Farewell To Armour Parade - June 1945

Roll duly updated, many thanks for adding your Dad's name to this.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/392104-post19.html

Best regards
Diane

 

From 2 Armd IG War Diary:

23 May 1945
Painting starts again.
This used to be the bane of our lives in ENGLAND, this time the men seem to be enjoying it.
Our tanks are all to be handed in at HAMBURG in the near future and we have to get them shipshape for a Farewell Parade.
At the moment there is no indication of the place or time of this parade but it will have to be within the next few weeks as we are in all probability moving to our final resting place at the end of the next month.

24 May 1945
Painting continues - the old and battered tanks are looking quite sprightly again.
It might be of interest to note that our first SHERMAN tank that we received at SHAKERS WOOD CAMP in 1942 is still here in the Battalion.
It has been hit and beaten up quite often but is still as good as ever despite its rough patchings and mendings.
We should really be allowed to keep “BLARNEY” as a pet.


1 June 1945
Advance parties went off to ROTENBURG this morning with the tanks: The “FAREWELL TO ARMOUR” Parade is going to be held there on the 9th.
This drained the Battalion of the larger part of the men and vehicles and so there will not be much chance of patrolling until they all return.

2 June 1945
A very quiet day indeed.
There is absolutely nothing one can do without the men, and also the loss of all our vehicles is going to be a terrible loss, we shall be quite lost without them.
A party of officers and men went to watch the Farewell Parade of the 153 Field Regiment ROYAL ARTILLERY.
This is the Regiment we have had with us right form the days of SALISBURY PLAIN.
It was a most impressive Parade and we were able to gain some very valuable points on how to paint up our tanks with the best effect for our own Parade on the 9th.


9 June 1945
The last day of the Armoured Battalion had come: By ten o’clock the whole DIVISION was assembled on the aerodrome at ROTENBERG (South-West of HAMBURG).
Just before eleven Field Marshall MONTGOMERY arrived by plane and touched down on the runway behind the parade ground.
He then drove around to the Saluting Base where he was met by General Allan ADAIR.
The General Salute was given - on the GRENADIER and COLDSTREAM infantry Battalions presented arms as these two were the front Battalions.
The Massed Bands of the SCOTS and WELSH GUARDS played the salute.
The Field Marshal the mounted a White scout car and followed by a host of Generals and Brigadiers he drove around to inspect the Battalions.
During the drive the Bands played.
The whole Parade was indeed a splendid sight.
The tanks were formed up in a half circle facing inwards with the HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY, the Anti-Tank Gunners, the ROYAL SIGNALS and the Services forming the centre portion of the semi-circle.
The tanks were all painted a battleship grey with the outside fittings red.
The inside of the turret and drivers’ flaps were white.
Perhaps the most striking feature on the tanks was the burnished gun muzzles - these could be seen sparkling in the sun.
The inspection finished, Brigadier Norman (GWATKIN) gave the Armoured Battalions the order to mount.
Following this came the order to “Start up”.
Immediately there was a roar as nearly three hundred A.F.Vs leapt to life.
This was a very anxious moment for the tank commander - “will my tank start up”.
Now came the signal from the Brigadier to advance.
The Battalions started their last drive - each Battalion driving straight to its front so that every single tank had to pass in front of the saluting base (perhaps the diagram included will give a better picture). [N.B. There is no diagram filed in War Diary]
As the tanks passed the saluting base, they traversed their turrets and the tank commander saluted.
In ten minutes the last vehicle was disappearing out of sight behind the crest of the hill and the Band struck up “Auld Lang Syne”.
This was the end of our armour - we had finished one very glorious phase, the next must now start.
As the last sound of a tank died away and the Band stopped playing the GUARDS DIVISION appeared over the top of the crest marching in column of threes.
The Band now came in with the Regimental Marches.
Despite the fact that we still had our black berets one might have easily thought that we had been infantry the whole of the war.
When the massed Battalions reached the Saluting base the Major General gave the order to halt.
The Field Marshal ordered the Division to gather round the based and delivered a very satisfying oration (a copy will be attached if possible). [n.b. Not attached.]
He thanked us for our contribution to the success of his armies and welcomed us back to infantry soldiering.
This marked the end of the Parade - the men now dispersed for a meal and most of the officers went off to attend one of the very sumptuous luncheons laid on either by Brigade or Division.
Immediately after the Parade Peter AGNEW was sent off to BONN to recce a route into the new area.
We were lucky enough to draw one of the best areas - this was in the hills about sixty miles South of the RUHR valley, South of DORTMUND.
The Harbour party goes down in a few days’s time.
Apparently most of the bridges have been blown in the area.

10 June 1945
The tanks have to be prepared to be handed over to a dump at HAMBURG - the men are very sorry at losing them.
The general attitude is “Thank God I’m leaving the Army soon.”

 

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80021241

Lt William Cantlay, 14 Field Squadron RE, attached 2nd Bn Irish Guards:
Guards Armoured were reverting to Infantry and one of the things which happened before we had moved down to Königswinter was the 'giving up of the armour', which was very cleverly done. It was done on an airfield and there was a bit of a bank, so the tanks drove over this bank and then everybody marched back. So they went out as Armour and they came back as Infantry in front of Montgomery. It was quite well done, as they did - they did these things very well, the Guards. You're never frightened being with a Guards Regiment, a Guards Battalion. You knew that they weren't going to run, you know, that was it. They maybe they weren't the fastest movers, but they weren't going to run. That was it.

 

Gun Mart, Dec 2005:

 

From The Armoured Micks
FAREWELL TO ARMOUR, ROTENBURG, 9TH JUNE 1945

shiny tanks

 

More shiny tanks from The Armoured Micks


Farewell to Armour
Rotenburg Aerodrome
No. 2 Squadron, 17 Pounders


G.O.C.'s Cromwell

 

Transcribed:



GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION

“FAREWELL TO ARMOUR” PARADE

ROTENBURG AIRFIELD GERMANY 9 JUNE 1945


[hr]


ADDRESS BY FIELD-MARSHAL MONTGOMERY TO THE GUARDS DIVISION - 9, JUNE 1945

1 . The Field-Marshall began by saying that the German war being over, it was interesting to consider how it was that we had won when in 1940 and in 1941 and even in 1942 it had seemed quite impossible that we should ever win. There were many reasons for this, but he always considered that there were two reasons which were basically the main cause of the enemy’s defeath.

Firstly, the great mistakes made by the enemy beginning in 1941 when the Germans attacked Russia and Japan attacked the Americans, thus bringing these two great nations in on our side.

Secondly, the good fighting qualities of the Allied soldiers among whom the fighting man of the British Empire stands out in a proud position.

2 . The Field-Marshal then went on to speak as follows:

“And now I want to say something about your Division.

When this war began the Guards were infantry.

At a time of great national danger in 1941 the Guards formed armoured formations. The Guards Armoured Division and the 6 Guards Armoured Brigade fought throughout this historic campaign in western Europe.

I don’t suppose there is any officer in the Army who can speak with such weight of experience as myself about the relative standards of battle efficiency of this or that formation or unit. From Alamein to the Baltic, I have had many formations and units under my command.

I want to say, here and now, that in the sphere of armoured warfare the Guards have set a standard that it will be difficult for those that come after to reach.

In modern war it is the cooperation of all arms, armoured and un-armoured, that wins the battle, and in this respect you have achieved great results. In fact, the Guards have shown that whatever they are asked to do - whatever they take on - they do well: maintaining always the highest standards and giving a lead to all others. You will long be remembered for your prowess in armoured war.

And now you are to return to your traditional role of infantry.

Some of you may wonder why this is so. There are many reasons.
First: The King wishes it.
Second: the Brigade of Guards as a ???le are anxious that this should be done”
And third: I myself, an infantry soldier of many years service, would say to you that you are needed as infantry. The infantry arm has come right to the fore in this wary; it is the most versatile of all the arms; nothing can be done without infantry to help; there is never enough infantry for the tasks that have to be done.

It is vital that the infantry of the British Army should be a firm and strong rock on which to build the post war Army. It is the central core of the fighting machine, on which all else depends.

We need you in the infantry; we need your high standards, your great efficiency in all matters, and your old traditions of duty and service; all these are needed to help weld the infantry arm into a firm and solid basis on which to build.

And so I welcome you back into the infantry.

You can look back with pride on your excursion into the realms of armoured war-fare; and the experience there gained will always be valuable to you.”

3 . The Field-Marshal finally made the following remarks about the Divisional Commander.

“I don’t know whether the officers and men of the Guards Armoured Division, now the Guards Division, realise how much they owe to General Allan Adair. From my position as Commander-in-Chief I know the answer to this straight away and I can tell you that answer.

General Allan trained the Division for battle in England; he then took it across the Channel to Normandy and commanded it there in the great battles south of the Seine; he then led it through France; through Belgium; through Holland; then into Germany and commanded it till the war ended.

Throughout all this time he never failed me and he never failed you; he gave of his best that the Division might do well in battle and he has reaped his full reward. You owe to him more than you can ever repay. And I will go further, I would say that the Brigade of Guards was lucky to have ready an officer like General Allan to handle this armoured matter for them, few officers could have done it so well. In front of you all I wish to congratulate General Allan on having brought the matter to such a successful conclusion.”


[hr]


Commander Guards Armoured Division
Major-General ALLAN ADAIR, CB, DSO, MC


Commander 5 Guards Armoured Brigade
Brigadier N.W. GWATKIN, DSO, MVO


Commander 6 Guards Amoured Brigade
Brigadier W.D.C. GREENACRE, DSO, MVO


Commander 32 Guards Brigade
Brigadier G.F. JOHNSON, DSO


Commander Royal Artillery Guards Armoured Division
Brigadier H.C. PHIPPS, DSO


[hr]


PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

The Parade is formed up with Guards infantry units and representative detachment flanking the Saluting Base.

In the centre of the Arena the units facing the Saluting Base include 5 Guards Armoured Brigade, 2 Household Cavalry Regiment, Royal Artillery Regiments, Royal Signals and 2 Armoured Welsh Guards.

1 . Commander-in-Chief arrives and the “General Salute” takes place.

2 . Inspection of the Guards Armoured Division by the Commander-in-Chief.

3 . The Final Salute by the Armour.

4 . The departure of the Armour and the Farewell to the Guards Armoured Division.

5 . 5 and 6 Guards Brigades and 2 Household Cavalry Regiment (as Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment) take their place in the ranks of the Guards Division.

NATIONAL ANTHEM.


[hr]


GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION

September 1941 - June 1945


The Guards Armoured Division was formed in the summer of 1941 as a direct result of the expected German invasion of Great Britain, and assembled in September around Warminster. Originally 6 Guards Armoured Brigade was included in the Division but it later became and Independent Tank Brigade. Most of the units and Services have been with the Division since the beginning, including the Leicestershire Yeomanry and 21 Anti-Tank Regiment which are now leaving.

After prolonged training on Salisbury Plain, in Norfolk, and on the Yorkshire Wolds, the Guards Armoured Division landed in France last June and it had two months of hard fighting in the Normandy bridgehead. The Division then crossed the River Seine and took part in the sensational advance through Belgium into Holland, completing then the most rapid advance of a Division in history - from Douai to Brussels, 97 miles, in 14 hours.

Units of the Division were first of the Allied ground forces to enter Holland and Germany for it was a patrol of 21 Anti-Tank Regiment that crossed the German frontier on the 21 September 1944.

During the Winter and early Spring, the Division was busily engaged in battle and then on 30 March it crossed the River Rhine finally ending up at Cuxhaven. During this last advance of some 400 miles the Divisional Sappers built no less than 50 bridges.

6 Guards Armoured Brigade, which is now welcomed back into the Division, took part in much hard fighting in the Normandy bridgehead and throughout the campaign has supported a dozen different divisions in battle. It was in the forefront of the advance from the Rhine to the Baltic and one once occasion the Churchill tanks completed 66 miles in seven hours.

 

From The Sydney Morning Herald, June 10, 1945

GUARDS SAY SORROWFUL FAREWELL TO TANKS


LONDON, June 10 (A.A.P. and Official Wireless). -
The GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION, which has again become an infantry formation, said farewell to its tanks in a ceremonial parade on a German aerodrome yesterday.

In its brief career as an armoured unit the division had put up an imposing record, including the swiftest advance in the history of war, on September 3 last year, when it pushed 93 miles to BRUSSELS (Belgium) in 14 hours, led by WELSH GUARDSMEN in British Cromwell tanks.

In September, 1941, the King wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Oliver LEESE, then commanding the newly formed GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION, saying: I am proud to think that my Household Troops are to take their place among the most powerful units of modern warfare. I am sure it will not be long before they have acquired in their new role the fame they have rightly enjoyed as infantry for centuries past.”

The division has since amply justified his Majesty’s faith. It took part in the tough battles round CAEN and in the CAUMONT-VIRE sector (France) last summer. Then, for three weeks last September it provided the world’s newspapers with a succession of spectacular headlines as it led the great British advance from the SEINE to the lower RHINE and beyond.

FIRST INTO GERMANY
Its exploits included the liberation of ARRAS, AMIENS, DOUAI, BRUSSELS and LOUVAIN. It was the first Allied formation to enter Belgium and Holland and the first British unit to cross the German frontier.

It won the first bridgeheads over the ALBERT and ESCAUT Canals. It took the great RHINE bridges at NIJMEGEN (Holland) and was only halted by the failure of the First Airborne Division to secure the vital bridge over the lower RHINE at ARNHEM.

Later it closed the WESEL pocket in a series of model attacks. It fought steadily through the closely-wooded country on the north road to BREMEN - nightmare country for tanks - and ended the war with a fighting finish in the peninsula between HAMBURG and BREMEN.

The British soldier on the Western Front learnt to associate the division’s sign with nonchalant daring and gallantry and with a standard of “spit and polish” that roused his good-natured ribaldry.


SENSE OF DIGNITY
“Mind the paint,” he often shouted when he saw Guards tanks roaring forward to attack, but his standard judgement was, “They’ve got the name and they do the job.”

The division was not without its own sense of dignity. One dark night a commando unit had dug itself in on the road to BREMEN when they heard the rumble of tanks. A corporal ran into the roadway, brandishing a revolver, and cried, “Halt. What mob is this?” Came the haughty reply from the turret of the leading tank: “This is no mob. This is the Guards.” The tanks rolled on.

The Guards Cavalry Regiment, which formed part of the division, will eventually return to horses. When the regiment returns to England its men will again wear the bearskins and red coats on ceremonial occasions.

But the Guards are sorry to give up their tanks.

 

I think that site has been offline for some time now, unfortunately.