Hi all, I'm just trying to pin down a detail about 3rd Infantry Division during Plunder. According to the book Iron Division (by Robin McNish), "In 30th Corps sector, 51st (Highland) Division was to lead the amphibious assault, with 3rd Division in a vitally important supporting role - to hold the Rhine bank and provide the mounting facilities for the assault." I've also read here on the forum about their LAA regiment participating in the pepper pot and have records of their anti-tank regiment doing some support work too. McNish goes on to say that their CRA controlled a fairly large pepper pot involving three MG battalions, a tank battalion, two anti-tank regiments and three anti-air. Was the division formally part of 30th Corps for the period of the operation, or in another corps?
Chris- yes, British 3rd Division was under command of 30 Corps. Note that 3rd Cdn Inf Div reverted to command of 2nd Cdn Corps at noon on March 28th. Which, at the top of my head, left 30 Corps with 43rd Wessex, 51st Highand, Guards Armoured and 3rd British Division. The latter, after completing its bank protection mission, started to move across the Rhine on the 27th, the fourth day of 'Op Plunder', taking over the right wing of 30 Corps and relieving part of 51st Highland Divison. The British 3rd Div subsequently advanced on Haldern and Werth on the River Issel, making junction with British 12th Corps on the right. See: RHINE CROSSING 1945: The Rees bridgehead (30 Corps in operation 'Turnscrew')
