1/5th Bn Queens Royal West Surrey Carrier Platoon

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Kieron Hill, Dec 22, 2008.

  1. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    I thought this maybe of interest to some of you. I have been researching some paperwork belonging to a Capt G.F.A. Cole of the 1/5th Bn Queens and the following is the story so far:


    Captain Cole was part of the 7th Armoured Division heading towards their major goal Berlin. From what I have been able to research so far is that he was wounded while repelling a German attack to blow up a Bridge at Halen just West of Bramsche. In a document I have it says he was wounded in the right thigh, this must have played him up after the war as there is alot of correspondense regarding disabilities and pensions.

    In a letter he wrote to his wife dated 18th January 1945 3 months before he was wounded. he gives a little insight into what life was like in North West Europe.
    A few bits of what are in the letter

    Leave in Europe does count as overseas service darling in my case, because ironically my service in Blighty is regarded as part of my overseas tour and offically I havent been home since 1940.
    If the boy Bowlyer was home on leave these last few days he missed a very sticky show, his sapper unit had a bad time and suffered accordingly.
    "Wotty" is quite well these days heard his unit is in Ghent.
    The Jerry Artillery has been quite busy today and slapped a few into the place including one in the roof of this almost ruined house I am in. The Village is in a dreadful state from our Artillery and there isnt a single house with a complete roof or window in it.

    When the parts of the above letter were written the 1/5th Queens Royal West Surreys were part of the Victory of the Roer Triangle and operation "Blackcock" January 16th-24th 1945. The weather was dreadful, thick snow lay on the ground and it was bitterly cold. The operation had to be delayed 12 hours due to think fog, caused by a smoke screen freezing in the cold air. The operation opened its attack on January 16th and went on for 9 days of very fierce fighting before the triangle was cleared.



    A little bit more from Capt Coles adventures, When reading his Officers release book I found that his enlisting rank was Lieutenant George Frederick Arthur Cole, so this led me to doing a little more searching and I found this while reading Robin Neillands "The Desert Rats 7th Armoured Division 1940-45", below is an extract from that book.


    "1/5th Queens 13th April 1943 Enfidaville Aggressive Patrolling"


    "After a few strolls at night, tentively probing for the German positions, there came our big night. With Lt. George Cole as my 2 i/c, Iwas to take my platoon, 30 strong, out about a mile into No Man's Land on a compass bearing, and there established a firm base. From there, I was to take out a fighting patrol (2 sections) to a point where Mitch thought the Germans would have a position, and bring back the "odd Bosche". Down and up steep wadis, we reached a strip of golden sands, about 100 yards wide - bright moonlight - deathly silence - 22 of us looked across the sands to the bushes where the Germans were supposed to be. Remembering my training in England in Fighting Patrols and the request for the "odd Bosche", I whispered the orders, "Up on your feet - fix bayonets - at the Double - Follow me!" I just stopped myself saying, "Don't make a noise." The stuck to me like glue till we reached the bushes on the other side, breathless but relived to find nothing and nobody there. "Unfix your bayonets, we'll go home"' I said, or something fatuous like that. We returned to the firm base and now it was Lt George Cole's turn. 'Mitch had said that in the unlikely event of the Fighting Patrol finding nothing, George Cole was to take a Reece Patrol on a divergent bearing to establish the absence of the Germans from a different area. So off George went, eyes down on his compass, escorted by "Foxy" Pavitt, the Company Barber, armed with a Sten Gun. We never saw much of Foxy, but he must have annoyed the Sgt. Major, who had winkled him out for this patrol. We had only just settle down, no more than ten minutes, when there was a lot of firing to our front. The Germans sent up a succession of Verey lights - Spandaus firing tracer on fixed lines - running feet, heralding the return of George and Foxy in full flight. After George had expressed his opinion of the Brigades Intelligence, he explained that he was so intent on the compass, he had stumbled over the prone body of a sleeping German soldier, who had woken up, shrieked out the alarm, and presumably reached for his weapon. Foxy had emptied the Sten magazine into him and the Patrol then withdrew in some haste, but in good order. When asked if there were other Germans there, George replied, with some heat, "I never stopped to find out, but those Spandaus were not being fired by the fairies, that's for sure."


    I now have a copy of Report/diary written by the commanding officer of the 1/5th Queens of the time that Capt Cole was wounded "The Crossing of the River Somme 1st & 2nd Sept 1944.

    This is taken from that report the night he was wounded:

    "That night found the Bn & 8 H firm based round the river crossings and road centre of Halen with a det on the canal bridge West of Bramsche (carrier pl (Capt Cole) see mortors, tp 8 H). A very quite night was spent by the Bn except for the carriers, for a party of about 30 enemy made a determined attempt to blow up the bridge. They were driven off by the arty without much difficulty but not before Capt Cole had been wounded, and the tk tp comd killed and two others casualties to the carriers."

    This is a 10 page report of the crossing and makes a fantastic read giving casualty figures, list of officers crossings the Rhine with the Battalion and points on the operation:

    example:

    Speed when following up a retreating enemy - Risks must be taken when fighting a retreating enemy. Surprise and speed count for much and save many casualties. Capture of AHAUS was a good illustration of this. The use of amour at night if roads are good and there is a moon can be most successful.

    This makes it all worth while when you come across something like this paperwork which otherwise would be disguarded and not given a second thought has thrown up a very interesting story...

    Below is a picture of the carrier platoon taken in Spandau, Germany
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Kieron - great stuff! Got any more great stories like this?
     
  3. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Thanks Paul...I have just been reading the report in a bit more detail and it covers dates from the 1st - 2nd Sept 1944 and the 27th March - 4th May 1945 it is a fantastic read and has so much more detail than what you would read from a book, as long as you have a copy of the 'Field Service Pocket Book' Abbreviations as without it you find yourself guessing the abbreviations. The report covers everything from bridge building, various other units, releasing of POW's, flying bomb sites, training, plans, battle procedures and much more, if I find the time over the christmas holiday I will try and type it out because I am sure it will be of alot interest to a few people on here.
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    That would be great - and much appreciated. But make sure you have a good Christmas with the family, Kieron!
     
  5. 19wayne91()

    19wayne91() New Member

    Hi Kieron
    I hope you don't mind me asking but do you have any more information on the picture of the carrier platoon as my grandfather is on this picture he left me a small copy of this photo but I didn't know where it was
    Wayne
     

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