26th February 1945 – in Operation Blockbuster Canadian forces advance along the Hochwald Forest ridge to attack Xanten, a town on the west bank of the Rhine. Xanten was captured on 8th March and occupied by British troops in preparation for the Rhine crossing near Wesel.
Dick, however, was out of the fighting for a while…..
Dick begins his first home leave since June 1944.
Dick’s 1945 diary for February:
26 Mon - Arrived Bourg Leopold for leave. Day with Brinner.
27 Tues - Day with Brinner. Left for Calais for leave. Overnight.
Bryn Williams
Around this time Don Aiken also had his first home leave since ‘D’ Day:
“The Army pressed forward towards the Rhine with one or two spells of heavy fighting. Then, around this time, I was given some home leave.”
(Extract republished from 'From the Breakour to the Rhine' by kind permission of Don Aiken)
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