A similar situation was experienced by by the leading platoon, they came under heavy fire from a wood between themselves and the objective, but getting into the wood they worked forward employing the tacts of throwing a grenade at a position and then rushing it. The third platoon, after being fired upon along its line of approach, occupied its objective, a mill without further difficulty. No further opposition was encountered in gaining the second objective, the western edge of the wood some distance Northwest of the mill.
A final objective, a wood to the south of the second, was more difficult to take. The enemy was initially attacked with 2 inch mortar and Piat fire and then finally dislodged when they were charged by a platoon. The Company then consolidated its objectives, digging in under fire from the German held side of the Meuse.
The Germans still retained a perimeter defence of East Wanssum, which they had no intention of giving up. Therefore, the second attack on the Wanssum pocket began at 0100 hrs on December the 1st. Brilliant moonlight proved good for visibility, but any movement could be seen as if in daylight. The leading platoon from ' B ' Company advanced about three hundred yards and was then fired on by a machine gun from the direction of Wanssum. This fire was at once returned, but then three more machine guns began firing and the platoon was pinned down.
Meanwhile the other two platoons were at the start line. The first platoon had made another attempt to get forward but had suffered casualties and so the order to disengage and to return and dig in with the rest of the Company was sent forward. After a long and arduous crawl under low machine gun fire throughout, the first platoon returned to the starting point.
' D ' Company had a similar experience when its leading section crossed the Blitterswijk-Wanssum Road to clear the wood on the far side. Faced with such opposition, the order to call off the operation for the night was given, as it was clear that the removal of this pocket would demand tanks with probably greater infantry support.
On the morning of the 2nd December, cicilian intelligence was received that the Germans had withdrawn across the Meuse, although this appeared to be contrary to the belief that the Germans were intent on holding their bridgehead as tenaciously as ever. However, they had withdrawn and so Wanssum was occupied the same afternoon. On the evening of December 20th, 1944, the Brigade was ordered to move to the coast within thirty six-hours and go to the Ardennes, where the Germans were making a massive push through the allied lines. After a cold and unpleasant journey the Battalion arrived at Dinant on Christmas Day. The task allotted to the Rifles was to guard the bridge over the Meuse, which had been unsuccessfully rushed the previous night. On Boxing Day they crossed the Meuse and took up positions northeast of the town, where they stayed until January 1st, in the open under artic conditions, waiting for the attack that never came.
The Germans were as weary as the men of the Rifles with the watch on the Meuse, and were determined to break the monotony puctually at midnight on New Year's Eve, they opened up with a riot of small arms, mortar and artillery fire along the whole length of the front. Tracer soared into the air and the roar of the guns sounded for five minutes like the prelude to an assault. Next morning at 1000hrs, German fighters, swooped over the Battalion's positions. After the Germans had been halted in the Ardennes, the Allies took up the offensive again and the Second Army attacked north and east of Geilenkirchen.
Towards the end of January, the Battalion readied itself for a night patrol, whose objective was a group of houses called Hoeken, which lay between the hostile village of Lomm and the east bank of the river, opposite the right hand Company in the village of Lottum. The intention was to discover whether Hoeken was held by night and if so in what strength. If possible the patrol was to take a prisoner.
At 2000 hrs on January 31st, the patrol went forward across the river at the very moment of the crash of the opening salvo, which hid the noise of the paddles of the patrol's boat as the hit the water. In five minutes the whole party were on the other bank. Hoeken consisted of five houses set in a line some 250 yards back from the river. What used to be the gardens of these houses stretched 75 yards down towards the river and were hedged off parallel to the river line forming an enclosure about 100 yards long. South of this enclosure was an orchard. Between the orchard and the enclosure was a track leading up to the southernmost house of Hoeken. After successfully reconnoitring the enemy's position the patrol returned, but had not been able to take a prisoner. Four nights later, a second expedition was undertaken. The patrolling party crawled forward to the edge of the orchard and soon began to see and hear activity. This patrol was more successful and captured two prisoners. One of these prisoners was the Company runner, who knew even more about his own and neighbouring positions than an intelligent runner might be expected to know.
On February 6th the Rifles were moved to a reserve position. The new Battalion area lay astride the main road from
Louvain to Malines. ' A ' ' B ' and ' D ' Companies were stretched out along the road itself, ' C ' Company some half a mile from tha main road on the west side, while Battalaion Headquarters, ' S ' Company and ' A ' and ' B ' echelons were established in Thildonk, a peaceful little Belgian village about a mile to the east of the main road.
On February 22nd, the Battalion was ordered to relieve a Brigade of 15 ( Scottish ) Division a few miles southeast of Goch and continue the advance in its place.
The attack began on February 27th at 1000 hrs with ' D ' Company right and ' A ' Company left. The Germans were completely demoralised and many were captured. This action rounded off the month and the Battalion's part of the operation ' Veritable ' which was concluded in the first few days of March.
Prior to the crossing of the Rhine, the 3rd British Infantry Division took up positions along the Rhine from Rees to Emmerich. The Battalion was allotted a front north-east of Calcar and south-west of Rees. The night of March 24th-25th was the opening of the attack, beginning with artillery, which continued without a break from 1700 to 2100 hrs.
However the 2nd Battalion did not cross the Rhine until two days after the crossing by 51st ( Highland ) Division. At 1600 hrs on March 27th the Battalion was ordered to cross the river by the bridge at Rees immediately, to relieve a Battalion of the 51st ( Highland ) Division that night.
At the River Aa, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an assault river crossing on the left-hand side of the Main Bridge axis on March 9th. ' A ' Company crossed without incident and formed up on the riverside of a steep embankment. Then, advancing swiftly they captured a number of Germans. On the left, ' D ' Company crossed and established themselves quickly into a tight bridgehead. Soon, however shooting began on the left flank when a sizeable patrol came running into the Rifle's positions, resulting in the capture of the entire patrol. As the night progressed there were many instances of confusion on the part of the Germans and many more prisoners were taken. After resting for a few days near Bocholt, on April 3rd the Battalion moved again and for two days followed along the axis of the Guards' Armoured Division. At Lingen there were several German Officer Cadet Training Units and so the town was defended fanatically. Gradually resistance organised itself so that every street and every house had to be thoroughly cleared, which the complete Division, had to be deployed to do.
The Battalion's first part in the attack on Lingen was to relieve 2 K.S.L.I of their bridgehead over Ems Canal, releasing them to be employed in clearing part of the town. It was not a comfortable assignment, for the Class 40 Bridge was under constant shellfire and approaching it was risky, but at 1800 hrs the Battalion was ordered to move down into the heart of Lingen. This was in preperation for the attack through the foremost position of 185 Infantry Brigade at first light the following day.
The attack on Lingen began badly for ' C ' Company, who quickly were pinned down as they proceeded to their objective. The Company Commander was mortally wounded when two Germans managed to infiltrate Platoon H.Q before being killed. However, under covering fire provided by Sherman tanks, two of the platoons managed to successfully clear the remaining houses, while the third platoon was able to establish itself well beyond the Company Obejective. ' A ' Company, who had already begun their advance and were successfully clearing houses because the enemy could not withdraw due to the presence of ' C ' Company. Objectives were soon taken and consolidated and finally after some fierce house fighting, a patrol from ' A ' Company finally cleared the way through to ' C ' Company.
At this point in the battle, ' D ' Company was passing through ' C ' Company to reach their objective without opposition and ' B ' Company with one troop of Sherman tanks, had been sent to occupy a triangle of roads on the Battalion's right flank . . .
A final objective, a wood to the south of the second, was more difficult to take. The enemy was initially attacked with 2 inch mortar and Piat fire and then finally dislodged when they were charged by a platoon. The Company then consolidated its objectives, digging in under fire from the German held side of the Meuse.
The Germans still retained a perimeter defence of East Wanssum, which they had no intention of giving up. Therefore, the second attack on the Wanssum pocket began at 0100 hrs on December the 1st. Brilliant moonlight proved good for visibility, but any movement could be seen as if in daylight. The leading platoon from ' B ' Company advanced about three hundred yards and was then fired on by a machine gun from the direction of Wanssum. This fire was at once returned, but then three more machine guns began firing and the platoon was pinned down.
Meanwhile the other two platoons were at the start line. The first platoon had made another attempt to get forward but had suffered casualties and so the order to disengage and to return and dig in with the rest of the Company was sent forward. After a long and arduous crawl under low machine gun fire throughout, the first platoon returned to the starting point.
' D ' Company had a similar experience when its leading section crossed the Blitterswijk-Wanssum Road to clear the wood on the far side. Faced with such opposition, the order to call off the operation for the night was given, as it was clear that the removal of this pocket would demand tanks with probably greater infantry support.
On the morning of the 2nd December, cicilian intelligence was received that the Germans had withdrawn across the Meuse, although this appeared to be contrary to the belief that the Germans were intent on holding their bridgehead as tenaciously as ever. However, they had withdrawn and so Wanssum was occupied the same afternoon. On the evening of December 20th, 1944, the Brigade was ordered to move to the coast within thirty six-hours and go to the Ardennes, where the Germans were making a massive push through the allied lines. After a cold and unpleasant journey the Battalion arrived at Dinant on Christmas Day. The task allotted to the Rifles was to guard the bridge over the Meuse, which had been unsuccessfully rushed the previous night. On Boxing Day they crossed the Meuse and took up positions northeast of the town, where they stayed until January 1st, in the open under artic conditions, waiting for the attack that never came.
The Germans were as weary as the men of the Rifles with the watch on the Meuse, and were determined to break the monotony puctually at midnight on New Year's Eve, they opened up with a riot of small arms, mortar and artillery fire along the whole length of the front. Tracer soared into the air and the roar of the guns sounded for five minutes like the prelude to an assault. Next morning at 1000hrs, German fighters, swooped over the Battalion's positions. After the Germans had been halted in the Ardennes, the Allies took up the offensive again and the Second Army attacked north and east of Geilenkirchen.
Towards the end of January, the Battalion readied itself for a night patrol, whose objective was a group of houses called Hoeken, which lay between the hostile village of Lomm and the east bank of the river, opposite the right hand Company in the village of Lottum. The intention was to discover whether Hoeken was held by night and if so in what strength. If possible the patrol was to take a prisoner.
At 2000 hrs on January 31st, the patrol went forward across the river at the very moment of the crash of the opening salvo, which hid the noise of the paddles of the patrol's boat as the hit the water. In five minutes the whole party were on the other bank. Hoeken consisted of five houses set in a line some 250 yards back from the river. What used to be the gardens of these houses stretched 75 yards down towards the river and were hedged off parallel to the river line forming an enclosure about 100 yards long. South of this enclosure was an orchard. Between the orchard and the enclosure was a track leading up to the southernmost house of Hoeken. After successfully reconnoitring the enemy's position the patrol returned, but had not been able to take a prisoner. Four nights later, a second expedition was undertaken. The patrolling party crawled forward to the edge of the orchard and soon began to see and hear activity. This patrol was more successful and captured two prisoners. One of these prisoners was the Company runner, who knew even more about his own and neighbouring positions than an intelligent runner might be expected to know.
On February 6th the Rifles were moved to a reserve position. The new Battalion area lay astride the main road from
Louvain to Malines. ' A ' ' B ' and ' D ' Companies were stretched out along the road itself, ' C ' Company some half a mile from tha main road on the west side, while Battalaion Headquarters, ' S ' Company and ' A ' and ' B ' echelons were established in Thildonk, a peaceful little Belgian village about a mile to the east of the main road.
On February 22nd, the Battalion was ordered to relieve a Brigade of 15 ( Scottish ) Division a few miles southeast of Goch and continue the advance in its place.
The attack began on February 27th at 1000 hrs with ' D ' Company right and ' A ' Company left. The Germans were completely demoralised and many were captured. This action rounded off the month and the Battalion's part of the operation ' Veritable ' which was concluded in the first few days of March.
Prior to the crossing of the Rhine, the 3rd British Infantry Division took up positions along the Rhine from Rees to Emmerich. The Battalion was allotted a front north-east of Calcar and south-west of Rees. The night of March 24th-25th was the opening of the attack, beginning with artillery, which continued without a break from 1700 to 2100 hrs.
However the 2nd Battalion did not cross the Rhine until two days after the crossing by 51st ( Highland ) Division. At 1600 hrs on March 27th the Battalion was ordered to cross the river by the bridge at Rees immediately, to relieve a Battalion of the 51st ( Highland ) Division that night.
At the River Aa, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an assault river crossing on the left-hand side of the Main Bridge axis on March 9th. ' A ' Company crossed without incident and formed up on the riverside of a steep embankment. Then, advancing swiftly they captured a number of Germans. On the left, ' D ' Company crossed and established themselves quickly into a tight bridgehead. Soon, however shooting began on the left flank when a sizeable patrol came running into the Rifle's positions, resulting in the capture of the entire patrol. As the night progressed there were many instances of confusion on the part of the Germans and many more prisoners were taken. After resting for a few days near Bocholt, on April 3rd the Battalion moved again and for two days followed along the axis of the Guards' Armoured Division. At Lingen there were several German Officer Cadet Training Units and so the town was defended fanatically. Gradually resistance organised itself so that every street and every house had to be thoroughly cleared, which the complete Division, had to be deployed to do.
The Battalion's first part in the attack on Lingen was to relieve 2 K.S.L.I of their bridgehead over Ems Canal, releasing them to be employed in clearing part of the town. It was not a comfortable assignment, for the Class 40 Bridge was under constant shellfire and approaching it was risky, but at 1800 hrs the Battalion was ordered to move down into the heart of Lingen. This was in preperation for the attack through the foremost position of 185 Infantry Brigade at first light the following day.
The attack on Lingen began badly for ' C ' Company, who quickly were pinned down as they proceeded to their objective. The Company Commander was mortally wounded when two Germans managed to infiltrate Platoon H.Q before being killed. However, under covering fire provided by Sherman tanks, two of the platoons managed to successfully clear the remaining houses, while the third platoon was able to establish itself well beyond the Company Obejective. ' A ' Company, who had already begun their advance and were successfully clearing houses because the enemy could not withdraw due to the presence of ' C ' Company. Objectives were soon taken and consolidated and finally after some fierce house fighting, a patrol from ' A ' Company finally cleared the way through to ' C ' Company.
At this point in the battle, ' D ' Company was passing through ' C ' Company to reach their objective without opposition and ' B ' Company with one troop of Sherman tanks, had been sent to occupy a triangle of roads on the Battalion's right flank . . .
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