top of page

Friday

2 March 1945

Start Location:

270

End Location:

1stKOSBWarDiary

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. The 2 LINCOLNS having captured and consolidated WINNEKENDONK during the night, an armoured div was due to pass through and break through to the RHINE. At about 1000 hrs the Bn changed dispositions, which were then as follows:- HQ 001367, A Coy 008362, B Coy 007359, C Coy 004351, D Coy 002350 and the RAP remained where it had been throughout the battle, at 991367. Civilians encountered were all farmer type and interested in nothing much else. During the morning the RUR passed through WINNEKENDONK and took up position in the woods to the SOUTH.

D-Day+

269

2 March 1945

270

Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts)

KOSB badge on a poppy background

Died on this day =

0

KOSB Badge on a poppy background

Friday

2 March 1945

0

Wounded on this day =

bottom of page