2nd Gordon Highlanders, 1944

war diary of a sergeant James Robertson of the 2nd battalion of gordon highlanders. service in normandy and holland, discharged with a shrapnel wound in his leg. makes quite an interesting read.

Diary_June_1944

"20th September
Stand to at dawn watching my front. A German with a machine gun, about 150 yards got up and ran into nearby woods. Dawned on me afterwards that I should have shot at him: must have been half asleep. Another day of machine gun and shell fire.

Unable to get supplies owing to the crossing being under constant fire. CQMS wouldn't have a go until someone was able to fill him up with rum. He came over during the hours of darkness in a power operated boat with containers of hot meals, cursing the enemy at the top of his voice. He left the food and got back to the other side without a scratch.

Decided to crawl out of my trench to check how my Platoon was getting on. A tank or a SP gun must have been trained on the Platoon's position as a shell from the gun just missed my head. Decided to stay put. The powers that be decided to withdraw from this part of the canal.

After we left our positions in small groups the enemy must have sensed what what was happening as they gave us a real pounding. Returned to Gheel to wait further orders."

 

VERY interesting. You always hear about the GH in the 51st but never in the 15th Div. I shall read this with the greatest deal of attention.

Many thanks.

 

Must relate to the crossing of the Wilhelmina canal. 15th Scottish would be involved in some heavy and bloody fighting for just over a Month in Best, Holland, from 21st September to the liberation of Best on 24th October 1944.

 

Have you seen this thread about 2 Gordons ?

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/nw-europe/17161-2-gordons-crossing-seine-august-1944-a.html

Very interesting. I know it doesn't matter but I still find it odd that a lad from Essex or London for example would end up as a Gordon Highlander!

 

Very interesting. I know it doesn't matter but I still find it odd that a lad from Essex or London for example would end up as a Gordon Highlander!

my grandad was from sheffield and joined the lancashire fusiliers. he ended up in them

 

I know, my Grandfather was from central Liverpool and ended up in the 2nd Essex. It just seems odd, but I fully know that it happened and also why it happened.

 

2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders 1944. This Bn is the new or reformed 2nd bn. The original 2nd Bn was at Singapore when it fell. My late uncle a regular soldier -Serjeant Robert. Easton Duthie died on 5 June 1943, He was along with others cremated on the orders of the senior British MO in the POW camp. His ashes are at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. The senior Gordon NCO listed with no grave at Kanchanaburi. Churchill said of the Gordons' 'The finest regiment that ever was'

 

Hello Everyone,
Michael here, just joined the forum. I'm trying to get a clearer picture of what happened to the guys of the Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Battalion-15th (Scottish) Infantry Division in the summer of 1944. I've found some things online about fighting in Belgium, Geel, then moving to Eindhoven and fighting in Best before heading to Nijmegen for operation market garden etc. My Grand-uncle died sept 25th 1944 and I'm trying to get a better idea of where exactly he would have died and what his story in WWII was like. His name is Lieutenant Gordon Edward Beaton and he was a CANLOAN officer (Canadian fighting with the British). I read on a tank forum that someone named his first born son after my Grand-Uncle and I would like to know who he is. These are some of the people he would have fought with.

The Gordon Highlanders
The 2nd Battalion-15th (Scottish) Infantry Division

ROH-599 Lieutenant John A. Aitken K/A 27-8-44
ROH-126 Lieutenant Gordon E. Beaton K/A 25-9-44
ROH-605 Lieutenant Wilfred W. N. Brownlee-Lamont K/A 16-9-44
237 Lieutenant James M. Buchanan [1st posting of 2]
238 Captain James W. Buchanan
381 Captain Arthur R. Burden
405 Captain (Major) Bernard B. G. Gagne
398 Captain James B. Hamilton, M.M. [2nd posting of 2]
156 Lieutenant Warren V. Hingley [1st posting of 2]
81 Lieutenant John H. Hitchcock, M.C. [1st posting of 2]
218 Lieutenant (Lt-Col) Philip A. Labelle [1st posting of 2]
403 Captain Paul E. Labonte [3rd posting of 3]
58 Captain (Major) Joseph J. G. Ouimet

It would be great to hear about what happened on that day on September 25th and where exactly the guys were. Also if anyone has heard or knows of any personal stories about those individuals and my grand-uncle especially would be so special. I am the first member of my family to have done research on him and visited his grave in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. It would be great to know more about those men, like when they got together, when they arrived in Europe, how long and from where they traveled. What routes they took and what battles they engaged in etc. Also, it would be nice to know which company my grand-uncle fought in, since different companies had different responsibilities.
Thanks for all your help,
Michael

 

I have trouble with making a copy of the war Diary, but the Battalion was at Best and they had to clear a road 386255 (today google Kanaaldijk/Eindhovense dijk) and a wood 364250 (today Google are Batadorp road Brem)

I did some research about the area 2 years ago ,for a explosive ordnance job, some heavy fighting took place in that area, the germans were in the military barracks, south of that wood, barracks are still there

 

I know, my Grandfather was from central Liverpool and ended up in the 2nd Essex. It just seems odd, but I fully know that it happened and also why it happened.

Is your Grandfather still alive?

I only ask as I saw someone with my surname from 2 Essex tried and convicted of cowardice (1944 Overseas) in a Courts Marshall Register today.

 

During the 2nd Gordons attack on Best, 25th September, when your man was wounded, they suffered 32 killed trying to take the Brickworks and railway.

 

Whilst promoting my Dad's book, Sojourn in Silesia on another forum I was recommended to read a book called The Lost Highlander, by Alistair Urquart (it was his niece who recommended me).
Alistair was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and I have just finished reading his book. I am about to write a review on Amazon, yet any words I write will not do justice to this book or his suffering. I read the book with horror, sadness and rage.
I also feel awful to be thinking that compared to Alistair's experience, my Dad's experience seems like a walk in the park. Of course, it wasn't, but my Dad appeared to hang on to his dignity, and was not treated as sub-human.
Off to write my Amazon review.

 

war diary of a sergeant James Robertson of the 2nd battalion of gordon highlanders. service in normandy and holland, discharged with a shrapnel wound in his leg. makes quite an interesting read.

Diary_June_1944

"20th September
Stand to at dawn watching my front. A German with a machine gun, about 150 yards got up and ran into nearby woods. Dawned on me afterwards that I should have shot at him: must have been half asleep. Another day of machine gun and shell fire.

Unable to get supplies owing to the crossing being under constant fire. CQMS wouldn't have a go until someone was able to fill him up with rum. He came over during the hours of darkness in a power operated boat with containers of hot meals, cursing the enemy at the top of his voice. He left the food and got back to the other side without a scratch.

Decided to crawl out of my trench to check how my Platoon was getting on. A tank or a SP gun must have been trained on the Platoon's position as a shell from the gun just missed my head. Decided to stay put. The powers that be decided to withdraw from this part of the canal.

After we left our positions in small groups the enemy must have sensed what what was happening as they gave us a real pounding. Returned to Gheel to wait further orders."


Hello

I'm new here
My name is Gil and I live in Mol, Belgium (near Gheel).I'm 30 years and I'm a warresearcher for my community. About two years ago I started my search for Lt. Brownlee Lamont. He died near my home and I'm in an organisation that wants to make a new monument where he and 4 other soldiers of the 2nd bat of the Gordon Highlanders died.

It' very interesting to read this part of a diary. Perhaps you also have a passage of september the 16th 1944? On that day Lt. Brownlee Lamont was ambushed by Germans at Sas 6 ( a lock at the Kempisch Canal).

Thanks in advance. Iy any of you want to know more about this Lt Brwonlee Lamont. I have plenty of military documents and I'm in contact with his family in America.

Regards Gil

 

Sorry, I haven't been on this thread for some time. Here are the dates:

15th September
PT in the forenoon to keep us occupied. Packed-up and ready to move at 2200. Still waiting at midnight.

16th September
Left the area at 0100 to put in an attack across the canal, "C" Company leading. They lost direction in the darkness with the result we didn't reach the canal before dawn. Seemingly the enemy is too strong for a daylight assault. Received orders to return to the village of Achterborch to await further instructions.

17th September
Moved out of the village at 1100 to another called Kivermont further up the canal in order to try to get across. Show cancelled owing to the strength of the enemy on the other side of the canal. Watched airborne Divisions going into attack at 1300. Sky full of planes and parachutes. The enemy, in our rear, flinging everything at them. A number of Dakotas came down in flames. A sight I will never forget.

 

Does anyone know where I can find battle reports from this day. Are they available for people?

thanks in advance