Richard Massey remembers the Brickworks well; As 5th Camerons advanced, the defending Germans would make use of the tunnels they had created in the Kilns, popping up behind the Camerons, in an area the Camerons thought they had cleared. Visiting the area with veteran Richard Massey, on May 5th, 2006, we found the brickworks. Richard Massey explained how he heard German voices in the actual kilns and crept up and managed to close and lock the door. He then realised he needed help to get them out again, " I was just 19 years old and scared to death". There were 17 German parachutists in there, not all of whom would surrender. Attached photos of the kilns as they are today. 1. Type of door that was closed. 2. General view of front of kilns. 3. Richard Massey in front of the Kilns. 4. video of the Brickworks HERE
Yes, you can read On to Victory, about the Canadian was effot by Mark Zuehlki . A good mention on the Black Watch... Best Fraser
Hi My Father was awarded the DCM the second highest award for gallantry in the field partly for being cut off in Speldrop with the 1st Battalion The Black Watch. His award was periodic. I have many newspaper cuttings about him and have visited the farm house he was cut off in with his section ( He was Lance Sergeant). In fact a few years ago I met one of the chidren born in the cellar of the house during the fighting. Let me know if I can help. Thanks Leslie Johnstone ELJAY
Last week my dad and me went to the former battlefield of operation Turnscrew. Before we went to this battlefield we also read your topic about this operation. My dad is since years very interested in the battles around Bienen/millingen/empel and groin and we did research in this area. First visited bienen,millingen and empel and as last groin, my dad was wandering witch farm was called Hollands hof. This farm was a fortress of the german fallschirmjägers where heavy fights have taken place. We saw a elderly couple and my father asked them if they knew where we could find hollands hoff ( We had a map with us but we didn't know how to hold this map, very much is changed during the years) but they knew where we could find him, accidental we almost stand near this farm. But most interesting was that this elder couple where born in Bienen and are witnesses of the battles around Bienen. The husband of this couple was 17 years old during the battle and have seen the attacks on Hollands hoff, we get very much story's about their experiences during this battle and they told u that they must have pictures and some other stuff ref this battle. My dad made an appointment with this couple to interview them! if we interviewed this couple i will add their interview in this topic But we also visited the shed in Klein Esserden. In page 3 you show this shed and tell that the picture with the bren carrier and the death german soldier is the same shed on the next pictures. We visited this shed to see if you're right, but our conclusion is that this isn't the right shed because this barn is (1) much higher as that one on the original picture and on the orig. picture you can see that the bren carrier passes this barn on the (2)side of the building, if you see the position of the shed an the road it doesn't match. (3) The barn on the orig pic is shorter than this one. We asked a farmer if this shed is ever been rebuilt, but he said it isn't so we think you got the wrong one. But what we certainly know is that this shed significant has been addressed! regards
Attached is Appendix J to War Diary of 70 Field Co RE which is the Co's plan of Operation Plunder- Stormboat Ops-The War Diary also talks of ferrying by Battallions each hour. War Diary extracts also follow
Interesting info about Buffaloes and the Rhine crossing. Armorama :: Buffaloes (LVsT) during the Rhine Crossing
