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September 9
HECHTEL
14:00 hrs
The Bn left to join the W.G. group in the woods to the EAST of HECHTEL. In the village itself the W.G. had met considerable opposition and towards evening were compelled to withdraw from it altogether. The Bn was ordered to by-pass the village on the following day and push N.W. towards the ESCAUT Canal. With this in view, the Bn harboured the night in the woods ready to move on next morning.
O.R. cas for the day were 5 killed and 10 wounded.

September 10
EAST OF HECHTEL
As is often the case, the 1/50000 scale map bore no resemblance to the ground and after one coy and one sqn had been launched on the chosen axis it was proved that the going was entirely unsuitable to tks. Luckily, No 4 Coy, which had been sent forward for this task pf ground recce were able to disengage from the enemy with very light cas and the Bn group followed up the C.L. of the GREN GDS group who had discovered a bridge by means of which tks could cross the otherwise impassable ground. Having reached the main rd to the ESCAUT Canal, the I.G. group were ordered to hook right and make for the bridge over the ESCAUT at de GROOT BARRIER. During the approach march we met no opposition and civilians and elements of H.C.R infmd us that there were no enemy SOUTH of the Canal. We reached the area of the bridge as light was failing and the Commanding Officer, after a rapid recce, decided to try and rush it. No. 2 Coy and one sqn of tanks were detailed for the job. The tks put down a hail of fire on the area of the bridge itself and succeeded in knocking out several un-armed 88 mm AA/A. Tk guns.
Lt. STANLEY-CLARKE’s pl. preceded by a tp of tks then rushed the bridge itself and succeeded in reaching the opposite side. The remainder of No. 2 Coy and No. 3 Coy were quickly pushed across to join them and the posn was rapidly consolidated.
The RE Offr with the Bn succeeded in disconnecting all the charges which were in position to blow the bridge, and the crossing of the ESCAUT had been successfully achieved. [4 Gdsmn H. Trimble, C. Mollard, E. Colethorpe K. Fielding assisted Sapper officer, Captain Hutton, in removing charges and received MMs]
Total cas for the day were one OR killed and 5 Ors wounded.

September 11
de GROOT
At about 09:00 hrs, the posn S.W. of the Bridge was counter-attacked by a mixed group of S.P. guns and inf who were trying to get back across the canal. At one time, one of the S.P. guns was within 100 yds of Bn. HQ but the posn was quickly restored and the enemy driven off with heavy losses.
During the attack, Capt. E.E. RAWLENCE (M.T. Offr) was unfortunately killed whilst trying to stalk a S.P. gun with a PIAT. The RSM also was evacuated suffering from blast and burns about the face and eyes. The C.O.’s staff car and several other vehicles were wrecked by enemy shell fire.
The total O.R. cas were three killed and 10 wounded.

September 12
de GROOT
A quiet day was spent by the Bn in rest and maintenance, and received a visit from the Corps Comd (Lt. Gen. HORROCKS) to congratulate those concerned in the capture of the bridge over the ESCAUT Canal, which had already been christened and signposted “JOE‘s BRIDGE” in honour of the C.O.
The only cas suffered today was one OR wounded.

September 13
de GROOT
The Bn was ordered to move into the Woods N.W. of the bridge head to enlarge it and took up a defensive position in this area during the afternoon.
September 14
de GROOT
08:00hrs
An enemy counter-attack was launched in some strength against the bridge head. A number of the enemy with spandaus and bazookas succeeded in infiltrating into the area held by No 3 Coy on the left, and the whole Bn and the bridge itself were subjected to fairly heavy mortar and shell fire throughout the day. During the evening , although the attack had by then been halted, we were compelled to re-organise to closer dispositions that those we had previously held. At nightfall, the shell and mortar fire intensified and was subsequently proved to be a cover for the enemy’s withdrawal, as there were no signs of them the following morning.
During the day, Lt. KENNARD and six ORs were killed, 23 ORs wounded and five ORs missing, but on the whole, casualties were lighter than might have been expected as the result of a two Bn co-ordinated attack.

September 15
OVERPELT
A Bn of the HAMPSHIRE REGT took over our posn during the morning and the Bn moved SOUTH of the Canal to the area of OVERPELT for a short rest and an opportunity to maintain the vehs, which after the long advances of the past few days were badly in need of attention.
Today’s casualties were one OR wounded and five ORs missing.