War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Apr 19, 2013.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    3IG Int Summary up to 23:00 hrs 28 Oct 44. To be destroyed within 48 hrs of receipt
    ENEMY SITUATION
    The enemy has continued his attacks WEST of VENLO. There were two attacks today; one by 11 PGR (9 Pz Div), 104 PGR (15 PG Div) and 12 Tigers up the rd to LIESEL 6614, which they reached; the other by 10 PG (9 Pz Div), 115 PGR (15 PG Div) and 30 Panthers directed on ASTEN 6113 from ?EIJEL 7106, which reached 6709. The enemy also made a minor attack into the woods at 6810.
    The total str of 9 Pz Div and 15 PG Div does not amount to more than one div. In view of this and of the fact that these two divs are the main armd res for the VENLO - GELDEN (A 0125) area, it seems likely that these attacks have no more ambitious object than to delay our adv SOUTH from VENRAY, of which the Germans seem very apprehensive. They are very sensitive to any threat to VENLO. The attacks have therefore been made with the limited object of hampering our L of C to the VENRAY area. Any effect it might have on opt on 15th Army front would be incidental. According to PW, the attacks have limited objectives, and this agrees with view that the enemy is not prepared to get 9 PZ and 15 PG Divs deeply involved in expensive ops. Therefore these attacks are likely to die down.
    The question of armour is not clear. 33 Pz Regt of 9 Pz Div and 115 Pz Bn of 15 PG Div should be there. There are rumours from PW of the presence of the 115 Pz Bn; there has been no identification of 33 Pz Regt. The identity of 30 Panthers is an unsolved mystery at the moment. It is known that sometime previously 15 Pz Div had absorbed 113 Pz Bde, in the same way as 9 Pz Div had absorbed 105 Pz Bde.
    Further SOUTH Para Lehr Regt is reported dug in in area 6302, and has not been aggressive.
    The Americans report that 3 PG Div is still involved in the AACHEN area, and 116 Pz Div has withdrawn to the JULICH area F 0359 to reorganise.
    To the WEST on the Fifteenth Army front, our progress has been good. Pushing NORTH from s’HERTOGENBOSCH our tps have reached 3149 whilst to the WEST from there they have reached 2847, from TILBURG our tps have reached 2744, 1443 and 0642. We have captured BREDA and BERGERN OP ZOOM and are one mile SOUTH of ROSINDAAL. On BEVELAND Cdn tps moving WEST along the isthmus have joined up with the Scotsmen’s br head, which has been slightly extended to the WEST. It is thought that there are still 8000 Germans in BEVELAND, but the SCHELDT pocket is not now thought to contain more than 800/900 Germans.
    There has been no activity today on the ‘Island’ or REICHSWALD Forest front. HQ 10 SS Pz Div is reported by civs to be near ENSCHEDE V 4203, also at RUURLO A 1288. This may be main and Tac. Since 21 SS PG Regt is at the moment holding the NE sector of the ‘Island’ this location of its parent Div HQ is possibly a first sign of a proposed withdrawal of 21 SS PG from the ‘Island’ to re-fit.
    There are indications from ground sources that 363 Div, who hold the neck of land between OCHTEN E 5170 and the NEDER RIJN, have taken over the sector NORTH of the NEDERIJN from Div TETTAU. It will be recalled that 959 GR Regt has been reported NORTH of that river for some time.
    BLA, 30 Oct 44 (sd) ER Udal, Capt., I.O., 3I.G.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    3IG Sitrep as ast 23:59 hrs 30 Oct 44. To be destroyed within 48 hrs of receipt
    The best new today has come from the Cdn sector where BEVELAND is now completely in our hands. A lot of PW have been taken & it is estimated that there are still approx 1500 to be rounded up. An interesting fact is that the only unit identified today has been 89 Festungs Bn which means that 70 Div has mysteriously disappeared during the course of the last few days. The Cdns are reported to have reached the causeway leading to WALCHEREN D2030. Although most of this latter Island has been flooded by RAF bombing of dykes, FLUSHING 1124 is still above water and there must be some Germans garrisoned there. But the big coastal def guns have not been firing. There is little news of the SCHELDT pocket, except that CADZAND G 9917 has been taken and farthe [further] South our Tps are on the line of the Canal de DERIVATION.
    The Corps on our left has also made good progress today and capture OOSTERHOUT E 04. It has nearly reached the MAAS at 1047 and this evening was reported near RAAMSDONK E 0348. The armd div which has been in BREDA last night has been pushing on to the NORTH successfully, though there is no indication yet as to how fr its tps have adv, Tac R and civ reports say that the enemy are in full flight in the area and there has been a constant stream of vehs over the large dyke at D 8551.
    On our own Corps front there has been no activity, but an interesting item of news is that 2 Coy 21 SS PGR was identified today at E 3048 having left the ‘island’ on the night 28/29 Oct and been sent down to the SW to try and stem our attack on s’HERTOGENBOSCH - TILBURG. There is no news yet as to how much of this SS Regt has gone, but the whole incident is very strange as recently all four bns have been identified in the line of the EAST flank of the ‘island’.
    The Corps on our right broke up an enemy attempt to force the canal de DEURNE last night and what began as an assault boast crossing ended for the Germans in a very cold swim. Today a British inf div attacked at the same time as a German attack came in and the posn became and has remained confused. Ther have been no real changes since last night, however, and the enemy has managed to hold on to LIESEL 6714 and MEIJEL 7007. The only unit identified in this sector today was 11 PG Recce in the area 6716.
    Air 29 Oct - Armd Recce results:
    Destroyed Damaged
    M? 7 9
    Tks 0 1
    Trucks 45 99
    Barges 11 20
    Tugs 0 2
    Enemy a/c 3 4
    30 Oct - 1000 A/c bombed COLOGNE. Other attacks were made on GELSENKIRCHEN and HAMBURG.
    BLA, 31 Oct 44 TM (sd) ER Udal Capt., I.O., 3I.G.
     
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    APPENIIX A:

    3IG Int Summary up to 23:00 hrs 31 Oct 44. To be destroyed within 48 hrs of receipt
    On the ‘island’ today there has been no major activity but some very successful patrolling during the hours of darkness by an American fmn. They sent men across the NEDER RIHN well NORTH fo R??KUM 6276 and brought back identifications of 363 Eng Bn, 959 GR and 146 Arty Regt. This latter unit belongs to 116 Pz Div but was almost certainly left behind when this div moved down to the AACHEN area and identification does not therefore represent a new arrival in this sector. In the REICHSWALD our tps have also been patrolling but there is nothing of interest to report. Over to the West the SCHELDT pocket remains approx the same size with the Western bdy running down the Dutch frontier and SLUIS 9710 still in enemy hands. NORTH of this BEVELAND is now completely clear except for one or two pockets in the NW corner, and 2000 PW have been taken here during the last 48 hrs, mostly from 89 Festungs Bn and garrison units. The continued absence of 70 Div seems to point to this fmn having been withdrawn to WALCH?REN. This evening fighting was going on on the causeway at 20:30. Our drive to the MAAS NORTH from BREDA is just short of G??RTRUIDENBERG 0248, the opposition here being provided by 36 Div. The push from s’HERTOGENBOSCH - TILBURG today has met heavier opposition and has gone more slowly.
    It is to the EAST in the MEUSE pocket that our main interest must be centred for the moment. Here the enemy’s attacks for the last three days have quietened down in the last 24 hrs, but it is nt likely that he is yet content with the small gains he has made so far. Our tps in fact recaptured LIESEL 6714 today and were moving this evening on to SLOT6723. An added deterrent to the German continuance of armd attacks is undoubtedly the fact that during three tks, three assault guns and three 88 mms. Para Regt HU??ER has again turned up today in the front line around LIESEL and this may indicate either a rft fo 9 Pz or 15 Pz Gren or an attempt to extricate these divs preparatory to a new attack either here or in another sector. From the enemy’s growing interest in the SOUTH of this area it seems possible that it is here that a new attack may be launched. He has constructed a foot-bridge at 647948 and is trying to construct a veh bridge at 618006 and today there were two enemy arty st?nks at 604013 and 6206, with a small inf attack at 625030. A deserter spoke of a large attack several divs strong supposed to come in in this direction, and it is quite probable that the enemy will draw on his reserves in the RUHR still further and send them over the MEUSE at VENLO 9008 to follow up his attacks of the last few days and probably try to drive on in the direction of the W??RT 5897.
    BLA, 1 Nov 44 TM. (sd) ER Udal, Capt., I.O. 3 I.G.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    1 November 1944
    MALDEN
    Coy Comds spent the day carrying out recce of counter-attack role WEST of the REICHSWALD Forest in conjunction with Sqn Comds of 2 Recce W.G.

    2 November 1944
    Coy trg was carried out in the Bn area

    3 November 1944
    The Bn received a warning order to return to take over the defences of NIJMEGEN bridges in place of 1 WG, who were to come under comd of 11 Armd Div in the VENLO area. The day was spent in preparation for the move and handover of billets to the Rifle Bde.

    4 November 1944 NIJMEGEN
    The Bn had, by 1000 hrs, occupied its original posns round the rd and Rly bridges over the R. WAAL. The role, the same as we had fulfilled before, was one of static defence and therefore training, of which some of the rfts stood in sore need of, was able to continue.

    5 - 10 November 1944
    The Bn remained in the area of the brs and provided the area with local protection. The period was quiet and uneventful except for sporadic shelling which increased in intensity towards the end and caused some cas. From time to time the Bn received visits from Bde and Div Comds for the purpose of inspecting the defences.

    11 November 1944
    The Bn received a warning order to move the following day to the area of SITTARD 6868 to take over from units of 19 US Corps. On the same day recce parties from the Cdn Recce Bn which was to take over our commitments, arrived in the area and remained with the Bn overnight.

    12 November 1944
    GREVENBICHT
    The relief of the Rifle Coys was effected by 1500 hrs and at 1630 hrs the Bn left NIJMEGEN on a night drive to GREVENBICHT 6273 where we were to concentrate preparatory to taking over a piece of the line.

    13 November 1944
    The Bde Comd arrived at the Bn at 1000 hrs and told us that we had to take over from 125 Cav Recce Sqn US, a sector incl NIEUWSTADT 6872 to incl HOLTUM 6573. Accordingly, recce parties set out for detailed recce of the area, and it was decided to occupy NIEUWSTADT with two coys, HOLTUM with one, and one coy was to be in Dive res with Bn HQ at BORN 6472. The gap between NIEUWSTADT and HOLTUM wa sto be filled by Honey tks from 2(Armd) IG. In the evening, we received the news that the Commanding Officer (Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur DSO) had received comd of 129 Inf Bde and was to leave us on the following morning.

    14 November 1944
    -

    15 November 1944
    The CO left at 0900 hrs and by 1600 hrs the Bn, commanded by Major P.F.I. Reid, had entered its new posns. At 1730 hrs the new Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. T. Gimson, arrived at Bn HQ and took over comd. During the night, recce patrols operated on our front but without making contact with the enemy. An enemy patrol penetrated our posn at NIEUWSTADT but when grenades were thrown at it, it quickly withdrew.

    16 November 1944
    BORN - HOLTUM - NIEUWSTADT
    At about 1000 hrs the Dive Comd and the Bde Comd arrived at the Bn to inspect the defensive lay-out. As a result of their visit, several changes were made to the tactical dispositions but the locations of the coys remained unaltered. The day was quiet except for occasional shell fire. During the night our patrols were active again on the Bn front and made contact with the enemy at a number of places.

    17 November 1944
    Another quiet day marked only by patrol activity and occasional shelling. During the night ambushes were laid for enemy patrolling which was anticipated, but without result.

    18 November 1944
    A very quiet day excepting for desultory shelling. Our patrols were again active in an endeavour to ascertain the enemy’s intention and dispositions on our immediate front.

    19 November 1944
    Patrolling during the day was designed to discover whether there were any signs of enemy withdrawal or thinning out. This was to be anticipated as a result of the advances further SOUTH, including the capture of GEILENKIRCHEN. Our fwd coys maintained contact with the enemy however, and apart from signs of movement by MT a short distance behind the FDLs, there was nothing to indicate any change in enemy policy.

    20 November 1944
    Today saw a considerable decrease in the amount of enemy shelling and at one time, it was thought that in the Northern part of the Bn sector, the enemy had withdrawn slightly to the NE. This however was belied by the fact that during the night 20/21st our patrols contacted enemy sentries in posns which they had previously held, and towards dusk a recce patrol from the Southern Coy clashed with a large body of the enemy, which incl what appeared to be offrs on recce.

    21 November 1944
    Another quiet day in which bad weather made movement and patrolling difficult. Still no sign of enemy withdrawal on our front.

    22 November 1944
    Slight increase in shelling in the Bn area during the day, few enemy were seen this may have been due to the appalling weather. During the last three days changes have been observed in the enemy’s habits. These circumstances lead to one or the other of two conclusions, either a relief effected on our front or a thinning out of the line & the residue indulging in excessive activity to conceal the fact.

    23 November 1944
    Very little shelling on our fwd posns today. Owing to bad weather conditions little was observed of the enemy. During the early hrs of the morning a flare was set off possibly by an enemy patrol in search of infm. Nothing was discovered which either confirms or refutes the possibility of a relief on our front. The night’s patrolling produced no infm or identification.

    24 November 1944
    Bad weather conditions with visibility 300 to 400 yds, again made observation difficult & as a result little was heard or seen of the enemy during the day. Shelling in the Bn area was light. During the night patrols established the presence of the enemy along the canal bank & found signs of fresh digging.

    25 November 1944
    Bn HQ was shelled in the early hrs of the morning & there was spasmodic shelling in the coy areas during the day. A patrol from No 4 Coy had a skirmish with a German patrol & two prisoners were taken by ambush. With the capture of these PWs we were able to establish the identity of the enemy on our front, who proved to be 39 Fus Bn. This at last solved the possibility of an enemy relief & showed that none had taken place since we had been in our present posns.

    26 November 1944
    Shelling again on No 4 Coys area started the days activity by the enemy. The Div Cmdr visited the Bn. Greatly improved weather conditions made it possible to observe signs of enemy activity along the whole front, fresh digging which had taken place during the misty weather has been observed, & a wire fence has been erected SE of INENBRUCH. It is now possible to say with some certainty there has been no relief on our immediate front. The fact that not all posns are constantly manned & that the enemy change from one to the other indicates a desire to make us believe that he is stronger than he really is. However, the PW captured yesterday denied that there had been any thinning out.

    27 November 1944
    In the S part of the Bn sector a German patrol of about 20 men re-entered their posns in a wood SW of the canal at about 0815 hrs. Observations later in the morning drew fire from what seemed a single rifleman, but whether or no this covered the presence of others could no be ascertained. It may be that realising our desire to dominate the canal & our habit of sending patrols out at night, the enemy has decided to intercept us or obtain warning of our approach by means of flares. Certainly he seems very sensitive to any activity on this part of the front. The Germans appear to have completed the defences in this area to their satisfaction. There was no shelling in the Bn area today.

    28 November 1944
    Today there was a renewal of enemy shelling on the Bn area. For our own part we carried out a programme of harassing fire on various known enemy posns on the front. The wood at 685755 was investigated at 1600 hrs, it was found unoccupied. No traces of fresh digging or booby traps were discovered.

    29 November 1944
    Hostile activity has again been confined to shelling from which No 4 Coy suffered most. In the afternoon a White Ho at 684736 possibly occupied by the enemy was shot up, though not entirely destroyed. In retaliation a Pl of No 4 coy were heavily mortared without casualties.

    30 November 1944
    Another quiet day. The HOLTUM coy again came under intermittent MG fire during the night, & replied by mortaring known enemy posns. Just after 0620 about 20 shells fell in the samy coy’s area. Beyond this slight activity, it is known that at least one German patrol crossed the canal in the evening, but it was seen on its way back & had caused no-one any trouble.
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    1 December 1944
    LIMBRICHT
    The Bn received orders to hand over the present posns to 1st Bn Rifle Bde & move to a harbour area in res at LIMBRICHT 669701. During the day recce parties from the relieving Bn went round the posns & the relief was completed by 1800 hrs

    2 December 1944
    A quiet day was spent in the new area in resting and cleaning up after the period in the line.

    3 December 1944
    In the morning we received orders to take over a part of the line from VINTELEN to HASTENRATH from 1st Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS. The C.O. spent the day in recce & during the evening orders were issued for a move on the following afternoon.

    4 December 1944
    GANGELT
    At 1400 hrs the Bn left LIMBRICHT & moved to a conc area in the woods SW of GANGELT, as it was necessary to make the relief by night. The relief itself was slow but uneventful & it was after midnight before the vehs of the last coy had completed the change over.

    5 December 1944
    At about 0730 hrs a deserter arrived at GANGELT from 159 trg Bn which was holding the line on our front. He had been part of an enemy patrol designed to capture a prisoner by waylaying vehs on the rd GANGELT - GEILENKIRCHEN. He was able to give us little infm of importance beyond the sector held by his Bn & the str of coys, but his identification indicated that there had been no relief on this sector for some time.

    6 December 1944
    Our patrols on the nigth 5/6 established the fact that the enemy was still occupying LANGBROICH 7970 & 7770, & during the day smoke from houses in these areas indicated their continued presence. A projected patrol for the night 6/7 had to be abandoned owing to confusion on our right flank, where a neighbouring Bn was being relieved.

    7 December 1944
    At about 0800 hrs four deserters from 159 trg Bn gave themselves up to our coy at HASTENRATH 7669. They had been engaged on a patrol designed to cut telephone wires on the rd GANGLET- SITTARD. Their infm served in the main to confirm what we already knew & it is apparent that there is still little or no Regtl organisation in the 176 Div. The Bn handed over the sector to the 9 DLI during the night 7/8 & moved to a rest area at RAATH 7464. The relief was complete without incident & the last coy had changed over by 2200 hrs.

    8 December 1944
    RAATH
    The Bn spent the day settling into the new area & reorganising after the last period in the line. The C.O. attend a conference at Div & planning was started for an operation which was to take place in the near future.

    9 December 1944
    The C.O. attended a conference at Bde HQ at 1000 hrs on subject of next operation. There was also an intelligence conference at Div in the afternoon. Otherwise the time was at the disposal of Coy Cmdrs to polish up trg as best they could before they were on the move again.

    10 December 1944
    There was another conference at Bde HQ during the morning which the C.O. & I.O. attended. During the evening a conference of Coy Cmdrs was held at which they were told the outline plan for the next operation.

    11 - 16 December 1944
    Trg continued in the area RAATH. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions the projected operation was cancelled & on the 16th Dec the Bn received a warning order to reoccupy a sector of the front between VINTELEN & HASTENRATH.

    17 December 1944
    Recce was carried out during the morning & the relief of the 9DLI was completed by 2100 hrs without incident. During the night standing patrols were sent out as a protective measure but nothing was seen or heard of the enemy.

    18 December 1944
    The day was quiet & the enemy showed little offensive inclination except for a few sniping shots on the left hand coy area. Movement on the front however indicated the continued occupation of known enemy localities. During the night patrols reported sounds of digging & M.T. movement but nothing materialised. There was no shell fire on the Bn area.

    19 December 1944
    Bad visibility during the day precluded any observation of the enemy & they were as before inactive. During the hrs of darkness we were informed that an enemy counter attack might be expected at some point on the Bde sector. This however failed to materialise & apart from some inattentive enemy who fired on one of our patrols from a def posn the night was uneventful. Recce parties were warned to start at first light next morning for LOUVAIN to recce a new Bn area.

    20 December 1944
    Recce parties from the 9 DLI arrived during the morning, & the Bn was relieved uneventfully. By 2100 hrs we were concentrated a few miles S of GANGELT ready for a night move to LOUVAIN. During the day however Maj. P.F.I. Reid had been sent fwd to recce an alternative area in support of the American 1st Army. He met the Bn Coln in HASSELT & informed us that we had to move direct to the area LANDEN - ATTENHOVEN.

    21 December 1944
    ATTENHOVEN
    At about 0900 hrs recce parties left HASSELT, where the Bn had been halted, & proceeded to the new area. We were by no means in contact with the enemy, & the posn was one of counter attack reserve. All the coys were in their harbour areas by 1300 hrs.

    22 - 25 December 1944
    The Bn remained as a counter attack reserve in the area of LANDEN & spent Christmas peacefully in these surroundings. Apart from a few Rd picquets which had to be found to counter the possibility of enemy saboteurs infiltrating in allied uniforms, the coys were able to clean up & start some trg.

    26 December 1944 At 2300 hrs we were informed that on the following day the Bn was to take over from the 43rd Div the responsibility for guarding Brs over the R. MEUSE at HUY. SERAING, & VISE. An O Gp was held at 0030 hrs, & the Bn was ordered to move shortly after first light the following day.

    27 December 1944
    MOMALLE
    Despite a certain amount of confusion in the orders which we received, all the coys had successfully taken over the responsibility for their various brs by 2000 hrs. The nature of the duties was simply to guard the brs themselves against enemy saboteurs & Para tps as the enemy ground forces were still some considerable distance away.

    28 December 1944
    At about 1400 hrs we were informed that the Bn was to be relieved of its commitments on the MEUSE brs & regroup prior to moving South of the MEUSE with the remainder of the Div on or about Dec 30th. Accordingly recce parties from the coys selected areas in the neighbourhood of Bn HQ & prepared to move to them on the following day.

    29 December 1944
    At about 1200 hrs the Bn received orders to return to ATTENHOVEN as the projected move S of the MEUSE had been cancelled. Since three of the rifle coys had already moved into Bn HQ area it was decided that the move for all but the fourth coy would be postponed till the following day.

    30 December 1944
    ATTENHOVEN
    At about 1000 hrs the Bn left for ATTENHOVEN. The move was uneventful & by 1300 hrs the coys were established in their old billet areas. The remainder of the day was spent in settling in.

    31 December 1944
    As we were likely to remain in the present area for some considerable time the day was spent in compiling trg programmes & planning for the period in reserve.
     

Share This Page