Dear Forum-members, Does anybody have access to the War Diary of the 49th Recce Regiment? I am looking for the entry for the night of 1st-2nd April 1945. During this night a stronghold of the 49th Recce - located near the Edenoord farm between Puiflijk and Druten (Netherlands) - was raided by a combat patrol of the 34.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Landstorm Nederland". The combat patrol was led by Dutch SS-Untersturmführer Theo Driessen - a Wiking vet who was assigned to the Landstorm Division as company commander of 2./84. I have a pretty detailed report of the action from the German side but am looking for confirmation from the British side. According to the German report the combat patrol managed to "destroy 8 tanks, a petrol- and ammunition dump and a stronghold with 30 to 40 British soldiers in it against the loss of only 1 WIA". Probably highly exaggerated; I could only find one cassualty of the 49th Recce listed for that day: Corporal Arthur Richard Saunders, Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C, 49th (West Riding) Regt. The "tanks" mentioned in the report would be more likely Humber armoured cars and universal carriers. Any information would be highly welcomed. Kind regards, Bert Kossen
I still need to copy the 1945 war diary for 49 Recce for myself, so I'll do it when I next visit the National Archives. It will be interesting to find out more, as my Dad's Regiment (Royal Artillery - 102 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt) liaised with 49 Recce Regt early on the morning of the 3rd April. They were to revert immediately to an Infantry role on the same day and take over the positions occupied by 49 Recce Regt in that same area between Puiflijk-Druten. They were also to use the 40mm Bofors in a ground role as well, which would have beefed up the defensive/offensive capabilities in that area. 49 Recce Regt did only suffer one killed in action, but the war diary should show how many were wounded.
Dear Ramacal, Thanks for your reply. I would really appreciate if you could manage to find more information. For some reason, I have always been intrigued by this sector of the front as it basically came to a standstill from November '44 until April '45. The floodings, continuous shelling and harrassing patrols across the Neder-Rijn and Waal rivers would have made staying on the "Island" a rather frustrating experience for any Allied soldier. If your Dad's 102 LAA took over the positions from the 49th Recce on April 3rd, it would be around the time that the front would finally start moving again during operation Destroyer. I am planning to visit the area this week and will then also try to visit the grave of Corporal Saunders. He was one of the more than 6700 Brits who died for the liberation of my country and will be remembered! Kind regards, Bert Kossen
That's true. My Dad's Battery (336/102 LAA Regt) were attached to various Canadian Units from 3 April up until the German surrender in the Netherlands. Joined with the 8th New Brunswick Hussars (Ross Force) and moved around with Shermans & 40mm Bofors shooting up any targets of opportunity until the 12th April. A personal diary I have read reports that the area of the Island, was heavily mined, devoid of civilians, covered with the corpses of rotting farm animals (injured by Schu mines with feet missing) and the majority of the properties were flooded and badly damaged. On the 12th April they parted company with Ross Force and became part of Hutchinson Force (7 Canadian Anti Tank Regt) until the 20th April. Then Smithforce on the 21st April under 104 Battery, 7 Canadian A/T Regt based at Wamel, shooting at targets across the Wall at Tiel & Ophemert.
Hi Bert, You may find this document interesting about the interrogation of a POW deserter from a company of the Dutch SS Unit, 2/84 you mentioned in Post 1. Cheers. Rob.
An amendment to an earlier post. The 49 Recce Regt (B Squadron) positions were taken over on 3 April by Ross Force (commanded by Major G.R.H. Ross of 8NBH) comprising B Squadron, 8th New Brunswick Hussars, 336 Battery, 102 LAA Regiment and 1 Troop, 49 Battery, 4 Canadian Anti-Tank Regt.
The 1ere Brigade d'Infanterie mentioned in the top left hand corner of the document is the Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade aka Brigade Piron, after it's commander Colonel Piron. The Belgians were attached to the 5th Cdn Armoured Division (1st Cnd Corps), which took over the positions of the British 49th Infantry Division on 4/5 April 1945 so as to enable the latter to concentrate for the scheduled attack on Arnhem (Op Anger). For the exploits of the Belgian Brigade see: http://www.brigade-piron.be/hollande45_en.html
Great find Rob - thanks for sharing! I have not seen that one before. Note how young the POW was at time of capture (16!). The Germans and their Dutch national-socialist collaborators were really scraping the barrel in 1945. The Intel Report is spot on by the way; the Dutch company commander of 7./84 - Gerard van Helsdingen - was killed on April 12, 1945. The "very energetic (Dutch) company commander" of the 1st company / 84th Regiment must have been SS-Obersturmführer Dirk Hoogendam who indeed was a fanatical Nazi. Regards, Bert
I would like a copy of the 49th recce regt war diaries too as my uncle was KIA on Sep 25th in Belgium...
Also would like a copy of the war diary. Does anyone recognize these soldiers in this picture. Was taken in April 1945 in Puiflijk Thank you, Jack
