1/5th Queens Royal West Surrey Regt

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Kieron Hill, Aug 4, 2010.

  1. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Philip this is an extract from a post I did on Capt Cole
    of the 1/5th Queens Royal West Surrey Regt. If you have
    the WR diaries for these dates I'd be very interested
    in seeing them. I have found out through my research
    that after he had recovered from his injuries he was posted
    to POW Camp 186 in Colchester.

    Cheers
    Kieron

    In a letter he wrote to his wife dated 18th January 1945 3 months before he was wounded. he gives a little insight into what life was like in North West Europe.
    A few bits of what are in the letter

    Leave in Europe does count as overseas service darling in my case, because ironically my service in Blighty is regarded as part of my overseas tour and offically I havent been home since 1940.
    If the boy Bowlyer was home on leave these last few days he missed a very sticky show, his sapper unit had a bad time and suffered accordingly.
    "Wotty" is quite well these days heard his unit is in Ghent.
    The Jerry Artillery has been quite busy today and slapped a few into the place including one in the roof of this almost ruined house I am in. The Village is in a dreadful state from our Artillery and there isnt a single house with a complete roof or window in it.

    When the parts of the above letter were written the 1/5th Queens Royal West Surreys were part of the Victory of the Roer Triangle and operation "Blackcock" January 16th-24th 1945. The weather was dreadful, thick snow lay on the ground and it was bitterly cold. The operation had to be delayed 12 hours due to think fog, caused by a smoke screen freezing in the cold air. The operation opened its attack on January 16th and went on for 9 days of very fierce fighting before the triangle was cleared.
     
  2. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

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