Irish Guards, 3 Bn. War Diary, June 1944 -

[Philip,ABRG]

Looks German to me

[dbf]

For Kennedi, information about 3rd Battalion, where they were and what they were doing around the 20th April 1945:

From History of Irish Guards in WW2, Part V, Chapter XIV Across The Rhine, pg 575:
“ZEVEN was taken on the 24th [April 1945] by the Grenadiers and the Coldstream. Till then the Irish Group remained in ELSDORF, being shelled by the Germans and twice bombed, once by the Germans and once by the Americans. Neither the shelling nor the bombing caused serious casualties, but they reduced ELSDORF to a heap of ruins. “In the execution of the 21st Army Group operations in the north,” says the Supreme Commander’s report, “the resistance encountered by the British Second Army in its attacks towards Bremen and Hamburg was persistent.” Following the fall of Bremen on the 26th April, however, the situation changed.”

This map will show you whereabouts all the place names are. The area is to the north of Hannover and half way between Bremen and Hamburg. If you zoom out and in from the map it’ll give you a clearer idea.
http://www.maplandia.com/germany/niedersachsen/luneburg/rotenburg/frankenbostel/

From 3RD Battalion Irish Guards War Diary:
18th April 1945
Towards evening there was an Orders Group SOUTH of SOLTAU at which were told that the Brigade Group would concentrate in that area for the night, before striking WEST to TOSTEDT the following day with the object of capturing ZEVEN and cutting the Autobahn linking BREMEN and HAMBURG.

19th April 1945
The Grenadier Group, who were in the lead, crossed the railway lne in TOSTEDT at 1400hrs, and only minor opposition succeeded in cutting the Autobahn and pushing on to within 3 miles of the final objective. The Battalion Group, moving up behind, took over the responsibility for the area SITTENSEN and the Autobahn crossings NORTH and WEST of it, where we remained for the night.

20th April 1945
The Grenadier Group set off at first light for ZEVEN but soon met heavy opposition and were compelled to halt. Meanwhile the Battalion Group had been ordered to send a Company, Squadron Group to ELSDORF. Apart from a few mines the village was occupied without incident and patrols were sent to WISTEDT and WEHLDORF. The latter patrol being on the main ROTENBURG-ZEVEN road, obtained a satisfactory shoot at enemy transport moving NORTH from ROTENBURG. By evening the Autobahn from SITTENSEN to ELSDORF was clear and in use. A number of prisoners were taken during the day mostly from the Grossdeutschland Brigade.

21st April 1945
A strong counter-attack, which was subsequently proved to have been made by the 2 Battalions of 104 Panzer Grenadier Regiment (15 Panzer Grenadier Division), was launched, supporte by Artillery, Mortars, and Self-Propelled guns, on to the area ELSDORF-WISTEDT shortly after first light. The situation was serious for a time, as a Platoon and Troop occupying WISTEDT were surrounded and cut off from the main body. Only one tank with the Tank Commander and Platoon Commander with 4 men managed to get back to the Company area. Elsewhere in spite of bitter fighting and heavy shelling on our forward areas, the enemy attack had been beaten off by midday. Another Coy/ Squadron Group moved to FRANKENBOSTEL and Battalion HQ to RUSPEL. At about dusk 16 bombs were dropped on ELSDORF fortunately causing very few casualties. The firing of Verey lights from the ground seemed to be co-ordinated in the tactical picture, but it was not followed by any counter-attack.

22nd April 1945
At about 0200hrs a Self-Propelled gun made a demonstration to the EAST of ELSDORF but when the Defensive fire tasks were fired, it quickly withdrew again. Apart from active patrolling by our troops which ensured that the enemy were still in the area, the day was a quiet one with no sign of enemy activity on the scale of the previous day. Prisoners taken during the day tended to confirm the impression that an enemy withdrawal was imminent.

23rd April 1945
At about 0300hrs a single German with a Bazooka hit and destroyed a tank in the Squadron HQ in ELSDORF. Apart from this remarkable incident and for some sporadic shelling on FRANKENBOSTEL during the early hours, little was seen or hear of the enemy. The clearing of ROTENBURG by the 32nd Guards Brigade and the approach of the 53rd Welsh Division from the south seemed to have provoked a general withdrawal towards BREMEN.

24TH April 1945
The Battalion continued to fulfil its operational rold in the area ELSDORF. During the day the Grenadier and Coldstream Groups attacked and captured ZEVEN assisted by a demonstration by No 4 Coy from the area FRANKENBOSTEL.


...more to follow

Diane

[dbf]

Kennedi,

Two photos taken on 20th April 1945. From collection held by Imperial War Museum.

The description: "A camouflaged Sherman Firefly of the Irish Guards and infantry guard a section of the Bremen-Hamburg autobahn, 20 April 1945."

[Kennedi]

Hi D

Thank you so much i think my mom emailed with some more information . Greatgrandfather was killed on the 20.4.45 while he was crossing the bridge of the rine. My profile pic is my grandfather and the man that was killed with him My grandfather is on the right. Anymore information would be fab thanks kenziie

[Owen]

Welcome to the forum kenziie.
I don't think the bit about him being killed on a bridge across the Rhine is true.
They were miles away from it by 20th April.
You've some great photos in your profile album.

[Smudger Jnr]

Diane,

A wonderful tribute to the Guards. A tremendous amount of time and effort on your part.
You really have done the men proud.

Tom

[Kennedi]

Hi Owen,

I just confirmed wiv my Grandad. Sidney James Booth son and he was killed crossing the river Rhine for sure

[Paul Reed]

These are the War Diaries for 3/IG for 20.4.45.

[Paul Reed]

next page:

[Paul Reed]

This will get you to the area of the fighting on Google Earth. Just cut and paste this ref:

53°14'43.75"N 9°21'18.12"E