VERITABLE 1945: 3rd Canadian Division in Op Veritable

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by stolpi, Mar 18, 2015.

  1. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The best I can do

    The bombardment continued to rage, as the Regiment left Nimegue and proceeded towards a brick factory designated as the assembly area. Along a dike, the only route not flooded, it took 14 hours to reach this place and was found to be half full of bricks. The shelters were rapidly improved but as the level of water rose it was necessary to evacuate some of them.

    They all waited impatiently for H hour, but to take advantage of nightfall it was delayed until 20:00. The assault craft in sufficient numbers to transport 2 companies at a time, were at the makeshift quays. Companies 'A' and 'D' were the first to embark, their objectives were to seize the village of Leuth and a dike leading to a fortification baptised 'Little Torbruk'. The men of the 'Support' company became boatmen and under the skilful direction of Lt E Carrier, the flotilla manoeuvred through bushes, houses, fences and the fire of 200mm [don't quite understand this], which fortunately fired over the boats [them]. There was however an annoying exception: one of the boats was hit by shrapnel, in which was Capt L Larose, second in command of 'A' company, Sargent Major G Nadeau, and soldiers L Provencal, J Roy, M Boucher et V Blondin. The group went hurriedly towards a half submerged house, but at the moment the men caught the second floor, the boat sank. It will be an amusing story to tell the children that it was the imposing stature of Capt Larose that attracted the enemy fire! The operation was done under torrential rain and [frost] pushed by a strong easterly wind. The darkness was total, so we needed to resort to powerful projectors and the light from which reflected on the clouds creating 'artificial moonlight' that weakly lit the ground.

    After 3 hours the assault companies had reached their objectives, except 'Little Torbruk', which they decided to ignore for the moment, knowing that once the troops had established themselves in Leuth, the enemy would abandon their little mini Gibraltar; in fact the enemy retired earlier that morning.

    Before dawn companies 'B' and 'C' intervened and crossed the village of Leuth. But unfortunately for them, the Germans having blown up the other dikes, the water rose by more than 1 metre, which prevented them from reaching their objectives. Nevertheless they succeeded in occupying advanced enough positions to allow the Queens Own Rifles, mounted in Buffaloes to go and assault Millingen. Towards midday the first stage of operation Veritable was finished. The Regiment rejoiced in having accomplished its mission with minimal losses.

    The day of the 9th February was however less happy. The enemy made numerous other breeches in the dikes, inundating the positions held by the Battalion. By the end of the day the troops found refuge on the first floors of empty houses, then finally in the attics, as the water continued to rise at a rate of 20 centimetres per hour. In some place they needed to take to the roof. Fortunately about 10:00 in the morning the flooding stabilised. They started to dream of evacuating these places. This was only to be made possible with the help of Buffaloes. And so at about 18:00 the regiment returned to Nimegue, occupying the same quarters, as prior to their departure, until the 18th February


    TD
     
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  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    February 9th, 1945

    Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

    Feb 9 1945 – Assembly Area Factory Square 755644

    Reveille – Fair and Mild.

    Water has receded slightly during the night.

    0845 “A” Coy moves up to Embarkation Area MR 754627, after NSR have embarked. Coy is embarked by 1000 hrs, and capture five prisoners before reaching start line.

    0900 “C” Coy prepare for embarkations, debark at 1210 hrs, and cross S.L. In direction of MILLIGEN. “C” Coy will approach MILLIGEN from North Side, owing to change of plan by Col S.M. Lett. Coy arrives northern outskirts of MILLIGEN after meeting no opposition and taking ten prisoners.

    1430 “A” Coy arrives in MILLIGEN meeting no opposition, and contacts “C” Coy. “B” Coy at objective in MILLIGEN at 1530 hrs, meets no opposition, captures one PW and two civilians. Coy assembles in area ship yards in MILLIGEN and takes up defence role. “D” Coy house clearing according to plan.

    • Minefield trace Appx 13
    • Mortar fire plan Appx 14
    • Admin orders “Veritable” Appx 15
    • RCA task table & Amendments Appx 16
    • Arty trace Appx 17
    • Illumination areas in Sp 7&8 Cdn Inf Bdes Appx 18
    millingen-9-feb-1945-close-up.jpg
     
  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Fragment from the Regt History of the Queens Own Rifles of Canada:

    QOR 1 Veritable.jpg QOR 2 Veritable.jpg
     
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  4. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    Great Then and Now picture, after bicycle tour almost three years ago, we found the image from that time.
    Made during a Battlefield Tour organized by Ralph Gault, in October 1945 "Tour along the battlefields, back to Juno Beach"
    40 Canadian of the "Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders" Cornwall, Ontario, Canada and 1 Dutch,
    Gerard Niestadt a at that time, famous photographer. He was begged Captain Gault to join them. Gault made a deal with him, if he could use his Leica he can join.

    Thanks to Wigger
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2018
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  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  6. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    New (Dutch) book:

    Last weekend local historian Hans van der Wiel, of the local history circle 'De Duffelt', presented his new book (184 pp.) on the Canadian operations in the river-flats during Nov 44 - Feb 45, entitled "Water als Wapen, de Ooijpolder en Duffelt" (or: "Water as a Weapon, the Ooijpolder and Duffelt"). The author, who has a wealth of local knowledge, delves into the military operations of the Canadians during the winter of 44/45 and the role of the inundations in the Canadian assault during Op Veritable.

    Particularly interesting are the water management data he uses for this work, which give a good insight in the 'ups and downs' of the water level in the Waal River during that last winter of the war and demonstrate the relative value of water as a weapon. For example, when the Germans breached the Waaldijk on 21 December 1944 near Erlecom they were too late, the water level in the Waal River, which peaked at record levels in early December, had receded and did not rise again until the first week of February 45. All that time the Canadian occupied Erlecomse and Ooijpolder remained dry. From February 4th onwards, as a result of an early thaw, a mighty spill of water from the swollen Waal started to flow through the breaches into the low lying area held by the Canadians. By the start of Veritable the entire area west of the Querdamm and Duffeltdijk was submerged ... then the lock gate at the southern end of the Querdamm broke.

    As usual, the water acted as a two-edged sword; it seriously hampered the Canadian advance, but it also isolated the German defenders in the flat countryside and rendered their trenches and AT-ditches useless.

    Recommended to anyone with interest in the Rhineland Battle ... and another book that quotes the WW2Talk site ;)

    Untitled.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2023
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  7. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Hans took some artistic license with the water colour. Looks more like a Caribbean beach than the muddy variety the Canadians encountered. :)
     
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  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Smoke Screen

    Smoke report 3.jpg

    Found this Canadian Report on the Smoke Operation during "Veritable" written by the man who was responsible for the operation, with a most auspicious name, Captain James C. Bond:
    Smoke report 1.jpg Smoke report 2.jpg

    Attached a post-war article of the same on large-scale smoke operations in First Canadian Army

    Smoke screen.jpg

    Aerial of the smoke screen along the Rhine river, near Erlecom (?) (photo courtes of https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/SUK13842/screen/3911714.JPG)
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
  9. Pen and Dagger

    Pen and Dagger Junior Member

    very well researched threat! Thanks...Erik
     
  10. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    Refering post number 24, we (Stolpi and Bedee) tried to retrace the route of the Buffalo convoy. But was this the route of a single convoy or some convoys.
    Today i was preparing another threat, and found this route, in the Wardairy of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.

    10 Feb 1945
    0700, Embarking the Buffaloes and Weasels
    1405, Clear of enemy. The first objective for the SD&Gs was DONSBRUGGEN that day.


    SDG.jpg

    Thanks for digitizing to:
    Library and Archives Canada
     
  11. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    Before i will go deeper into 6. Little Tobruk, first a few lines about, what happend during the period 17 September - 31 December 1944.

    How the location Thornsche Molen went into 777615 and changed in Little Tobruk.

    Thornse Molen or 777615, is mentioned on 22 September 1944 by troops of the 82nd Airborne.
    508 PIR received the task to Attack and Clear CIRCUL VAN DE OOIJ, with 504 PIR in support this operation started on 23 September 1944.
    The Mill was occupied by the enemy and a large group of enemy was dug in behind the Dyke.
    On 25 September 1944 Captain Morman called in Artillery on this position.
    That day the Thornsche Molen was destroyed, but turned into a Strong point, called 777615.

    Geldersch-Panorama-1.jpg
    after a storm the mill was destroyed but rebuild in 1941

    Several fighting patrols will follow into the area of 777615. But the enemy was resilience every time.
    Soldiers died on both sides, still 7-10 US soldiers missing and buried in these fields.

    The position is important because of his geographical position, on the German border, two dykes (Quer damm and Mosterd dijkje) to defend the German border.
    Important for the enemy to keep, important for the allies to get this area.

    82nd_cr.jpg
    82nd Airborne Division 504 situation in October 1944

    In November the troops from the 3th Canadian Infantry division took over their positions.

    The Stormont Dundas and Glengarry highlanders (SDG) did the first patrol to 777615 on 22 November 1944, the next day the Queens Own Rifles took over their positions followed by the 1 Canadian Scottish Regiment mid December, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (NNSH) relieved the Scottish end of December.
    The Canadians rotate their units in the area, probably to have a better awareness.

    After the patrol of the NNSH to 777615 (Sgt Stewart in lead) LITTLE TOBRUK was mentioned for the first time.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2021
  12. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    6. Little Tobruk


    After 30 December 1944, map reference 777615 changed into “Little Tobruk” and it was the task for the 3th Canadian Infantry Division to deal with this obstacle at the German border.
    Since November 1944 all units from the 3th Canadian Infantry Division (CID) rotated true the area, all of them know the areas very well. This would help them in the upcoming Operation Veritable.​


    Little Tobruk.jpg
    “Little Tobruk”​

    In early January 1945, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, D-Coy, was located in the Brick factory of Erlercom. Sergeant Ouellet was one of the experienced Sergeants and was patrol leader several times. On 30 December 1944 he was send to "Little Tobruk" to capture a prisoner.

    Sergeant Ouellet, North Nova Scotia Highlanders, excelled himself in the Nijmegen salient. Here this sergeant did a series of extremely dangerous patrols to find out enemy dispositions. One position in particular, always referred to as "Little Tobruk"* was a very strong enemy outpost bordering the Wyler Meer southeast of Nijmegen. This position had been attacked unsuccessfully by two other battalions as it was decided to send Sergeant Ouellet and two men in to investigate. There was only one approach, along a dyke, the rest of the ground was a sheet of ice-but Sergeant Ouellet penetrated into the heart of the position, discovered the dispositions but was himself spotted and came under direct automatic fire. He was grazed in three places but managed to escape. Two nights later, this sergeant's patrol again returned to this position, this time with two engineers, It was a bright moonlit night with snow on the ground so the whole patrol had to be covered by a smoke screen. Sergeant Ouellet and four men covered the engineers while they removed the mines, and he and one other again personally investigated the position. He was able this time to report the strength quite accurately, but was again intercepted and had to fight his way out. This time he killed two Germans and was slightly wounded himself. As a result of these patrols, the battalion was able to successfully cope with this position.

    Sergeant Ouellet continued his patrols several times a week in the Nijmegen area and brought back much valuable information until the night of January 4 when he stepped on a Schu-mine and lost a leg, which afterward resulted in the loss of both legs. This sergeant's heroic devotion to duty and fearless courage on all occasions was a wonderful example to his men. His contribution to the success of the battalion during the winter in Holland was very great.
    For these actions, Sergeant Ouellet received the Netherlands Bronze Lion.

    Charles Cromwell Martin ( CSM of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada) wrote about the patrols;
    "The need for complete silence was so great and the stress so overpowering that a man could sweat out five or six pounds. A patrol was as tough as tougher than any regular attack. The tension didn’t let up for a second."

    "A strange thing about patrols was that they produced men from all ranks who had a natural instinct for the work. Some could move like a ghost – one moment he’d be there; the next moment, gone."


    Minefields.jpg

    Shu-mines, AT Mines and Boobytraps where all over the place, dangerous for the foot patrols, and for that reasons they send out several patrols to locate these mine fields, laid by German and USA soldiers.

    Lance Corporal Allan Plumb MacMaster, Highland Light Infantry of Canada, patrolled several time to recce the Querdamm on the same day as Sgt Ouellet he also stepped on a Shu-mine.
    Citation MM_1.jpg Citation MM_2.jpg

    After many patrols and Air Reconnaissance they constructed the Defence Overprint for Little Tobruk.

    DOP Querdamm.jpg

    During all the tasks in this area, troops had support from the Airforce, Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA) and mortars. Many intensive bombardments, how intensive, we can read in the Wardiary from January 1944, Canadian Scottish Regiment (CSR);

    "21 Jan 1945: This area was immediately engaged by what seemed to be half of the fire power of the Allied Nations."

    You see the impact on the first aerial, dated 24 January 1945

    The weather during this period changed several times, as it does in the Netherlands.
    Slight and heavy rain in November 1944, first snow in December, heavy snow in January 1945 and this turned back into rain and thaw in early February 1945. Difficult for the Infantry, deteriorating roads for supporting units and a Gamechanger of Operation Veritable.

    On 25 January 1945 30 Corps HQ held the first conference for Operation Veritable.
    The following week the details worked out by the divisions subordinate units.
    On 05 February 1944 The Canadian Scottish regiment received the orders from Ltc Crofton and his staff in the hall of the St Canisius Hospital. The Company commanders informed afterwards their troops and start planning their part. On the 6th the dykes were breached and collapsed on the 7th at Little Tobruk.

    B-Coy received the task to capture “Little Tobruk” the last Recce was send out the night before 08 February. When they came back in the night their report was; “Tobruk being still inpenetratable”.
    The same night thousands of airplanes flew over to bomb the cities of Kleve and Goch.

    The attack of CSR was not due to go in until the evening. H-Hour was 17:00, the Regina Rifle Regiments task was to attack Zyfflich and the Querdamm up to 150 m after the lock. In close cooperation with the supporting Flail tanks one coy arrived in Zyfllich at 1835. The other Coys of the Rifles cleared the Querdamm and the south part of this island.

    This was the sign to “Shove Off” for the Canadian Scottish. B-Coy under command of Major E.G.English. Platoon nr 11 (Lt Hobdon) would attack the western side of Little Tobruk. Platoon nr 10 and 12 will follow the only dry part, the Querdamm to “Little Tobruk”

    Stiff resistance from the enemy and deadly machineguns, and mortars was the reason of the name “Little Tobruk” Part of 1052 Grenadier Regiment and Munster Sicherungs-Btl. But because of this resistance the other Coys where delayed as this objective should be in hands first. Brigadier Spragge decided to push off to the other objective that day for the Canadian Scottish Regiment, the village of Niel.
    These Coys had some problems with navigating as you can read in post 34

    The Ist Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Desmond Gerald Crofton took its full share of patrolling and gathering of information in the Nijmegen salient from November to early February. The commanding officer, by his personal interest and aggressive spirit in junior leaders' patrols, successfully kept morale at a high level. Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton prepared and briefed the battalion for its role in the big push of 8 February 1945. This operation "VERITABLE" was extremely difficult, being chiefly water borne; nevertheless all sub-units got away success- fully. During the night 8/9 February 1945, Battalion Headquarters (TAC) had no information from forward elements, so Lt-Col Crofton went forward to investigate. At approximately 0400 hours, the colonel's party had reached the town of Niel and made no contact with our companies. Realizing that daylight approached, he decided to move into shelter of a group of buildings with his staff. On reaching these buildings, enemy fire poured on his small party, wounding the commanding officer, intelligence officer and several of the staff. Although seriously wounded, Colonel Crofton continued in his endeavour to reach his men and to control his small party. Unfortunately, his wounds were so severe that he had to drag himself to the shelter of a small building, instructing the others to gain our own lines. Lt-Col Crofton remained seriously wounded in this exposed position twelve hours, when he was finally evacuated by our Medical Officer. Throughout these actions in Holland, Lt-Col Crofton's fearless leadership, gallantry and
    devotion to duty were an inspiration to all ranks and in no small measure influenced the tide of battle. His splendid part in the liberation of Holland was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Canadian Army and of the Regiment he so faithfully commanded.

    For this action, and other actions on the Leopold Canal and in the Breskens Pocket, Lieutenant-Colonel Desmond Gerald Crofton was awarded the Netherlands Bronze Lion.

    IMG_20210317_105654.jpg
    Lieutenant-Colonel Desmond Gerald Crofton

    Nr 10 Platoon arrived at “Little Tobruk” and took already 23 POW along the Querdamm, and because of the resistance they Major English made a new plan for a second approach.
    Worth noting the action of Sergeant Cummings as he took a Buffaloes to support his mates from 10 and 12 in the front of the attack, with the Polsten Gun and .50 Browning gun.

    Polsten 1.jpg
    Buffalo armed with 20mm Polsten gun and 2x 7.62mm Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal MGs

    The second attempt was for Nr 12 Platoon led by the experienced (a D-Day soldier) Sergeant Dave Janicki, they passed through the strong point to capture and kill more of the enemy dug in along this dyke. Three officers and 61 German soldiers were captured during this phase of the action. But Sgt Janicki, was killed by a sniper while rounding up the prisoners.

    dave1-1.JPG
    Sgt David Janicki

    Maj English noted that a German Captain seemed extremely nervous, he immediately ordered his men out of the fort and a short distance down the embankment. Minutes later “Little Tobruk” was blasted with enemy shellfire. Knowing capture was imminent, the Captain ordered artillery fire on his own position.
    At 0520 B-Coy sent in a Sitrep that they had finally cleared the dyke of enemy and “Little Tobruk”

    9 Soldiers from The Canadian Scottish Regiment and a total of 55 from 3th Canadian Infantry Division died during the initial phase of Operation Veritable


    Special Thanks to
    Bob Fowler Valour in the Victory Campaign
    Canadiana Héritage War diaries : T-12017 1598 (Order No 4)
    Library and Archive Canada
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2021
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  13. Nijmegen

    Nijmegen Member

    Interessant! (Rij daar vaak! )
     
  14. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    3th Canadian Infantry Division also known as "The Water Rats".
    I always thought that this was already official during the operation Switchback ( The Battle of the Scheldt).
    Originally an idea from Montgomery.But officially approved on 09 February 1945 by GOC Major General DC Spry.

    WaterRats.JPG
     
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  15. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    7. 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade Phase I

    During the months before the start of the operation, the brigade was rotating through the Ooijpolder NE of Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
    Daily patrols during day and night made sure that the troops know the area very well. The weeks after the final agreement on 07 December 1944 and initial D-Day on 01 January the patrols where intensified, more agressive and to capture enemy prisoners. Interrogation teams, by the start of the operation know almost exactly the strength and equipment of the enemy.

    End of january 1945 the extreme winter changed literally during the night of 31 January / 01 February, from snow and frost to mud and rain. As the operation area for the 3th Canadian infantry divison where the lowlands of the river Waal, Ampfibious vehicles were already forseen, 114 Buffalo type Mark II and IV /LVT from 11th Royal Tank Regiment and at last minute 12 Dukw from the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) would support the division also known as "The Water Rats".

    Intention:
    7 Cdn Inf Bde and att tps will attack and destroy enemy between RIGHT, bdy with 2 Cdn Inf Div and 15 (S) Inf Div and LEFT, 8 Cdn Inf Bde up to gen line of a tk ditch 8657 - 8661 and R Rhine.
    Phase I Break in and secure firm base on QUEER DAMM incl strongpoint.
    Phase II The capture of ZYFFLICH, bridges between ZYFFLICH and MEHR
    Phase III Capture of area MEHR and line of a tk ditch to river RHEIN.

    Phase I 7th.JPG
    Map with Embarkation area, main objectives and possible sailing routes.

    Canadian Scottish Regiment
    B-Coy see post 72 6. Little Tobruk

    08 February 1945 22:30 A and D Coy took of with Buffaloes into the dark in direction of NIEL, sailing time 30 minutes.
    09 February 1945 00:15 still no communication with A and D-Coy LTC Crofton gave the order to the remainder of the Bn to "Get Cracking" and the CP group boarded into Buffaloes and proceed to the appointen rendevous NIEL. From that moment a Complete BLACKOUT. In the mean time C-Coy was sailing in and around the polder lake looking someone to help. In the early morning C-Coy returned back at the starting point, they reported that they had nothing but trouble all night. C-Coy stayed at the controlpoint as reserve the rest of the day>
    02:00 (estimated) a relayed message via the Regina Rifles came in from Lt Shoop comd of the second Buffalo in the CP group the tragedy had struck the party.
    The party reached a point West of NIEL when the leading Buffalo under Cmd of Ltc Crofton was hit by Bazooka rockets (Panzerfaust) and was on fire, the second Buffalo couln't reach them because of heavy fire, and retired back to ZYFFLICH, 3 soldiers died during and 4 soldiers were wounded. One of the wounded was Ltc Crofton they were send to the RAP.
    04:30 A and D Coy arrived in NIEL and cleared from opposite ends of the village.
    05:20 B-Coy reported ALL CLEAR and they also returned back to Goring House (Villa Wylerberg)
    07:00 All Coy-C met eachother in th ecentre of NIEL, discussing the plans for the final steps and to consolidate their position. As a barage of the enemy arrived on the scene, this turned to be out as the last shelling on NIEL but killed Killed Lt Ferguson and his batman.

    But what happend with A and D Coy, because of the poor wireless communication sets, difficult navigating in the dark both coys debuffed on the wrong location. They touched down in GERMENSEEL a small village and cleared this village first before sailing to NIEL.
    In the report writen by Capt Bailey Commander D-Coy nothing was written about this "mistake"

    10 February 1945 The Canadian Scottish Regiment returned back to BEEK except a small group stayed behind because of the lack of Buffaloes that time.

    Casualties:
    Killed 8
    Wounded 17
    Missing 1

    Regina Rifles Regiment
    08 February 1945 18:00, The 7th Canadian Infantry brigade kicked off. After a 10 minute "pepperpot" done by A-Coy of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, the Regina Rifle Regiment moved up, with the intention to attack and capture ZYFFLICH and MEHR. In support of 13/18 Royal Hussars and 1st Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry (Flails) the Regina Rifles B and C coy in front,seized Southern end of the Querdamm (SDG Cleared this are the night before of mines) and the town of ZYFFLICH. B-Coy took the Northern road, C-Coy the Southern road (See Image)​

    Post Zyfflich.JPG


    They captured several enemy soldiers from the II Battalion 1052 GR (Grenadier Regiment). During the evening and night the Rifles had a long slow job rooting "the Basement boys" out of ZYFFLICH and supported some units from the Canadian Scottish who where lost, but finished the job at 0500. D-Coy arrived at their objective during the night at the Bridge East of MEHR, South of NIEL, to secure this bridge for Phase III.
    09 February 1945 11:25 A-Coy arrived in the East of MEHR. MEHR at that moment was almost empty, the few enemy soldier where captured easy at 16:45 MEHR was captured and secured.
    10 February 1945 13:10 the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders took over from the Regina Rifles in MEHR. A-Coy Regina Rifles would stay untill 11 February because of problems with stucked Buffaloes and insuficiant numbers of the Buffaloes. In the morning the Regina Rifles Regiment was back in Reserve in BEEK, but not for long.


    Royal Winnipeg Rifles

    09 February 1945 1100, until that time the Royal Winnipeg Rifles where in reserve, but then embarked in buffaloes, first going out to NIEL, then working NORTH with two coys up.They took their first objectives without opposition. Road Junction (still dry at that time) KEEKEN 8562 was captured at 1500hrs and RWR brought up a third coy to assist in clearing area NORTH to the RHINE and fanning out to the A Tk ditch EAST of the town. During the later part of the afternoon and evening, RWR consolidated their position and contacted QOR on their left. Their final objective along the NEDER RHINE was quitte sticky with a good bag of PWs, while the two coys in KEEKEN came under heavy mortar and shell fire from accross the river.


    According Library and Archives Canada You see Infantrymen of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in a Buffalo amphibious vehicle taking part in Operation VERITABLE en route from Niel to Keeken, Germany, 9 February 1945. The photo is most probably taken in Beek at the Rijksstraatweg 275, Beek.
    RWR Beek Ubbergen.jpg RWR Beek Lokatie.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2021
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  16. Tolbooth

    Tolbooth Patron Patron

    It was Flails of C Sqn, Lothians & Border Yeomanry, that assisted the Regina Rifles in the attack on ZYFFLICH on 8th Feb.

    Extract 8 Feb 45 .jpg
    "'D' Day for Op "Veritable". 3rd Tp moved to assy area in BEEK 7560, in sp of 7 Bde, 3 (Cdn) Div. Only one Tk, Cpl. Koonan, required to clear the dyke road into ZYFFLICH, the first objective of the Regina Rifles Regt. This task was carried out perfectly by Cpl. Koonan's tk. He led the attack into the objective at 1800 hrs, blowing four Teller mines and several Schumines. 150 Germans came out of the cellars as he entered the village and surrendered. He was sp by 1st and 2nd Tps., B Sqn 13/18H. Tks could not proceed further than the first objective and the tk was withdrawn. 4th Tp were not called upon by 5 Bde and were released."
     
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  17. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jul 9, 2021
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  18. Siem

    Siem Member

    Weet jij of er ook foto's zijn van Millingen tussen 9 en 30 februari 1945
     
  19. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    Om eerlijk te zijn heb ze nog niet gezien. Hieronder verder in het Engels ;)

    Units in Millingen aan de Rijn (from the wardiaries)

    Queens Own Rifles (09 Feb 45)
    North Shore Regiment (11 Feb 45)
    Royal Engineers (12 Feb 45)

    Photographers of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit (CFPU) where very active in the area. There is a photo and Video series of Leuth, during the start of Operation Veritable. From the videos even till Donsbruggen. Mainly with Buffalo's

    There are some from Millingen, but these are from Millingen (Germany)

    I have seen quite a lot of photographs but didnt see (as i remember) from Millingen.
     
  20. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Bump ... 8 Feb 1945 the Rhineland battle started
     
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