The Reichswald forest - "Operation Veritable"
(18th January to 13th February 1945)
"By mid-January [1945] it was clear that the German offensive in the Ardennes had been checked and was likely to involve the enemy in very heavy losses in men and equipment. Nevertheless, the Allied high commanders were impatient to resume the offensive and carry the war into Germany. The first step to be taken was the clearance of the Rhineland - the country between the rivers Maas and Rhine - as a preliminary to an assault crossing of the Rhine. This was the operation which the XXX Corps was about to undertake when the German attack in the Ardennes began, and which had to be postponed when the Corps was sent West to guard the crossings over the Meuse.
Now that the threat in the Ardennes was over the XXX Corps, under Command of the First Canadian Army, was to re-assume its Rhineland role. For this operation the assault Divisions were to be the 51st (Highland), 53rd (Welsh), 15th (Scottish), 2nd Canadian and 3rd Canadian. The 43rd (Wessex) and Guards Armoured Divisions were to be in reserve." (Barc56, p.112)
19th-28th January 1945: Helmond, preparations
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All things come to an end especially the good things. Moved north into Holland to Helmond. |
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Everyone browned off after having such a time in Huy. Once more in airy billets on the bare floor of a front-parlour. People here were old and distant. Woman was very very fussy about the state of her room. |
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If she only knew what we were saying. The only redeeming feature of the town was the Black market. Held on to my 600 ago in the hope of taking a ? with me. Could have had a lovely time if I had only had the nerve to take it. |
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Another feature of the place was the NAAF! One of the best I have ever seen. Only trouble was it only provided tea and cakes. Thousands seemed to queue there each day. Bought a scarf for 2 oure in the town paid for by Black market-money. I was only paid out in 400 francs which wasn't any good for leave. So sold a few things to get 15 4 19 |
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Helmond Preparing for tomorrow the great day - leave |
"On the 19th January 1945 the 53rd Division (less the 71st Brigade Group and the 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment) left the neighbourhood of Liege for an area just East of Eindhoven in the area of the First Canadian Army. The reminder of the Division followed the next day. The move was carried out in extreme cold and in face of a biting wind. On arrival the Division was located as follows:
Headquaters 53rd (Welsh) Division - Nunen
71st Bridgade Group - Geldrop
(with 1st Oxford and Bucks at St. Oedenrode)
158th Brigade Group - Helmond
160th Brigade Group - North of Helmond
The Divisional Administrative Group was at Lieshout." (Barc56, p. 112)
"For the next three weeks the Divisions was out of the line conenctrating round Eindhoven and Helmond absorbing reinforcements and training. […] Throughout our stay round Helmond it had been obvious that a big attack was coming off somewhere. Supplies and tanks were continually passing our billets. Was there going to be another Arnhem? Or an assault crossing of the Maas near Venlo and push on to turn the Siegfried line beyond? Plenty of rumors." (Dela96, p.145)The map shows Helmond lying to the Northeast of Eindhoven.
- (Source: Google)
"On 21 January we moved to Hellmond in Holland and settled there for a few days. Then I went on leave to England on 25th, and, of course, had a wonderful time!" (Hugh16, p.106).It is interesting to see, that the author of the diary as well as Major Hughes from the 133rd Field Regiment went on leave aprox. at the same time.
29th January - 14th February 1945: UK, leave
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Started off on leave Left Helmond reached ? about 1200. Train for Calais left about ? on it all night. |
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Calais about 8-0 Boat left at 2-0. Reached London about 7-0. Home by 8-0. What a change to use English. |
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Had great plans for this leave. I ? had it all planned before I left Holland. |
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? I'm writing the diary up at the end of March I have no memory if what I did each day on leave. Wasted time trying to find out about Katherine ? only to find out ? that she had been out of service for some time. Had a ? of the ? all worked out. Went to renew my ? at the Queensbury also on Saturday. Met Joan at Liverpool. |
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? disapointed indeed took her to see "?" and to the ? for dinner. Rushed to ? to meet ? - only to find he had got to Denmark Hill before ? stay overthe weekend was very pleasant. Even though he ? a lot. Pondered a while whether I should phone up ?. Did on Monday. ? arrived too late. Once more on Tuesday when she did arrive. Took her to see "Love in ?" had a shock to find her engagement. |
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On Wed went to ? Hill to her home for tea. ?. ? what a fool I'd been to let Pat go away. Thursday took her to see "? a family" ? time for me. Gave her my present. Went to ? Walked out without paying. |
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I was lucky to have two days extension to my leave for weather reasons. So had Birthday at home instead of travelling back. Left home on night of 9th for ?. Left Dover about 0600 in Calais for 0900. |
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Wait there along day until 2100 before moving off on the long journey to ?. Arrived exhausted after twelve hours in train today. Found no transport for us. So had to stay night. Went around to ? But no money. Today found ? was there. All ? aboard. |
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Spend last night in ? in s'Hertogenbosch. ? last night travelled on to the "A" ? at Nijmegen. Went to see Canadian show at ?. ? ourselves in ?. I would have to spend tonight here as well ?. |
During the leave of the diary-writer the 53rd Division faught the battle for the Reichswald forest west of Kleve.
"[...] This ended for the XXX Corps the first stage of the Rhineland Battle and for the 53rd (Welsh) Division the Battle of the Reichswald Forest. The leading troops had entered the Western edge of the Reichswald on the morning of the 8th February and the Forest had been cleared, although not completely mopped up, by the morning of the 14th - a period of six days. [...] In the Rhineland battle conditions became steadily worse from day to day and, if this could have been forseen in advance, it is likely that the operation would have been postponed. [...] In case of the 53rd Division the difficulties were increased by operating in a thick forest, which usually made it impossible for vehicles to move off the tracks, and also made it inevitable that many of the enemy were left behind by the forward troops to ambush and harass the rear areas.
It is not a exaggeration to say that the successful attack on the Reichswald Forest, under the weather conditions at the time, was an operation unique in military history and a feat of arms of which the 53rd (Welsh) Division, and their supporting troops, were justly proud." (Barc56, p.125-126)