Wamel

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 13th     Place HERVELD         APPELTERN (west of Nijmegen, near the Maas)

'53 Recce Regiment arrived today and the relief of “A” & “B” Squadrons started immediately.  Squadron leaders in the meantime were reccying the new area SOUTH of the R WAAL and covering the SOUTH bank from LEEUNEN* 4968 to the bottle neck between the R WAAL and R MAAS.  At 1300 hrs command at HERVELD changed to 53 Recce Regiment and the unit was installed in its new area by 1600 hrs having relieved 52 (L) Recce Regiment**.  RHQ was established at APPELTERN 578615 “A” Squadron being in reserve in the same area.  The Regiment is now under command of 4^th Armoured Brigade with “B” Squadron centred on WAMEL*** 4367 and “C” on DREUMEL 4163. The present intention is to hold the ground with a ….(pages missing from diary here)

 

*Beneden-Leeuwen is west of Nijmegen on the south bank of the Waal.

**Dick’s future regiment.

***On the Waal west of Leeuwen

****south-west of Wamel, also on the Waal.

 

Dick and ‘B’ Squadron were at Wamel on the south bank of the Waal

until 17^th October 1944.

 

Eric Brewer of ‘B’ Squadron’s Assault Troop had moved to Wamel two days earlier, according to his diary and, in Dick’s language, soon had ‘his feet under the table’:

“made friends with a girl called Annie.  Plenty of 771 (?) round this way…also some Prince’s Greens*” (11^th October 1944)

*the Prince Consort's own Rifle Brigade, also known as the ‘Green Jackets’ for their uniform.

“saw the girl I know – had tea there, also some drinks and a bunch of grapes.  They are funny people, in the day they call everyone Tommies, at night they are scared as anything.” (12^th October 1944)

“still the same position on forward outpost directing artillery fire on Gerry outposts, a bit of action through the night.” (13th October 1944)

“still same place, went to house again for tea.  Gerry fired at the church tower today and brought it down.  Some of our chaps in Store’s troop were up there – luckily the first one hit the church low, they only got a bit of shrapnel in them.  Lucky they did not get more.” (14^th October 1944).

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)