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Verrieres · 23-10-2008, 11:11 AM

The town of Ibbenburen at the north east end of the Teutoburger Wald was the scene of heavy fighting on the 4th April 1945.9DLI were up against an enemy who were fighting ferociously in small groups making it difficult to bring down effective artillery support on their positions.
Supported by 5th Dragoon Guards A Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through C Company 9DLI and continue the advance towards Ibbenburen. Pte B W G Baker was a member of A Company 9DLI.Outside of Ibbenburen was a long stream and in front of that a row of enemy occupied houses, each house had to be fought for, eventually tanks were brought up to shell/flamethrower each house all the while there was heavy sniper fire from the German defenders with the tank commanders and DLI platoon Sgts a favourite target.
After heavy fighting A Company cleared the area and took 20 prisoners. The advance continued behind an artillery barrage and support fire from 9DLI 3” mortars. At 10;45hrs a pause in the advance was called as a bulldozer came forward to clear a road block in front of C Company 9DLI positions, this gave time for the tank support to reorganise and receive much needed ammunition.
At 12;30hrs B Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through A Company and take up the lead. Led by a Canadian officer Captain Hal Foster B Company crossed the stream and established a bridgehead on the opposite side.9DLI advanced to within 600yards of the main bridge when an order was received to withdraw slightly and take up defensive positions astride of the main road .It had been decided that 52nd Div were to continue the attack on Ibbenburen the 9DLI were to rejoin 7th Armoured Division. This was the end of 9DLI participation in this attack.
Casualties during this bitter fighting included the following killed in action;- 3602590 L/Cpl Ernest Hall, B Company 9DLI, 4686682 L/Sgt John Hopkinson, 14767330 Pte B W G Baker (listed as George Baker), 14629348 Pte Richard John Cox, 3133797 Pte David Dickson all A Company 9DLI, 4610792 Sgt John Fredrick Thomas Giles (CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) , 14751185 Pte John Risidore , 4448438 Pte George Edward Smith(CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) all of C Company 9DLI . Eighteen other ranks wounded.
During this action L/Sgt Nicholson won a MM I have details of his Citation if anyone would like to read it I`ll post it for you.
Regards
Verrieres

23-10-2008, 11:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
Verrieres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durham Posts: 298	The town of Ibbenburen at the north east end of the Teutoburger Wald was the scene of heavy fighting on the 4th April 1945.9DLI were up against an enemy who were fighting ferociously in small groups making it difficult to bring down effective artillery support on their positions. Supported by 5th Dragoon Guards A Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through C Company 9DLI and continue the advance towards Ibbenburen. Pte B W G Baker was a member of A Company 9DLI.Outside of Ibbenburen was a long stream and in front of that a row of enemy occupied houses, each house had to be fought for, eventually tanks were brought up to shell/flamethrower each house all the while there was heavy sniper fire from the German defenders with the tank commanders and DLI platoon Sgts a favourite target. After heavy fighting A Company cleared the area and took 20 prisoners. The advance continued behind an artillery barrage and support fire from 9DLI 3” mortars. At 10;45hrs a pause in the advance was called as a bulldozer came forward to clear a road block in front of C Company 9DLI positions, this gave time for the tank support to reorganise and receive much needed ammunition. At 12;30hrs B Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through A Company and take up the lead. Led by a Canadian officer Captain Hal Foster B Company crossed the stream and established a bridgehead on the opposite side.9DLI advanced to within 600yards of the main bridge when an order was received to withdraw slightly and take up defensive positions astride of the main road .It had been decided that 52nd Div were to continue the attack on Ibbenburen the 9DLI were to rejoin 7th Armoured Division. This was the end of 9DLI participation in this attack. Casualties during this bitter fighting included the following killed in action;- 3602590 L/Cpl Ernest Hall, B Company 9DLI, 4686682 L/Sgt John Hopkinson, 14767330 Pte B W G Baker (listed as George Baker), 14629348 Pte Richard John Cox, 3133797 Pte David Dickson all A Company 9DLI, 4610792 Sgt John Fredrick Thomas Giles (CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) , 14751185 Pte John Risidore , 4448438 Pte George Edward Smith(CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) all of C Company 9DLI . Eighteen other ranks wounded. During this action L/Sgt Nicholson won a MM I have details of his Citation if anyone would like to read it I`ll post it for you. Regards Verrieres