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Friday

2 March 1945

Start Location:

GOCH

270

Goch to Winnenkendonk. Google Maps 2026

End Location:

WINNEKENDONK

D-Day+

269

1stKOSBWarDiary

2 March 1945

In the morning 9 Bde started an attack from the area 975386 with WINNEKENDONK as the final objective.


The Bn crossed the start line - the road SOUTH WEST from RENNINGSHOF 978387 - at 0715 and by 1000 hrs the leading coys were on the final objective - on the Right A Coy in area of REYSHOF 979371, and on the Left B Coy at 984379.


Shortly afterwards 2 RUR passed through and by 1400 hrs had secured their objective of the main road running NORTH-SOUTH in the area 993364.


At about 1600 hrs the Bn passed through 2 RUR in Kangaroos and had cleared the wood up to the Southernmost edge at 002354 by 1700 hrs with no opposition except for a certain amount of mortar and shell fire.


The Comd Offr went forward to plan for the attack on BRUCH and RAHMEHOF in area 3360.


The attack was laid on for 1830 hrs with one Sqn of Churchill tanks, but had to be postponed as 2 LINCOLNS had arranged all the arty support for their attack on WINNEKENDONK.


The enemy must have seen some of the forward troops on the edge of the wood and heard the tanks as he shelled and mortared the SOUTHERN half of the wood fairly heavily till dusk. The tanks and Kangaroos withdrew to the NORTH of the wood.


At 2115 a concentration was laid on BRUCH and RAHMEHOF, and A and B Coys moved up to the forward edge of the wood taking over C and D Coys positions.


At 2130 C and D Coys attacked RAHMEHOF and BRUCH respectively and in silence. Both coys achieved total surprise and captured several prisoners. *In the morning the positions were visited by several enemy who were unaware of the situation.



270

Infantry of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in a Ram Kangaroo of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, on the outskirts of Ochtrup, Germany, 3 April 1945 Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203265, Photo No.: BU 2956

Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts)

D Company


We would like to congratulate Capt. Duncan, who in the Winnikendonk attack, discovering L/Corpl. Pryor being marched away by rather a minute German, seized the German by the throat and took him prisoner. He also captured a spandau.


Borderers Chronicle June 1945

KOSB badge on a poppy background

Died on this day =

2

Friday

2 March 1945

KOSB Badge on a poppy background
Lance Corporal
ROBERT ALEXANDER
BELL
3191570
02/03/1945
26
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Serjeant
DAVID SAMUEL
PHILLIPS
4199489
02/03/1945
28
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

10

Wounded on this day =

Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte W. O'Brien
14760777
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte S G Gerrlei
5783320
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Sjt D. Phillips
4199489
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte T Scorer
4452254
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte J Webster
2089750
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte C. Ausell
14438416
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
L/Cpl Earl Draper
2764313
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte Daniel Hodson
1644010
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte E J Price
2056122
Researching
Friday, March 02, 1945
Pte W Scully
2933602
Researching
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