Ardennes 1945, 51st Highland Div

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by stolpi, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    1st Bn Black Watch takes La Roche, Jan 11th, 45


    Mont Soeret.jpg

    As a sequel to the above, the story of the fight for La Roche:

    Colonel Hopwood and his Tac HQ moved behind the leading ['A'] company. After learning of the hold up at the ‘Trouée du Chalet’, he decided to go forward himself to have a look. Lieutenant A.W. Faulkner: "No.1 Troop, of which I was the troop leader, supported the 1st Black Watch advance. We were the first British tanks to enter the badly bombed out town of La Roche. The road conditions were very, very snowy and there were a lot of mines, German as well as American, which had not been cleared. Because of the snow they were invisible and it was very difficult to avoid them. The roads also were very slippery. We had extensions fitted on the tracks to give them better grip – ‘C’ Squadron’s tanks were the only ones in the battalion that had extended end connectors fitted to its tracks. But this did not prevent us from skidding on the icy roads. We got to the outskirts of La Roche, which was actually on the road overlooking the town and the valley of the Ourthe. As my leading tank, commanded by Corporal Snowden, went around the last corner, it was confronted by a German Panther tank with its gun pointing right at us. Corporal Snowden smartly reversed round the corner out of sight and then went for a reconnaissance. Luckily the tank was abandoned, it was in perfectly good condition, probably ran out of petrol or something. He reported on the radio what had happened. Shortly afterwards the infantry, who had been following us, arrived. I had a chat with the Colonel of the Black Watch and we decided we would take a walk down the road into the town and see what was happening. We walked down the main road in company with some sappers, of a mine clearing squad, who were checking the road for mines. La Roche was a mess, a lot of houses destroyed, fallen down all over the place. The road was mainly passable, but difficult - lots of rubble - and there was some shell fire. There wasn’t any small arms fire and we didn’t see any enemy troops down there. We went into a house to shelter and I went upstairs to have a look from a bedroom window across the Ourthe River, to see if I could see any activity. When the shelling quietened down a bit we decided to go back to our troops and bring them down into the town and see whether we could go through it. The Black Watch Colonel and me didn’t speak very much. We just sort of had a look, and he said: "Oh, suppose we’d better go back to our troops and get cracking". So this we did."

    At 1000 hrs, Colonel Hopwood reported to 153 Brigade HQ that his leading rifle company had entered La Roche and was pushing on to the southeastern district of the town along the ‘Rue du Chalet’, a road cut into the base of a sheer rock face rising on the left side of the river. Apart from some shelling there was no resistance, the town appeared to be clear of enemy. This prompted Brigadier Oliver to call his other two battalions forward. The 7th Black Watch closed up in TCV's to Jupille and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who were at stand-by in Bourdon, were told to prepare to move. Shortly afterwards, Oliver received a message that the 1st Black Watch had reached the crossroads in the small suburb on the far end of the town – known as ‘Le Faubourg’. Oliver at once decided to launch the 7th Black Watch. He also directed the 7th Argylls forward to Jupille. The 7th Black Watch alighted near Vecpré and from there continued on foot to La Roche. But soon after, they ran into the tail of the 1st Black Watch. Up ahead Hopwood’s men had run into trouble. The ‘Le Faubourg’ district was a shambles and the riflemen of ‘A’ Company found it hard to find a road through craters and rubble. Just after the lead elements had secured the crossroads, the valley was filled with the unmistakable chatter of enemy machine guns and bullets started flying everywhere. The enemy was firing from across the valley, well sited on a high promontory overlooking ‘Le Faubourg’ – a feature known as ‘Mont Soeret’. From this commanding position the enemy also directed heavy shell fire on the crossroads. Within a short time two platoon commanders were hit and several men had become casualties. Colonel Hopwood at once called ‘C’ Company forward to place itself across the road leading to Ortho and seize the high ground of the ‘Mont Soeret’. Lance-Sergeant J. Rowe was in ‘C’ Company: "As we approached the far end of the town, all of a sudden an enemy machine gun opened up on the leading section of our platoon, and the lads dashed across the road to the other side for cover. Another machinegun opened up and raked their ranks. Several lads were hit, among them our 2nd Lieutenant, who was killed. He had just arrived in the battalion and it was his first and last bit of action. Of course we all immediately took cover wherever possible and returned fire with our weapons as best we could."

    The War Diary of the 1st Black Watch describes the enemy position on the ‘Mont Soeret’ as an "extremely strong position, which was most difficult to attack". One platoon of ‘C’ Company was lined on the road to Ortho and one platoon was deployed at the end of the plateau, while Captain Wallace was endeavoring to outflank the position by moving around the base of the promontory. As this appeared to be impossible, because of the sheer drop of the ground at the rear, Colonel Hopwood put forward his last company, ‘B’, to go through ‘C’ and try to clear the ridge. It turned out that the enemy opposition was mainly concentrated around a house atop the ridge, called ‘Les Olivettes’. It had been turned into a stronghold, with several machineguns and mortars and held by a force of approximately forty men. Mines prevented the tanks from giving close support and the close proximity of the troops made it impossible to bring artillery to bear on it.

    Mont Soeret picture.jpg
    Post-war picture of the suburb of Le Faubourg. This part of the town was dominated by the promontory of the Mont Soeret topped by the Les Olivettes house. The Pont de Faubourg, giving access to the town center, at the time was destroyed. The British troops approached from the right, along the Rue du Chalet.

    La Roche post-war 0000.jpg
    Another view of the Pont de Faubourg with the Mount Soeret in the background (photo courtesy: Cercle Segnia https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064871046689&sk=photos)

    Around 1300 hrs, the fighting slackened and an uneasy peace settled over the valley. The situation appeared stabilized. This prompted Lt.Col. C.F.Cathcart, the 7th Black Watch commander, who was eagerly waiting on the northern outskirt of the town, to start the advance of his battalion. The leading company of the 7th Black Watch,‘A’ Company, managed to slip past the troublesome crossroads in the ‘Le Faubourg’ district. Continuing along the road to Hives, they reached the bridge across the small Bronze river. Here they met the Sherman tanks of no. 1 Troop, which had managed to move forward to the bridge, due to the hard work of the Royal Engineers who despite the ongoing fight had cleared a passage through the rubble strewn streets. The tanks reported the bridge clear and the leading rifle platoon rushed across to the other side, but almost at once it came under small arms and mortar fire from the left, from the ‘Mont Soeret’. The enemy stronghold at 'Les Olivettes' was still active. The tanks went across to deal with the small arms fire. But, to make matters worse, one tank promptly blew up on a mine, thus blocking the road. Further progress up the Hives road was not possible until the enemy across the valley had been dealt with by the 1st Black Watch. The troublesome house was eventually surmounted by rushing one platoon of ‘B’ Company, 1st Black Watch, forward to the edge of the area held by the enemy, who were eventually driven out largely owing to the use of PIATs and a lucky shot from the leading tank of no.1 Troop down in the valley on the Hives road, which set the house on fire. Some thirteen POWs were taken, later identified as members of a battle group of the 156th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, and several more were killed. ‘B’ Company pushed on and occupied the higher ground beyond ‘Les Olivettes’, while ‘C’ Company remained in reserve. Heavy shelling and mortaring was brought down on the battalion throughout this action. Only seven casualties, of which three were killed, were inflicted, chiefly owing to the enemy’s difficulties in landing shells in the valley bounded on all sides by almost sheer cliffs. Shelling continued fairly persistently and the crossroads at the east end of the town remained a most unhealthy spot.

    Naamloos.jpg
    Route taken by 'B' Company along the back-side of the Mont Soeret to subdue the enemy stronghold of Les Olivettes (Photo C.Nollomont)

    Route de Hives.jpg
    The Route de Hives today, at the start of the long steep climb towards the village of Hives. At approximately this point the head of the 7th Black Watch ran into flanking fire from the enemy stronghold at Les Olivettes on the Mont Soeret. Not until the 1st Black Watch had cleared the Mont Soeret were they able to continue the advance to Hives. By that time it was already 14:30 hrs. Later a German radio set was found at Les Olivettes, which might indicate it was used as an enemy artillery OP.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2024
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  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    La-Roche-J.jpg
    Postwar picture of the ruined town of La Roche with the Pont du Faubourg. To the left across the Pont du Faubourg is the dominating Mont Soeret which caused so much trouble. La Roche was a mess. More than half of the approximately 640 houses of La Roche-en-Ardenne were completely destroyed by the Allied bombings, hardly any was left untouched. 115 civilians perished in the bombings. To many of the Highland veterans the devastation evoked memories of the destruction of Caen in Normandy (courtesy La Roche aan de Ourthe - Belgisch Luxemburg – Ardennen België)

    3GG8T77Y.jpg
    Soldiers of the Highland Division sheltering from the cold in the Faubourg district. The house with the three dormers in the background is the same as the one standing next to the Pont du Faubourg in the picture above. A 'now' picture is almost impossible, as the situation has changed completely. The whole block has been rebuild and the house with the dormers has gone.


    25c22ea2fde6223842f7791dfee8eaf6.jpg
    Another picture of the same area from a different angle; the house with the dormers is in the center. The Mont Soeret rises in the background.


    War Diary 1 Black Watch re the fight for La Roche:

    1 BW War Diary.jpg 1 BW War Diary 2.jpg 1 BW War Diary 3.jpg

    Three soldiers of the 1st Bn Black Watch were killed in the fight for the town:
    001 CHALMERS JL 2758441 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
    002 KEITH WJ 2760927 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
    003 MCKILLOP J 327334 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2020
  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    For the hard and dangerous job of clearing passages trough the wrecked town of La Roche two of the Royal Engineers were awarded:

    Lieutenant Stroud, who was in command of the no. 3 Platoon, 274 (H) Field Company R.E., received a MC:

    award 18 Stroud 274 (H) Fd Coy RE.png award 18a Stroud 274 (H) Fd Coy RE.png

    Cpl. Lloyd, who was leading a Bulldozer section, was awarded a MM:

    award 65 Lloyd 274 Field Coy (H).png award 65 a Lloyd 274 Field Coy (H).png
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2017
  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    La Roche: Rue de Beausaint

    C1WUMLQY.jpg
    The picture of a derelict Mark IV tank along the roadside was taken in the Rue de Beausaint, at the junction with the Val du Bronze/Route de Hives. A Sherman tank and an armoured bulldozer are visible to the right.

    Rue de Beausaint 2.jpg
    Today the spot is overbuild by houses. To the right the junction with the road towards Hives, the first stretch of which is called Val du Bronze. From this point the road to the 4 kilometers distant Hives makes a very steep climb up the valley, which was difficult for the tanks.

    See for moving images (from 1:21 onwards): Invasion Scenes Europe: British Troops

    Rue de Beausaint MKIV.jpg
    Above and below: The same Mark IV in the Rue de Beausaint, but now from different angles. The wrecks of a German halftrack and a Kübelwagen are also visible. The Germans abandoned a lot of material in this area. Further up the Route de Hives, in the former Tanneries buildings, a German tank workshop with about half a dozen cannibalized tanks were found which had been used to provide spare parts to keep other tanks in running condition (photo courtesy C.Nollomont).

    La Roche post-war 000 Mk IV.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2024
  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    I've been looking for a photograph of British Sherman tanks of the 1st Northamponshire Yeomanry parked between trees in a snowy wooded valley, but cannot find it on the internet.

    Does anyone have this picture. I know it is in some books about the Ardennes battle. I have another accompanying story of a veteran to this one.
     
  6. Dave H

    Dave H Junior Member

    Hi Stolpi, this is a great thread. Thank you.
    Where can i get a copy of your book?
     
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  7. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Sold out a long time ago .... there is copy at the IWM Library I believe.

    Will prepare a reprint when time permits.
     
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  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    upload_2021-3-26_7-45-12.png

    There is a German halftrack in the back-ground of this well-known picture of Operation Veritable taken near Groesbeek/Bruuk, west of the Reichswald forest, Feb 1945. It is visible on the right hand side behind the two watching soldiers. I do not know of enemy units using halftracks in this area, especially not that far forward, almost within the FDL. So this might be the captured vehicle from the Ardennes. Men in the picture belong either to the 1st Black Watch or 5/7th Gordons.

    German Halftrack Bruuk.jpg
    Same halftrack different angle. Note the Allied white star on the vehicle's side, an indication that it is indeed a captured vehicle.
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2023
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  9. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Overturned Archer 241 Btty, Jan 16th, 1945

    51st HD Archer.jpg

    I finally have some details of the story behind this overturned Archer of the 61st AT Regt/51st Highland Division (courtesy Chris C). The War Diary entrance of the 61st AT Regt for Jan 16th, 1945 notes: "Div[ision] not in contact with enemy. SP 241 Btty disabled owing to it leaving & rolling down the bank. No casualties. Otherwise N.T.R." At the time the 241 Btty was located in La Roche, down in the Ourthe Valley. Several days before the SP's of the 241 Btty had seen action at Hives, where one of the 17-pounder guns KO'd a Panther (see the above post: Ardennes 1945, 51st Highland Div ). It might be that, following this action, the 17-pounder SP returned along the sharp descending and slippery road towards the town of La Roche, where the 241 Btty was harbored.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2021
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  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I'm looking again at the IWM photograph of the disabled Panther. It looks as if the 17-pounder shell from the Archer went through the corner of the tank and then broke the drive sprocket?

    I had thought it was the near drive sprocket which was broken, but considering the orientation of the tank compared to the building, and the damage to the front of the tank in the IWM photo, I think it must have been the far (left hand) sprocket.
     
  11. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Chris - Yes, left hand sprocket.

    Panther Lavaux 2.jpg

    My best guess:

    Panther Lavaux.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2021
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  12. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Yes, that makes sense. Or the German crew had stopped and thought they were safe, not realizing that the corner was visible.
     
  13. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Private Crombleholme's identity disc

    IMG_0624.jpg
     
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  14. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    Hello Stolpi, hope you are well. Do you know the number of this panther and if it is still in existence or destroyed?

    Kindest regards
    Edward Pattinson
     
  15. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Spotted this on You Tube:



    It is special since this WW2talk thread is mentioned as a source
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2023
  16. EKB

    EKB Well-Known Member


    The soldier that the hosts fixated on so much was Jose A. Viramontes (1922-2018) from the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Unfortunately the U.S. National Archives has his name spelled incorrectly for Signal Corps photo 253917. Viramontes was no doubt proud of his hard-earned paratrooper-specific uniform items, and expressed it by wearing the old M42 pattern suit and jump boots instead of the latest generic, army-wide issue M43 battledress and buckle-wrap boots.

    Pvt Jose A. Viramontes C:507 PIR La Roche Belgium (15 Jan 45).jpeg
    SSGT Jose A Viramontes (1922-2018) - Find a Grave...
    Jose A Viramontes June 20 2018, death notice, USA
    https://www.17thscions.org/507th-pir-photos?lightbox=image9d9
    National Archives NextGen Catalog
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2023
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  17. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

  18. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    Is the Panther still in existence? Is it on display anywhere? Does anyone know it's number?
     
  19. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    Is the panther still in existence? Does anyone know it's number? I'm wondering if it is possibly on display somewhere? My grandfather was a Sgt in battery 241

    Kindest regards
    Edward Pattinson
     
  20. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Its a bit of a shame that the 17 Pounder SP on the memorial ar La Roche en Ardenne is misleadingly painted as an RAC equipment!
    [​IMG]
     
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