Discovered this photo in a series from TIME/LIFE archive, taken by George Silk. Unfortunately, the photos are not well captioned. I believe this to be Weert, c Nov 1944. My research suggests it is most likely a gun belonging to the 9th Medium Regiment RA (8th Buffs). A Google Earth search (which took ages) I found the building in Blatenkempweg, near the railway line. Interesting to see how the gun has been camouflaged with branches of fir tree and surrounded by ammo boxes/wood for protection. I wonder if any one with a connection to Weert might have some memories to share of this time or if the current owners know that a 5.5 gun was once in position in their garden!?! The series of photos are worth checking out - shame they are not accurately captioned, however.
This interesting photo also appears in the same sequence as the one I posted showing the 5.5. I am thinking this might show 1 HLI, 71 Bde, 53rd Welsh Div. being carried forward in kangaroos for Operation Mallard. If correct, this fits with 9 Medium Regiment's occupation of Weert in November 1944 (they supported this attack alongside 10 Medium Regiment). Any thoughts on the identification of this infantry unit?
Another from the sequence...perhaps the same group of soldiers? Are they driving through Weert? Not a lot to go on here apart from the bombed/shelled church...
Nice picture, good find! No ID of the soldiers though, but look at the number of Bren guns in this section - do I count three Brens.
According to the history of the 53rd Welsh Division, attached for the 12th Nov, and Op Mallard were one squadron 49th Armoured Personnel Carriers (Kangaroos) so perhaps this is the ID of the unit carrying the infantry. Believe they were 79th Armoured Div. I think this was their first action - no doubt there are experts on here that will put me straight on this. I think it is important to find the ID of these units if possible. Perhaps the photo is a training exercise before the attack? The soldiers seem very happy (apart from the officer, who is not in on the joke). I think 2 Brens here; the officer carries a weapon I can't identify - it looks unusual. The soldiers display 3 brigade stripes below the div patch - a clue.
This was the photo that got me on the trail in the first place. It is also taken from the same sequence and shows a 9th Medium Regiment RA (8 Buffs) 'mechanic/fitter' 'winterising' a jeep. Satisfying to see a good display of battledress insignia: RA shoulder title, crusader cross, arty arm of service, Buffs regimental flash (triangle) and tradesman badge.
The blown up Church seems to be in the village of Leveroy. Very bear to Weert. Album De Haan, (D), Tweede Wereldoorlog, bevrijding van Weert, De magere restanten van de door de terugtrekkende Duitsers in de nacht van 14 op 15 november 1944 opgeblazen St. Barbarakerk te Leveroy
Just adding this one for amusement...a White scout car passes the bombed church greeted by enthusiastic locals but is that a badger tied to the front? Now that is quite strange - a first for me in a WW2 photo!
I'm interested in piecing together the story of the photos in this set. Another interesting one above provides clues in a good display of battledress insignia. 79th Armoured Div sign, arm of service, RTR tank flash, and on the shoulder strap an RTR loop, two strips of colour denoting the regiment - is it possible to work out which one? Also note Royal Armoured Corps black berets. On 12th November History of 53rd Welsh Div says troops under command were (among others) one squadron of 11th RTR Regiment equipped with Buffaloes: could this photo be that unit?
In Volume 4 of Dick Taylors 4 piece tome entitled Warpaint - Colours and markings of British Army Vehicles 1903-2003, on page 101 is shown the battalion colours of the RTR, from 1 RTR to 51 RTR, 18 of which show two coloured stripes. I am pleased to tell you that 11RTR is one of them - red over black. Chris
Thanks Chris for checking this out...and confirming my thoughts. Very interesting. Is that red nearest the shoulder and black above it as in photo? My reference 'The British Soldier' by Jean Bouchery has 11th RTR with black then white ie black strip nearest the shoulder and white nearest head if that makes sense, which doesn't match the photo? It's a bit confusing.
Could this be the weapon carried by the officer? Polish Browning wz1928 BAR Germany captured a number of Polish-made Browning guns in 1939 and used them until the end of the war. The gun used 7.92 mm Mauser ammo.
It looks similar, yes, but I've never seen anything like it before. Officers often carried weapons given to other ranks to disguise officer status (e.g. Lee Enfield or Sten) for obvious reasons. Mind you, this officer happily wears shirt and tie?
Thinking now the infantry in the sequence of photos are in fact from 51st Highland Div. Operation Mallard had several phases: Op BRISTOL codename for 53rd Div advance, and op ASCOT for 51st HD. This comes from 'History of the 51st HD' J.B. Salmond - ' The 42nd crossed the Bailey bridge in the 153 Bde bridgehead on the morning of the 15th Nov, and advanced in Kangaroos to Lerveroi, where the road was blocked by houses destroyed by our bombers and artillery. At this point the 7th Black Watch were passed through the senior battalion with a squadron of tanks in support, and made for the town of Heythuijzen. Mines having been responsible for the destruction of two tanks, the infantry took to their feet, occupied the town and sent patrols in the direction of Roggel.' Also, on scrutiny of the close up shot of the soldiers in the kangaroo, the shape of the shoulder insignia matches the square of the 51st HD rather than the rectangular badge of the 53rd Div.
The infantry push on and another interesting, if slightly out of focus photo - a rather forlorn looking group of enemy surrender and are searched...
Among the haystacks, a scout car with occupants - can this help to identify the units involved? Black Watch, 51st HD?