War Diary: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS, Jan - Oct 1945

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, May 30, 2015.

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    APPENDIX O issued with 116/Gen Report/D/2 dated 27 September 1945 for period 1 - 27 September 1945

    PERSONNEL

    REQUIREMENTS OF Other Ranks BY TYPES
    1. N.C.O. (Clerks) - 4
    N.C.O. (G.D.) - 1
    N.C.O. (M.T.) - 1
    O.R. (Clerks) - 3
    O.R. (G.D.) - 5
    Batman - 4


    The immediate posting of the above is stressed. With the exception of A/Q and Legal Branches there are no soldier clerks in any branch or section of this H.Q.
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING 25 September 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / Nil / - / - / - / -
    B / 42 / Looting 35 ;Weapons found & Confiscated 7/ Almost certainly DPs / SK COLOGNE; 2 Ossendorf; 1 by Night Patrol; 1 Etzel; 3 discovered by German Police / Looting continues to increase and is becoming even more organised. A separate report is being forwarded ref Ossendorf Night Check.
    C / Nil / - / - / - / -

    D / 5 / Bodies found 3; Suicides 1; Curfew Arrests 15 / Polish; German; Germans / SK COLOGNE; Found by German Police; SK COLOGNE / It seems that a dispute had arisen over the division of some loot and the bodies were butchered. Strength of gang not known.
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING ? September 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / 2 / Lines Cut / ? / Ossendorf / Some line twice cut, just outside Ossendorf Camp
    B / 37 / Looting 27; Cars stolen 5; Weapons confiscated 6 / DPs almost certainly aided and directed by Germans / Worst areas:- Militaring, Sulz, Ehrenfeld / Looting is on the increase. The nature of the various cases clearly points to the gangs in question, being well-run and highly organised. It appears that DPs act as gunment, while some German organisation is providing them with the transport, and information and arranging the disposal of the goods on the Black Market.
    C / 3 / Road Accidents / American / - / Three separate cases of people being knocked down and killed by drivers who have not stopped.
    D / 15 / Curfew Arrests 9; Suicides 2; Bodies found 4 / DPs 2, Germans 7; Germans; Germans / SK COLOGNE; Fort III again figures in the news / All made by Night Patrol


    dated 13 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING ? September 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / Nil / - / - / - / -
    B / 24 / Murder 1; Looting 18; Stolen Cars 5 / D.Ps; DPs; Germans / A feature of the weeks cases of loot has been two attacks made by a gang reported to be 20 strong. A lot of livestock is being taken.
    C / Nil / - / - / - / -
    D / 31 / Curfew 26; Bodies found 3; Suicides 5 / Mostly German; Germans; Germans / - / Curfew arrests made by a night Patrol and a Curfew Check. Night Patrol has twice been called out to deal with armed attacks on houses. Was not able to catch the offenders but scared them off / Suicides are not reported and investigated by the KRIPO. Details of these case are not known.

    dated 6 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    Subject: Security Report Week ending 29 September 1945
    To:- H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    A. There has been great activity in Cologne from both sides. Looting bands, with vehicles and weapons, are working on a large scale. Counter measures carried out in liaison with KRIPO begin to slow minor success; to pretend that the situation is in any way under control would be folly, but it is certainly becoming slightly clarified, and the success at Ossendorf Camp is most encouraging. No more progress has been made in the solving of the cattle thievings and searches have failed so far to discover their slaughter-house. The organisation of all looting seems to improve steadily.
    The population is naturally extremely worried by the situation and morale is far from hight. It is unusual to get through a week without a suicide case and murders are frequent.

    C. Queues from 15 minutes before the arrival of the Kolnischer Kurier which is, as always, in enormous demand. Fewer people go away empty-handed, but there are still some who are disappointed.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS

    29 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    Subject: Security Report Week ending 23 September 1945
    To:- H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    A. As has already been stated, there has recently been a serious increase of incidents, some indication of the quantity of stolen food involved is shown by the attached appendix, which gives the cases reported in Cologne during the week 2/9 September. This is causing the civilians considerable alarm, and Mil Gov have received an anonymous letter threatening reprisals against the Poles unless something is done.
    The KRIPO have names of several people who can be identified in connection with looting incidents if only they could be found. Poles area particularly difficult to trace as some of them change their residence from Ossendorf to Etzel on regular intervals. The only successful method so far devised to get these people is to advertise that there is a parcel waiting for them in the Commandant’s Office and it is feared that the people won’t go on falling for this one indefinitely. In suspected cases, it is unusually difficult to get the necessary evidence to make an arrest, i.e. a suspicious household is found in possession of an abnormal quantity of line, clothes, etc but no obvious sign that they have been stolen. Arrangemetns have been made with the German Police to have some of these places watched.
    In addition to the looting gangs, an organisation is now operating that goes in for cattle and sheep stealing on a considerable scale. Flocks of from 20 to 30 animals have been stolen, and presumably butchered and sold on the Cologne Black Market. To dispose of the carcassess, etc, a large number of people must be involved, but, as yet, nothing has come to light.
    The local youths are becoming very troublesome. So far, their activities have been confined to breaking windows and raiding orchards, but it is all a symptom of the prevailing anarchy. There is an average of two suicides per week, which is extremely high for one town, and is presumably yet another indication of the falling morale.
    B. One Road Check was carried out by day and one by night. No arrests were made by the night check, and only two illicit vehicles were found by the Day Check. The documentation appears to be very good now.
    C. The DP situation can only be effectively checked by a much stricter control over the Camps. Could a well-advertised and continuous mine-field be laid around Etzel and Ossendorf, so as to force the inmates to use the controlled entrance?
    Could the KRIPO be given some space in the columns of the papers, to advertise for information, and people wanted in connection with the Black Market and Looting?

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS

    22 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    Subject: Security Report Week ending 15 September 1945
    To:- H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    A. The situation regarding food and housing remains much the same as last week. Shortage of coal and, in many cases, a complete absence of it, is causing a good deal of concern. The fact that there have been fewer complaints and demands this week is more indicative of despair of results than any easing of the problem. The few complaints that have been lodged this week, have been equally bitter, and the Burgermaster has had difficulty in settling them.
    A German anti-fraternisation move mentioned before, still goes on, and many women who fraternise with British soldiers are given the cold shoulder, while a local school mistress re-opened her school with a talk against fraternising.
    Highly organised looting is increasing. It appears that DPs and some low type Germans are used by efficient German bodies who provide the transport (often armed with Black Market ES labels) and dispose of the goods on the Black Market. Counter measures are made difficult by some extremely efficient “Bush Telegraph” system, by which news of Military or Police Patrols is quickly handed round. Although results may not appear impressive, the Police work extremely well. Looting bands are almost always strong in numbers and frequently armed.

    C. Again last week’s comments still apply. The greatest concern is the Winger and how we aim to compete with its problems, and there is an great thirst for news on the subject. Local news is still in great demand, newspapers are eagerly sought after, and there is room for a greater circulation.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS

    15 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    Subject: Security Report Week ending 8 September 1945
    To:- H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    A. The shortages of food and housing still remain the chief worries among the civilians. In COLOGNE it is clear that the food ration is never obtainable and vegetable and fruit shortages are acute, while complaints of lack of fats are universal in town and country. It would appear that old and infirm people, being unable to get to the shops or get out to the country to get extras from the farmers, stand no chance of getting an adequate ration. All those who are able, make foraging expeditions to the farms. Potato raids are too frequent and in too great a force for the civil Police to deal with. Looting of food from farms and gardens deters people from trying to grow vegetables or keep chickens.
    Disputes over housing are still increasing and overcrowding is present in many cases. This is resulting in a lot of bitterness and the Burgermaster is often unable to settle the disputes. The prospects for the winter are the foremost concern of everyone. There have been two cases of robbery by night. Both cases carried out by armed bands. Parties from COLOGNE have raided the potato crops of outlying farmers. The most interesting point is the increase in strength of bands, which have been as large as 20 strong.
    Curfew arrests have also grown, several arrests taking place in the same street, suggesting some form of organisation.

    C. Activities inside GERMANY and particularly within the local area, seem to arouse far more interest than world activities. There is still a demand for more news of what is happening in GERMANY. This would doubtless serve to counteract say rumours of change in Allied Occupational Zones etc. Would it be possible to broadcast local news of activities in COLOGNE, etc with a loudspeaker van/? This would overcome to some extent the shortage of newspapers and might well receive a good attendance if used in busy places.

    D. The Catholic and Evangelical Churches still carry on quietly and unchanged.

    E. The only rumour apparent in any force is the idea that the French are to assume occupation of this area.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS

    8 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    Subject: Security Report Week ending 1 September 1945
    To:- H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    A. Conversations with local Police and civilians all tend to confirm the impression that DPs are now probably only responsible for 50% of the loot situation and that where the Russians unavoidably had to break off their operations, Germans are now taking their place.
    Instances of this have been two recent occasions when Germans were arrested with arms. In both cases they were youths of about sixteen. One of them was a car thief armed with about 20 different types of ignition keys.
    Armed hold-ups are not so numerous, as the Germans have not the same opportunity as the DPSs to carry arms. However, a local Police report refers to gangs of Germans, five or six strong, who, though unarmed, are still too much for one Policeman to deal with.
    Ref. previous Brigade report, and the coupon entitlement of foodstuffs: it is not a question of “cannot always obtain full settlement”, but that there is no question of ever getting full entitlement. The Black Market has become an essential source for all Germans, and often forms a high proportion of their supplies (vide recent report on cost of living).

    E. There have been rumours that in the poorer parts of COLOGNE, some families are living in famine conditions. This is being investigated.

    F. The local Communists appear to have been very busy, and several of the outlying areas of COLOGNE have been visited by enthusiastic canvassers; however, the Police say that the recent reports by returning Germans from the Russian zone are not nearly so complimentary as the first ones and that no one pays any attention to the local Communists.
    The recent decline in the standard of living in COLOGNE has resulted in a certain amount of loss of prestige on the part of the Burgermasters who are blamed as inefficient and even more given to “paper warfare” than their predecessors who at least got things done. Enthusiasm, such as there was, about Field Marshal MONTGOMERY’s speech is being replaced by an atmosphere of “all that we are at present interested in is results”. The declining confidence in local authorities is presumably bound to increase and may have more serious consequences in the future.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS

    1 September 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    5TH BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    NOMINAL ROLL OF OFFICERS AND WARRANT OFFICERS AND COLOUR SERGEANTS AS AT 3 OCTOBER 1945

    BATTALION H.Q.
    Lieutenant-Colonel R. DAWNAY - Commanding Officer
    Major C.G. TENNANT - Second-in-Command
    Captain P.W. LOYD - Adjutant
    Captain J. PEREIRA - Intelligence Officer & German Disarmament Officer
    Captain J.B. INGRAM, ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS - Medical Officer
    R.S.M. E. MOORE - Regimental Sergeant Major
    R.Q.M.S. C. PYE - Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
    Drill Sergeant F. CLARKE
    Acting Drill Sergeant R. TYACKE

    H.Q. COMPANY
    Captain P.H.K. MERRIAM - Company Commander, H.Q. Company
    Lieutenant W.A. WESTERMAN - M.T. Officer, H.Q. Company
    Lieutenant D.C.G. JESSEL - Signal Officer, H.Q. Company
    C.S.M. A. TOWNSEND, MM - Company Sergeant Major, H.Q. Company
    C.Q.M.S. J. GILMOUR - Company Quartermaster Sergeant, H.Q. Company

    NO. 1 COMPANY
    Major A.T. WATKINS - Company Commander, No. 1 Company
    Lieutenant J.K. AMBLER - Second-in-Command, No. 1 Company
    Lieutenant A.J. BELL - Platoon Commander, No. 1 Company
    2/Lieutenant J.H. HOBART - Platoon Commander, No. 1 Company
    C.S.M. W. STEELE - Company Sergeant Major, No. 1 Company
    C.Q.M.S. R. BRANCH - Company Quartermaster Sergeant

    NO. 2 COMPANY
    Major J.D.G. FORTESCUE - Company Commander, No. 2 Company
    Lieutenant E.I.M. HERBERT - Second-in-Command, No. 2 Company
    Lieutenant R.H. LUCAS - Platoon Commander, No. 2 Company
    C.S.M. J. GREENWELL - Company Sergeant Major, No. 2 Company
    C.Q.M.S. E. HAYES - Company Quartermaster Sergeant, No. 2 Company

    NO. 3 COMPANY
    Captain A.C.M.B. SCOTT - Company Commander, No. 3 Company
    Lieutenant R.P. LAURIE - Second-in-Command, No. 3 Company
    2/Lieutenant P.D. REID - Platoon Commander, No. 3 Company
    C.S.M. T. MOODY - Company Sergeant Major, No. 3 Company
    C.Q.M.S. G. LEWIS - Company Quartermaster Sergeant, No. 3 Company

    NO. 4 COMPANY
    Major J.F.L. BAYLEY - Company Commander, No. 4 Company
    Lieutenant P.G.E. GREENWELL - Second-in-Command, No. 4 Company
    C.S.M. F. ROGERS - Company Sergeant Major, No. 4 Company
    C.Q.M.S. H. OXENDALE - Company Quartermaster Sergeant, No. 4 Company

    SUPPORT COMPANY
    Captain The Honourable G.H. BOSCAWEN - Company Commander, Support Company
    Lieutenant R.B. BARTER - Second-in-Command, Support Company
    C.S.M. R. PATERSON (attached from 1 Coldstream Guards) - Company Sergeant Major, Support Company
    C.Q.M.S. G. MORGAN (attached from 1 Coldstream Guards) - Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Support Company

    ON ATTACHMENT
    Captain J.A.L. LEE - Attached H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE
    Lieutenant E. STRAGHAN - Attached H.Q. GUARDS DIVISION
    Lieutenant E.R.S. FIFOOT - Attached Training Cadre, DANISH ARMY
    Lieutenant D.E. PLATER - Attached Dellbrucke Prisoner of War Camp
    Lieutenant The Honourable M.E. JOICEY - Attached H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Lieutenant M. BONSEY - Attached Division Transport Company
     
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    1 - 8 October 1945
    -

    9 October
    The G.O.C., Major General Allan ADAIR CB DSO MC visited the Battalion to say goodbye on relinquishing Command of the GUARDS DIVISION.

    10 - 24 October
    -

    25 October
    Major General John MARRIOTT CB DSO MC visited the Battalion on taking over Command of the GUARDS DIVISION.

    26 - 30 October
    -

    31 October
    FINAL DISBANDMENT OF THE BATTALION.

    Personnel split between the 1st and 4th Battalions COLDSTREAM GUARDS, with a contingent of early Age and Service Groups begin returned to ENGLAND to the TRAINING BATTALION.
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING 3 October 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / Nil / - / - / - / -
    B / 56 / Looting 47; Carrying Arms 6; Stolen Cars 7 / DPs / SK COLOGNE / Ossendorf, for some unknown reason, is the source of more crimes than Etzel. 47 cases of looting is a peak figure. Two stolen cars have been traced.
    C / 1 / Robbery / American / SK COLOGNE / People in streets of COLOGNE held up & robbed by Americans, reported to be drunk.
    D / 16 / Curfew Arrests 15; Attempted Suicide 1 / German / SK COLOGNE / Suicide: Attempted to shoot himself. Revolver has been recovered.


    dated 4 October 1945
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING 8 October 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / Nil / - / - / - / -
    B / 64 / Murder 1/ Unknown/ K/LONGERICH / Dead man was a Pole thought to be one of a gang taking part in raids on a Farm at PESCH 3967.
    / Looting 46 / DPs & Germans / - / A large number of these cases are minor robberies. Details of a few typical cases are given below
    K/BRAUNSFELD / 2100 hours. Farm broken into by two Poles who shot two pigs, and also fired at the owner before leaving + pigs.
    K/SULTZ / 2300 hours. Farmer severely wounded by 5 Poles who then ransacked his house and took away a radio, jewellery and a lot of money.
    K/SULTZ / Night. Unknown persons removed large quantities of butter and rice from a grocer’s shop.
    K/OSSENDORF / 1700 hours. Two Poles shot at a man on his bicycle as he was passing the Flugplatz, and took his bicycle.
    K/OSSENDORF / 1900 hours. Several Poles attacked a man on bicycle while passing the Flugplatz and robbed him. (The aerodrome is a favourite area for hold-ups and we frequently patrol it but seldom with much success).
    K/BAYERENTHAL / During night shop robbed off:- 2 cwt. Sugar, 50 kgs Flour, 8 kgs Butter, also cash.
    K/ZOLLSTOCK / Grocer’s shop broken into during the night. Owner drove off two armed men with a stick, but reports that they fired several shots at him.
    K/EHRENFELD / 1800 hours. Lorry leaving COLOGNE with flour was fired on by unknown people, but escaped though passenger was severely wounded.
    K/OSSENDORF / Farm at Klein Lachen attacked for the fifth time. Poles armed with rifles drove off the whole flock. (Since then we have set traps on this farm but it has not been visited again).
    / Cars reported stolen 14; Bodies found 1; Arrested with arms 2 / One arrest made by house search on suspect Black Market H.Q. One arrest made by MPs after a robbery. (The centre of COLOGNE is noticeably quieter than the outskirts.)
    C / 3 / Fatal Road Accidents 3 / Allied / SK KOLN / All three cases did not stop and report the matter
    D / 25 / Curfew arrests 25 / Mostly German / SK KOLN / Cases arrested by the night patrol and Curfew Check. Number of cases shows slight increase.
     
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    APPENDIX
    5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
    INCIDENT REPORT WEEK ENDING 16 October 1945
    H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE

    Class / No. of Incidents / No. by Types / Nationality / Area / Remarks
    A / Nil / - / - / - / -
    B / 109 / Murder 3 / DPs / Pesch Longerich / 2400 hours. DPs broke into house, owner wounded, wife killed, 4500 RMs stolen.
    / K Mulheim / 0700 hours / Neighbour in some block of Flats found owner in the morning having been shot. 2 suspects have been arrested by KRIPO.
    / K/THURENWELL / 2145 hours. Owner of house found strangled. His room had been looted.
    / Looting 97 / DPs / SK KOLN / This figure is about double all previous totals, due to the fact that it includes all cases of burglary during the week. Looting is still very much on the increase. Of the total 97 cases, only 14 were armed raids of a serious nature. Chief Event - the farm at Klein Lachen has been robbed of 8 sheep, this is the sixth occasion.
    C / - / - / - / -
    D / 8 / Bodies found 5; Suicide 3 / DPs & Germans / SK KOLN / -


    dated ? October 1945
     
  15. Wapen

    Wapen Well-Known Member

    This is great. Thanks for posting. I'm doing a project on Op Veritable and will be down getting February & March diaries, so let me know if there's anything you'd like while I'm there
     
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