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Monday 4 December 1944 Next Next Start Location: End Location: A very quiet day. The OP in the KASTEEL had nothing to report. The 33 Fd Regt OP in the house at 833291 saw a fair amount of movement during the day in the WELL - ELSTEREN area, and also smoke coming from some of the houses there. The flooding was fairly extensive in that area on the Eastern bank especially, sometimes to a depth of over a thousand yards. D-Day+ 181 4 December 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Monday 4 December 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

SMAKT Saturday 4 November 1944 Next Next Start Location: SMAKT End Location: ST ANTONIS A very quiet morning spent in handing over to 2 RUR and A Coy 2 Lincolns. The hand over was completed by 1530 hrs. At 1430 Bn HQ opened at 7253138 just outside ST ANTONIS. The whole Bn were under cover and were all comfortable, but billets were not as good as at ST HUBERT. Coy areas were as follows:- A Coy 740358, B Coy 728374, C Coy 731376, D Coy 735364, S Coy 724372. The routine for this area was 48 hours rest and sleep, and the remaining 72 hours spent in cleaning weapons, ammunition and kit and checking G.1098 stores and equipment. The Bn was at three hours notice. D-Day+ 151 4 November 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Saturday 4 November 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Thursday 25 January 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: 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. D-Day+ 233 25 January 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Thursday 25 January 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

ST HUBERT Wednesday 11 October 1944 Next Next Start Location: ST HUBERT End Location: ST HUBERT Capt K Taylor took over the duties of Adjutant from Capt JB Boyd , who went to 'A' Coy as 2i/c. As yesterday, a film show was given in S Coy office at 1500 hrs. The PRI account was audited. An 'O' Group Conference was held at 1800 hrs. Contact patrols as usual. D-Day+ 127 11 October 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Wednesday 11 October 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Saturday 20 January 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: 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. D-Day+ 228 20 January 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Saturday 20 January 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Saturday 24 February 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: The Bn 'O' Group left for the GOCH area at 0200 hrs, arriving at HEIDHAUSEN 944445 at about mid-day. The plan was to take over posns from 10 HLI of 15(5) Div as soon as the Bn arrived. The 2IC arrived with the Bn at 1730 hrs and take over was completed by 2330 hrs. Posns were as follows :- HQ 944445, "A" Coy 951432, "B" Coy 949436, "C" Coy 953435, "D" Coy 949439. D-Day+ 263 24 February 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Saturday 24 February 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Sunday 28 January 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: Separate Services for different denominations in the Church Hall. The Corps Comd, Lieut General Barker paid the Bn a visit, was introduced to Coy Comds and stayed to lunch. D-Day+ 236 28 January 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Sunday 28 January 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

SMAKT Tuesday 31 October 1944 Next Next Start Location: SMAKT End Location: SMAKT Little mortaring during the morning. At 1145 hrs C Coy saw a tracked vehicle moving in area of STEEL FACTORY, and also shouting from the same area. This place was engaged by RA and 4.2 mortars, eventually setting fire to the buildings, and small arms ammunition was heard exploding. Targets at 800326 were also engaged by the RA shortly afterwards. At 1850 hrs a cross section on an enemy mortar at 807330 was obtained, and duly stonked by one regiment of Artillery and a Coy of 4.2 mortars. A Coy standing patrol had nothing to report. D Coy standing patrol reported having heard sounds of movement in the houses opposite them on the East of the railway at 799316, and one bosche was seen walking from the Church at 799315 into a house opposite them. A Coy recce patrol from 1830-2100 reported no sign of the enemy on the West of the railway, but heard a metallic sound as of a shovel from just over the railway at approximately 799319, and the sound of a woman and a child weeping 200 yards further East. D Coy recce patrol reported road-river bridge intact but rail-river bridge blown at 799316, the water in the river at that point being 5 to 6 feet deep. They also saw several of the enemy walking about in the houses opposite them at 799316. C Coy patrol which lay up in the wood at 797324 for half an hour heard movement on the railway and in the bushes near the railway immediately to their front. Total casualties from 14 Oct: Offrs: Maj AJ Rennie wounded (since rejoined) Capt TJ Young missing (PW). Other Ranks: 32 wounded 10 killed 20 missing. Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1. D-Day+ 147 31 October 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Tuesday 31 October 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

SMAKT Wednesday 1 November 1944 Next Next Start Location: SMAKT End Location: SMAKT At 0320 C Coy asked for Q3 to be put down (steel factory). An enemy patrol of six or seven men was pinned down by fire from 14 Pl in the area just North of the strip of trees 796323. The patrol fired a white and then a green verey light from the area of the rly in front of 14 Pl farm, where upon 14 Pl were heavily stonked by 8.1 mortar. Our 3" mortars then fired 50 rounds on area of the rly at 799325. Then Q3 followed by the Southern half of 943 DF task by 33 Fd Regt. At 0620 C Coy heard enemy movement on the East of rly and asked for Q3 and Q1. The 33 Fd Regt obliged us promptly. C Coy reported that they had heard moaning coming from the area where they had shot up the enemy patrol. A short time afterwards C Coy fired on two of the enemy seen dragging a third with them. Shortly after mid-day A Coy reported hearing movement of heavy tracked vehicles at 800322. As we had been told to expect a counter attack, this sounded ominous. We stonked the spot heavily however and the movement ceased. At 1630 A Coy standing patrol reported one explosion 200 yards to the East of the level crossing at 799320. There was no report as of a gun so we concluded that it was a demolition. At 1845 a rapid stonk was put down on HOEVE VICTOR. Several sentries reported having seen a machine like a glider going from North to South across our front at about 1930 hrs. D Coy standing patrol during daylight reported occasional signs of enemy movement, however there was nothing new of importance. D Coy recce patrol under Sgt Batey were fired on by five of the enemy in the South East corner of orchard forward of D Coy. D-Day+ 148 1 November 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Wednesday 1 November 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Tuesday 13 March 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: OPs saw movement mostly at 1050 and 0951. A considerable amount of civilian movement was also seen round the farms on the EAST bank of the river. One section of German soldiers were seen at 094513 and engaged by 33 Fd Regt and also by 3 inch mortars. The steam tram was seen in the area of HALDERN 1153. The enemy were seen to be occupying positions in REES itself and also constructing positions both EAST and WEST of the town near the river bank. During the day a number of RE officers, and a few high ranking officers visited the OPs and looked across the river. D-Day+ 280 13 March 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Tuesday 13 March 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

Wednesday 14 March 1945 Next Next Start Location: End Location: There was a thick mist all day which restricted visibility to less than 100 yards, except for short intervals at midday when the right bank of the river could be seen. Individuals, probably civilians, were seen on the road from REES to HAFFEN 1149. Otherwise there was nothing of interest. D-Day+ 281 14 March 1945 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Wednesday 14 March 1945 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =

ST HUBERT Sunday 8 October 1944 Next Next Start Location: ST HUBERT End Location: ST HUBERT Op 'FRATERNISE' cancelled in the meantime. The Bn makes preparation for a move. The move is cancelled for the present. Training as per Coy Training Programme. Patrols as usual. D-Day+ 124 8 October 1944 Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts) Died on this day = 0 Sunday 8 October 1944 Previous Next 0 Wounded on this day =