“Then the Ardennes came on and we rushed up to the Ardennes” From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61st Recce (pers comm).
Report written by a Military Observer as recorded in 'MILITARY AFFAIRS No.28' dated 22nd January 1945:
"The Recce Regiment which went ahead of our main striking force in the Ardennes Battle was the 61st Recce Regiment.
Formerly the Recce Regiment of a famous British Division, the 61st have seen almost continuous action since D. Day, and were the first to break out of the bridgehead on D Plus 2. It was the only Recce Regiment to be employed in the breakthrough into Holland.
Men of this Regiment were the first to enter Lille, Oudenarde and Ghent. On one occasion their leading vehicles were 65 miles ahead of their infantry, and all were actively engaged. They took part in the Escault Battle, and to date have taken 4,000 German Prisoners, their best day’s bag numbering 1,000.
In the German Christmas offensive the Regiment was switched to the Ardennes and the men, although working in completely unknown country, miles ahead of our main forces, sent back such valuable information on the disposition of enemy troops that our advance went ahead smoothly."
Colonel Brownrigg continues his account:
“Runstedt had begun his offensive. At 1100 hrs on 21st December the Chief of Staff at 21st Army Group Headquarters rang up and ordered us to remobilise and move. By working night and day we were on the move, fully equipped by 0900 hrs the next day.”
(From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)
This was no mean feat as Anthony Rampling remembers:
“When we were in Izegem the Ardennes campaign started and our vehicles were all left on a dump. We had to get them ready and proceed to the Ardennes.”
and from Sandy Handley’s version story:
“On the 21st December the Regiment was told to re-equip, replace all the radios, guns, etc. The Germans had broke through in the Ardennes, so instead of being disbanded and in Belgium we worked all through the night fixing guns on the car, ammunitions and radio.” (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)
Don Aiken explains:
“Hitler himself had ordered 3 Armies, totalling twenty-one Divisions (although well below strength), to be assembled in Germany ready for a huge counter-attack. This began on December 16th, meeting with great initial success and the American defence lines were cut to ribbons.
The situation was becoming very serious, as the whole 'sharp-end' of the Allied forces was in danger of being isolated.
The British forces directed a push down from the north onto the advancing Germans. We were given 24 hours to reclaim our vehicles and equipment and move out to the Ardennes. This we did.”
(Extract republished from 'From the Breakout to the Rhine' by kind permission of Don Aiken)
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