On 3rd December the Allies launched a major counter-offensive in the Ardennes. Montgomery deployed XXX Corps from the north-west of the German salient and General Hodges’ US 1st Army from the north, all aiming towards Houffalize in the centre of the ‘Bulge’.
The 6th Airborne Division, who had played a critical role in Normandy were the first of XXX Corps to attack, moving east through the Beauraing and Wellin area towards Bure.
61st Recce were with them, carrying out reconnaissance in the area south of Rochefort.
Corporal ‘Skip’ Ricketts of ‘A’ Squadron published this account of the action in the Old Comrades Association newsletter:
“By the morning of January 3rd 1945, the weather had become our worst enemy. We attacked on this day in a driving blizzard. Snow was falling continuously and the roads were ice-bound. Consequently, little progress was made, although the 6th Armoured Division reached the outskirts of Bure where the 13th Parachute Battalion and the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment became engaged in heavy fighting. Further North, at Wavreille, the 7th Parachute Battalion gained a footing in the town.
The approaches to Wavreille were reconnoitred by two Troops of the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment; under the command of Lieutenant M A Urban-Smith and Lieutenant W. Fling. They had with them a section of the Belgian Special Air Service mounted in Jeeps and bristling with machine guns. This section was commanded by a Sergeant who was a Belgian nobleman and who owned most of the land over which we were operating. Consequently, he was most anxious to assist in the expulsion of the Huns. Halfway to their objective they spotted some Germans coming up behind. They quickly opened fire and those who survived surrendered. Slogging on through snow and sleet, they reached the outskirts of Wavreille and immediately became violently engaged with the enemy. Aided by the Belgians, they drove the enemy from the village but were counter-attacked strongly and it became necessary to withdraw.”
(also published in ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)
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