81 Field Regiment: 323 Battery

 

1 October 1944: Enemy partor penetrated right flank during afternoon - 324 Bty engaged it. Hearsay reports a re-capture of Capt. Paulin's carrier by US paratroops. Quiet apart from HF and some bombards. 71 INTREP used for HF.

 

2 October 1944: Again quiet. Amn limitation 10 rpg per day. Div bdy reverts to canal. Patrol report considerable enemy movement rd Oirschot - Best - all going East. 459 engaged enemy HD eqpt. Heavy HF programme.

 

3 October 1944: HF task (Codeword HIPPO) laid on. Enemy appears to be withdrawing. CO and A/Adjt recce new gun area West of Middelbeers. Heavy HF on retreating enemy. 83 Fd supplying one OP per Bty to assist our OPs.

 

4 October 1944: Regt moves to new area. Ordered to maintain an OP with the Recce Regt. 324 Bty move independently on orders to CO area. 83 Fd take over responsibility for support of Recce. Small fire plan arranged for sp Oxf Bucks. Enemy movement again to East and North. Heavy HF during night.

 

5 October 1944: Considerable numbers of V Tgts engaged TOT Scale I. Regt takes back sp of Recce Regt from 83 Fd (324 Bty). OPs from 83 withdrawn. Short leave to Antwerp cancelled.

 

6 October 1944: Quiet 24 hrs. Some bombards. March Table issued for move to new area in Nijmegen Bridgehead. Movement order.

 

7 October 1944: Regt moves to new locations, in Nijmegen Bridgehead. Long day move. Into action at late afternoon. Slight activity afterwards. Extract from 53 Div Op Instr 24.

 

8 October 1944: Capt. Marchand's OP hit by shell. Capt Marchand killed. OPA wounded. Otherwise slight activity. Amn restriction 20 rpg but unlimited on DF. Fairly heavy HF fired during night.

 

9/10 October 1944: Little activity apart from bombards and V Tgts by day and HF by night. Entertainment and baths laid on at rear Div in Nijmegen.

 

11 October 1944: Carried out experimental shoot for HQRA to determine fuze corrections to fuze 222. Suggest shorten.6. During afternoon CO wounded on 324 gun posn by Anti-personnel bombs - evacuated. Major R.J.H. Lloyd to take over.

 

12 October 1944: Fire plan of 30 rpg (Field) and 10 rpg (Med) fired in support of raid by Oxf Bucks. Slight shelling in area of RHQ and F Tp Posn - no casualties. Heavy HF fired during night.

 

13 October 1944: Short leave to Antwerp recommenced. Slight activity, bombards and HF. Sitrep. Special order of the day.

 

14 October 1944: Slight activity. Div state island may be flooded. Ordered to report min tpt required to be left on island.

 

15 October 1944: Enemy Sls along canal bank hinder our patrols nightly. Oxf Bucks send patrol across canal to recce possible crossing places, this is first night Sls have not played along canal bank. OP from 133 Fd Regt occupies position South of river Waal to NE of Nijmegen to obtain cross observations onto enemy country East of canal. Own OPs with infantry have bad obs and are exposed. They can only be occupied during darkness. PW reports enemy scared of smoke suspecting it to be gas often. Based on this HF fire laid on with 2 rpg smoke followed by 2 rpg HE 2 mins  later. Effect unknown. Experiment not repeated.

 

16 October 1944: Heavy enemy shellingof forward areas and active CB by us.

 

17 October 1944: Operations Order No.1. 0900 hrs - Recce parties leave for Berghem.

 

18 October 1944: 0300hrs - Regt leave Nijmegen for Berghem. We were not sorry to leave. The 'Tip' was a depressing place. The country was desolate and the people unfriendly. The military atmostphere was one of uneasy quietness even after the enemy counter attack threat had deminished. The bridges were shelled regulargly by heavy guns from the Arnhem area and many casualties had occurred on the main rd leading off the Island on which enemy HF was regular. The infantry had been shelled badly and we had lost one officer killed and the CO had been wounded. The column was forced to halt for 30 mins across the pontoon bridge, a favourite enemey HF tgt - fortunately this night he was silent. 0730hrs - Regt moves new area - Regt concs guns not in action. Warning from FS Section of increased activity of enemy 'line crossers'  in this area ORs not informed of impending attack. Recce of new gun area some 6 miles away.

 

19 October 1944: 100 rpg dumped new gun area before regt moves into that area. Recce of new area completed.

 

20 October 1944: 2000hrs - Regt leaves for new gun area. In action by midnight. Policy - No firing until attack begins. Regt provides patrols owing to fact there is no infantry between us and the enemy. Infantry not taking up forward positions until last possible movement to avoid identification on this sector. Lt.Col. R.V. Hill RA arrives and takes over command of the Regiment.

 

21 October 1944: Final planning for OP ALAN, attack on 's-Hertogenbosch. Medium reps report, 2 tp comds with BCs and Bty Comd with CO at Bde. Rep from 51 Div Arty reports to RHQ where he will remain during operation. Planning and Regt Control for attacks carried out by 2 IC, Major R.J.H. Lloyd RA, who has been commanding during period since Lt. Col. Tyler was wounded. Lt.Col. Hill remains at Bde with 2 IC during attacks. DF arranged in sp Oxf Bucks who take up posn on start line to form firm base.

 

22 October 1944: OP ALAN H hr 0630 hrs. Infantry adv with timed programme. No opposition in initial stages, heavy mining encountered along enemy outpost posns. Coloured smoke fired to indicate RAF tgts. Opposition stiffest to North on HLI front in wooded area where enemy strength was anticipated. H tgts and preselected tgts at call fired by Regt or Bty provide all sp needed without calling from other units. 1300 hrs - 4 RWF approach wooded area enemy shelling and mortaring at time heavy. Patrol sent out to recce wooded area reports no enemy. Deeper patrol sent out,  bn regroup. Medium firing in sp 7 Armd over Div Bdy endangers 4 RWF. This is stopped. Owing to narrow frontages the problem of NOT firing outside own Bn Bdys needed considerable care and control throughout day. 1500 hrs - 4 RWF patrol reports no enemy or mines in woods. Bn advances towards objective. Infantry report general behaviour of enemy was been to lay down arms and run immediately arty fire is put down.On 4 RWF front considerable number of enemy ran away in disorder as result of timed programme, those coming into the open were shot up by MG fire from sqn 5 R Tks in sp causing many casualties. Oxf Bucks move into attack alongside HLI on their Right. 1645 hrs -4 RWF rech objectie DF taks in sp issued to regt. Oxf Bucks and HLI push forward using fire from own btys in almost continuous sp. Only occasionally is fire from whole regt called for by either; often only 2 Btys allowed by RHQ owing to sp reqd by both Bn simultaneously. 1900 hrs- HLI on objective DF tasks issued. 2115 hrs - Positions Oxf Bucks W Edge Wood, HLI Mariaburg, 4 RWF wooded area.

 

23 October 1944: Plan dor 23 Oct. 160 Bde as far as possible to POT. This is Div ,main effort. 158 Bde form firm base. 71 Bde: HLI firm base, Oxf Bucks to Heide - rd 's-Hertogenbosch, 4 RWF - when Oxf Bucks gain Heide attack (Regt fire plan). 0645 hrs - Oxf Bucks attack starts. Slow progress owing to Spandau fire. 1300 hrs - 4 RWF meeting heavy shellfire from area Fort Alexander. 1410 hrs - Oxf Bucks reach ? - nearing objective little opposition now. no enemy encountered. 1600 hrs - Regt begins to move to new area one bty at a time. 1630 hrs - Oxf Bucks on objective, 4 RWF nearing objective no opposition.

 

24 October 1944: 0225 hrs - Regt sp attack by 158 Bde astride rly with R 1/5 Welch, L E LAN R, objective 's-Hertogenbosch Garden City East of Canal. This attack goes extremely well, objective gained with very few casualties. Small force cross bridge at North of Town, gain it intact and hold it. Later this bridge was blown behind this force and bridgehead became useless. 71 Bde now mainly non-tactical except for 4 RWF where role is to clear area to South. This to be done in conjunction with sqn recce 25 Oct; tgts at call laid on: during afternoon regt move, bty at a time to new gun area along main road leading to 's-Hertogenbosch. During night Div arty HF laid on against enemy escape routes from North of town. 53 Div OP instr No 25.

 

26 October 1944: 4 RWF clear area without arty sp - mines encountered but no enemy. Div Arty engage frequent 'U' tgts in sp 158 Bde. Capt.D.L. Campbell, RA finds many German markes maps (one showing 53 Div in Northern Tip) in former German HQ on E outskirts to town These passed to HQRA. 158 Bde still East off Canal but up to it on all sectors. Personnel message from CRA to all Nos 1.

 

27 October 1944: Regt moves, bty a time, tp Eastern outskirts of town. Ready by 1000 hrs. 71 Bde stay put. 158 Bde cross Western Canal and clear town. Regt fires in sp on call 83 Fd Regt. Extensive HF programme during night following by HB programme.

 

28 October 1944: Planningfor 71 Bde to attack West out of 158 Bde bridgehead. Plan changed. 158 Bde enlarge bridgehead. Patrols - HLI and 4 RWF move round to approach canal line from South. HLI remain in posn 4 RWF withdraw after completing patrol to canal West of HLI. Oxf Bucks recce in force from 158 bridgehead, West to canal bridge short of Vlijmen. No enemy encountered. Bridge blown as patrol approaches. CO Oxf Bucks was killed at this bridge whilst doing recce in afternoon.

 

29 October 1944: 71 Bde role still undecided. 2030 hrs - Bde 'O' Gp to divulge Bde plan.

 

30 October 1944: Regt in action by 0900hrs. Operations begin 1000 hrs. 9 Tgts at call 4 RWF laid on. No tgts arranged for Oxf Bucks attack. Neither Bn need arty sp and by 1230 hrs both are on objectives having encountered many mines. 1300 hrs - Rumours received that early move likely tomorrow to relieve Belgium Bde in Wessem area. Whole Div being transferred to this front having handed over to 51 Div. This move is designed to meet contemplated enemy counter attack following the attaack in the Helmond area.

 

31 October 1944: 1030 hrs - Regt leaves for Bree area under comd 71 Bde. Route Vught - Eindhoven - Bree. 1900 hrs - Regt in action in sp Belgium Bde for night. On 1 Nov 71 Bde relieve Belgium Bde and regt moves to new Div Arty Area East of Kinroy.

 

1 February 1945: Regt still at Helmond. The lull before the battle broken by 'Q' planning, collection of 3 Weasels for regt, emergency rations etc.

 

2 February 1945: CO returns to Bde HQ. Briefing of BCs and RHQ staff.

 

3 February 1945: 1800 hrs - Regt moves in Div Arty coln to Nijmegen.

 

4 February 1945: 0900 hrs - Regt arrives Nijmegen. Guns during night were put into harbour areas concealed on gun positions to be occupied on D - 1. This area West of Groesbeek. The remainder of regt confined to barracks in Nijmegen. All Div Signs on vehicles erased and replaced by yellow crosses. Weather extremely bad, mud everywhere and very cramped and damp accommodation but such conditions are overawed by the general air of Expectancy about forthcoming operations.

 

5 February 1945: Recce of battle posns continues. Bde and Bns arrive. BCs join them for final planning, and study of air photographs.

 

6 February 1945: CRA runs through the arty plan for all offrs of Div Arty and 19 Cdm SP regt. Adm orders 1 and 2.

 

7 February 1945: 1400 hrs - Regt moves to battle posns alongside 4 Cdn Regt who had been holding this front for the past 3 months. After dark btys dump amn in areas already recced in Groesbeek which is at present line of FDLs. No firing by regt before fire plan. Normal HF by Cdn Div Arty.

 

8 February 1945: "D" day for OP "VERITABLE". 0515 hrs - Firing begins with CB programme. 1000 hrs - H Hr. 4 RWF move out of Groesbeek behind barrage. Arty sp between regt and Bde normal with in addition, rep from 72 Med and smoke rep from Gds Armd with TAC HQ. 1245 hrs - Regt, which was superimposed on barrage, having come off barrage at 1200 hrs moves to new area in Groesbeek to be in position to support 71 Bde beyond its objective after barrage ends. 1500 hrs - 2IC moves forward in tank to recce future gun area in basin between Groesbeek and the Forest. This area reported (prior to operation) to be heavily mined. No mines in regt area, but very bogged position. 1600 hrs - All bns on objectives inside Reichswald Forest with very few casualties, having met little or no opposition and taken about 160 PW. TAC Bde moves forward to edge of Forest where heavy enemy DF arty on X tracks causes considerable casualties to troops moving forward into the forest along this main axis. 160 Bde then moves through and during night assaults the Siegfried line without difficulty reaching objectives by noon 9 Feb. North of Bde  posn now covered by 15 Div but South remains on an open flank from which there is considerable shelling on fwd tps but no clashes with enemy troops. Regt Amn Expenditure from 0500 to 1800 hrs 8 Fe. No round was fired during night 8/9 Feb.

 

9 February 1945: Regt,moving last of Div Arty, not able to move fwd as early as was anticipated (during night 8/9) owing to increasing traffic difficulties and extremely bad road conditions. 1630 hrs - CRA orders one bty out of action preparatory to move. 1640 hrs - 323 Bty ready to move: by 2000 hrs, regt was in action with RHQ, 20 guns in action - 4 bogged (these 4 were on position). Later towed into action by 2 IC's tank. (towing vehicles from bogs was its only use; in all other respects it was an infernal hinderance). Little firing during the day, chiefly U Tgts in sp 16202 Bde.

 

10 February 1945: Bde virtually in res with only 4 RWF holding an exposed flank to the South alongside 158 Bde. It is evident that mov is going to be the primary difficulty until the Div gets clear of the forest. Warning order received from CRA that in view of future Ops Div Arty will  probably be withdrawn  clear of present area prior to forwad deployment. Personal message from CRA "Tell troops shooting on 'D' Day was absolutely excellent. Very Fine effort getting into action last night". Regt fires U and M Tgts in sp 160 Bde. Oxf Bucks move fwd to take over from 7 RWF who clear woods to SE. 323 OPs continue to sp Oxf Bucks. Regt amn expenditure for past 24 hrs - 500 rds.

 

11 February 1945: 72 Med rep with Regt reports to 83 Fd for present OPs. 71 Bde relieves 158 Bde who with 160 Bde are to clear forest SE. Regt sends rep to 43 Div on Fire Control net. 1400 hrs - TAC HQ moves. 360 rds fired during past 24 hrs.

 

12 February 1945: Recce parties leave to recce new area. Moving via Frasselt. Regt expected to move 1300 hrs. Route taken by recce parties 2 ft under water still rising. Gun area OK but no feasable route into area. Whole recce party bogged and MCs stranded in flood. Regt unable to move because north route under water and main axis closed for urgent repairs. Regt pulls out of posn and moves to Groesbeek. Other regts having been moved earlier get into action forward. 71 Bde (with TAC HQ) moves forward to conc behind 158 Bde.

 

13 February 1945: "O"Gp at 0600 hrs, fire plan arranged incl barrage 4 FD and one Med. 71 Bde move SE to clear wood up to Eastern Edge of Forest, while 158 Bde clear woods to South. HLI Rt, 4 RWF Lt both on objectives by 1300 hrs. Rep from 19 Cdn SP Regt now with TAC HQ in direct sp 71 Bde until own regt in action again.

 

14 February 1945: Recce parties set out once more to recce area given by CRA. Road near area mined and near area impossible. CRA informed and 2 IC recce area which is farthest south the rds will allow. Mines on main rd cleared by 2 IC and recce party. HLI attack from forward edge of wood, limited objective to gain better obs on rd running M/S. Regt NOT to move, recce parties ordered to return as it is throught that Division will be relieved withing next 72 hrs and be withdrawn to Nijmegen bridgehead in place of 49 Div.

 

15 February 1945: 43 Div attack South from Cleve across Div front,  19 Cdn Regt superimposed on their fire plan and available for sp 71 Bde which they did after considerable couscing.

 

16 February 1945: Billiting parties ready to leave for Nijmegen but recalled in time. Regt to go into action in area previously recced by 2IC,  Regt prepared to move not later 1300 hrs. Reported that enemy are withdrawing on our front. Thick fog at first light HF fire laid on with 19 Cdn on registered tgts along main rd. Fog clears 4 RWF ordered to send strong fighting patrol out with arty sp. 19 Cdn only available to sp 4 RWF. Small timed programme arranged by BC 324. During programme 19 Cdn ordered to sp 43 Div who need all available arty. CRA says we can have 19 Cdn for this patrol. 1345 hrs - Regt in action now take over sp 4 RWF; timed programmes having been fired and 19 Cdn are released.