Co-incidentally, I was sent a couple of pictures of Nortons in Canadian service today, including this one showing a Wasp at Veluwe (Netherlands) in 1945
Wasps were used to set fire to the huts at Belsen Concentration Camp Footage is about two and a half minutes into the pathe film ►► www.britishpathe.com/video/belsen Belsen 1945 ... Belsen concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen, Germany. .
Full update on WASPs and their delayed deployment to NWE will be posted shortly... [Another placeholder] 3 Canadian was to use them on 6 June but turned them down, due to various reasons Quite why they arrive later on before their first use by 53 Div mid-July, when they were available before June is still unclear.
Thanks, everyone for the info posted. I'm looking forward to yours, Swiper. And specially any information you might have about 53 BID's use of Wasps in late February/early March 1945 in their attack on Weeze (Operation Leek) when the Div was supported by Crocodiles. Which raises another question where, or if, the use of Wasps and Crocodiles was coordinated: by 53 BID, by 79 BAD, by the Brigadier or by the infantry battalions COs? It's funny that this subject has dropped through the military history slats. Tony
I've got all of that... But I'll need specifics. Its also worth mentioning I've not yet really gone through all the Weeze material (or really post-October stuff) as much as I would like to. But most initial coordination tends to stem from Brigadier, with Lt-Cols popping in later (originally) but after certain issues in Normandy, I believe the Lt-Cols took a far more hands on role with the Crocs, which stemmed from a lack of demonstrations. At least that applies to 53 Div.
Thank you. Contemporaneously with Weeze/Leek, the Crocodiles on March 1st in Kervenheim in support of 1 Norfolks (185 BIB, 3 BID), on 53 BID's immediate left flank, were under command of 4 Coldstream Guards in 6 GAB (Churchills) in support of 3 BID. AFAIK, no unit in 3 BID ever operated Wasps, which is why I'm fascinated to know who did in 53 BID, and when, and how, and why, and to what effect, and specifically in the operation south of Goch to take Weeze (Operation Leek - February 25 to March 3, 1945). Tony
As far as my research has uncovered every single Bn in 53 Div used WASPs - at least at some stage. Curious 3 Div never seemingly used them, any idea why?
No, and thereby hangs the mystery. Pity we can't ask Lt Col Cecil Firbank, CO 2 Lincolns (9 BIB, 3 BID) who replaced Brig 'Fish' Elrington (GOC 71 BIB, 53 BID) on his death on 23.4.1945. My father, who was 2IC of 2 Lincolns, then took over from Firbank. He and his colleagues never mentioned Wasps, and seemingly knew nothing of them. Tony
I can only add a vague clue - my notebooks from that time are missing. Some years ago I had the privilege of meeting a former junior officer of a Rifle Bn. He was allocated a Wasp Platoon in Holland late in 1944. It was specifically used in support of the many minor river crossings on the advance into Germany softening up and suppressing the far bank especially by denying cover. He actually came to me regarding his Home Guard experiences as a schoolboy. As we went up stairs to my office he apologised for his pronounced limp calmly saying "I was run over by a tank" - "Ours or theirs" - "Ours of course". At a Battalion 'O group' preparing for a crossing they were mortared and took shelter behind a Sherman which then backed off without warning. Typically both very unlucky and very luck in the one incident. Keith
