A quiet night. As before vehicle movement was heard in the VELDEN area at 0400, and earlier one heavy tracked vehicle was heard moving N.E. from LOMM. During the day movement was seen at 9015, 9016 and one enemy section moving from barn to trenches at 9117. Little enemy Arty and mortar fire during the day.

Another quiet cold night. One patrol located enemy riflemen firing from 904172. The enemy shelled the Coy deception area 'EDINBURGH' during the morning, and at 1400 hrs there was a fair amount of enemy mortar fire. A fix was obtained by Coy bearings at 932170 and engaged by one Bty RA. The mortaring ceased, otherwise a quiet and unexciting day.

Uneventful night. At 1530 the 2 RUR on the left discovered tracks of a small party of enemy near the railway, from civilian reports. Eventually 2 white ration bags and a loaf of bread were discovered near a haystack, which looked as if it had been slept in. The track led from the river at 902158 30 yards to the North of Bn HQ and up the railway. No return tracks were found. During the afternoon the advance party of Ox & Bucks L.I. of the 6th Airlanding Bde arrived. At 2015 Sgt Ferguson took a patrol and followed the tracks down to the river, where they lay for about ten minutes, but could hear no noise. While returning by the same route, the patrol had reached 893166, when through "C" Coy fwd pl at KALDENBROEK came three men, answering the challenge with a few words of English. The patrol at once went to KALDENBROEK and eventually discovered that none of our patrols were anywhere near "C" Coy at the time, so they chased these men and followed them down to the river bank where there were marks of boats. About an hour later an enemy patrol 20 strong attacked KALDENBROEK with panzerfausts, schmeissers and grenades but were driven off, having at least two of their number wounded, one of whom was dragged back with them screaming. The other wounded man was captured and among other things disclosed his regt (1226) his coy positions and other useful information. Again movement of tpt was heard in the VELDEN area. In daylight OPs saw movement 9015, 9017, 9117.

All woods in the Bn area were searched without result. There was some shelling during the day in 'EDINBURGH'. OPs saw movement at 9015, 9016, 9116, 9117 and large truck in trees at 913161. Patrols at night heard movement of transport in HASSELT - VELDEN area. Patrol at 904182 saw a patrol of approximately 40 Germans in the area 905181 moving North. Arty engaged enemy and RUR Patrol did not contact enemy. Very little shelling in Bn area but some mortaring during the day.

A very quiet day. During the afternoon the Army and Corps Commanders, General Dempsey and General Barker came into GRUBBENVORST to look South East across the river from the OPs. Less movement than usual was seen from OPs and only at 9117. Just after dark some persons were seen between the Mortar Pl and "B" Coy. They were thought at the time to be enemy, but no trace of them could be found, otherwise a quiet night. During the afternoon 2 Lincolns moved into the area to the North of 2 RUR in place of 2 WARWICKS.

The hand-over to 2 Ox & Bucks of 6 Airlanding Bde started at first light and was completed by 1600 hrs. The Bn moved into the HORST 8318 - HEGELSOM area. Dispositions as follows :- Bn HQ 822169, "A" Coy 830180, B" Coy 835181, "C" Coy 825164, "D" Coy 821158, "S" Coy 823168. A training directive, dated 18 Jan will be found under This provided for cleaning up and checking of kit on the 26th and 27th. This included an organised training programme for Coys till 2 Feb which also included a junior NCOs' Cadre under Capt LW McKay and 2/Lt G Batey.