Hi, I am looking for specific information on the 129th Brigade. I am interested in learning about their actions 4-7 October 1944 in and around Elst Holland. I am researching the American Airborne unit that relieved them. I would like to find any unit journals, maps, and situational overlays. Can anyone help this Yank who has no idea where to start.. Thanks in advance Paul
Hi Paul and welcome to the forum. The Bde should have a war diary at the National Archives but it will be very thick.
Welcome to the forum. I would suggest trying to get hold of these two books;The 43rd Wessex Division at War 1944-1945 - H Essame and The Fighting Wessex Wyverns - Patrick Delaforce
Here is an excerpt from the "History of the 4th Bn. The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) in the campaign in North-West Europe June, 1944 - May, 1945" for the period in question:
Hi, I am looking for specific information on the 129th Brigade. I am interested in learning about their actions 4-7 October 1944 in and around Elst Holland. I am researching the American Airborne unit that relieved them. I would like to find any unit journals, maps, and situational overlays. Can anyone help this Yank who has no idea where to start.. Thanks in advance Paul Paul, I have done extensive research into 129 Bde on The Island, especially the 4th & 5th WILTS in the battle for the level crossing north of Elst (De Laar farm). For the general picture, I can highly recommend the booklet "The Island" - Nijmegen to Arnhem - by Major Tim Saunders (Pen & Sword Books). It would make an excellent start I am sure. The ISBN is: 9780 8505 28619. Squire
Squire - what further reading would you recommend, after having finished Saunders' booklet. It has been some time, but from memory: definately Essame's "bible" on the 43rd Wessex; The 5th Wiltshires in NWE 1944-1945, Captain J. McMath, The Maroon Square, The 4th Wiltshires in NWE 1939-1946, Majors Parsons, Robbins & Gilson; Race for the Rhine Bridges, Alexander McKee. There should be a few more which I will need to look up. I will get back to you on this, Stolpi old boy. Squire
Have only just noticed that 'Maroon Square' has been reprinted. The Maroon Square - The Wardrobe The Maroon Square £12.50 A paper back history of the 4th Battlion The Wiltshire Regiment in North West Europe 1939 - 1946. The book records the actions during these years of many men and because they worked together as a team it is also the record of the activities of a single fighting unit and it is a story of great achievement. Compiled by Majors A D Parsons MC, D I M Robiins MC and D C Gilson MC the book describes the triumphs of all who served with the Battalion.
Squire - what further reading would you recommend, after having finished Saunders' booklet. Stolpi, I went through the old book collection, but the a.n. publications seem to be the best sources. There are also a few odds and ends in Ooievaar brengt Zondvloed ("Stork brings a Flood") by Ferdinand van Hemmen and Retake Arnhem Bridge by Bob Gerritsen & Scott Revell. But most of this info is taken from the WD's. I also am the proud owner of a copy of the unpublished memoirs of Sgt Reginald Romain, a 6-pounder AT gunner in S-Coy 5th Wilts. It contains a detailed report on the fierce battle for the level crossing some 300 yds east of De Laar farm, which was lost and regained twice. According to Captain McMath, "this was the scene of the bitterest fighting ever experienced by the battalion" and a quote of the FOO Captain Hadow: "There are more Germans than I have ever seen in my life about fifty yards away." Quite a forgotten battle, but fortunately the sacrifces made by the officers and men of 4th & 5th Wilts have now finally been recognized with the wonderful memorial in South Arnhem (Schuytgraaf), adjacent De Laar farm (now Buitenplaats community centre). After all they were as much Market-Garden as the Airborne chaps north of the Rhine were. Squire
'18 Platoon' by Sydney Jary, ISBN 0 9512078 4 9, pages 60-63 have an account of D Coy. 4th Somerset LI's handover to a parachute Battalion of 101st Airborne. I accompanied Sydney Jary on several tours of this area about 12 years ago. It was then largely unchanged from 1944. There has been a lot of construction in the general 'Island' area since then. I can thoroughly recommend 18 Platoon for anyone interested in the British infantry war. I believe it is still required reading for Sandhurst cadets, certainly it was for many years. Regards Paul
Hi Jolly Squire I notice from your post that you have an unpublished copy of a memoir of a member of S Company 5th Wilts. My late father T/Capt Matthew Rowlands was O/C S Company 5th Wilts at the battle of the level crossing north of Elst. I am currently writing up an account of that action and his subsequent activies in 1944/45 and would be very interested indeed in the memoires of someone was also in S Company. Any chance of a copy? Regards Chris Rowlands
Chris - I would be interested in anything related to the fighting around the De Laar farm. I suppose you have seen my contribution to WW2talk (post # 18 and onwards): http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49363-nijmegen-bridgehead-iiss-pz-corps-counterattack-in-october-1944/
The SRY in NWE in October 1944 SRY War Diary Sunday 8th October 1944 Church Service in the morning at RHQ. Orders came through that we are to move into the line again tomorrow. C.O. attended Conference at HQ 43 Div and was told that 43 Div were taking over a large sector of this front in order to help out the Americans who still cover the Northern Sector. We were all prepared for a ??? attack by 43 Div and 50(N) Div in order to clear the REICHSWALD, but nothing is now to happen until ANTWERP is in use as a port and our L of C are accordingly shortened. It is appreciated that we shall be in a static holding role for about a fortnight. This Regt is required to support 214 Bde, 130 Bde and 129 Bde on the following basis:- A Sqn with 214 Bde at immediate notice. C Sqn with 130 Bde at 1 hrs notice. B Sqn with 129 Bde at 12 hrs notice. Three complete troops from 49 R.T.R. are posted to the Regt. The officers are Lts CAGNEY and CROSBY (actually Crosbie).
