Crossing point of the Rhine by the 15th Scottish Division at Xanten

I am trying to locate the crossing point of the Rhine by the 15th Scottish at Xanten. Does anyone know where it is please? I have attached a screenshot of a possible location.

 

Mick,

There were several crossing points. I hope the map below helps.



There is a thread about Operation Plunder with particular reference to 15 Division on this forum. Several members contributed. Using the search function at the top of the page should find quite a lot of information.

Mike

 

Are you looking for a particular unit as 15th Scottish war diaries are on line, you might find something in them. War Diaries | 15thscottishdivision (15thscottishdivisionwardiaries.co.uk)

 

Thanks Mike - yes, have been looking at this map. I was trying to find out on the ground, the crossing points. There are some access ramps/metalled roads to the Rhine, as shown on Google Earth, in several locations in this area. Just wondered if they were the actual crossing points?

 

Thanks 51 Highland
I will check out those diaries. Though not sure which unit my Grandad took over in the Buffaloes, as his diary just says '15th Scottish'. I think it was either 8th Bn The Royal Scots or 6th Bn The Royal Scots Fusiliers.

 

I wonder if anyone here has the war diary for his regiment. That would probably be helpful.

 

The metalled roads were built as NATO crossing points in the 1970s, maybe late 60s. The one upstream is exactly at the spot where the first Class 40 Bailey bridge was built across the Rhine.

 

Hi,

The 15th Scottish Division crossed the Rhine by Raft and Stormboats at Scholtenhof near Wardt:
Class 9 Raft and Stormboat Ferry (nearby, upstream)
Location:
in the amount of the boat entry point at street "Haus Lüttingen", near Wardt
GPS:
51°40'44.0"N 6°28'21.4"E
51.678898, 6.472600
I don't know if they crossed the Rhine elsewhere.

The banks of the Rhine have been heavily altered in many places by gravel excavations and dyke relocations. The topography at that time can be easily compared on old aerial photographs:
Regionalverband Ruhr - Luftbilder
At the top right under "hist. Luftbilder" you can superimpose old aerial photos, for example from the 1950s, over the map.

Best regards,

Kai

 

Operation Torchlight here you will find more details.

Just a quick search in the Diaries, and yes one of the crossings of the Rhine was at the location Kai_H already mentioned.
9 Cameronians crossed the Rhine NE of Wardt (Direction Mehr)
2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders, between 104461 to 093474

Class 9 (build by 20 Fd Coy RE) bridge a bit to the west, See most left bridge on map Trux posted before.
119 LAA Regt RA on 27 March 1945

Footbridge east of main crossing area
193 (Br) Field Ambulance.

East of Luttingen.
44 Lowland Brigade Crossed the Rhine
6th Royal Scotts

Mick Thompson, if you could be a bit more specific about the unit.

 

Here some good threads about Bridges and Xanten.

Bridging the Rhine for 12th Corps - March 1945

8th Royal Scots. Crossing The Rhine, 23/24 March 1945. | WW2Talk

 

Thanks Kai and Bedee for the info.

I have found that it was either the 8th Royal Scots or the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, both transported by buffaloes of 11 RTR. Location, just West of Bislich, obviously on the West bank of the Rhine. The war diaries on the 15th Scottish War Diaries website is a great resource. https://www.15thscottishdivisionwardiaries.co.uk/war-diaries

Regards MickT

 

I am scratching my head over 20 Fd Coy building the class 9. My dad was in this Coy, their war diary states the 3 sapper platoons crossed in buffaloes and stormboat with their infantry battalions to which they are normally assigned. ?

 

Hi Ted

Based on the 15th Scottish Division hierarchy, 20th Field RE were with 227th (Highland) Brigade and the Infantry units were 2nd Bn Gordons and 2nd Bn A&SH. So looking at the map I attached previously, it would have been 2 Bn A&SH who used Buffaloes at 2am on the 24th and 2 Bn Gordons using Stormboats. Following that, LVTs were used as a ferrying service for heavy equipment until the bridges were constructed.
Mick

 

Hi Mick, 1 platoon with HLI , 3 with A S H both in buffaloes, 2 platoon with Gordons in stormboats. Ted

 

I like to see people actively helping people. Great

 

Hi,
The Class 9 must be this one:
Draghunt-Bridge, also called Twist Bridge:
Class 9 Folding Boat Equipment (FBE) Bridge
Constructed by 8 Corps Troops Engineers
Length: 1320 Feet or 1440 Feet? (did they changed the bridge)
The bridge was started at H+11, that is at 1 PM on March 24th, and was finished after ten hours.
Location: at Wardt / Vahnum
GPS: 51°42'12.8"N 6°27'28.2"E

Never heard about a Footbridge north of Wesel. Do have more informations about it?
Kai

 

From War diary 193 Field Ambulance

25 March
HQ received warning order to be prepared to move at 1 hours notice after 1200 hrs. C.O. again spoke to personnel. Loading of lorries began in preparation for move. Left location at 082215
at 1800 hrs and proceeded to Class 9 bridge over Rhine at area 1145. All vehicles including vehicles of 'B' Company crossed safely. Harboured night at Map ref 138453. Much enemy air
activity over bridgehead. 'B' Company personnel without vehicles crossed Rhine on foot over bridge in area 1145 at 1800 hrs to reinforce 194 Field Ambulance at BISLICH. Major Wadsworth
contacted 225 Para and 195 A.L. Field Ambulances and made arrangements for evacuation of casualties, then acting as liaison Officer until return to Unit on 26 March.

But it doesnt say exactly foot bridge, but during line up some crossings, maybe to quick with my brains They crossed without cars, maybe bridge was not fully operational.

 

Thanks Bedee,
That is of course possible, in photos you see pedestrians on the bridges from time to time.
The Draghunt Bridge has had repeated problems with overloading, the bridge was broken twice.
Kai