Hertogenbosch Holland, March 1945. This was our first glimpse of Holland and we found this area not nearly as prosperous as Wervik in Belgium. The flat landscape was broken with the spires of church steeples. Very large grand churches that seemed to spell wealth but it was not evident in the surrounding populace, as the people seemed poor and their houses were nothing compared to the Belgium homes.

I found out that First CDN Army HQ was located at Grave, a town not too distant so I decided, along with Orme Payne, to look up my brother George who was stationed at Grave. George was captain with the chemical warfare branch off HQ, mainly flame warfare.

Orme and I, and Steve Gaylie our driver, drove up to Grave one evening only to find out George was out so we left a note saying where we were stationed and left. On the winding dark road back Steve appeared to fall asleep and, either Orme or I or both woke him up. This awakening caused him to lose control of the jeep so within a few seconds we experienced a wild ride of over steering and near disaster. Jeeps were notorious for rolling over and killing the occupants but Steve regained control much to our relief. I do not remember if Orme drove the rest of the way back or not. Steve survived the war, married a Scotch girl, and spent the rest of their days in Vancouver where Steve became a millionaire. Steve has passed away. I only saw him once after the war at a reunion in 1977. RIP jeep driver, may you still be building high rises.

George, along with his crew, a staff sergeant, and a wo2, arrived to visit Orme and I and Johnny Wiebe a day or so after we tried to locate him. George and I were very glad to see each other. We had not been together since 1941 and I had never seen him as an officer. George was to give us good advice, saying the houses in Holland were not the stout shell resistant buildings like we had in Italy. The houses here are two ply brick and small arms fire would go in and out the other side while a mortar would knock a wall down on you.

We knew that it would not be too long before we were back in action. Yes we did get some new equipment and also word came down from Army Head Quarters that all ranks were to be properly dressed at all times . In other words we were supposedly the new boys on the block. But I assure you we felt that the rest were the new boys and when we got into action our artillery and infantry would be as good or better than any one.

Holland, end of March, beginning April,1945. On 28th March the regimental advance party preceeded the guns to positions on the island which was situated between Nijmegen and Arnhem.

On arriving in this position we were pleased that there was plenty of houses around for shelter and command post set-ups. There was running water and electricity and we were told that the power generating plant was in Arnhem and under German control.

Never in our time in Italy had we experienced such a luxury. The guns moved in and a good deal of firing took place as our observation officers had a lot of targets on the Island and across the river to Arnhem. Ammunition seemed plentiful.

At the beginning of April our brigade was given the task of completing the clearing of the Island. This was called Quick Anger, and was carried out by the 11th Brigade in good style.

There was a lot of exploring and checking out houses. Some had a good supply of canned fruit in sealers, cherries, and berries that the Dutch folk had left in their haste. In one pig pen our fellows found a boar pig which immediately charged to get at our chaps. In the pen was the skeletal remains of a German soldier that the old pig had ate and likely did not have anything else for who knows how long. This pig was in much a poor state that our chaps shot him. No we did not eat him. Bill Copithorn carved up an ornate leather chair into revolver holsters and I was the recipient of one of these holsters and had in my possession until a couple of years ago. I sold my German revolvers then and the holster went with the Luger.

After the Island was cleared of German troops a smoke screen was laid down along the river. Not only did the screen block the view from the other side but it blocked our observation officers view of the far bank too.

We did not experience any shell fire in this area but did see a Canadian rocket battery fire their rockets into the area around Arnhem.This was quite a sight to see the mass of rockets leave their smoky trails as they arched toward the enemy. This was our first look at this type of artillery other than the German type called Nebelwefer.

The Mighty Maroon Machine, what the Fifth Canadian Armoured division liked to be called, struck out from Arnhem and roared out into the countryside. If memory is correct there was an area of sandy soil and sparse pine forest not the mud of Italy and the tanks were really goin . Our advance party happened to fall in behind one of the tank columns. I on my motor bike could not get around the tank in front of me and when I did I ended up in behind another. The result was the exhaust and terrific dust fried my face and lips. The tanks stopped at a farm house and I did also. Living here looked it like a family of all girls who were hugging the tank men for liberating them. Naturally I did not want to be left out and was hugged by the girls too. One girl in particular went and brought back a basin of water and tried to wash the grime from tank exhaust and dust from my face and put some oil or something on my lips that were really chapped. I had some where the family address but that was 58 years ago and I cannot find it so I do not know how far it was from Arnhem.

Continuing on with this day I think we had one gun position and did not fire any shots but one of the other batteries did. So as far as I remember the 15th of April was mostly a fast move set up no firing and then move again and likely firing once. The 16th of April I remember well as we had just set up our gun position in a field when orders came for the advance parties to go ahead. I will certainly tell what happened in the next few hours .

George then said it looks like it should be clear sailing for you. Just then we had fire orders come in from the flying observation officer calling for fire on a given coordinate. George said looks like you will be busy and left saying he had to fly to a flame warfare lecture in London that night. Bombadier Andrews from E troop and Gnr Don Bulloch from F troop were the chaps manning the artillery boards and plotting the air officers target. Bdr Bob Andrews said we cannot fire on that target as that is where our advance party gave as their destination. I then did not give any orders to the guns as Bob Andrew would be correct backed by Don Bulloch. We had stalled a moment or so and reported to the air observer that should be our advance party in that area. We were ordered to cancel the target.

Very shortly we had orders to cease firing and limber up as we were to move up. Soon Sgt Major Shkwarek came back and Fox troop followed Easy troop up the road to the Village of Otterloo. Here I was met on the side of the road by Lt Alex Ross who pointed out the field where he had positioned the flags for each gun site.

I then directed Sgt Darcy Spencer to the far site. Sgt Roy Johnson next and then Sgt Pop Barkwell, followed by the last gun in and that was Sgt Nels Humble.

Lt Ross said that orders had come from the battery command post not to dig gun pits. Guns were unlimbered and positioned and placed on line by Lt Ross. While he was doing this I took all our gun tractors and extra vehicles back to an area along side the Otterloo cemetery.This particular gun position was in a way sort of front to back as normally our troop command post would be in the rear of the guns. But this was the only house on the position and it was within a few yards of a small wooded area to our front. Hind sight it was not an ideal spot but at the time with the reports we had coming in it looked like it should be a quiet evening. Our Battery Headquarters was out in front of E troop gun position and in front of our guns to our right flank and across the road.

Again hindsight is always great but the selection of the battery command post was a very poor choice as the day and evening would prove but no use pointing fingersas that is what happened and whether Lt Jim Stone or Battery Capt Les Hand picked the spot who cares? Both are long gone and it would settle nothing if we knew. As we were getting settled into the position and by this time likely had a meal or maybe we had just hard rations for the evening meal. Along came a couple of Dutch civilians who told us there was a couple of hundred Germans in a village not far away and they informed us all they had was revolvers.

That seemed strange and as far as we knew our tanks were miles up the road. This group must have been bypassed. I thought I would take a ride up the road toward Hoenderloo on my motor bike. As I turned onto the road a sentry from the Irish Regiment attempted to flag me down. I ignored him and sped up the road probably a couple of miles. I came to a cross road and thought I would stop and see if I could hear or see anything. Here is where I had that real scary chilly feeling that I was being watched. My hair went right up and a chill swept over me. I kicked the bike starter bringing the motor on with a roar and in my excitement and hurry to turn around and get out of there I STALLED the motor. Now in a near panic I had to restart the motor which seemed to take more than the normal kicks on the starter. Eventually it started so I turned around and hunched over the handle bars I roared back down the road coming to where the Irish sentry had tried to stop me on my way up the road. This time he stopped me with his rifle pointing at me asking why in Hell and who did I think I was to go up that road when he had been told not to let anyone go up past his post. I lied and said I did not hear him the first time. Well Sergeant major next time stop!

At the last gun along came three drivers from battery headquarters who had been in advance of our position and had been up the field to another house, I suspect looking for a glass of wine or just goofing about. A sten gun started to fire so I hollered at McDonald the chap with the sten gun to quit firing and smarten up. His reply was I cannot shut the sten gun off. This sten gun was on a sling hanging down his back and for no reason other than being a damn sten gun it started to fire. All McDonald could do was stand with his legs apart and knees bowed while the sten gun fired some 25 rounds into the dirt between his legs.

That episode over I continued either to the wagon lines to talk to Bdr Wells regarding them digging slit trenches or back to the troop command post. Back at the command post all were either digging slit trenches or had completed them so I dug one for myself not far from the command post and a few feet from an Irish Regiment truck that normally would have been pulling a six pounder anti tank gun. With this truck was a Corporal and two other infantry men. I noted that they had not dug any slit trench and I kept at them to do so until they likely thought we will never get this sergeant major off our backs so they then dug a good slit trench on the far right hand corner of the house closest to the track and low trees.

I do not remember whether we were on daylight saving time or not but memory tells me that it was getting dark about nine o'clock. No firing was being done and really no reports in from either of our headquarters. So most of the chaps had turned in for the night with the gunners out in the field with partial crew always on duty, and the same with the command post staff who bedded down in slit trenches outside the house. Others including myself put our fart sacks on the floor of the house and so to sleep Don Bulloch, Lt Alex Ross, and a signaller, I believe Fred Lockhart, were on duty in the small attached room at the far end of the house. Somewhere along about eleven o'clock I was awakened by Lt Ross saying there were reports of German troops moving about in the bush north of the house. He had also heard from Lt Stone at Battery HQ that they were hearing troops coming down the road and it looked like we were to be under fire in a very short time. I, along with the rest, got up in a hurry and pulled on trousers and went to the door of the house. This door faced to the guns but on the rear of the house. Just then the Irish infantry men fired a few rounds from a tommy gun. Lt Ross said sergeant major get someone out to the corner of the house. I did not make a move so Lt Ross said Briant you cover that corner. I put my arms over Bill Briant and said stay here. Just then a mortar bomb hit where Briant was to go. Then another mortar bomb whispered through overhead and exploded between us at the door and Sgt .Humble's gun. Then through the air came a piece of the bomb making a fair bit of noise and it hit someone. Sgt Bill Copithorn said that hit somebody and I said yes me. It hit with a good punch to the lower abdomen so I retreated into the house passing gunner Stubbington who was crawling out from under all the window glass. This glass was from the first bomb exploding. I lowered my pants and found just a trickle of blood on my stomach. It did not seem serious. From here I accompanied Lt Ross back around the corner of the house to our command post. Just as we went into that part of the house Sgt Humble arrived with either four or five Germans that he and his crew had captured. I did not mention that we had a communication system between guns and command post called Tannoy this we used on a two way basis .

Sgt Humble left the prisoners with now Don Bulloch and I. Sgt Humble also said do not use the Tannoy system as the Germans approaching were alerted to the voices coming over the speakers. Lt Ross said Sgt major stay and look after the command post and he would go back into Otterloo for help. This seemed a start of a very violent night .

Otterloo Holland the night of 16th 17th April 1945. I stated in my last writing that this was just beginning to be a long very violent night. Here in the cramped command post Don Bulloch and I had five or six prisoners who on seeing our shoulder patches were excited and started talking to us in Italian and saying they had just came from Italy. We denied that we were in Italy but our sun tanned faces gave that lie away. In the next few minutes one of Sgt Humbles crew came in with another prisoner.

The prisoners we had were overjoyed to see this chap who was a German corporal. This corporal said he could talk French so I said I could parle petit peu. Now here is where I thought I could get some assistance from this corporal in talking to his fellows attacking us into surrendering. I had this short corporal by grasping the back of his collar and taking him out the door and around into the other room of the house where a few of our fellows were. Just as we entered this room a German ran by and sprayed a magazine of small arms fire through the wall and some coming through the window. At that moment my mind went blank to anything in French. I was lying on the floor holding the corporal down and the thought was get out of this room and get him back into the room with Don Bulloch who I had left with the rest of the prisoners. Back with Don one of the prisoners wanted to relieve himself and either Don or I said go ahead but we were not going out with him. With a rumble of bowels the poor chap crapped himself. It seemed in an instant another splatter of small arms crashed over our heads and into the other room.I reached for the wires and shut off our battery operated light. Don and I had the prisoners lying on the floor with us on top of them. I remember shaking my revolver at them and saying lie still you son of B's. Some where in this shooting Tom Coll and Ken Nicolson were both hit. Tom Coll in the buttocks and Ken Nicolson in the abdomen. Vic Bennet a signaler and a very cool competent chap immediately took charge of seeing to the dressing of Tom and Ken's wounds.

I leave this for a moment to relate that a year to the day after this Vic Bennet and I were at Tom Coll's wedding in Vancouver. After the service at the reception which looked to be a dry affair, Mrs Bennet pulled a bottle of rye from her purse. We cornered Tom Coll and after a few belts we all started relating the Otterloo battle. Tom's version was one statement on his being wounded and that " I was standing in the shit house and got shot in the ass".

Now back to the events of the night, Lt Ross had returned without any help at this time and had us move the prisoners from the house outside to a where my slit trench was. Lt Ross had Sgt Humble and another chap guard them. Lt Ross told Don Bulloch and I to gather up any codes from the command post which Don did. Lt Ross then went back into the village to demand some help in the way of at least a tank. Don Bulloch joined the other fellows in the house so I remained outside watching for anyone approaching. While outside the house Ken Nicolson called out to me Sgt Major can you get me out to an aid post. My reply was hold on Ken, Lt Ross should be back with help soon and we will get you out.

Time seemed to stand still with the battery command post going up in flames, small arm fire pretty well around to our right front and some to our rear. I spoke to I think Fred Lockhart in the room with the others and asked how Ken Nicolson was. His answer was Ken is dead.

Fred Lockhart came out of the house to join me guarding that side of the house.

We were crouched at the open door of the vacated command post room listening and watching when we heard the crunch of footsteps coming along side the house. We both whispered Tedeski to each other and out of the darkness came this German soldier. Fred and I leaped up and I shoved my revolver and Fred his rifle to his body the German said, Nix shuuten nix pistola camardie or kamerad and the words Canadesi. I went through this prisoner's pockets while Fred watched him. All I found was some revolver ammunition which I threw to the ground and said Nix pistola?? We took this chap to join the others guarded by Sgt Humble. Soon it seemed Lt Ross arrived with some tank troopers from GGHG"s who took our prisoners away back into Otterloo.

This was turning into a violent nightmare for all concerned and it was hard to really believe it was happening to all of us here on the out skirts of a small Dutch village so much was happening . Houses were burning, vehicles wre on fire, small arm firing was interspersed with some exploding mortar bombs. In all it was not exactly a quiet evening. After the GGHG troopers picked up our prisoners Lt Ross said he was going to go back into the village and see if he could this time get help. Lt Ross said that he thought he was going to get a tank on his previous hazardous trip into the village. Lt Ross said he would walk in front of a tank to lead it back to Fox troop area so a GGHG tank sergeant said he would start his tank and follow Ross. The GGHG officer said no that it was too dangerous for the tank and crew to go across the field to Fox troop without a section of infantry out in front to deal with Panzerfaust toting Germans waiting to knock out the tank. Permission denied. Now Lt Ross said he was going to make another attempt and I remained at the house guarding the left side and thought the Irish corporal and his two men were on the right side with our chaps at the windows of our command house.

Probably I should explain what went on initially. After the first two mortar bombs and Sgt Humble capturing the first prisoners, Lt Ross contacted our Battery command post and reported the numbers of Germans he thought he could hear moving up. Battery command post was under a heavy attack of German infantry so they took Lt Ross's figures and their own and reported to Regimental Head quarters the growing numbers. Here is where things went awry. We had a new Major that was the new second in command, This chap had been senior to Major Brooks who had held the post up to a few months before and I’m not sure what battle experience he had. The figures submitted to him, and this is documented, he divided by ten and so no concentrated effort or plan came forth to deal the attack.

I shall leave this chap nameless as what good would it do now and he has passed away. But hind sight shows if Major Brooks had still been there things would have been different.

Back to the house I’m now by myself on the left side of the house and was startled as I heard someone coming from my rear. The someone turned out to be the Irish Regiment corporal who said Sgt major we are really in a tough spot. What are you and the rest of your fellows going to do to get out of here? He then went on to tell me the Germans were advancing up the Apeldoorn, Otterloo road to his right and the track in front of our house he could hear Germans talking as they moved along it.

I asked the corporal where were the two infantry men that were with him. He replied that they had left some time ago to get back into the village so the corporal and I started to go towards Sgt Humble's gun when both of us stopped and at the same instance saw that we were walking directly behind about eight or ten German soldiers pulling a Maxim heavy machine gun on wheels.

We immediately scurried back to my slit trench and in the trench I said will we take them on? The corporal said not with just your revolver and he only had a half a magazine for his tommy gun. His next move was he was going for C company so with that he leaped to his feet and ran to the right of the Germans and disappeared into the night. But I must tell you as he took off running to the rear I could not see him but he raised a lighter dust with every step and I waited for the Germans to cut him down.

This will seem incredible but the dust raised by his running reminded me of seeing a lone prairie antelope run across a plowed field raising the dust at each leap even though I could not see the actual animal. Well here I'm alone in the slit trench and they have not shot at the corporal. I cannot stay here so I jumped up ran up behind the Germans that towed the machine gun. I croaked a "Let them Have it Nels! " and ran to the right up to Pop Barkwell's gun. I did not give a password just hollered it is Gordie, and piled in with Pop and his crew I told him about the group advancing to Nels Humble's gun. I leaped out from there and did the same at Smiler Johnson's gun and from there to the further gun Darcy Spencer's. Now this total distance from where I hollered let them have it Nels until I arrived at the last gun was at least sixty yards. Darcy immediately wanted to grab his bren gun and go to help Nels and his crew. I vetoed this as we had not heard Nels and his crew open fire on the Germans and Darcy and his crew would likely be mistaken for the enemy.

Why no firing from the corporals run? My hollering at each gun ? I will never know except this group towing the machine gun had to have been confused what was going on or stopped to get their plan of attack on the guns mounted. Darcy, his crew, and I soon heard the password called out by some of our gun crews. This followed within seconds by rifle and machine gun fire and screams that echoed around and continued for a long while. The violent night only increased and this is as far a I have ever been in writing it down. Now you can see why.

Otterloo Holland Just after midnight the night of 16th 17th April 1945. Up to this moment there did not seem to be an end to the battle raging around to our right front and in the Village to our rear. As I wrote before I now was in a slit trench with Sgt Darcy Spencers gun crew. Darcy had used great common sense in digging all except one of their crews slit trenches in front of the gun. This was unusual but was a good move as he had an unobstructed view of the whole area to his front. I had not been long with this crew when Lt Alex Ross scurried into our area asking if we needed more sten gun magazines. I replied we did not. He then said you are here Sgt Major what about the signalers and the acks in the command post. I said that they would be okay as Sgt Copithorn was with them and he was experienced and would get them out. Lt Alex Ross left us to deliver sten gun ammunition to the other guns. Lt Ross had just left us when out of the distance in the village I could make out the fire orders for mortars. I said to Sgt Spencer that is our friend Tommy Fluck from the Irish and the range he was giving was to be right down on top of us.

We hunkered down. Yes I did not have my helmet but Darcy had a spare so I put it on. When we heard Sgt Fluck holler fire we knew we were for it . But luck was on our side as far as Sgt Spencer and his crew. But the mortars rained down around the other three guns in the troop. Lt Ross had just arrived at Sgt Johson's gun when the mortars landed. One of Johnson's crew told me later that a strap binding a bed roll was cut by the flying shrapnel and the belt like a snake went around Lt Ross's neck. A good story as told later but not at the moment . Shortly after the mortaring, a machine gun to Sgt Spencer's left rear opened up on us. Spencer grabbed the bren gun and said I will knock that SOB out of that window. I restrained him as it was either a Browning or a Vickers by the rate of fire and kept him from firing back. The machine gun probably fired at least two hundred rounds into Sgt Spencer's gun and ammunition limber. The rounds chewed up the gun sights and riccocheted off the barrel into the slit trench that we were occupying. In the terrific fire from this machine gun we heard a hissing sound. Sgt Spencer said the ammunition limber is going to blow and it is either you or I Gordie to put it out. I said there is no smoke or flame wait until this storm of fire quits . It did not go on fire and daylight showed that fifty bullets went into the fender and tire of the limber. That over with, we still could hear moans from the far right which turned out to be wounded Germans at Sgt Pop Barkwell's gun. The next thing that I remember was the signalers and acks running across our immediate front. Spencer and I called out to them did you all get out? The answer was yes and they proceeded towards the village.

They had left the command post when the Germans came up and went to fire through the windows on them. The returning attempt to fire the rifle cartridge miss fired, so out the opposite window they went. Fred Lockhart was to tell me that when they all got out the window they had forgotten the bren gun so Fred [ a cool young man } went back into the house through the window and out againwith the Bren gun and magazines and caught up with the rest as they left that area. A couple of Germans lighted fire to the Irish truck at our command post. This lighted up the whole area accompanied with the exploding ammunition and fuel that it carried. A tremendous amount of firing and yelling was going on in the village.

While down the Apeldoorn, Otterloo road to our right flank the Germans were marching along with some horse drawn wagons with fires lighting them up so we could see them quite clearly. A couple of these tedeski's stopped and tried to light fire to an ammunition limber down near our command house but failed in their attempt. It was a pretty hairy night .

Otterloo Holland 16/17th April 1945. This long night wore on without any further German attacks on our guns. At Sergeant Spencer’s gun some of us dozed off to sleep for a moment or two. Gunner Straub who had fallen asleep awakened with a cry those SOB’s are not going to get meand he immediately fired his rifle towards the bush to our front. It all happened so fast and it seemed he never really awakened as he was again in a sound sleep as if nothing occurred.

Daylight came and we could see the wasp flamethrowers of the Irish Regiment clear the ditches of the Otterloo, Apeldoorn road of the German troops. The blasts of flame sent the Germans running, hollering with uniforms on fire trying to get away as fast as they could.

We learned later in that ditch with the Germans was Gunner Iverson HE. He had been captured and held by the Germans all night. His captors had taken his shoes and socks off and informed him if they were defeated he not be taken back with them in other words, Shot!.

When the flame hit the ditch Iverson received third degree burns on his hands but being a tough little fellow he grabbed a pistol from one of the Germans and informed a couple of Germans they were now his prisoners. I have jumped ahead of myself in time as I did not talk to Iverson until the next day. Back to the gun position .

After the Wasp flame throwers left the road we were to see a Royal Engineer Churchill Tank coming up behind our guns It commenced firing all their machine guns into the bush to our front. The tank stopped near one of our guns and a tank crew member would load a large bomb into a projector on the tank. This was called a pitard. After loading, the bomb was fired into the bush. We could see this giant bomb hurtling through the air where it hit and exploded near our command post house.Sgt Spencer and I seeing that this tank was doing such a great job left our trench and went to check on the other gun crews. The first gun we came to was Sgt Johnson’s with all crew safe and they had escaped being attacked. Along with Johnson’s crew was Lt Alex Ross who had spent the later part of the night with this crew. Lt Alex Ross had made three trips into the village to try and get infantry or tank help to no avail. The trips were extremely dangerous as Lt Alex Ross had to crawl through the Germans that were advancing on the village. Lt Ross did a brave thing.

From Johnson’s gun we went to Sgt Barkwell’s gun and the sight that greeted us was dead and wounded Germans all around the slit trenches of the crew. What a story could be seen in Pop Barkwell’s face, grimy, tired, grey whiskers full of dirt, a scene from hell.Pop Barkwell was in his late thirties or could have been forty. We were to learn later in the day what a magnificent stand they had made last night. When the Germans attacked POP Barkwells crew, Pop was up and into them knocking the Germans down with his fists. Pop and his crew fought the Germans to a standstill. L/Sgt Bill Velestuk and gunner McNeil each shot two attackers from about a foot range.

Pop’s crew like all the crews had shallow slit trenches about a foot or so dee . Velestuk and McNeil were lying on their backs and the attackers were crawling up to them. At the sign of any movement or when the attackers were outlined, then Velestuk and Mc Neil would fire at point blank range resulting in four very dead Germans. Near this four dead were a few more a couple of feet further away. Next to them were a couple of wounded Germans who had been hit early in the night and were still alive but not in the best of shape. The Churchill tank was still firing into the bush and out of the bush came a German waving a Red Cross flag. He was a medic.

We let the German medic come up to us. He was pretty nervous so we gave him a drink of water and a cigarette. He then went to work on the wounded Germans trying to ease their suffering.

Our next stop was with Sgt Humble’s crew. All were safe here. they too had a pretty wild night.They had made the initial capture of the enemy earlier in the night. I did not mention that before we left Spencer’s gun that gunner Kahgee showed us a crease on his throat where a German sniper had fired and just broke or burnt the skin on his throat, a bit too close for comfort. At this point we had checked on the gun crews but had not gone back to the wagon lines to check on our drivers and vehicles. We had good reason to be worried .

Darcy Spencer and I turned to the rear to walk hurriedly to the wagon lines. On arriving at the wagon lines we found no one. A few of the vehicles had been burnt but no trace of any of Bdr Wells and all the drivers. It looked like a pretty good battle had raged around the vehicles, with spent cartridge casings, flat tires, scattered kit, and a dead German in a nearby ditch. Darcy and I were feeling pretty low. Where were our comrades? Just then along came Gunners Clarence, Cawkwell, and Agnew. Both were showing the signs of a terrible night. Agnew was wearing only a pair of socks and a civilian top coat. Cawkwell had been slightly wounded but not evacuated. Cawkwell and Agnew informed us that they had been checking the aid posts and could not find what happened to most of the drivers. Agnew with tears in his eyes said we could not find Jockie McMillan.

Now we knew that most of the drivers had survived. Darcy and I continued on checking aid posts and found that seven of our drivers had been taken to hospitals. We then checked other causality clearing stations and found out that we were at the moment missing just one and he was Jockie McMillan. Darcy Spencer and I then went into Tac Headquarters where our Major Crown was located. We reported to him and he immediately gave us each a large shot of rum saying now tell me how Fox troop came through the night. I answered that at the moment we had one killed and about fourteen wounded and we were missing Jockie McMillan.

Major Crown said did you kill any of the Germans? I said we took about ten prisoners and wounded and killed about ten more. Major Crown's face changed in expression. Sgt major did you Leave wounded Germans on the gun position? I said yes sir. "You should have killed them," he replied. I drew myself up and said sir that would have been murder as we did not know who was going to win last night and shooting prisoners was not in my book. He softened his attitude and Darcy and I left to look for Jockie at the next aid post. Here seated on a bench was a small figure with a great swath of bandage across his nose. We had found Jockie all to our great relief. Now here is what I did on seeing him. I walked over to him and hit him a great whallop on his shoulder and said is that the only place you could get hit? Jockie 's face broke into a great smile and extended his hand which I took and his words were I'm glad to see you Gordie andI replied I'm glad to see you Jockie. Get well and get back soon. Jockie related how he was wounded. He was on his tummy behind a gun tractor tire and he glanced out at a large German advancing towards him with a submachine gun. Jockie said I drew back my head but the German fired through the tire taking the tip off his nose.

All drivers accounted for we started back to Fox troop to report to Lt Alex Ross. On the way we came upon a large group of the Irish Regiment and standing up in, I guess, a large armoured car was our divisional commander Major General Hoffmeister. He was speaking to the Irish group probably a company. The general said what a terrific fight that the Irish had put up last night and how well all personnel had performed. So I thank you all for a job well done. Up spoke an Irish major and his views were expressed to a man. It was not us Sir who broke the German attack it was those darn artillery men who did not know enough to run but stayed and broke the attack. General Hoffmeister then said who can lead me to the gunners and Darcy Spencer and I said we can. We are from the 17th. Climb on the armoured car and show me where was his reply!

Sgt Spencer and I were perched on General Hoffmeister’s armoured car. We proceeded along the street in Otterloo to the Apeldoorn cross road. This was the site of our driver's gallant stand last night. Turning to the left we arrived at E troop gun position .

General Hoffmeister stopped his vehicle and dismounted and a group from E troop came up to talk to him. Right away the General spotted a dead German officer and said who shot him? Sgt Studs McQueen said he did sir. The General then congratulated all the assembled group for their stand last night. I thought it was a good opportunity to enlighten him on the exemplary conduct and leadership our gun position officer Lt Alex Ross exhibited last night.

I told him Lt Ross had gone through the enemy to the village three times trying to get help and when help was not forthcoming he had brought back sten gun ammunition. General Hoffmeister said he would like to meet Lt Ross so I replied that I would go and get him.

I went over to our command post house and found Lt Ross busy getting things back into order cleaning everything up and having Ken Nicolson’s body removed. I spoke to Lt Ross saying the General was waiting on the side of the road to meet him. Alex Ross’s reply was I have no time to talk to Generals this morning. I left but did not tell the General that Alex Ross did not have time to talk to him.

I told the General that seeing Alex Ross was the only officer in the troop and could not come at the moment, but to thank the General for his concern and interest. This satisfied the General who said to extend his regards to Alex Ross for a job well done.

General Hoffmeister was a soldiers' general. He never sent troops into a major battle before the area to be fought over first being well and truly reconnoitered.All that served under General Hoffmeister’s command thought he truly was the best in the Canadian army. Too bad there were not more like him. Many lives would have been saved in the war if other commanders would have exercised the skill and knowledge that Hoffmeister had for the safety and concern for the real fighting men. Before leaving our area General Hoffmeister praised all battery personnel for the fighting stand last night. He then drove off and I do not remember if we gave him a cheer or not.

When the General left the area Capt Les Hand drove up and said there were to be medals handed out, adding there not going to be many. At this time all the Fox troop sergeants were gathered nearby. If medals were scarce we would give our support to Lt Alex Ross and recommend him for the Military Cross for his courageous act far beyond that of the gun position officer. Alex Ross did get the Military Cross and deservedly so. Alex you did good!

The rumour mill started along the way that some officers helped each other get the decorations but not so in Alex Ross’s case. His award was of the highest quality. Alex more than earned it.

Not long after Otterloo Alex Ross and I were talking about the awards and we regretted neither Sgt’s Humble or Barkwell or their crews were recipients of any medals.The crews of these two guns fought lke supermen. The leadership of the two Sergeants should have earned them both the Military Medal and their crews to a man mentioned in dispatches Hind sight again as none of us, including Alex Ross, were given any time to think of medals or awards. We were glad to have survived that terrible night. The regret and sadness over losing our fellow gunners was such that there was no room worrying over awards.

All personnel accounted for which included the news that Gunner Bill Bancescu had died of wounds that brought the total of twelve wounded and two killed. This included gunner Kahgee who was grazed and evacuated.

The troop had 45 all ranks, so we took the most causalities in the regiment with our drivers bearing the brunt of the wounded.

Years after Alex Ross said he did not have to be as flippant when asked to meet the General. What Alex went through that night made up for any flippancy.

In the next couple of days Lt DeBelle returned from England and Alex Ross went on his deserved leave. I now had to find out what had happened to Orme Payne as up to this point I did not know if he survived.

There will be stories about last night. Cawkwell's watch and many more.

Otterloo Holland 17th April 1945. There are a few more things in hind sight that I have been thinking about. We were approached to select who would be the recipients of battle awards. We were to do it in such a hurry that we really did not know the full story on what some of our fellows had really done during that horrific night .

Otterloo Holland, 17th Apri,l 1945. THE RUM.

I must say Orme and I were very glad that we had survived last night's attack. His invitation to share a drink of SRD known to all as issue rum was taken up right now. Where did you get this great gallon of rum? was my query. Orme replied as the battle was getting pretty hot and the command house on fire they were ordered to retreat to E troop gun position. Just before Orme left the position he thought of the gallon of rum in that truck, so dashed out, rescued the rum and hurriedly buried it in a slit trench. He knew we would be back and someone would need a good belt of rum. Just as Orme buried the rum, out of the darkness came some Germans. He said he fired half a magazine from a sten gun and retreated to E troop.

Arriving at E troop he gave the correct password but Sgt Peter Powless kept shoving a rifle in his face until Orme said he lost patience and said get that damn rifle out of my face or you will wear it. So Peter cooled down and Orme joined him at his position. You will note that I have jumped from meeting Orme and the rum to some of the happenings the night before. But that is the way I explain things.

After having a few belts of the rum I went back to Fox troop where we gathered up all the German weapons and kit lying about and buried them in a slit trench at Pop Barkwell's gun. I had mentioned the Germans towing the Maxim machine gun. They had towed within five or six feet of Barkwell's gun all loaded with a belt of ammunition, but they were so close and Barkwell's crew such good shots they were unable to use it. Into the slit trench it went and was buried with the rest. I wonder if the Dutch farmer dug up this arsenal in later years.

Sgt Spencer's gun was toast so he and some of his crew limbered up and went to the light aid detachment and from there would be directed where to get another gun and limber. Other happenings during the battle was a British medium battery trying to lower their elevation low enough to give us some help inadvertently knocked the steeple off the church. I was there in 1984 and the steeple was replaced but you could see where the repair was made. Stories coming out of this night still arise from fellows that were there but you had not spoken too.

Sgt Eddy Knight of 60th Battery was awarded the DCM for his effort this night. A very large German came upon Eddy and his crew and this big man singled Eddy out and tried to kill him. But Eddy, a stocky ex coalminer, proceeded to attempt to strangle this big chap. The fight raged all around the gun position until Gunner Jim Cathcart placed his rifle under Eddies arm and shot the German.

Otterloo Holland, April 1945. The days following and the stories that have been revived and retold.

I promised I would relate the story of Clarence Cawkwell's watch. During the war anyone having a workable watch had a great asset. A watch would be handed from sentry to sentry, and gunner to gunner. This way shifts were changed and the watch in the morning always came back to the owner. On the night of 16/17th April Clarence Cawkwell's watch was the only one in the drivers' section of Fox troop. At the time of the attack on the drivers Bill Bancescu was wearing Cawkwell's watch. During the violent action Bill Bancescu had awakened all drivers before the Germans hit the wagon lines. Seeing they were out numbered and out gunned, Bill Bancescu took a gunner by the name of Feuillatre [name spelt wrong] out of danger and down the road. A mortar bomb hit the ditch on Bill Banescu's side filling Bill with a tremendous amount of shrapnel. As Bill fell to the ground his last words were to Feuillatre was see that Cawkwell gets his watch. Bill Bancescu died at the aid station. Clarence Cawkwell still has that watch and it is worn every day. What a wonderful, true story do you not agree?

Bill Lloyd the 76th Battery Sergeant major was following the road toward regimental HQ when he and a young gunner with him heard the cocking of a rifle and some German words spoken to them. The gunner with Bill Lloyd was going to run but Bill held him with one hand and in the other he had his revolver. Bill advanced on the German in the weapons pit and said Handen Hoch or something like that. He now was almost upon the German and Bill kicked the German’s rifle to one side and reached down and plucked the German infantry man out by the scruff of his neck.The chap that was traveling with Bill told me that no one will ever tell him that Sgt Major Bill Lloyd does not have GUTS" or would you say nerves of steel!

I have not mentioned that when Sgt Darcy Spencer and I were locating the aid posts and their records for our wounded that we passed by the compound where they were holding the prisoners of last night. A couple of the prisoners that Don Bulloch and I were watching in the command post looked out of the wire and gave me the sign that they remembered me from early last night. Quite unusual, what they were meaning to convey in the sign who knows? Maybe it was thanks you did not beat us or kill us, I will never know. The Germans had some dogs with them and Toby Colpitts of 60 Battery adopted one of these dogs, a large Doberman who would not let a civilian pet or have anything to do with it. Toby had this dog cleared to bring to Canada but some Dutch civilian stole the dog days before Toby left for Canada. I jumped ahead but it is my memory and I'm allowed to do so.

Other stories.

Here is one. Bill Strickland from E troop was behind gunner Vogt and when Vogt went past the corner of building a German machine gunner caught Vogt in a stream of fire killing him instantly. Strickland jumped over Vogt's body and through a hail of bullets placed his bren gun on the hood of a vehicle. Bystanders say that the German machine gunner was firing at Strickland and the tracers were going past Strickland's head. Strickland returned fire and held on until he killed the German gunner.

The unsung heroes should get mentioned. That was E troop cooks who spent the night in a dugout under a manure pile unseen by the Germans that walked and ran all over them. Daylight came and the cooks came out and fired up the burners and soon breakfast was on.

I did not mention the terrible sights that Darcy Spencer and I came upon on our way to locate our wounded. The main street in Otterloo was littered with German dead, and some not a pretty sight. At the time we were pretty hardened to death and likely thought no more about it than an animal lying on the street. I would not feel the same now.

Bob Anderson the tank driver for Capt Don Pyper was at a cross road on the outskirts of Otterloo when a GGHG tank officer directed Capt Pyper to be sure and be alert to cover a certain area as there was supposedly Tiger tanks approaching. Capt Pyper informed this officer that he was not going to knock out a Tiger tank with a wooden gun as this was a observation tank. Talking of Bob Anderson I had picked up a beautiful Beretta sub machine gun in Italy on the Hitler line. This gun did not have a magazine but knowing Bob's mechanical prowess Bob soon filed a Schmeisser magazine to fit. On this night he had handed his Beretta to Mike Propopenko for Mike's revolver as the Beretta was too cumbersome for the tank driver. Here is what happened with the Beretta in Mike's hands during the battle and in the light of just burning buildings Mike saw a figure run past and get under a truck Mike said he gave the password but no reply so he let fly a few rounds with the Beretta. Unfortunately he hit Gunner Bob Bates in the legs. Hospital for Bates and the Beretta apparently thrown into the bushes never to be used or kept as a souvenir.Too bad. It was a beautiful automatic.

Otterloo Holland, The battle over April 17th 1945.

The war still went on. On this day the other two batteries moved forward but the 76th Battery needed some more transport or something so any way we did not move until the 18th.

When we did move Orme and I were part of the advance party and at the new gun position. I had a chance to talk to Orme and show him my prowess with the revolver that Capt David Armour had loaned me. This was a 9mm Espano automatic which resembled the Colt revolver. We set up a target and I said watch this and I fired a shot and it went where it was supposed to go. But here is where Orme said my face fell as it would fire one shot jam and one shot jam. To think that I had suggested to the Irish corporal a couple of nights ago that we would take on a section of German troops that were towing the Maxim gun. I tell you I was fortunate not to have taken them on. This revolver needed some maintenance. I have attached some pictures taken in 1984 of the Otterloo surroundings.

Before I leave the Otterloo battle in my writings I thought it would be good to add a touch of remembrance to those that were in Fox troop and were my fellow gunners. To list those that lost their lives and those that were wounded from Fox Troop.

That is the list to the best of my memory. Of the wounded only Jockie Mc Millan and Clarence Cawkell either remained with the troop or returned to the troop.

In the years since quite a number have passed away. I still have contact with only one that I know that is still alive and that is Clarence Cawkwell. who if you remember the story of his watch which he still has to this day.

The rest of you RIP old friends. I cherish the time I spent with you. We were so young so many years ago.

After Otterloo, we continued our advance towards the Ijsslemeer and either bypassing or going through towns on our way. Barneveld was one of the towns but we did not get in on any of the liberation celebrations as we were on the move.

Memory does not bring up any firing positions as the retreating Germans were trying to keep ahead of our armour. We did spend a night at Ermelo and had our guns set up in fields nearby.

After the posting of machine gun posts and being sure we had our rifles and other small arms handy, those not on duty went to bed. Shortly after getting our heads down a few volleys of machine gun fire broke the night air. Everyone started to get ready to have another Otterloo but it was a pocket of German troops that had stumbled on us in the darkness and were only too glad to keep running toward western Holland.

I was in a small shed with two other chaps, one being E troop Sgt major Paul Shkwarek, and I do not remember who the other fellow was. This is the way we had laid down to sleep. Paul and the other chap with their heads toward the door. I had my fart sack between them and my feet towards the door. Shortly after the machine gun fire, we were awakened with footsteps coming toward our small shed.

Paul said Gordie you are closest to the door [I have never figured that one out] so you take the person or persons coming across the gravel yard. I could in the darkness tell by the footsteps and visualize the hand reaching to open the door. The hand went on the door knob and I in one motion was sticking my revolver into the stomach of a very frightened Dutch farm worker as the door opened. I did not fire and saw that he was a mentally handicapped person who saw us go into the shed before dark. Probably he was frightened from the machine gun fire and knew we were there. I guess I had hollered at him and a Dutch farmer came and took the young man away.

The rest of the night went well, and the news that our forward troops had entered Harderwijk was related to us. This was our divisions point to stop and consolidate as the area east of us was not cleared but would be soon. On the 21st April we moved to Leeuwarden in a holding role along the coast . This area was called Freisland .

Here is where we saw the story book Dutch folk. It was like an ad for Dutch Cleanser. The ladies wore a very different attire than we had seen before. White headdress with silver bands down the side extending down past their ears. The skirts were long and memory said they were black topped with white embroidered blouses. All men and women and children wore the wooden shoes.The wooden shoes had straw in them like we would use a felt insole. In all this was the way we had read about the Dutch in school books, you remember the boy with the finger in the dike story.

About this time we hoped the war was not to last much longer, but on the 25th April, the regiment moved into the Wagenborgen area. Fox troop was set up right in the town. Wagenborgen is not far from the Ems estuary separating Holland from Germany This section of the northeast side of Holland held a large number of German troops plus a lot of very heavy artillery ,especially the massive gun implacement at Termunterzijl.

The Harbour of Delfzil was an important port to capture, hopefully intact. While in Wagenborgen we lived in the houses vacated by the Dutch. We learned that some time before the Canadian Scottish had a platoon blown up while in a house on our street, also they retaliated and did the same to a German platoon. The Irish regiment advancing along a dyke came upon a fine looking jeep. Now any jeep just standing around was fair game. Well this jeep sort of did not seem right so a rope was gingerly placed around the back bumper then a couple of fellows from a safe distance pulled the rope. With the first movement the jeep exploded, well and truly booby trapped. Capt Pyper was awarded the MC and Gunner Fehr the MM for their bravery and carrying on above and beyond normal duty.

We did a lot of shelling in support of the Westminsters and our 11th Brigade. During some heavy shelling our observation officers reported that a couple of horses in a field would, as soon as the heavy shells fell, run and jump or walk into large bomb craters in the field saving themselves. Who said animals were dumb?

There was quite a bit of German rifles and other discarded equipment around so we took the bomb off a Panzerfaust and tied it to a post then pulled the trigger. A real blast of flame and noise came from this infantry type bazooka.

There is one thing I never condoned was horse play, as usually someone was hurt, or a lot of bad feelings arose from it. One morning Sgt Humble and Gunner Charleston started to box around the gun as it was a cool morning. They started throwing a few punches and soon the punches were being delivered with a, I will knock your block off type of hit. I had come to the backdoor of the house near where this was going on and thought this is too damn serious. So I hollered cut that damn foolishness out! Well to put emphasis my holler a shell came crashing in and exploded very close to the combatants. Result no one hurt, boxing finished and all back to normal. That was the final and only enemy shell to land any where near Fox troop in this position and final for the war. I will further relate to the capture of Delfzil and the war being over for us.

Wagenborgen Holland, 1st May, 1945. The war was certainly winding down but our observation officers and crews plus the infantry were not to think that.

Our 11th Infantry Brigade and units like the Westminster regiment continued to take a lot of causalities. Major Floyd Brooks often spoke of the waste of young lives up to the very end. Floyd remembered in particular the loss of 18 young Cape Breton Highlanders on an attack that was a disaster. It was only by the quick use of smoke ordered fired by Major Brooks that the surviving Cape Bretons were able to escape a fate like what happened to part of their company.This attack was on very fortified bunkers on the way towards Delfzil. If I remember correctly, we had a 24 hour truce with the Garrison at Delfzil on the 2nd of May. The truce was to evacuate all the German garrison that had been captured.

Our troops found the dockyard and all the facilities were in good condition and our engineers were able to disable the explosives that the Germans had placed.

Before going further, I will jump back a day or so. Here Capt Walt Tennant was able to call for fire on boats leaving Delfzil crossing to Embden. I do not remember if we hit any or not but we hurried their departure.

Back to Delfzil. After we at the guns were notified that Delfzil had fallen and a 24 hour truce was in effect, I jumped on my motor bike and rode up the road from Wagenborgen to Delfzil. As I arrived in the town the Irish regiment was loading a long line of German prisoners into trucks. These prisoners were counted off about thirty to a truck load. All the prisoners were sent in a single file past the provost sergeant of the Irish. I did know his name but cannot recall it now. The Sgt had in his hand a cat o' nine tails that he had taken from a German SS officer. This cat o' nine tails was a short polished wooden handle having at least nine or more leather laces attached to it. The laces were about 18 inches long. Now the Irish Sgt had the laces shortened up in his hand and as the prisoners went by he took a whack at their ears. The prisoner naturally tried to duck out of the way but as they ducked they with all the kit they were carrying would tangle on a motor bike handle bars that stood there so they had a few more whacks.

I spoke to the Irish Sgt about whacking them on the ears and his reply was they had killed his best friend, the Irish scout Sgt last night, and then all gave up today so he was getting a little revenge. I wandered further along where the loading of the trucks was happening and as I neared this spot I heard a German prisoner coming toward me speaking with a New York accent [he had received a few good ear whacks ]. I said to the prisoner are you from Thoity Thoid street?" His answer was ." Naw I live on the other side of the Bronx forty fort street". 'I said what are you doing here?" He replied, "My father being good German residing in New York decided when I was twenty that I should learn a trade, so in 1941 I was sent back to Germany and here I am ''. After this exchange he reached into a pocket and gave me a very nice blue leather bill fold which I have to this day. When he gave me the billfold he said I would like you to have this as it will likely be taken from me anyway. I wonder if this man is still alive? I imagine he will be about 82 or so and retired in New York. If he remembers giving me his billfold, I would return it to him if I knew. The very next day we received orders to move out of the line. The 60th Battery and the 76th Battery moved out destination, Winschoten Holland south of Gronigen. The 37th Battery moved into Germany and took up position not far from Embden, but did not do any firing Winschoten Holland . 3rd May 1945. Our entrance into this Dutch town was without great fanfare but there were quite a of the civilian population out to greet us. The 60Battery had a small dog that may have been brought from Italy. The dog's previous home and lineage escapes me but this is what happened.

The convoy of Regimental Headquarters and followed by the 60th Battery and the 76th Battery pulled into the town of Winschoten. Here was to be a rest area. The convoy stopped the gun tractor door of one of 60 Battery guns opened to let the little dog out. I suppose the fellows thought the dog had to go and pee.

The little dog had been in action for a long while and in the company of all males and had other ideas. No sooner then he was out the gun tractor door and hit the street running but this little fellow charged up to the civilian crowd on the street and immediately found what he knew was there. A female dog. No introductions were necessary. He mounted this Dutch dog and in front of all carried on a great display of fornication.

The Dutch fathers and husbands that were on the street could be seen nudging each other and I do not know what they were saying but it likely went like this. If the Canadian Dog is that horny what can the Canadians be like? Maybe we had better lock up our wives and daughters. That was our grand entrance into Winschoten.

That evening after all personnel were billeted in schools and some in private homes, Sgt Major Savin, myself, and quarter Sgt Terry thought we would go out and scrounge a drink. Terry had a lot of trading material namely cigarettes. We had not gone far when out of a shadowy door way a Dutch civilian wanted to know if we would buy 3/4 liter of gin. We said yes and Terry gave him a couple of packs of cigarettes. Deal done! Savin then drank the first 1/3 of the bottle, Terry the next 1/3, and I drained the last third all while standing in this doorway. This seemed the correct thing to do so we then went to the Quarter master Terry's store truck and here we were into the issue rum so a mug in our hands we had a few good pulls of the rum. Now it gets a bit foggy here and where we were going next I do not really know but out on the street we went. The first people we saw was Capt David Armour and the Adjutant Lucky Fair. I do remember going up to Capt Armour and giving him a bear hug and saying " What do you know it is wee Davey Armour." Lights go out and I awake next morning having missed the first parade in my army career. Having a skinned elbow and a skinned nose. How did I get back to the house the sergeants and WO's were billeted in? Here is what happened. After greeting Davey Armour in the un soldier like manner as I never called him anything except Capt Armour, the three of under the weather chaps were then going to see if we could visit with Colonel Rankin. The two officers thought we had better not and they confiscated the second in command's car to get us back to our house. They had quite a time running us to ground they would put me in the car and I would promptly go out the other side. Then Lucky Fair kept me in the car and Dave Armour corralled the other two colts and back to our house . Dumped us on the street told some of our buddies get us off the street and into bed . That may have been fine a couple of the chaps. They thought they would just drag me up stairs to my bed and that is how the nose and elbow were skinned.

A lost night and to miss parade was something I was not proud off and was a bit ticked with a couple of sergeants who I had covered for a few times that did not make a move to wake me. Oh yes I had a terrible head and was suffering from alcohol poisoning. We never saw the seller of gin again.

After this quite a few Canadians died from deliberate poisoning of gin by either Germans or German sympathizers. I was lucky and probably what saved my life was the quantity and whether I was able to up chuck I do not recall.

The 5th of May rolled around and we were told the war was over in Holland this was indeed their day of Liberation. For us it was sort of a let down, stunned, no job, those that we had lost were not here to share. Our folks would not know if we survived. If we had been killed they would have known in two or three days, but they would not be told we had survived. It was a sober quiet group that went early to bed this day of Liberation for the Dutch.

Next I will tell you how this group were awakened from our sleep.

In Winschoten the Dutch people had their flags out along with the Orange ribbons, and armbands. It was their DAY. I mentioned before we all went to bed early, a somber group, no wild celebration, no dancing or jumping into fountains.We were, it seemed, alone with our private thoughts.

Here all of us in this room were survivors but our folks would not know for weeks that we had survived. Then came the remembrance of our comrades that were killed in action and would never know this day.

About eleven o’clock into our room came Sgt Jack Parr accompanied by a Dutch girl.The two of them woke all of us up with. "What are you sleeping for? Get up an celebrate this great day Have a drink, get happy", and on they went. Well we were not too happy with this and stayed in bed.

The Dutch girl thought she would get us out of bed and get on helping them celebrate so with this she started kicking off her shoes aiming at us. It was pretty exciting for a moment or two shoes flying past our heads hitting the walls. When the shoe bit failed to get us up she noted a dart board with a good supply of darts. Getting a hand full of darts, this boisterous girl, she started flinging them around. None of us wanted to lose an eye so as one we said Jack gather up your girl friend and get the Hell out of here. Tranquility reigned and we went back to sleep.

The next morning a massive bouquet of flowers plus a card of apology was delivered to our house from our visitor of the night before.

In a few days we had the formal word that Germany was KAPUT, finished, war over! This was 8th of May 194.. Finally it was all over so our next thoughts were when do we go home? The regiment waw going to fire a twenty one gun salute to the victory. Our troop was picked for this event, Blank cartridges were readied with most of the charge being removed and the cardboard cup shellacked in place. The day the event was to take place the towns' folk and the regiment were all on hand for the Victory Europe Salute.

The order to fire was given and the guns blasted away to the sound of the windows in the civilians houses shattering. Why did the guns keep firing destroying all the windows? We will never know except that it was the thing to do. Also the Dutch were so pleased that the war was over they did not scream stop.

The guns that fired the salute had to be cleaned and polished and who ever glued the cardboard caps in should have cleaned the gun barrels. What a job.

Most of us were in sort of a dream and soon we would wake up and go back into action. We were able to get a night's sleep without being out in the rain and flooded gun pits, or having an ear cocked for incoming shells.

Just the wonder of being around civilians as wonderful as the Dutch was, I suppose, a start on our future lives. The transformation from combat to a normal life was going to take some time .