Sword Beach to Bremen., A Veterans tale. Sapper

Hello again forum friends.
What follows illustrates just how certain moves in war can be very unpopular. In fact, to be quite honest, the company bitterly resented the orders we had on our next move. To say these orders were unpopular is an understatement. Many of the men were seething with anger being taken away from their active role. Especially as we seemed to be being used to get someone else out of trouble.

West of Tilburg February 8th. 1945.

As had been forecast, the thaw was beginning to cause the collapse of the road into Divisional HQ at Heide. 400 foot of MAT bridging had to be laid and a great deal of rubble put down. On February 8th. nearly all of the Div HQ vehicles had to be extricated by our armoured D4 Dozer and numerous winch vehicles. On the same day orders were received for the Company to send an Officer representative to the Town Major at Eindhoven, and another to a map reference west of Tilburg. We had also received orders to move to Coorbeekloo near Louvain on February 10th, but now we were warned to move off at 7.30 am, 9th. February, to occupy billets on the outskirts of Eindhoven, and we were there by the evening.

It was then discovered that 246 Field Coy. RE was to come under command of the CRE 2nd. Canadian Army Troops RE, in turn under l3th. Group RE. Captain Edwards made contact with the Canadians, who seemed completely disinterested, and received rather hazy orders to restore the road from Best to St. Oedenrude, which had partially collapsed as a result of the thaw, and had been closed to traffic. Quite evidently some one was cashing in on our experience, and we were not very amused.

Final orders were given by the 2nd Canadian Army Troops RE during the morning of February 10th. and we started work at 1330 hrs. This task consisted of restoring the drainage throughput the whole length. Finally on February the 23rd, we had two days respite for admin. and maintenance during which we had orders that the Division was moving up from Louvain to concentrate in the area of Tilburg.

Consequently we were not surprised to learn that we were to move to the front line area of Goch on the 25th. of February, under command of our habitual 8 Brigade. The OC 246 co RE and the RO1 recce officer went off to recce the area around Goch in advance of the Company move.
Sapper Brian..

 

Hello Forum Friends.
A you will see the company is back in action with a vengeance. For now we are to enter the heartlands of Germany.

It poured with rain on February 25th. as we drove in convoy to a destination at Pfaltzdorf near Goch, it was a dreadful journey, led by Captain Edwards with a permanent feeling of being lost. As we went through Cleeves it was still burning and the whole time we seemed to be in the middle of a battle. When at 2330 hours the Company convoy arrived to relieve a Company of the 25th. Scottish Division, we found that they were not moving out that night, and we were obliged to bivouac in the middle of 30 Corps Gun Area. It rained without a break and we just got wet.

The following day we were ordered to develope the main track, through the woods to the southeast of Goch, which was to form the 8th. Brigade axis for “Operation Heather” due to start next day.

February 26th. saw the end of the work on the Brigade axis... Two àrmoured bulldozers and tipper lorries were busy all day during intermittent shelling:- afterwards we all moved into a bivouac area in the woods 8outh of the Goch-Calcar road.

Operation Heather Goch-Bonninghart The Siegfreid Line February27th to March 5th. 1945.

We had sung many times “We’ll hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line” and now we had reached the point in the Rhineland where we had to break through the Siegfried Line to make progress. The defences were manned by Paratroopers of the German 8th. Parachute Regiment.

The 3rd. Division attacked, on February 27th. with 8 Brigade (as usual!) and 9 Brigade leading and each of the Battalions were provided with one sapper section as mine clearance parties. On the left, behind the 1st Battallion the Suffolks, a track had to be cleared through the thick woodland with an armoured D.7 dozer to enable the tanks of the 6th. Guards Brigade to follow in support of the advance. Two fascines carried by an Armoured Vehicle RE, which we called AVRE, were used to plug a big hole left when a Churchill tank bogged down where the track crossed a bog.

The actions brought heavy return mortar fire from the German Paras. On the right of the 8 Brigade axis the track forward was continually improved behind the East Yorks with a D.7 and the tippers until at around 1700 hours the task was taken over by Corps Troops and an RE Company of the 53rd. (Welsh) Division.

By nightfall the Company was back In the bivouac area, not a very pleasant spot, none of us liked being in the forest when we were subjected to mortar fire or 88 mm shells, both of which had a nasty habit of detonating against the higher branches over our heads. Lieut Charles Fotheringham carried out a recce of the bridge over the Muhlen Fleuth, which was the important objective of the East Yorks, and finding it wired for demolition by the enemy, out on the bridge, and despite the attentions of the enemy, disconnected the explosive charges whilst he was under considerable small arms and mortar fire. Casualties that day, 3 Sàppers wounded. Lieut.Fotheringham awarded the Military Cross later.

Now things are going to get a bit nasty! For the Germans were now defending their homeland. Very different from fighting in occupied countries.
Sapper Brian

 

Hello Friends.

I can never understand why the film makers never tried to film the numerous and quite fascinating stories that can be found in the British military history. Take for instance, my last bit about the officer that disconnected the explosive wiring on the bridge, in the face of fierce enmy opposition. That was not the only time that it had happened, as you will learn later. But all that his heroics got, was a few brief words in the company history. A matter of statement of fact. Nothing else. No one told the true story of the fighting or the deeds of brave men. Just a statement that the "Lt won the MC for his work on the bridge."

The first few moments of the film "Seeking private Ryan" were realistic to such a degree that many Veterans found it difficult to watch. then again with the "Band of Brothers" there was a certain amount of realism. but for heavens sake!. Why no British films? for there is so much that would make wonderful films.

I once e mailed the BBC asking them why? and got a very disinterested reply.

Tell me? what are the forums views on this subject? for many legends of D Day and the subsequent battles, have never been told from the British side, resulting in some very odd ideas of just what did happen, in truth. Not by the legends that have grown in time by constant telling, and are now looked upon as historic fact
I would be very interested to know your opinions
Sapper

 

I fully agree with you Sapper, there is just NOT enough movies made dealing with British experiances and or personalities.

Although there is one that comes to mind that I thoroughly enjoyed and it had to do with a British Sergeant-Major in the Royal Artillery.

This movie had Dirk Bogarde as Sergeant Major Coward and he was a POW that tried to escape from a camp a few times--finally succeeding to do so with a Corporal. I dont know how accurate this movie was but it did have the Sergeant Major as its technical advisor. The excellent movie was: "The Password is Courage." I liked it from the first time I saw it when I was just kneehigh to a grasshopper.

Another movie that comes to mind that has to do with the British in ww2 that I liked very much is: "Too Late The Hero" with Cliff Robertson, Michael Caine (as the sole survivor of the British patrol) and one of my all-time favorite actors: Harry Andrews--as the British Camp Commander.

A third but older goodie that comes to mind is: "Dunkirk" with Sir John Mills as the Ex-Titanic 2nd Watch Officer--Lightoller. Lightoller during the Dunkirk Evacuations, used his personal yacht to help rescue British and French Soldiers from Dunkirk. Its been a long time since I last watched this movie--but if I remember correctly--I think it does center around on Lightoller and his actions.

I would not only like to see more ww2 movies with British personalities but also Korean War movies with British forces and personalities in them.

PS, Im cheating here a bit but, I liked Zulu very much--even tho its not the war your talking about, but still a great one. And finally the new version of the classic British movie: "The Four Feathers" It was VERY well done and I though better than the original--and I liked the original very much as Sir John Mills was in it as well.

[ 14. December 2002, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

Hi Friends.
From now on, the company will be in constant non-stop action. Battles that will terminate in the final victory in Bremen. This period is probably the most action packed time of the companies war in North West Europe.

A time of unprecedented action. The Rhine crossing, the capture of vital bridges, The bridge at kattenturm. The final loss of our beloved “Coles Crane” that had seen action right up in the front line. Stopped with a solid tank shot!

Where before, the assaults and battles were counted, one after the other, now it became a matter of a fast action packed fighting, where each day, one never knew where we would finish, or what spectacular fighting would take place. The action was so fast that each day had to be documented, where previously, we had taken in one action at a time.
Sapper Brian.

 

Brian :

Is your unit still up against the 8th Fallshirm troops at this time ?

E

 

Hi Erich, Yes while the company stayed in that area.It was not the first time, if you remember, we tangled with the 'Paras' each time they had
come off the worse in the conflict.
Sapper

 

If I remember right in reading some old texts, both the British and the German para's came off worse for wear during 1945 through northern Germany, attack, retreat, attack, retreat, it was endless as you know ! Will have to dig up some more information for further questions.... keep the narrative going sir !

E

 

Hi Erich.
from this time on, there would be only advances from the British army, admitted, there would be times when the German resistance would be so severe that our advance would be held for a short time, but it would soon be back on the rails. nevertheless, there were times when the enemy fought with the ferocity born out of desperation and despair.

I often wonder why they fought so hard against the Western alliance, when the horror that awaited them with the advancing Russians? For all the terrible crimes the Germans had commited in the Soviet Union was to come home to them in the form of retribution in no uncertain terms.

I am at present reading a rather large book entitled "Berlin" the fall of the City and the terrible revenge that took place in the city. NOT NICE! If the British were so bad, why did all the refugees try their hardest to get into the western allies sphere?

But there would not be any reverses in the British armies drive towards the city of Bremen.
One thing they continued to do, and that is the constant cratering of the roads and putting up numerous road blocks, some of the road blocks were very effective, but we removed them with explosives, or with a "Crocodile" in no time at
all.
Sapper

 

Brian :

8th Fallshirmjäger Division for one seems quite understrength.

regiments 22, 24 and 32. A signals battalion and a pioneer battalion with some other thrown in units. Ad-hoc.

formed in January of 45 at Köln-Wahn and fought in Holland and in April of 45 was at Ems. Weser and into the Ruhr-Pocket.

E

 

Hi Brian,

Been off-line for a while, so am catching up on all your recent postings - as always, of much interest.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas.

 

Hi Sommecourt.
Thanks for your good wishes. may I sincerely wish you and all of yours a great Christmas and a Wonderful new year that applies to all those who have followed the progress of an ordinary English mans war on this site.

Otto did write to me, and ask about some of the members using my memoirs to write a book. That is the last thing I want.

The whole object of the pages that I have subscribed, is to make freely available to all, what it was like for an ordinary service man in one of the most traumatic periods in World History. It was never meant to be used or copied, certainly not for profit. I would have liked to have continued with subscribing to the site, But I am very wary now that someone will take advantage of these pages and use them for their own ends.

There is much more to come, but I have held back in case what I have written here is "Lifted" If I know that my private memoirs would be respected, then I would willingly continue with the story.

In any case Thank you everyone, for taking the interest in a very ordinary old Veteran. I wish you all well. If I am assured that my memoirs will not be copied. then I shall continue.
Sapper.

 

Ill be away til friday but--I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Take care and Cheers--Carl.

 

Best Wishes to Mr Brian Guy, and everyone else!!!

 

Hi Forum.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Now that Winter was coming to an end. the assault on the German homeland moved so fast that each day brought about a completely different situation, things were moving to a tremendous climax, By now, the green and innocent young men that landed on the Beaches back in Normandy,now had become hardened and experienced fighters. This will be interspersed with what was happening back in England, as those returning from active service, struggled to come to terms with being disabled war veterans. Veterans that nobody wanted.
Sapper

 

Thats a difficult request on the Net, where everything is up for grabs and will be used by the lazy cyber-geeks out there - not everyone is like Otto!

If you are seriously worried about copyright, then I would go and see a lawyer in the New Year. For a one-off consultation fee (and being in the UK you might even qualify for some aspect of legal aid?) you could seek professional advice on getting what you want copyrighted or at least seek the legal assertion that you own the intellectual rights over it.

If you had your book published in the UK this would be automatic.

If I can help with any aspect of this let me know.

 

Brian, a belated Merry Christmas and a bright Happy New Year. I did think as we chatted when you started your memories with us that this was for your grandchildren ? And with that once you finish here I would like to see your storie(s) posted be in the archiv section and frozen so no one would be able to make a copy for personal or other useage. This is of course if Otto is able to do this......

best wishes ahead ! Thumbs up

Erich

 

Hi Friends from the forum.

Thank you Sommecourt and Erich. I suppose it was a bit naïve of me (daft even) to think that all that I contributed to the forum would not be copied or used. In some way or other. I can only put it down to my background, I live in Dorset, England. A particularly lovely area, of stone houses and rolling hills and valleys. But what is more to the point, an area where we, in our younger days, never locked our doors or windows, not even at night. It was unheard of! The tradesmen would come into the house and take payment left for them, then close the doors behind them. We also had that wonderful way of life, where we helped each other, without thought of reward.

Sadly, we now have to lock and close our windows, but the spirit of helping each other still persist in this area. And, even more important, trust. I still believe that our way of life was a damn sight better than it is today. Naïve? Of course I am! But, it was the kind of life that was very dear to us. The society we were prepared to fight and make sacrifices for.

While I am chatting aimlessly, I would like to pay a tribute to Otto, I think his forum is quite marvellous and a credit to him. I was quite astonished to see the pictures I sent him placed on the site. It really is wonderful. I did send him another picture just for fun, of this old gentleman in bow tie and dress suit when he was young. God! was I ever that young? Thanks Otto!

I have more to add to the site, in a day or two. Continuing the battle for Goch and onwards.
Sapper Brian.

 

Hi Brian,

It's not naive at all - you'll find that most people who visit here regularly think as you do - we all love to help each other to help keep alive the memory of the generation who fought in WW2. But sadly there are those who do things for a less honourable motive - and on the internet its easy. Having two websites I have seen material from both of them ripped off by others and 'ghosted' on their site with no reference to me being the author of it!

Perhaps Otto could put a copyright symbol and a date against what he has already published - at least that would be a start?

 

I completely agree with Sommecourt--he says it all--at least hes speaking for me as well as others who arent posting yet.