The beginning of the end. Operation Varsity and the airborne landings

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by The Aviator, Dec 11, 2007.

  1. The Aviator

    The Aviator Discharged

    Operation Varsity - The Rhine Crossing.

    The biggest and most successful airborne operation in history marked the beginning of the end for Germany, as Allied airborne troops mounted the final barrier and crossed the Rhine, in Operation Varsity.
    In total, six parachute battalions, including the Canadians, of the 6th Airborne division, supported by glider troops from the Air Landing Brigade, dropped on March 24, 1945, as a complete force, avoiding the mistakes of Arnhem.
    Together with the US 17th Airborne Division, the aim of the operation was to secure and deepen the bridgehead east of the Rhine and then advance across country to the Baltic coast, a journey of 350 miles. Their initial objectives were the high ground overlooking the crossing, point at Diersfordter Wald and the road and rail bridges over the River Issel at Hamminkeln.
    Flying in tight formation, 540 American Dakota aircraft carried the 12 parachute battalions, five British, one Canadian and six from the US, closely followed by 1,300 gliders, packed with troops.
    The Germans expected the invasion, and fighting on the DZs was heavy . By the end of the first day's action 1,078 men of the 6th Airborne Division had been either killed or wounded, with 50 aircraft and 11 gliders shot down.
    Weather for the drop was perfect and almost everyone landed on their respective DZ, although some ended up in the trees and were cut down by German machine guns as they fought to free themselves. The 5th Parachute Brigade suffered heavily from casualties as mortar fire exploded in the skies around them during the drop. On the ground the enemy had occupied almost all of the nearby houses, but by late afternoon, the Brigade’s three Battalions had cleared them.
    Within 24 hours, all objectives for the brigade had been achieved and as planned, the division was joined by ground forces of the 21st Army Group, for the advance across Germany. The bridges over the river were secured 'and the village of Hamminkeln captured, all objectives had been achieved within 24 hours.
    Field Marshal Montgomery, who was by now the Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment, wanted 6th Airborne to head the advance and this they did ...on foot.
    In support of the airborne troops were the tanks of the Grenadier Guards and three regiments of artillery. In just seven days they marched and fought their way to the Baltic port of Wismar and joined up with the leading elements of Russian troops.

    http://www.army.mod.uk/para/history/rhine.htm
     

    Attached Files:

  2. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Think you have quoted the Para's version of events. I think you might find that ground forces had already crossed the Rhine when they dropped. i.e. 00.45 hours 24th March 1945.
     
  3. The Aviator

    The Aviator Discharged

    Note the line 'the aim of the operation was to secure and deepen the bridgehead east of the Rhine'
    This article on the paras concedes that Highland
     
  4. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Apologies, early a.m. here, ah well off to work.
     
  5. GGP

    GGP Junior Member

    My father (Sgt EA Parker) was with Divisional Signals 5 th Para Batt. 6 Airborne Div. and was in a glider that crashed in N Germany on 24 March at OP Varsity. His officer was killed and 2 others injured. the rest were was captured and eventually sent/marched to Stalag X1B.
    In his diary he said they emplaned at 07.45 on 24 March. Any other details on this would be helpful.
     
  6. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    My father (Sgt EA Parker) was with Divisional Signals 5 th Para Batt. 6 Airborne Div. and was in a glider that crashed in N Germany on 24 March at OP Varsity. His officer was killed and 2 others injured. the rest were was captured and eventually sent/marched to Stalag X1B.
    In his diary he said they emplaned at 07.45 on 24 March. Any other details on this would be helpful.

    GGP, I would be interested to know if you have the names of the Officer who was killed



    6th AB 1943-46The War Office issued the authority on the 23rd April 1943 for a second British Airborne division to be raised. It was to be designated ' 6th ', a number chosen to deceive the enemy. 6th Airborne Division started to form on 10 May 1943 at the start of a phased programme to be carried on throughout the year .

    Five officers and one hundred men were left behind by 1st Airborne Divisional Signals. These men became the nucleus of the new 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Lieutenant Colonel D Smallman-Tew, who had previously been the Second in Command of 1st Airborne Divisional Signals, assumed the appointment of Commanding Officer of the new unit which became based at Beacon Barracks in Bulford, Wiltshire.

    Between the summer of 1943 and the spring of 1944 Signal units throughout the country were combed for volunteers for airborne duties. 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section and 6th Airlanding Brigade Signal Section were the first to form. No 1 Company Divisional Signals followed fairly quickly.

    The return of 1st Airborne Division from Sicily and Italy in December 1943 heralded new ideas on airborne organisation and equipment. One important lesson to be passed on was that line detachments must be included on the establishment of Airborne Divisional Signals. A number of officers and senior NCOs also transferred from 1st Airborne Divisional Signals bringing with them the experience that had been gained in North Africa and Sicily.

    In preparation of the forthcoming invasion of Europe; 6th Airborne Division moved from Bulford on 25 May 1944 to transit camps spread across Southern England (Tarrant Rushton, Keevil, Blakehill Farm, Down Ampney, Fairford, Broadwell, Brize Norton, Harwell). Divisional Signals Operational Order for NEPTUNE included the following paragraph, ”Operators Cards will be prepared by Sects and each card will carry full particulars of every link that is capable of being operated by the same type of set. The cards will be rolled up and concealed in the longest rod of the F type aerial. It may be removed by pushing the smallest section through (this idea was subsequently passed on to 1st Airborne Divisional Signals for the Arnhem Operation). The same operation order identified Thorney Island and Calshott as the place where pigeons would home.

    At 0430 hours on the 6th June 1944; Divisional Signals left their DZ and by 0600 hours Divisional HQ was established in the Chateau du Heaume in Le Bas de Ranville. Some of the signallers set themselves up in the stables of the Chateau. The wireless link to the airborne base back in England was through in fifteen minutes and the Divisional nets were quickly established once wireless silence was lifted at 0715 hours and as sets became available. The WS68 was the set used primarily by Brigade Signal Sections for communicating to battalion HQs and to the Brigade Commander's rover. WS12 HP worked from the Airborne base to WS76 at Divisional HQ.

    By Midnight on the 6th June; Signal offices and wireless sets were dug in and hundreds of miles of cable were laid, much of which was buried. Lance Corporal Woolgar won the Military Medal near Breville for laying and maintaining his lines during heavy shelling. The advance to the Seine via Troarn and Pont L' Eveque to Pont Audemer posed a new challenge to the men and equipment of 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Airborne jeeps were rapidly turned into command vehicles. The WS22 was made to work over record distances and enormous backlogs of traffic had to be cleared by tired operators under the most adverse conditions. On the
    6th September 1944, 6th Airborne Division was withdrawn from the line and routed through Arromanches back to Beacon Barracks in Bulford by sea and rail.

    After returning to England from France. Divisional Signals spent three months re-training and making good the deficiencies of equipment. The unit was also brought up to strength by the arrival of more volunteers. Lieutenant Colonel Cole left 6th Airborne Divisional Signals on promotion and Lieutenant Colonel P E M Bradley took over command in September .

    On the 22nd December orders were received by the Division to deploy as reinforcements to Belgium as a result of the German offensive in the Ardennes. Christmas leave this year ... would have to wait!



    6th Airborne Division Signals moved by road to Tilbury on Christmas Eve 1944. After crossing the Channel in LSTs, the main body landed at Ostend on Christmas Day. The unit moved in its own transport across Belgium under the Second in Command, Major G S 'Lucky' Fenton to Mettet on the 26th December. The unit went straight into action on arrival even before the equipment was completely unpacked.

    The weather was exceptionally harsh with snow and ice. The heavy equipment and covered vehicles of an Infantry Divisional Signals were of course not part of the unit's scaling. 6th Airborne Divisional Signals found themselves operating as conventional forces with airborne equipment. Wireless sets were operated from jeeps and open trailers. Many of the sets developed faults largely due to the breath of the operator condensing and forming a seal of ice in the equipment. Linemen and DRs had a particularly difficult task in the freezing conditions. Corporal Evans was awarded the BEM for devotion to duty during this period.

    On the 26th February 1945; the whole Division was withdrawn from Holland. The unit moved back to Beacon Barracks in Bulford and started to prepare for further operations being formulated for the final defeat of Germany. These operations would be ' Varsity ' and the advance to the Baltic.

    On the 17th May 1945; 6th Airborne Divisional Signals returned to Beacon Barracks, Bulford. The strategic plan immediately after the surrender of Germany included 6th Airborne Division being deployed to the Far East and 1st Airborne Division taking on the role of Imperial Strategic Reserve. Based on this plan, 5th Parachute Brigade moved to Java in advance of the remainder of 6th Airborne Division. The Divisional Commander and an advance Division HQ also deployed to the Far East. The surrender of the Japanese on 15 August 1945 altered that plan.


    It was decided that 6th Airborne Division should take on the role of Imperial Strategic Reserve and should therefore be retained in the post war order of battle of the British Army.

    SOURCE : Blandford Boys, Airborne Divisional Signals - 6th AB 1943-46
     
  7. GGP

    GGP Junior Member

     

    Attached Files:

  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Was the only Airborne Signals Officer to be killed on the 24th March 1945. There are no Royal Signals Officers listed as killed on the 25th.

    Sourced from Geoff's Search Engine.

    CWGC :: Certificate :poppy:

    I would be interested in reading how he died?

    Regards
    Andy
     
  9. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Andy

    I came up with the same guy.

    Rob
     
  10. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    The Second Army assault was launched on the night of 23 March 1945. The airborne formations took off from England and France in the early hours of 24 March. The plan for the crossing of the Rhine was novel in that the ground forces were to precede the airborne assault. By first light 24 March the leading elements of the ground forces had crossed the river. At about 1000 hours 24 March, 3rd Parachute Brigade Signal Section landed with the rest of the Brigade near Schnappenberg on the edge of Diersfordtervald. Brigade communications were fully established within thirty minutes and links to Division were through in an hour.

    5th Parachute Brigade landed just to the West of Hamminkeln. The Signal Section lost a considerable amount of its equipment. The OC, Lieutenant Crawford, was killed on the RV and a number of men were killed and missing. Corporal Landau won the MM for gallantry during this landing. Fortunately the Brigade Commander was through to his battalions in a few minutes after landing using a small set he carried with him. Brigade communications were eventually established some two hours later.

    6th Airlanding Brigade landed just to the South of 5th Parachute Brigade and the Signal Section established their communications without delay. The remainder of Divisional Signals, although well scattered, established their communications and the Brigade Command Net was through to all units in twenty-five minutes. By late afternoon on 24 March, British Second Army had linked up with 6th Airborne Division. By the same evening all communications were working including line down to Brigades. The Cipher Officer was unfortunately still missing and there had already been a considerable number of casualties of men and equipment. Many of the missing men in fact regrouped during the next day. 3 Officers and 63 men from the unit had been killed. By late evening Division HQ was firmly established in the Kopenhof Farmhouse. By the 29 March the Allies were poised to continue the advance into Germany.

    SOURCE : Regimental Histories
     
    Buteman likes this.
  11. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    ...marked the beginning of the end for Germany...

    A bit parochial, isn'it? Considering that by the same timeframe, 'elsewhere' the bell tolling for Germany had been thundering a long time ago already:

    Red Army operations in late fall of 1944 had slashed away at Germany’s strategic
    flanks and reached the Baltic coast and the Budapest region. Wehrmacht forces
    dispatched to meet the crisis on the flanks were barely able to stem the Soviet tide. Then,
    in less than two months, the Red Army commenced its most massive, violent, dramatic,
    and successful offensives of the war against German defenses in Poland and East Prussia,
    offensives that tore those defenses asunder. In less than one month, Red Army forces
    advanced up to 435 miles westward to the Oder River, reaching within only 36 miles of
    the eastern outskirts of Berlin.

    In the process, the Red Army’s offensives shattered and decimated Army Groups
    “A” and Center. After Hitler hastily dispatched reinforcements to the Oder River front
    to defend the approaches to Berlin, in February and March the Red Army once again
    struck the Wehrmacht’s flanks, battering Army Group Vistula and consuming Army
    Group South’s (and Germany’s) remaining strategic reserves. By mid-April 1945, Red
    Army forces had reached the line of the Oder and Neisse Rivers on a broad front from
    Stettin in the north to Gorlitz on the Czech border and farther south to the outskirts of
    Graz, Austria and the Czech border north of Vienna. As had been the case in 1944, the
    baggage of these Soviet armies contained the nuclei of governments that would ensure
    Soviet political dominance over central and eastern Europe for decades to come.

    These catastrophic defeats cost Germany much of the industry that had been
    dispersed in Poland to shield it from allied bombing. Soviet estimates that Germany lost
    60 divisions, 1,300 tanks, and a similar number of aircraft are undoubtedly simplistic,
    since many small units survived and infiltrated elsewhere. Moreover, although German
    personnel losses in these operations were high (in excess of 660,000), replacements and
    transfers from other theaters caused German troop strength in the East to decline from
    2,030,000 (with 190,000 allies) to just under 2,000,000 men at the end of March.
    However, 556,000 of these troops were isolated in Courland and East Prussia and
    virtually irrelevant to future operations. To make matters worse, the Soviets could now
    concentrate the bulk of its 6,461,000 troops on the most critical axis. For over a third of
    these forces, the next stop would be Berlin.


    People who write stuff like this tend to concentrate a bit in their little corner and overlook the big picture.
     
  12. GGP

    GGP Junior Member

    Many thanks for this I quote from my Fathers diary of the event (very scant I know):

    Saturday March 24th 1945

    Crashed in Germany two wounded, taken prisoner after a short fight. Carried officer to M.O. (Hopeless)

    Sunday March 25th 1945

    Started on march. Prisoners had increased, now a few. Have traveled all night, pretty hungry.

    Monday March 26th 1945

    0600 reached barn that was our home for three days. In the last 48 hours only eaten biscuits. Feeling very depressed and weary.

    Tuesday March 27th 1945

    Had a cup of coffee for breakfast, bread for dinner, coffee for super.

    Wednesday March 28th 1945

    Feeling weak with no exercise or food. Setting out for Stalag tonight 18.30 hours.

    Thursday March 29th 1945

    0200 got on train at Munster,{FOUND} base a long way to go. All desperately hungry and weak, but always thinking of you.

    Friday March 30th 1945

    Drew rations for 3 days: 1 bully beef and 1 loaf. Still traveling, got a tablespoonful of water, boys were quite cheery but desperate looking.

    Saturday March 31st 1945

    I marched 20 miles to Nienburg.{FOUND} Almost reached Stalag, but railways horrible. Prisoners now reached 300, including civvies and M.N.

    Sunday April 1st 1945

    Spent terrible night here. Got some food, but hardly enough. Lads dying every day of starvation. Allied troops captured Munster.

    It goes on for a few more entries he was eventually 'liberated ' by 6 Airborne forces at a place called Boizenburg in May of that year
     
  13. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Great pic of your Dad in your earlier post and also very intresting diary excerpt.Now im curious was your Dad involved in D-Day? with Divisonal Signals and seeing he went into Varsity by Glider but has his Wings up did he jump in and was it with 3RD Para Brigade, and you might find this intresting The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy once you click the link go to Biographies and click on 6th Airborne Divisonal Signals under Divisonal Units.
     
  14. GGP

    GGP Junior Member

    Great pic of your Dad in your earlier post and also very intresting diary excerpt.Now im curious was your Dad involved in D-Day? with Divisonal Signals and seeing he went into Varsity by Glider but has his Wings up did he jump in and was it with 3RD Para Brigade, and you might find this intresting The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy once you click the link go to Biographies and click on 6th Airborne Divisonal Signals under Divisonal Units.

    As far as I can tell with various docs he was with both 3rd and 5th Para Brigades in Div Signals. However on ops he was only with 5 Para Brigade.
    On Varsity he went in by glider, on D Day he parachuted in around the Bas de Ranville area.
    As previously mentioned he was in Stalag X1b for the last few months of the war I attach his 'tag' from the Stalag. I have a few other pics which I can post, along with the rest of his diary notes.
    The other pic of my Dad I believe is mid 1930's and the Royal Sigs uniform depicts its link as I believe as a cavalry unit in its initial days. (jodhpurs, crop etc.)
     

    Attached Files:

    wtid45 likes this.
  15. GGP

    GGP Junior Member

    Great pic of your Dad in your earlier post and also very intresting diary excerpt.Now im curious was your Dad involved in D-Day? with Divisonal Signals and seeing he went into Varsity by Glider but has his Wings up did he jump in and was it with 3RD Para Brigade, and you might find this intresting The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy once you click the link go to Biographies and click on 6th Airborne Divisonal Signals under Divisonal Units.

    Thank you Jason, a great site.
    Do you know where I would start to find out Glider number and occupants and place of landing etc.
     
  16. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    The main task given to 6th Airborne Division was to capture the bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal intact and to fight a holding operation to protect the left flank of the seaborne assault. US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were tasked to protect the right flank.
    Final preparations for D Day were carried out in secrecy in the transit camps. Loading of aircraft and briefing was completed and by the evening of 4 June 1944, 6th Airborne Division stood ready. The 6th Airborne Divisional Signals Operation Order for NEPTUNE included the following paragraph, ”Operators Cards will be prepared by Sects and each card will carry full particulars of every link that is capable of being operated by the same type of set. The cards will be rolled up and concealed in the longest rod of the F type aerial. It may be removed by pushing the smallest section through• (this idea was subsequently passed on to 1st Airborne Divisional Signals for the Arnhem Operation). The same operation order identified Thorney Island and Calshott as the place where pigeons would home. In the administrative paragraphs under discipline the following stern warning was given — 'A high standard of behaviour must be maintained. Women and wine should be avoided as VD is rampant in France and drunkenness is NOT a French national pastime and drunks are regarded with contempt. All ranks will note that there are heavy penalties for looting and wilful damage'.
    Major General Gales‘ Special Order of the Day dated 4 June 1944 was as follows: ”All reports I have had from civil and military sources reflect greatest credit to all ranks for their loyal and rigid security. My final words to you are to see to it that what you gain by stealth you hold with guts. In the words of a great Captain, Pray to God and keep your powder dry. God bless you. Go to it•.
    Following a postponement of the launching of the invasion, 5 June was spent in final briefing and at about 2230 hours that night the first aircraft and gliders took off. Division pathfinders dropped at about 0030 hours on 6 June. The parachute troops of the Division were the first to land and with them was Lieutenant Colonel Smallman- Tew, the Commanding Officer of 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Also amongst the parachute troops were the officers and men of 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Sections. Amongst the first glider lift were men of No 1 Company commanded by Major Fenton.
    The various objectives of the Parachute Brigades were achieved successfully. 3rd Parachute Brigade Signal Section was widely dispersed on landing and it took some while for the men to establish communications especially as a considerable amount of their equipment had been lost. The OC, Captain Wilks, landed in some marshes well to the East of the DZ and was taken prisoner. 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section, commanded by Captain Radmore, landed almost intact and communications were quickly established although half of the Section's equipment was lost. Corporal Waters won the MM for laying a line to 7th Battalion The Parachute Regiment under cover of his own smoke grenades across the exposed bridges over the River Orne and the Canal. Corporal Waters at the time was an operator in command of a WS No 68 detachment. When he saw that the linemen had been wounded, he organised smoke grenades and covering fire and took the line across the bridges himself. He then maintained the line whilst under observed fire from the enemy. 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section boast with pride that it was they who laid the first line in Europe following the invasion.
    The gliderborne element of Divisional HQ landed some two hours after the parachutists. By 0430 hours the Divisional Signals were leaving the DZ and by 0600 hours Divisional HQ was established in the Chateau du Heaume in Le Bas de Ranville. Some of the signallers set themselves up in the stables of the Chateau. The wireless link to the airborne base back in England was through in fifteen minutes and the Divisional nets were quickly established once wireless silence was lifted at 0715 hours and as sets became available. The WS No 68 was the set used primarily by Brigade Signal Sections for communicating to battalion HQs and to the Brigade Commander's rover. WS No 12 HP worked from the Airborne base to WS No 76 at Divisional HQ. The main glider landing took place on the evening of 6 June bringing in the men of 6 Airlanding Brigade Signal Section. Also on 6 June the seaborne landings started and soon the airborne and seaborne elements married up with each other. Thus by midnight on D Day, 6 June 1944, the Allies were poised to move out and extend the bridgehead. Signal offices and wireless sets were dug in and hundreds of miles of cable were laid, much of which was buried. Lance Corporal Woolgar won the MM near Breville for laying and maintaining his lines during heavy shelling. Both shelling and fighting had broken out on 7 June and continued thereafter. Breville was captured on 12 June and for the next two months a defensive battle was fought by the Division.


    On 25 June HQ 6th Airborne Division moved to the Ecarde escarpment where life was a little less fraught. There was even a chance for the odd swim in the canal. In the latter part of June the bridgehead had absorbed a considerable number of units into its perimeter. This density of units created considerable frequency interference problems. To make matters worse, the Germans took advantage of this situation and stepped up their jamming and deception to a degree that had not previously been experienced. However, the operators were not defeated. They were well aware that the enemy could decode air support messages in 20 minutes and so avoid being hit by our fighter ground attack. The enemy could also decide the position of our forward troops from bomb-line reports. Enemy operators were known to break-in on our nets and request information. They were also fairly successful in impersonating Commanders and issuing false orders. Major Radmore, who as a Captain at the time in command of 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section, recalls that he tried similar tactics on the Germans. He captured a German wireless set and, with the aid of a German speaker from Brigade HQ, attempted to break into a German net. After a short time a German operator disrespectfully answered in English, ”OK Tommy, out•! Line did not escape the attention of the enemy. Line circuits were intercepted and cables booby-trapped. The ambushing of enemy parties attempting to disrupt the line became a major sport. K‘ Section in 5th Parachute Brigade seems to have achieved a bit of a reputation for this activity mainly due to the activities of Corporal Waters who by now had been appointed by his OC to be the permanent Section Line Corporal.
    On 22 July, Lieutenant Colonel Smallman-Tew, the Commanding Officer, was killed near Escoville when an enemy mortar shell hit his jeep. He was subsequently buried in the Division's cemetery at Ranville. The story of how our unique lanyard came to be adopted after the Commanding Officer's death is given at Appendix 5. Lieutenant Colonel E S Cole took over command of the unit.
    At the beginning of August the Division started to push forward. Propaganda broadcasts were made by members of the Brigade Sections crawling up to the enemy's lines with loudspeakers. The broadcasts were directed at foreign conscripts and proved to be highly successful.
    A Divisional rest camp was established at Riva Bella near the Canal. Men, often unwillingly, were detailed to take rest. This was just as well as the next phase of the campaign was about to start. On 17 August the Division advanced eastwards and reached the River Seine on 26 August 1944.

    The advance in contact to the Seine via Troarn and Pont L' Eveque to Pont Audemer posed a new challenge to the men and equipment of 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Airborne jeeps were rapidly turned into command vehicles. The WS No 22 was made to work over record distances and enormous backlogs of traffic had to be cleared by tired operators under the most adverse conditions. On 6 September 1944, 6th Airborne Division was withdrawn from the line and routed through Arromanches back to Beacon Barracks in Bulford by sea and rail.
    [​IMG]

    SOURCE : Regimental Histories
     
  17. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    The main task given to 6th Airborne Division was to capture the bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal intact and to fight a holding operation to protect the left flank of the seaborne assault. US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were tasked to protect the right flank.
    Final preparations for D Day were carried out in secrecy in the transit camps. Loading of aircraft and briefing was completed and by the evening of 4 June 1944, 6th Airborne Division stood ready. The 6th Airborne Divisional Signals Operation Order for NEPTUNE included the following paragraph, ”Operators Cards will be prepared by Sects and each card will carry full particulars of every link that is capable of being operated by the same type of set. The cards will be rolled up and concealed in the longest rod of the F type aerial. It may be removed by pushing the smallest section through• (this idea was subsequently passed on to 1st Airborne Divisional Signals for the Arnhem Operation). The same operation order identified Thorney Island and Calshott as the place where pigeons would home. In the administrative paragraphs under discipline the following stern warning was given — 'A high standard of behaviour must be maintained. Women and wine should be avoided as VD is rampant in France and drunkenness is NOT a French national pastime and drunks are regarded with contempt. All ranks will note that there are heavy penalties for looting and wilful damage'.
    Major General Gales‘ Special Order of the Day dated 4 June 1944 was as follows: ”All reports I have had from civil and military sources reflect greatest credit to all ranks for their loyal and rigid security. My final words to you are to see to it that what you gain by stealth you hold with guts. In the words of a great Captain, Pray to God and keep your powder dry. God bless you. Go to it•.
    Following a postponement of the launching of the invasion, 5 June was spent in final briefing and at about 2230 hours that night the first aircraft and gliders took off. Division pathfinders dropped at about 0030 hours on 6 June. The parachute troops of the Division were the first to land and with them was Lieutenant Colonel Smallman- Tew, the Commanding Officer of 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Also amongst the parachute troops were the officers and men of 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Sections. Amongst the first glider lift were men of No 1 Company commanded by Major Fenton.
    The various objectives of the Parachute Brigades were achieved successfully. 3rd Parachute Brigade Signal Section was widely dispersed on landing and it took some while for the men to establish communications especially as a considerable amount of their equipment had been lost. The OC, Captain Wilks, landed in some marshes well to the East of the DZ and was taken prisoner. 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section, commanded by Captain Radmore, landed almost intact and communications were quickly established although half of the Section's equipment was lost. Corporal Waters won the MM for laying a line to 7th Battalion The Parachute Regiment under cover of his own smoke grenades across the exposed bridges over the River Orne and the Canal. Corporal Waters at the time was an operator in command of a WS No 68 detachment. When he saw that the linemen had been wounded, he organised smoke grenades and covering fire and took the line across the bridges himself. He then maintained the line whilst under observed fire from the enemy. 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section boast with pride that it was they who laid the first line in Europe following the invasion.
    The gliderborne element of Divisional HQ landed some two hours after the parachutists. By 0430 hours the Divisional Signals were leaving the DZ and by 0600 hours Divisional HQ was established in the Chateau du Heaume in Le Bas de Ranville. Some of the signallers set themselves up in the stables of the Chateau. The wireless link to the airborne base back in England was through in fifteen minutes and the Divisional nets were quickly established once wireless silence was lifted at 0715 hours and as sets became available. The WS No 68 was the set used primarily by Brigade Signal Sections for communicating to battalion HQs and to the Brigade Commander's rover. WS No 12 HP worked from the Airborne base to WS No 76 at Divisional HQ. The main glider landing took place on the evening of 6 June bringing in the men of 6 Airlanding Brigade Signal Section. Also on 6 June the seaborne landings started and soon the airborne and seaborne elements married up with each other. Thus by midnight on D Day, 6 June 1944, the Allies were poised to move out and extend the bridgehead. Signal offices and wireless sets were dug in and hundreds of miles of cable were laid, much of which was buried. Lance Corporal Woolgar won the MM near Breville for laying and maintaining his lines during heavy shelling. Both shelling and fighting had broken out on 7 June and continued thereafter. Breville was captured on 12 June and for the next two months a defensive battle was fought by the Division.


    On 25 June HQ 6th Airborne Division moved to the Ecarde escarpment where life was a little less fraught. There was even a chance for the odd swim in the canal. In the latter part of June the bridgehead had absorbed a considerable number of units into its perimeter. This density of units created considerable frequency interference problems. To make matters worse, the Germans took advantage of this situation and stepped up their jamming and deception to a degree that had not previously been experienced. However, the operators were not defeated. They were well aware that the enemy could decode air support messages in 20 minutes and so avoid being hit by our fighter ground attack. The enemy could also decide the position of our forward troops from bomb-line reports. Enemy operators were known to break-in on our nets and request information. They were also fairly successful in impersonating Commanders and issuing false orders. Major Radmore, who as a Captain at the time in command of 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section, recalls that he tried similar tactics on the Germans. He captured a German wireless set and, with the aid of a German speaker from Brigade HQ, attempted to break into a German net. After a short time a German operator disrespectfully answered in English, ”OK Tommy, out•! Line did not escape the attention of the enemy. Line circuits were intercepted and cables booby-trapped. The ambushing of enemy parties attempting to disrupt the line became a major sport. K‘ Section in 5th Parachute Brigade seems to have achieved a bit of a reputation for this activity mainly due to the activities of Corporal Waters who by now had been appointed by his OC to be the permanent Section Line Corporal.
    On 22 July, Lieutenant Colonel Smallman-Tew, the Commanding Officer, was killed near Escoville when an enemy mortar shell hit his jeep. He was subsequently buried in the Division's cemetery at Ranville. The story of how our unique lanyard came to be adopted after the Commanding Officer's death is given at Appendix 5. Lieutenant Colonel E S Cole took over command of the unit.
    At the beginning of August the Division started to push forward. Propaganda broadcasts were made by members of the Brigade Sections crawling up to the enemy's lines with loudspeakers. The broadcasts were directed at foreign conscripts and proved to be highly successful.
    A Divisional rest camp was established at Riva Bella near the Canal. Men, often unwillingly, were detailed to take rest. This was just as well as the next phase of the campaign was about to start. On 17 August the Division advanced eastwards and reached the River Seine on 26 August 1944.

    The advance in contact to the Seine via Troarn and Pont L' Eveque to Pont Audemer posed a new challenge to the men and equipment of 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. Airborne jeeps were rapidly turned into command vehicles. The WS No 22 was made to work over record distances and enormous backlogs of traffic had to be cleared by tired operators under the most adverse conditions. On 6 September 1944, 6th Airborne Division was withdrawn from the line and routed through Arromanches back to Beacon Barracks in Bulford by sea and rail.
    [​IMG]

    SOURCE : Regimental Histories
     
  18. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    LZ N was used for the 1st Glider drops in the early hours and then again when the main glider force came in that night. Regardless of what wave he landed in, eg 03:00 or 21:00 he would have been on 'N'

    War Diary for Divisional Signals 6th JUne

    6th June 1944
    Landed in NORMANDY area HAUGER-RANVILLE parachutists 0100 hrs gliders 0330 hrs. Div HQ est in LE BAS DE RANVILLE at chateau 106737 by 0700 hrs. Considerable bombardment heard in direction of coast, but little enemy activity locally until attack on RANVILLE sp by AFVs successfully repulsed at 1045 hrs. Comn with 1 Corps est 0716 hours and line comn to 5 Para Bde. Comn est with UK at 0755 hours. 3 Para Bde were deficient of nearly all Signal eqpt on landing and comn was not est until 1235 hours. 6 Airldg Bde and L Sec landed by glider at 2100 hours. Comns est with 6 Airldg Bde at 2150 hours, 50 mins after bde landed. Air resup brought sig stores during night 6/7 Jun having been demanded during day on Q Base link from U.K. Cas Lt Royle and 2 ORs killed, Maj Fenton and 4 ORs wounded, Capt Wilks, Lt Gilbert and 72 ORs missing
     
  19. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Report by 6 Airborne Div Signals on Operations D Day and D plus 1

    That Sigs provide the machinery for comd is an accepted fact. 6 Airborne Div Sigs had to provide in addition to that machinery:-

    (i) the means for calling for sp from and firing another div's arty.
    (ii) the calling for air sp by joining in on the ASSU net which is normally excl manned by specially trained ASSU personnel.
    (iii) the notification direct to England of all requirements for re-sup by air.

    All eqpt and personnel had to be transported by glider or parachute and all links had to be through by H hr.

    That in a nutshell was what the unit was required to do.

    Beside the Para Bde Sig Secs 4 Offrs and 36 ORs jumped with 12 Para Bn, with an initial role of assisting RE to demolish poles on the LZ. In spite of the difficulties of 20 men and 20 kitbags in the Stirlings the two sticks had successful but dispersed ldgs, the RSM striking a pole and sustaining a muscle injury and there were also sniping cas on the DZ.

    Only a few arrived on the LZ before the gliders came in, but numerous individual adventures were met with before this. One man dropped in the garden of an enemy HQ in HEROUVILLETTE, and heard a quiet call of 'Tommy; Tommy'. Suspecting a trap, he threw a grenade, but it turned out to be a partisan armed with a Free French brassard and an early pattern Sten. He joined the party which formed out of other stragglers, but later disappeared, and this party was the first to arrive at the chateau which became Div HQ, but they were disappointed by the absence of Huns. On the way, however, a MG post was silenced at RANVILLE, which was a useful piece of work as it was firing across the LZ.

    One offr found himself in a camp full of Polish manned arty, which received the attentions of the RAF while he was there, but the inmates were able to search for him and he took refuge in a tree.

    Both the CO and Adjt found lines to demolish on their way in and later a buried cable was found with the aid of the local inhabitants and blown up by the Lines Offr. This was a little unfortunate, for according to the original plan this cable would not be required, although considerable use of it was subsequently made by 1 Corps.

    Of the glider party a high proportion arrived with their jeeps and wireless sets intact, but a coy comd who accompanied the GSO 1 landed in a mined area near VARAVILLE owing to the pilot taking violent evasive action and snapping the tow rope. During D day he had numerous skirmishes with a surprising number of snipers, and he was struck by a mortar fragment so violently that his steel helmet was found with an enormous dent and would no longer fit on the head, but the sole injury was a grazed scalp. This coy comd arrived at 3 Para Bde HQ on the way and found that both Sig Offrs were missing and only 3 gliderborne sets had arrived with a few operators. He est vital comns, which gradually built up during the day as more sets were found in containers scattered over the countryside.

    Div HQ was set up rapidly, each set to arrive was put on the next most important link irrespective of its normal function, to which end all operators were briefed in all links in UK. Comn with UK was est in 15 mins, and over this Base link demands for replacing losses were sent - the eqpt arriving by air in 12 hrs.

    Pigeons were used by a party to announce their capture of the MERVILLE bty.

    The Airldg Bde Sec which arrived at 2100 hrs on D day lost very little eqpt, but Para Bdes will probably not trust the uncertain kit bag and again for the majority of their sets.

    The ASSU link passed five calls for air sp in the first two days, the most notable of which concerned a large party of cyclists who had come from HAVRE and had intended a vigorous attack from the EAST. This attack was completely broken up by air attack. On numerous occasions this ASSU link worked direct to HQ 2 TAF at UXBRIDGE.

    In spite of exceptionally good wireless conditions on all links, a circling Spitfire habitually called for ground sigs at Div HQ every morning, until it was rumoured that it was one captured by the Hun for his own purposes.

    If all airborne ops had such successful initial comns as OVERLORD, the battle would be as good as won before it started.

    SOURCE : 6th Airborne Divisional Signals "A"
     
  20. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Thank you Jason, a great site.
    Do you know where I would start to find out Glider number and occupants and place of landing etc.
    On Op Varsity 5TH Para Brigade flew in with 15 gliders first three serial B16, Hamilcars, Chalks, 282-284, LZ B, Further 12 Serial, B21, Horsa's Chalk 424-435 LZ B.Info from The Last Drop. by Stephen L.Wright.
     

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