSO made a recce of a blown out bridge near RHQ and decided that the Regiment would build a bridge big and strong enough to hold jeeps and motorcylces. The LAD took stock of the situation and came through with a few good ideas on just how is should be built and "the plans were laid". A picture was shown in the evening by the Legion. The name of it was "My Pal Wolf" and it was very entertaining with a goodly crowd there to see it. A few Dutch kiddies were allowed in and they got a big kick out of it. The day has been a cool cloudy one with visibility good. The MO made an inspection of the cook-houses and had a talk with the cooks on sanitation. Sjt Lezack was over looking at the bridge so it appears that the "Saturday Salvo" had a front page story.
15 april 1945: Early this morning the 43rd Bty reported that Sjt Mann along with Gnr Howard were involved in a jeep accident and said that both were evacuated to hospital. At 1645 hrs the 16 Bty on orders from Lt-Col R.H. Webb, DSO moved and are to give support to the Ross Force. The bridge is coming along fine and although it doesn't follow along any line as do the RCE bridges, it is a sturdy one. Men from all the Btys and from RHQ have been at it and by all accounts the "grand opening" will be sometime to-morrow. A name for the bridge has been decided upon and as our weekly regimental paper is called the "Saturday Salvo" it has been decided to name this great structure the "Salvo Bridge" and with this name in mind, the sign painters have set to work.
16 april 1945: This morning Major A.G. Goldie, DSO inspected the vehicles at RHQ and along with S/Sjt C.W. Sankey checked the tools and equipment. At the same time Sjt Noakes inspected small arms and reported that all were in good shape. Just after dinner "The Salvo Bridge" was opened for business. Many of the men and officers brought out their cameras to take snaps of the bridge.
