This query came up via a discussion on another forum a while ago, which I've just revisited and was reminded about. Joslen gives the composition of 32 Inf Bde (Guards) during 1944-45 as the following - 5 CG - 01.10.41 to 31.08.45 3 IG - 05.09.43 to 21.02.45 and then 29.05.45 to 31.08.45 1 WG - 04.06.42 to 22.03.45 2 SG - 20.02.45 to 31.08.45 That suggests that 3rd Bn, Irish Guards, left the Bde in late February and did not re-join until the end of May 1945. One of the war diary threads provided on the forum by dbf is for 3rd Bn, which indicates the unit went into Corps reserve around 23 Feb 1945; the March 1945 pages appear to be missing? The Bn does though appear to have been back in action by 01 Apr 1945. Meanwhile, the diary for 2nd Armd Bn, Irish Guards, gives numerous mentions to being paired with the 3rd Bn during March 1945. War Diary: 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, Jan - Dec 1945 War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan, Feb, April, 1945 I know that Joslen is not infallible when it comes to dates, would be surprising if it was really. Given the WD entries, can we take it as confirmed that the Bn did not leave the Brigade for the period March to May 1945? Or am I making a colossal mistake in my reading of the above? Thanks, Gary
I'm looking at my copy of Fitzgerald's "A history of the Irish Guards in the second world war". Page 554, "21st Feb the Division was ordered to reassemble in Nijmegan. Unfortunately somebody decided that there was just time for the 3rd Battalion to tidy up the sector before handing over." Page 557 "On the 23rd both battalions , organized once more in a Regimental Group, under the command of the 5th Brigade, drove into Germany."
From The Guards Armoured Division 1941-1945, Captain Earl of Rosse & Colonel E.R. Hill Appendix 1 - 4, pages 305 - 311
Unfortunately my copy of relevant War Diary has been put 'somewhere very safe' so I can't find them. I know that other members have them, perhaps they would share. IG History Pg 550. 11/02/1945 30 Corps HQ ordered 32nd Guards Brigade to re-form as an infantry brigade in Corps reserve. "So while the 2nd Battalion lapped up oysters and did indifferent foot drill in Tilburg," wrote an officer of the 3rd Battalion, "we drove to a dirty barracks in Nijmegen. The town had not improved in our absence. After promises that we would not be used as spare infantry for odd jobs." The Brigade moved first to the wrecked village of Groesbeek and there, at midnight, received orders to capture the village of Hommersum on the Dutch-German border. After Hommersum, (175 casualties according to the History, an unmitigated disaster according to my father) 3IG needed to be brought back up to strength. On 23rd Feb both bns. were under 5th Brigade. The IG group was in reserve for "another 10 days". On 1st March they received orders to go with 5th Guards Brigade to go through Goch to Kevalaer. After postponements they left on the 4th. The Group's first objective was the unoccupied village of Hamb. IG History, Pg 559 "Next morning, the 6th March, the 32nd Brigade passed through to capture Bonninghardt. The Irish Guards did no more fighting west of the Rhine. A rested officer wrote: "After 'l'affaire Hamb,' which cost us some seventy casualties, life was pure peace. Even the rain and shells stopped." In the following days 2IG found billets in Nijmegen while 3IG had to occupy various farm buildings between Ottersum and the Reichswald. IG History, Pg 565 At five o'clock on the morning of 30th March the two battalions drove across the Rhine into the bridgehead held by the 51st Division.... The Irish Group remained in reserve while the Grenadier Group led the Brigade up the main road to Aalten and Enschede.
According to my book (hope to hell I'm correct!) in mid-Apr 45 the brigade comprised: 1 (Armd) Coldm Gds 2 (Armd) Welsh Gds 2 Scots Gds 5 Coldm Gds Best John
My research post VE Day, thanks to the Brigade War Dairy and dbf 32nd Infantry Brigade (Guards) Hope this helps 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Thanks all for the above, just have to put it down to a flaw in Joslen's OOB. It does contain a few entries where units seem to be in two different places on the same date, so just have to put it down to one of those occasional errors. Gary