189881 Lt. Peter Beaufoy FOSTER M.C., 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Guy Hudson, Apr 24, 2020.

  1. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

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    1922 - 7th June 2007 Stockbridge, Southampton
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    Wounded in action 20th November 1944
    Commissioned in the Royal Regiment of Artillery London Gazette 20th June 1941 p.3502
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    20th November 1944
    The 2nd/60th now appealed again, concentrated in Panningen. We prepared to support them in the next small operation. The " big picture " is rather hard to describe here, but briefly, 51st (H.) Division were directed on Venlo from the south-west moving with their right flank on the Maas. (From this flank, south-west, we had troops right up to the Maas right down to Maseyck.) 49th Division were closing in from the west, and 15th (S.) Division from the north-west.

    49th Division Recce. Regiment had ended up on Saturday, faced by opposition from some S.P. guns and small arms fire from the woods round Koningslust Cloister.

    The 60th were to clear this up (" C " Company), and secure the crossing of the stream 1,000 yards east of the Cloister (" B "Company). " A " Company were in support of the Greys on the left (North), while 44th R.T.R. were to advance to Maasbree on the right.

    It was for the daring way in which he gave support to the 60th in the operation -particularly to " B " Company at their difficult crossing of the water, carried out under fire from a stubborn enemy dug in round farm buildings - that Captain Millington was awarded the Military Cross. And it was on this same day that two other M.Ca. were won by the Regiment, by Captain Hutchinson of "' F " Battery and Lieut Foster of " C " Battery, the former for a long time an officer in this Battery and the latter destined to command " D " Troop from the crossing of the Rhine onwards.

    The fire-plan-at-call was laid on at a regimental level and consisted in concentrations on almost every building where opposition might be met, the whole plan being worked out from careful study of the 1/25,000 map and air photographs. Mines and obstacles were plentiful, and the enemy offered fair resistance. Both troop Commanders had some good shooting, while the K.R.R.C. progressed well, but in the afternoon Captain Hoyle's tank went up on a Reigel (R') mine, seriously wounding Gnr. G. Wright in the legs, generally shaking up the whole crew and writing off the tank.

    In due course, the 60th concentrated in Tooger Loo, the C.L.Y. came up, and our next support was for them - an O.P. with each squadron. Captain Cooper with " B," Captain Millington with " C " and Lieut. Adam with " A " in reserve. They were to support a brigade of 49th Division carried in " Kangaroos " - armoured troop carriers - advancing on an axis through Korteheide - Langeheide and so on through the wood to the north-east.

    Tactically, this went all right, but the mud and rain were a great hindrance and scattered mines were everywhere. The Squadrons went often into deserted house for the night, behind the leading Companies. The O.Ps. bad probably their most uncomfortable and coldest night for months, made more unpleasant by accurate harassing fire. To support the advance, the guns had moved to Loo and, now no longer having to give much support to the infantry, we moved up as a regiment south-east of Sevenum, It was nothing but a bare bit of ground, as desolate as any map square, neither troop having a single building within 1,000 yards or more of it - a real wilderness. With a zero-line south-east we sent an O.P. to the Division Recce. Regiment at Boekend, where he could see the imposing defences of Venlo, including one of the biggest minefields met since D Day, the sappers said, and a formidable anti-tank ditch. Our own F.D.Ls., were in thickly wooded country ; except for the suburb of Blerick nearly all the ground west of the Maas was in our hands 15th (S.) Division coming down from the north were to take over from 49th Division who went off to the Nijmegen area, This released 4th Armoured Brigade who concentrated north-west of Weert where they remained for so long that we came to call the C.L.Y. the Weert Home Guard.
    History of 'DD' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery - Chapter 4

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    Cheltenham Chronicle 10th March 1945

    Remained with the Royal Regiment of Artillery post-war and reached the rank of Major-General
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    London Gazette 13th June 1977 No.47245
     
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