See my PDF on Major Sale's Varsity photos for a possible location - Mehrhooger Str. approaching Hamminkeln. Major Sale - Op Varsity Photos.pdf - Icedrive Regards ...
Thanks very much, Cee! So you've seen both those photos already! I don't have the war diary for 3/4 CLY for the day. I assume from their direction of travel that they drove through Hamminkeln before sending however much of their force (I think the whole regiment) north.
Early this spring. I took photos of the building before they started - through the builder's fence, though.
Both? I'm only interested in photos taken by Sale in the Airborne sector. Check out NAM for what follows maybe? Online Collection | National Army Museum, London Regards ...
Their war diary mentioned here. (Actually a Hamminkeln photo, March 26th.) ''A' Squadron moving out of Brunen', Germany, 1945 | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London Regards ...
One possibility as you suggest is the 3/4 CLY enter the Airborne sector then push north to engage in battle in the area you are interested in. They then return and move into Hamminkeln and area. Perhaps Major Sale only took photos in the relatively secure Airborne zones? Regards ...
I don't know enough about their movements to be sure. Although, there was a comment somewhere about the road from Hamminkeln close to the river being too dangerous to use because of 88s on the other side, so if 3/4 CLY had to move south from the bridge to Hamminkeln, they might have driven south on a route further to the west, and then entered Hamminkeln along the road on which the tanks were photographed. PS a little google searching led me here: 3rd County of London Yeomanry (3rd Sharpshooters) 26/3/45 0600 - Regiment moved to area 1951, RHQ contacted RHQ of 44th RTR at 199509 and the Regiment took over from them. C Sqn were in support of 8th RSF, 44 Bde, 15 (S) Div, B Sqn to area 302510 in support of 6th KOSB who had just been heavily counter-attacked. A Sqn under command Royal Scots of 44 Bde moved to area HAMMINKELN 215487, there shooting up enemy movement incl an 88mm gun. The Sqn was spasmodically shelled an mortared. They lay low during daylight, but at 1900 put in a planned attack, with the inf and 4th RHA support, to 197523. Opposition was encountered by all types of enemy fire, and some casualties inflicted on the Sqn. 2300 - Regiment leaguered at 199495. Claims:- 200+ POW, 15 MT, 1 88mm gun. Casualties:- 2 ORs killed, 1 officer wounded. 27/3/45 1300 - Regiment under command 53 (W) Div, moved with 4th RWF in Kangaroos, B Sqn with A Coy, C Sqn with C Coy, RHQ with BHQ and A Sqn with B Coy. Objective was high ground East of BOCHOLT at 153576, the route being RINGENBURG 2250 - 243511 - 239525 - 255552. B Sqn advanced to 243511 under covering arty fire, took their objective and a handful of POWs. One tank was KO'd by AP fire. Regimental Recce Tp had previously closed to 500 yards of the objective. Regiment leaguered just short of objective. Claims:- 39 POWs Casualties:- 1 OR wounded
Well from the entry for 3/26, it looks like the squadron (A) that drove to Hamminkeln was not involved in the fighting at the bridge.
Hmm. This is what the engineers said about the bridging requirements (and I like the comment at the end) (26 March, 2000) O.C. reached RSF Bn HQ. With 3 sniper guides proceeded across country on to site. All quiet. Bridgehead 400 yards deep. Measured gap with fence wire. 70 foot Bailey needed. All previous reports hopelessly misleading. Lesson - you must have an RE officer to see it himself. From: https://www.15thscottishdivisionwar...d/29af12_3296576a66e44fdc945093dc63cb465c.pdf There's an interesting element in their war diary that the bridging materiel allocated for this was not yet across the Rhine, so they used some from 53rd Div. And it just generally helps me understand that they put in a lot of work to get it done. As alberk probably recalls, the engineers' convoy had to dash along a road uncomfortably close to the Issel and not really fully secure, because the rain had made the lesser roads impractical.
Some more random observations/thoughts. I'm looking now at information corroborating a bit in 99 Battery's report: Late afternoon counterattack from NE against right side of bridgehead. Enemy heavily engaged by friendly artillery and direct fire from 99 Bty’s chargers and SP guns. Again the arrival of tanks complete the rout. During this attack orders were given to J Troop to stand by to move at short notice to area 201528 to cover bridge at point-blank range should companies in the perimeter be overrun or forced to withdraw. Interesting to note one of those Valentine tank chargers in combat! J Troop were with the Royal Scots south/west of the bridge, while I and L had deployed with the infantry across the bridgehead. Relevant messages from 44 Brigade's logs: 1705 RSF to 44: RSF request use of RS 17 pr SP to knock out windmill OP at 196536. (8 RS asked to arrange this if possible.) [This windmill was NW of bridgehead on west bank, opposite Kuppershof. I would guess that the Fusiliers were being bombarded by the Germans before their attack went in] 1715 KOSB: KOSB report snipers in ho 206542 & say they can cope [this was north of the bridgehead] 1730 Counter attack on ELIZABETH. Two coys KOSB moving to RSF area & sending comd ahead for orders. One tp A Tk in sp RS. [I think ELIZABETH must be the right side of the bridgehead, I think around 206532] 1730 B 1 MX : Now firing DF five minutes intense thereafter normal. Moving DF down into wood in view of penetration. [This confused me a bit - what artillery regiment was this? - but when I looked at 15th Division's OOB, I think it must be 1st Battalion Middlesex MG Regiment 1750 181 Matters in hand on LEFT but still sticky on RIGHT [this was the brigade's usual field artillery regiment] 1753 LO 2: SUNRAY 158 wishes to meet your SUNRAY at your locn. ANSWER: he is not here but at RSF [so Brigadier Cumming-Bruce had moved up to stay in touch with what was going on - from further messages, at RSF's battalion HQ] 1830 RSF Rear: What is the sit with the bn? ANSWER - there has been slight penetration in NE sector but this has been held & sit under control 1905 KOSB: A Tk gun tp has arrived at this locn. Should he be with us? ANSWER - no! send him on to RSF [I find this kind of funny, but am unclear which troop this was. I guess they could have been towed guns.] 1945 44 to KOSB: Two of your coys are to go under comd RSF to go & hold wood 206533 [so maybe ELIZABETH is 206533 - it looks like KOSB were to relieve the troops there] 2030 44 to 99 Bty: Your A tk guns with RS ready to move may stand down now [I'm assuming this was in reference to the Archer troop that was supposed to be ready to go cover the bridge]
PS correcting above, I would guess that the two companies of KOSB did not move up at 17:30 - unclear why - but did at 19:45. The 15 div war diary says the woods were cleared by 22:00.
