1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment War Diaries - November 1944

Commanding Officer: Lieut.-Colonel R. E. Osborne-Smith

Place

Date
Nov.
1944

Hour
Summary of Events and Information
References
to
Appendices

CUIJK

1

 

ENSA & Cinema Shows. Recce of new Area made.

 

 

2

 

Relief of 130 Bde. by 214 Bde.

 

 

2

13.00

Bn commenced relief of 4 Dorsets - completed by 16.00 hrs. Appendix "A" issued.

 

742513

2

 

Bn. H.Q. at 742513. Coys Patrolling.

 

 

3

 

Patrolling day & night.

 

 

4

 

Bn. visited by Corps Comd. Orders received that Bn would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 5th but these were cancelled and further orders received that we would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 6th and would then relieve 7 Som. L.I. on the 7th.

 

 

5

 

Orders received (at C.O.'s. request) that previous instructions regarding relief were cancelled and Bn remain in present area. Active patrolling by Coys.

 

 

6

 

Patrolling by Coys.

 

 

7

 

Patrolling by Coys.

 

742513

8

 

Bn Recce Party left for new area.

 

 

9

12.00

Bn relieved by Canadian Fusiliers & moved to new area MALDEN. Relief completed by 16.00 hrs.

Appendix "B" & "C"

 

10

08.15

Bn moved to concentration area N.W. of AACHEN. B.H.Q at PUTH.

 

 

11

 

Orders received that 214 Bde would relieve 129 Bde.
Recce Party left but arrangements cancelled and Recce Party returned.

 

 

12

14.00

Recce Party left for BRUNSSUM area.

 

BRUNSSUM

13

10.30

Bn left PUTH and moved to BRUNSSUM. Move completed by 12.00 hrs.
Counter-attack role for Operation "Clipper".

Appendix "D"

 

14

 

Bn. BRUNSSUM area.

 

 

15

 

Recce by Coy Commanders for Operation "Clipper".

 

 

16

 

Bn. BRUNSSUM area.

 

 

17

 

Bn. BRUNSSUM area.

 

BRUNSSUM

18

10.30

Bn. left BRUNSSUM and moved to assembly area for Operation "Clipper".

 

 

18

14.05

Moved to F.U.P. GILLRATH - NEIDERHEIDE having been taken by 7 Som. L.I.
Bn. commenced attack on RISCHDEN - minor opposition and objective successfully taken by "A" & "B" Coys. Lt.-Col. R. E. Osborne-Smith received leg injuries and was evacuated. Major J. D. Ricketts assumed comd. of Bn.
"A" & "D" Coys attack TRIPSRATH and encountered very severe opposition from large wood on left. Objective was taken although a few enemy remained in North end of village.
Bn. consolidated with "A", "C" & "D" Coys in TRIPSRATH and Bn. H.Q. & "B" Coy in RISCHDEN. Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling.

 

TRIPSRATH
(GERMANY)

19

 

Heavy counter-attack put in by enemy at first light, particularly from wood on left of Bn. H.Q. This was beaten off and at 15.00 hrs. 4 Dorsets commenced clearing wood but were held up by heavy MMG fire.
No change in Bn. positions. Heavy enemy mortar & shelling throughout day.

 

 

20

 

Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.

 

 

21

 

Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.

 

 

22

 

Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.

 

 

23

 

Orders received that Bn. would be relieved by 5 Wilts.
Recce Party left 14.00 hrs. for rest area at SCHINVELD.
Relief commenced 17.00 hrs. and completed by 05.00 hrs. approx.

 

SCHINVELD

24

 

Refitting. Bath Parades.

 

 

25

 

Same area. Bn. H.Q. at Schinveld School.

 

 

26

 

Lt.-Col. Vickers assumed command of Bn.

 

859676

27

 

Orders received that Bn. would relieve 4 Dorsets in wood West of TRIPSRATH. Commenced at 14.30 hrs and completed without casualties.

 

 

28

 

Bn. H.Q. 859676. Area stonked at intervals during day.

 

 

29

 

Area shelled & mortared. Orders received that Bn would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 30th.

 

 

30

 

Less enemy arty activity. Bn relieved by 5 DCLI and moved to area NIEDERBUSCH.

 

 

 

 

Field Returns d/d 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th.

 


Section of map used by the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment for "Operation Clipper" (November 1944)

(Map Grid = 1 Km)


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