Operation Alan

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by CL1, Sep 11, 2022.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Operation Alan: the Role of Welsh soldiers in the Liberation of ‘Den Bosch’ - Historic UK

    Operation ‘ALAN’ tasked the 53rd ‘Welsh’ and the 7th Armoured Divisions with clearing the city of S’Hertogenbosch – henceforth referred to as ‘Den Bosch’ – a medieval fortress city of roughly 50,000 inhabitants intersected by canals, rivers and waterways. Knowing that the Germans realised its importance, Allied intelligence made great efforts to reveal which German units were garrisoning the city. They established that Den Bosch was defended by four battalions of the 712th Infanterie Division, along with three battalions from the Fallschirmjäger training regiment based there. Further reinforcements from Feld-Ersatz Battalion 347 were also absorbed into the city’s defences.



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  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    MOTORISED INFANTRY AND ARMOUR IN ACTION DURING 51ST (HIGHLAND) DIVISION'S ADVANCE TOWARDS S'HERTOGENBOSCH (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

    IWM A70 182-5
    Object description
    The 51st (Highland) Division encounters light opposition on the St Oedenrode-Vught road on the southern flank of 12th Corps' push on s'Hertogenbosch.
    Full description
    Riding in Kangaroo APCs from the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment and in universal carriers, the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders moves up to 152nd Brigades front to form an exploitation force ready to capture the Dommel river crossing at St Michaelsgestel. RAMC orderlies help German prisoners ferry their wounded to the rear; seen moving up to the front is a 61st Anti-tank Regiment RA Morris Quad and 17-pounder anti-tank gun. On the St Oedenrode-Vught road between Schijndel and St Michaelsgestel, riflemen from a 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry assault troop search farmyards and orchards in Boschweg, where a German roadblock has been established. Supposed by Daimler armoured cars and Number light recce cars, the riflemen advance along the road past burning cottages, take a Fallschirmjäger Feldwebel(?) medical orderly prisoner and clear a felled branch off the road. Moving forward under fire to investigate the site of a burning cottage, they rescue a Dutch family trapped in their shelter by burning wreckage; seen keeping watch over roadblocks further up the road is a Sherman from No. 4 troop in 144th RAC's 'A' squadron.


    53RD (WELSH) DIVISION TAKES PART IN OPERATION "PHEASANT" - 12TH CORPS ASSAULT ON S'HERTOGENBOSCH (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

    IWM A70 182-6
    Object description
    53rd (Welsh) Division's assault on s'Hertogenbosch from Oss picks up momentum.
    Full description
    Two Churchill AVRE fascine-carriers from 222nd Assault Squadron RE move up to 160th Brigade's front north of the Oss-s'Hertogenbosch railway along a tank track and then along a paved road; the commander of the leading AVRE is seen sitting unprotected on top of the fascine bundle giving directions via his intercom microphone to his driver; the other AVRE tows a spare fascine bundle in an armoured sledge. A Ram Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier and a jeep race along the Oss-s'Hertogenbosch road through Geffen (?) past an improvised sign warning of the proximity of the Germans' former forward positions. In Nuland infantrymen from the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry's 'A' company arrive at battalion HQ (?) with prisoners from 712th Wehrmacht Division; two Churchill Crocodiles from 141st RAC's 'C' squadron set off for battle (?) with 160th Brigade; an Ox and Bucks captain interrogates four German POWs. Watched by curious and excited Dutch civilians, Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe prisoners march through Oss; in a field on its outskirts, they are lined up for a head count by military policemen from the 53rd (Welsh) Division.



    53RD (WELSH) DIVISION TAKES PART IN OPERATION "PHEASANT" - 12TH CORPS ASSAULT ON S'HERTOGENBOSCH (PART 2) [Allocated Title]

    IWM A70 182-7

    Object description
    71st Brigade encounters small German outposts during its advance along the Heesch-s'Hertogenbosch - s'Hertogenbosch road towards s'Hertogenbosch.

    Full description
    With their hands on their heads, four Wehrmacht soldiers begin their march into captivity watched by infantrymen from the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and escorted by sappers serving with 244th Field Company RE who follow behind them in a jeep. A 25- pounder gun detachment from the 81st Field Regiment RA is seen in action near the Heesch-s'Hertogenbosch - s'Hertogenbosch road against German outposts delaying the brigade's progress near Molebroek(?). A column of German prisoners of war marches through Nuland(?) under the watchful eye of their British captors. Two 222nd Assault Squadron RE Churchill AVREs move up to the front between Nuland and Heide. The cameraman examines the corpse of a young Wehrmacht infantryman killed near his dug-out in a drainage ditch at the edge of a field near Varkenshoek(?). Nearby, an Ox and Bucks Bren-gunner open fire on a German position from a slit-trench on an embanked section of the s'Hertogenbosch road(?).

    7TH ARMOURED DIVISION TAKES PART IN OPERATION PHEASANT - 12TH CORPS ASSAULT ON S'HERTOGENBOSCH (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

    IWM A70 182-8
    Object description
    Supported by specialised armoured detachments, 131st (Queen's) Brigade goes into action against a German outpost line covering the south-eastern approaches to s'Hertogenbosch.
    Full description
    A jeep, a Daimler scout car and a Humber scout car from units supporting the Queen's Brigade are seen in a column filing across country between Middlerode (?) and Laar (?) north of the Zuidwillemsvaart Canal; two jeeps, one carrying 1/5th Battalion Queen's Regiment's first casualties, make their way to the rear. Stretcher bearers and riflemen attached to the battalion's second wave move through woodland towards their objective; a Sherman OP tank(?) and a universal carrier from the 1/5th Queen's support company move up along a muddy track. A farm building in the village of Laar (?) set on fire by British artillery is seen burning. During the 1/5th Battalion's assault on Laar, two Westminster Dragoons Sherman Crabs 'flail' the road leading into the village; an infantry section dashes forward under fire; two 141st RAC 'C' squadron Churchill Crocodiles move into the attack; an 8th Hussars 'A' squadron Cromwell opens fire with its co-axial Besa machine-gun on a German machine gun post in woods outside Laar where a Churchill Crocodile is seen in action with its flame-thrower; a casualty is loaded onto a jeep ambulance and is driven away. A German prisoner is questioned by a military policeman.

    7TH ARMOURED DIVISION TAKES PART IN OPERATION PHEASANT - 12TH CORPS ASSAULT ON S'HERTOGENBOSCH (PART 2) [Allocated Title]

    IWM A70 182-9
    Object description
    Additional coverage of infantry and armoured units participating in the first stages of 7th Armoured Division's advance towards s'Hertogenbosch along the north bank of the Zuidwillemsvaart canal.
    Full description
    A Challenger tank from the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars' 'A' squadron moves up towards Laar (?) past a parked Sherman tank (OP tank?). Two universal carriers from the 1/5th Battalion Queen's Regiment's support company are seen halted outside woods masking the battalion's objective where Churchill Crocodiles are in action - hence the smoke seen rising in the background. Two Sherman Crabs from the Westminster Dragoons 'B' squadron 'flail' a section of the road leading into Laar. Two Churchill Crocodiles from the 141st RAC's 'C' squadron move forward into the attack. A Sherman command OP or rear-link tank moves past a burning house. A Cromwell from the 8th Hussars turns its co-axial Besa machine-gun onto a German machine-gun post outside Laar. Two Queen's riflemen dash forward under fire. A Churchill Crocodile opens fire with its co-axial Besa machine gun before going into action with its flame-thrower in woodland outside the village where snipers are hidden. Two medical orderlies and a rifleman make a casualty comfortable on his stretcher before taking him away to the RAP.

     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2022
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  3. Detsandsqibs

    Detsandsqibs Member

    The action around Laar on 22 October 1944 which is the subject of the IWM films noted here, involved 8th Hussars. The action is described in some detail in Bill Bellamy’s book Troop Leader as the Battle of Doornhoek. He later received an MC for his part in the action.
     
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