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1st KOSB WAR DIARIES

1st KOSB WAR DIARIES - NORTH WEST EUROPE

Saturday, December 16, 1944

D +

193

NWE

WD CHECKED ✓

START LOCATION

GEIJSTEREN

FINISH LOCATION

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GEIJSTEREN

WAR DIARY

SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND INFORMATION

At about 0300 hrs a contact patrol between 11 and 12 Pls B Coy bumped an enemy patrol of approximately seven men at 825294. The Germans shouted "Hands up" and our patrol opened fire, and at once split up and made their way back to their Pl - one was missing. B Coy stood to but nothing further happened.


At first light a patrol went out and found Pte Connolly, the missing man, lying dead, and in the area of the shooting were found one schmeisser magazine, one German forage cap and one pole charge composed of stick grenade charges.


33 Fd Regt started to harass one or two targets in the PAPENBEEK - ELSTEREN - WELL area during the day. 4.2 Mortars DF tasks laid on as follows :- DF 1 at 835317, DF 2 block of houses in WELL at 859291, DF 3 at area 845292. *Pte Connolly reported as KIA on 17th December, 1944.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Personal accounts, other War Diaries and excerpts from books

CASUALTIES ON THIS DAY

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KIA ce jour-là

KIA

Photo
RANK
First Name
Surname
Service Number
AGE
Memorial
Grave Marker

Blessé ce jour-là

WIA

Image
Name and Rank
Service No
Notes
A/Sjt D Gallacher
3193286
Researching

PHOTO AND MAP CREDITS

Map:

Google Maps 2026

Photo:

Thomas 'Tommy' Connolly was born on Xmas Eve, 1923 in Glasgow, Scotland. He died a week before his 21st birthday. He was on patrol in Venlo, Holland.

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