National Archives catalogue number WO 171/4762.

Abbreviation

179508 52 LI AA AARR A/B Admn Adv AFV Airldg A/L Amn Armd Arty A Tk BC Bde BHQ Bn Br Bty Cas Cdn Civ CL CMO CO Comd Comn Conc Coy CRA DF Dgs Div Docs DZ En Eqpt Est ETA Evac Fd FOO FOU Fwd Gf GOC Gp GPO HE HF Hosp How HQRA Hy I i/c Inf Infm Instr Intercomn KO'd LO Lt LZ Mag m/c M Med MG Mov Mtn NTR OC Offr OO Op OR Pdr Pl / Pln Posn Pt PW RA RAChD RAMC RAP RCoS Rd Rds Ref Regt Regtl Rem Rep RHQ Rly Rpg RT RUR RV SA Sec Sm SP Sqn Str Tac Tgt Tp Tpt Trlr Veh Wrls WY Wt X

Map Reference 52nd (2nd Ox and Bucks) Light Infantry Anti-Aircraft Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment Airborne Administration Advance Armoured Fighting Vehicle Airlanding Airlanding Ammunition Armoured Artillery Anti-Tank Battery Commander Brigade Battery Headquarters Battalion British / Bridge Battery Casualties Canadian Civilian Centre Line Counter Mortar Officer Commanding Officer Commander Communication Concentration Company Commander Royal Artillery Defensive Fire Degrees Division / Divisional Documents Drop Zone Enemy Equipment Established Estimated Time of Arrival Evacuated Field Forward Observation Officer Forward Observation Unit Forward Gun fire General Officer Commanding Group Gun Position Officer High Explosive Harassing Fire Hospital Howitzer Headquarters Royal Artillery Heavy Intelligence In-Command Infantry Information Instruction Intercommunication Knocked Out Liaison Officer Light Landing Zone Magnetic Motorcycle Mike - a target for all Regimental guns to engage Medical / Medium Machine Gun Movement Mountain Nothing to Report Officer Commanding Officer Operation Order Operation / Observation Post (if upper case) Other Ranks Pounder Platoon Position Point Prisoner of War Royal Artillery Royal Army Chaplains' Department Royal Army Medical Corps Regimental Aid Post Royal Corps of Signals Road Rounds Reference Regiment Regimental Remainder Reported Regimental Headquarters Railway Rounds per gun Radio Telephony Royal Ulster Rifles Rendezvous Small Arms Section Smoke Self-Propelled / Support (if lower case) Squadron Strength Tactical Target Troop Transport Trailer Vehicle Wireless Worcestershire Yeomanry Weight Cross

Month and year : March 1945

Commanding Officer : Lt Col R.A. Eden DSO, RA

18th March 1945

Advance Parties left for Transit Camps.  RHQ to Mushroom Farm, Dunmow M179508.  211 and 212 Btys to Chadacre Camp M308715.  Sea Tail to Dagenham.

19th March 1945

0700 - Main Sea Tail Party left for Dagenham.

20th March 1945

0715 - Regt moved to the Transit Camps.

21st March 1945

Preparations for Op Varsity.  See Appendices.

22nd March 1945

1400 to 2200 - Loading at various airfields.  RHQ and Section of 210 Bty:- Dunmow.  211 Bty:- Shepherd Grove.  212 Bty:- Earls Colne.

23rd March 1945

Final loading adjustments and marshalling of gliders.

24th March 1945

0700 - Take off.

1000 - P Hour.

1050 - First gliders of the regiment landed.

1100 - 11 guns in action.  5 in 211 Bty (one of which was attached from 210) and 6 in 212 Bty (3 of which were from 210).

1500 - Situation established.  Registration by E OP (Capt Stewart).  Harassing on small parties of inf.  Mainly fired through command net by Mediums from across the Rhine to save our ammunition for DF.

1600 - 211 had 8 guns in action (3 from 210).  212 had 8 guns and 1 25 pdr (3 from 210).  Capt Stewart in E OP was the only regular troop comd in action.  He was in 1 RUR area.  Lt. B. Cotton manned F Troop OP in 52 LI area.  Lt Harper C Troop OP and Lt Pentelow D Troop OP in 5 Para Bde area.

2200 - Party set off with pln of inf as protection to unload a Hamilcar of ammunition that had landed too far away from the LZ to allow safe unloading in daylight.

2330 - Mixed force of all arms 100 strong surrendered to RHQ which had engaged them with Bren guns while they were trying to move East to their lines.

25th March 1945

0145 - Ammunition party returned with successfully unloaded amn.

0700 - Small parties of Panther tanks and SPs were probing 52 LI front opposite F Troop OP which engaged several U Tgts during the day as did also the FOUs.

0930 to 1130 - 88mm intermittent shelling on E Troop position.  No casualties but E Troop moved at 1200 hrs to 185485.  Troop positions were:- C 183494  D 183491  E 187488  F 187486.  The 25 pdr fired red smoke most of the morning for typhoons in Ringenberg area.

1600 - Counter attack forces forming up on the East side of the River Issel was stonked and typhooned; consequently it never materialised.

Note

The Regt started with 78 gliders which eventually their flights:-

35 (45%) landed all right within 1000 yds of the LZ.

14 (18%) landed away from the LZ but arrived on D Day or D plus 1 with loads intact.

7 (9%) Landed West of the Rhine but joined up within 4 days.

22 (28%) loads were completely lost: 3 hit by Flak in mid-air, 3 crashed on landing, 15 landed wide and were destroyed by enemy, 1 was hit and set on fire on LZ.

The Casualties were:-

26th March 1945

0900 - The Div attacked North East towards Brünan with 6 Airldg Bde in the lead.  The objectives were reached without opposition by 1200.  12 Devons with 211 Bty in sp on the Northern axis reached high ground NE of Brünan and 1 RUR on the Southern axis were established 2000 yds South of the Devons.

1300 - Guns moves to area 2147 leaving a rear party at the Regtl Comd Post under Maj Craigie - 211's BC who had been wounded.  New posns: 210 219469, 212 218472.

27th March 1945

1400 - The Regt moved to 2948.

1600 - Regt ready:- 210 at 296482, 212 at 299480.

1645 - AARR mortars surveyed in on Regt Grid.

1815 - Recce parties went to area 3549 and 3649.

1845 - Regt moved during which 25 Fd took over our commitments.

2030 - Deployed in new area.  RHQ 339491  210 331489  212 337482.

2230 - No OPs with Bns.  No firing.  Sea Tail Party caught up with Rear HQ at original gun area.

28th March 1945

0930 - Regt supported 3 Para Bde in the advance and capture of Launbeck 4952 and moved to area of ERLE.  RHQ 392491  210 390493  212 388490.

1600 - Regt moved to 4352 and engaged an SP a flak gun.  RHQ 428523  210 427518  212 428523.

29th March 1945

0800 - Regt re-organised on a 3 Bty basis.  Each Bty with 6 guns forming 1 troop.

0845 - Relieved of commitments with 3 Para Bde.  Ready to move in sp 5 Bde.

1000 - Regt supported adv of 5 Para Bde to Coesfield and came into action at 1700 hrs.  210 560678  211 564681  212 564680  RHQ 564681.

1830 - All available tpt fwd 7 and 12 Para Bns up the last 3 miles of the axis to Coesfield where Bde went into a tight defensive posn.

30th March 1945

Static day in action.

1400 - 212 sent out two local OPs with a party of men to engage 200 inf reported in the woods West of our posn.  No firing but 15 PW were captured in various small parties.

31st March 1945

0400 - Regt moved to Greven (9188) in sp of 3 Para Bde.

1200 - Arrived at Greven to find some SP fire being put down in the proposed Regt area 9088.

1300 - SP fire lifted Regt in action as follows: 210 903892  211 903897  212 906888  RHQ 900886.

1800 - Bridge ready.  Moved across the canal to square 9489.  Considerable sniping from woods to the right of road on way up.  No casualties.

2030 - Regt in action.  210 943891  211 938889  212 940890  RHQ 935892.

Month and year : April 1945

Commanding Officer : Lt Col R.A. Eden DSO, RA

1st April 1945

1000 - The Regt moved in the order 211, 210, 212 and RHQ.  210-960900; 211-960899; 212-975904; RHQ-977897.  Very little firing from this posn; mainly at SP guns.

1630 - 210 Bty moved to 978908.

1745 - 210 ready; the rest of the Regt moved up to 210 posns; 211-975905; 212-971905; RHQ-971905.

2nd April 1945

1400 - The Regt moved over the Dortmund-Ems Canal and drove up the axis in rear of 5 Para Bde through Ladbergen and Langerich.

1830 - Opposition was met at 107993 and the Regt dropped into action SE of Lanferich. 210-112997; 211-106996; 212-097995; RHQ-095995.

3rd April 1945

0100 - 211 Bty and the Recce Parties moved to the area of Natrup.  A German mine laying party encountered on the Natrup cross rds was satisfactorily despatched with small arms and a few rds from 75mm which was brought into action on the rd.

0800 - 210, 211 and RHQ joined 211 in the Natrup area.  The posns were 210-130019; 212-143033, RHQ-145035.

1130 - Recce parties left to prepare a Regtl posn in area of 1607.  The inf moved on towards Osnabruck and took up posns in the NW and W outskirts of the town.

1330 - 212 Bty moved to 163054.

1415 - 210, 211 and RHQ moved up forward of 212 to 210-169072; 211-167063; RHQ-167069.

1630 - 212 was moved to 172068.  There was practically no firing from this posn.  1 Cdo Bde were going through us in the morning.  1 Mtn Regt had taken over a lot of our commitments.

4th April 1945

An uneventful day.  OPs in and Osnabruck captured with very little trouble by 1 Cdo Bde.

5th April 1945

0800 - The Regt moved round the south of Osnabruck to the north of Minden over very congested rds.

1600 - The guns came into action in sp of 6 Airldg Bde - 210-782175; 211-781177; 212-781179; RHQ-780180.  The Regt fired at a number of mortar posns both before and during the crossing of WESER by 52 LI at 1800 hrs.

1930 - The Regt moved to the area 7918.  The 52 LI had consolidated their bridgehead in square 8216 and 12 Devons were in Petershagen 8421.  Posns - 210-795180; 211-794183; 212-794192; RHQ-788183.

6th April 1945

1030 - The Regt moved by Btys to the area W of Petershagen.

1230 - Regt all in action in new posn; 210-831200; 211-794183; 212-836206; RHQ-828201.

2130 - 211 and 212 Btys started to move across the WESER.  There was considerable trouble both with the bridge and the run off of the E side and they did not across until 0700 hrs.

7th April 1945

0600 - 210 Bty ordered into action at 852216.

0815 - 211 and 212 Btys ready in posns near Lahde.  211-845215; 212-860199.

0900 - 210 and RHQ followed across the river and went to: RHQ-854201; 210-835255.

8th April 1945

0900 - The Regt supported an attack on the woods south of Lahde to clear up Battle Group (3 tiger, 3 panther tanks, 4 ferdinand SPs and 300 inf).  Appx A.

1200 - No opposition and no prisoners taken.

1700 - The Regt went into harbour at Bergkirchen 0325.

9th April 1945

A day of rest and maintenance.

1940 - Orders from 6 Airldg Bde to be ready to move from 1400 hrs tomorrow.

10th April 1945

1500 - The Regt moved with 6 Bde into action in Hertlingen.

1800 - 210-278317; 211-277323; 212-276320; RHQ-274313.

11th April 1945

1200 - 212 Bty came out of action and moved to Stellingen 2829 at 1500 hrs.

1730 - 211 moved to Stellingen in action at 280297.

1830 - 210 and RHQ moved to Stellingen.

1940 - HQRA gave permission for all guns to come out of action.  RHQ-289298.

12th April 1945

Maintenance and cleaning.

1130 - The GOC inspected 210 Bty informally.

1200 - 212 Bty ordered to move in sp of Cdn Para Bn to clear the woods on the way to Wickenburg 4250.  Appx B.

13th April 1945

211 Bty at 2 hours notice to move in sp of 1 RUR to clear woods behind 11 Armd Div advance to W of Celle.  Not required.

14th April 1945

1200 - Moved with 6 Bde to 6354.  Out of action.

15th April 1945

1400 - The Regt moved up 6 Bde axis to Uelzen.

2000 - Regt in action area Standemun.  RHQ-899793; 210-894793; 211-895790; 212-893793.

1400 - The Regt moved off up the axis with 6 Airldg Bde who took up posns SE of Uelzen.

2045 - Regt in action.  210-895793; 211-895788; 212-894788; RHQ-899792.

16th April 1945

1300 - 210 Bty moved to 920898.

1515 - 210 Bty ready; 211 and 212 moved to 920826 and      respectively.  A considerable of red smoke was fired from this posn for Typhoons at 1830.

2100 - The Regt moved to posns in the N of       210-955857; 211-956856; 212-958857; RHQ-956853.  Also in sp 6 Fd Regt and 25 Fd Regt.

17th April 1945

1400 - 210 Bty moved to Ratzlingen.

1500 - 210 Bty ready.  212 moved up to the area.

1830 - The CO ordered 210 and 212 Btys to move to the SE side of Ratzlingen to sp an attack towards Rosche in the morning.

2000 - The Regt reported ready in its new posns:- 210-981904; 211-982903; 212-983907; RHQ-972907 unmoved.

2045 - Capt DK Thomas RA ex POW returned.

18th April 1945

1115 - CO ordered recce parties to Rosche.

1150 - 210 Bty moved to Rosche and were shelled by an SP as soon as they were in posn.  2 men were slightly wounded.  211 and 212 posns were being shelled too heavily to let them occupy them so both Btys returned to their old posns at Ratzlingen.

1710 - Recce parties went to the area between Rosche and Nateln.  The Regt moved by Btys to this area between 1830 and 2030 hrs.

2030 - Regt ready in posns:- 210-028904; 211-030917; 212-034917; RHQ-034903.  There was considerable SP fire in the morning and early afternoon.  63 Med Regt fired several bombards and through us on to posns given by the CMO.

19th April 1945

Considerable patrol activity during the night and further patrolling went on all day.  Appx C, D, E.

1100 - No firing on any part of the front unless called for by the FOOs with patrols.

2000 - Capt OE Brownlow-Wray was wounded on patrol with 1 RUR at 075913.  Capt Tweedle took his place.

20th April 1945

Night patrols as last night.  Offensive patrolling all day.  All shooting was controlled by the FOOs with the patrols.  Yesterdays shoot on      (see appx) induced the defenders to give themselves up.  Local OP 040900 reported movement towards south all day.  Most of it turned out to be AARR investigating.

21st April 1945

0530 - Night patrols as last night, nothing fresh reported.  Americans took over Katzien from 52 LI; Rosche from 12 Devons and Tegendorf from 1 RUR.  The Bde was in reserve in the same villages.  The only firing was from the local OP as blind firing was forbidden by HQ RA on account of the Americans patrolling.

22nd April 1945

The Americans advanced on the whole Bde front at first light.

1305 - CO asked for Regt to come out of action as Americans had advanced beyond our range.  CRA refused permission in case of an emergency.  OPs remained with inf.

23rd April 1945

FLR NTR.

0915 - HQRA ordered the Regt out of action.  See RA 6 A/B Div.

1120 - The Regt moved to a harbour area at Nattendorf 8301; RHQ-845017.  Mov Order No 5.

24th to 27th April 1945

Maintenance and cleaning of vehicles.

28th April 1945

Loading and unloading of assault craft drill practiced.

29th April 1945

Maintenance and preparation for tomorrow's crossing of the river ELBE.  See RA 6 A/B Div Admin Instr No 4.

30th April 1945

0645 - Regt moved to staging area at HOLZEN 9019.

2000 - The Regt crossed the ELBE seven hours later than had been expected and came into action at 2300 hrs.  210-882383; 211-879383; 212-888391; RHQ-888390.

Month and year : May 1945

Commanding Officer : Lt Col R.A. Eden DSO, RA

1st May 1945

0530 - Recce parties set off to recce the area W of Nostorf 9438.  RA 6 A/B Div OO No 14.

0900 - The Regt moved into posns keeping 2 btys in action during the whole move.

1215 - All Batteries in action and ready on a regtl grid.  210-933387; 211-938384; 212-936385; RHQ-932379.

1300 - 212 moved to sp AA RA advance to Buchen 9246 and Fitgen 9348.  No firing.

2nd May 1945

0430 - Recce parties went to area 9940 on the tail of the first Bn.  The first Bn went to Grasse 0041 and the second to Schwastow 0039.  The area was found clear and the regt moved into it at 0820 hrs.

0700 - 3 Para Bde reported to be on today's objective - Wittenburg 2151.  Given permission to go on further.

1145 - Regt ready on regtl grid 210-993398; 211-996401; 212-997404; RHQ-992391.

1200 - 3 Para Bde on the Div's final objective for the op - WISMAR 4594.

1630 - 6 Airldg Bde left for Wismar, 100 of each Bn travelling on their bty's tpt.  The CL ran through Wittenburg, Lutzow 2867 and Gadebusch 2872.  210 with 12 Devons, 211 with 52 LI,  212 with RUR.

3rd May 1945

0200 - Regt after debussing the inf went to harbour for the rest of the night.  210 and 211 in Grapenstau 4286; 212 and RHQ in Scharstorf 4288.

0900 - Recce parties to 4783.  Going into action as a precaution against the Germans, between the Russians and ourselves, deciding to make a last stand.

1215 - The regt moved into action - 210-477839; 211-471834; 212 and RHQ at 471837.  Nothing to report except the surrender of a German Div to the Bde.

4th May 1945

0530 - 6 Airldg Bde gave permission for the regt to come out of action.

1630 - HQRA ordered us to move out of action to the area of DAMBECK 4092.  211 went to Drispeth 4181 and 212 to Rostorf 4284.  210 and RHQ remained in Dambeck.

5th to 15th May 1945

Maintenance, cleaning and rest.  6 Air Div RA Adm Instr No 5.

16th May 1945

0930 - The regt moved to Luneburg in two parties.  One an airlift to fly to England, the other on the vehs, comprising 2 men per veh.

1630 - Regt arrived at Luneburg and went to area 7514 for the night.

17th May 1945

0730 - Airlift left Luneburg airfd in parties of 20 in Dakotas for Brussels.

0900 - Veh party left to go to Sulingen W 7254 via Soltan X 4189.

1630 - Arrival at Sulingen (80 miles).  Airlift changes planes at Brussels and flew to Cilebolton aerodrome, arriving at 1400 hrs.

1500 - First party arrived at Bulford.

18th May 1945

0800 - Vehs left Sulingen and went via Xanton Bridge to Geldern, arriving at 1800 hrs (165 miles).

19th May 1945

0730 - Party left Geldern for Louvain.

1630 - Arrival Louvain (135 miles).

20th May 1945

0820 - Final stage of journey via Ghent to Ostend.

1530 - Arrived III Transit Camp, Ostend.

21st May 1945

0740 - 17 trucks of RHQ left for the docks.

1200 - RHQ sailed for TILBURY.

22nd May 1945

1500 - Remaining vehs left Ostend for Calais.

1900 - Arrived at Calais and embarked.

1930 - RHQ party arrived at Bulford.

23rd May 1945

1900 - All vehs back at Bulford.

Appx D

NOT TO BE TAKEN INTO THE AIR

53 (WY) Airldg Lt Regt RA OO No 1

VARSITY-PLUNDER

Copy No 31

19 Mar 45

INFM

See RA 6 Airborne Div OO No 7 (1 copy only to each Bty).

1.  Enemy (items extra to infm from 'I' summaries)

Remnants of 24 divs crossed the Rhine after battles WEST of it but their average cas were 5000 per div which is more than 2/3 as the fighting str of the German div is only 7000.  Morale is now so badly undermined that many docs refer to deserter stragglers and there are many slogans of encouragement posted about even on vehs.  Minefields are only expected round HAMMINKELN.

2.  Own Tps (items extra to RA OO No 7)

        (a) General.  The object is to isolate the RUHR by outflanking it along the northern plain.

        (b) RAF.  There are two visual control posts which operate the quickest method of sp from the cab rank.

        (c) Glider Pilots.  (Comd Maj TLJ Toler)

                Tasks - 1.  Clear the Bty areas together with Bty recce gps.

                2.  Form two standing patrols each 20 strong as escort to the local OPs under Major Bartlett.

                3.  Pls with 211 Bty local defence of 211 area and guard for civilian centre until relieved by 7 Para Bn when they form local reserve in area 212 BHQ 191486.

                4.  Pls with 212 Bty local defence of 212 area and guard for civ centre.

                5.  Pilots with bulk loaded and 25 pr gliders (4 Hamilcars, 3 Horsas) guard them until arrival of jeeps.  These glider tails are painted yellow.

                        Note:- 3 and 4 above will patrol EAST as far as pylons.

        (d) 4.2 Mortar Pl of C Sqn Recce Regt.  (Comd Capt O'Hanlon)  Mortar posn: orchard 195486; alternatively SOUTH edge of hedge 193487.

INTENTION

3.     (a) One section close sp of one Coy 12 Devons in clearing Div Tps LZ and Div HQ area 189479.

        (b) One Bty 12 x 75mm in sp 5 Para Bde; one Bty in sp 6 A/L Bde; both Btys with primary task DF fire.

        (c) Regt secondary role sp 3 Para Bde.

METHOD

4.  Move from glider to gun posns with only dvrs and R/T ops mounted.

5.  RVs on landing:-

        (a) 211 Bty area EAST of lone clump of trees 185486.

        (b) RHQ and 212 Bty X tracks 187485.

6.  R Xn A Tp (Capt B Godfrey i/c) from 211 Bty join coy 12 Devons immediately on landing.  Sp one coy 12 Devons with direct or semi-direct fire and join 211 Bty on release by coy comd.

7.  OPs normal with extra:-

        (a) Local OP from 211 with Glider Pilot escort of 20 men in area farm 180486; senior offr in Bty gun area responsible.

        (b) Similar from 212 area farm 182482.

        (c) Regt OP from 211 copse astride rly 168491 escorted by one Pl 7 Para Bn to be on Regt net.  OP offr to report to RHQ for orders on arrival of Bty in gun area.  BCs are also responsible for all FOU OPs in their own section.

8.  Gun areas:-

        RHQ farm in orchard 19054870.

        211 Bty farm 187486

        C Tp Depression 185491

        D Tp Fields NW of BHQ 186487

        212 BHQ farm 191486

        E Tp Field between 2 orchard belts 192484

        F Tp Field NE of VIXEN 191483.

Each gun will dig alternative site to cover blind part of 360 dgs arc immediately permanent pit is finished.

9.  Method of Occupation

By Btys.  Bty 'G' parties seize and occupy gun areas in conjunction with glider pilots - guns in visual touch behind.  Any opposition will be engaged primarily with guns (firing gun control unless otherwise ordered; secondarily with PIATs).

10.   (a) Reg ZL - Grid North.

        (b) Zones of observation:-

                Btys on Bde fronts as and when required by Bde Comds.

                Regt OP at copse 168491; NW along rly line and EAST along WEST flank of wood 169495.

        (c) Zones of fire:-

                Primary areas: 211 Bty Bgs 290 dgs - 45 dgs.

                                       212 Bty Bgs 35 dgs - 100 dgs.

11.  Registration - as per RA OO No 7.

12.  Types of Fire.

        (a) DF - as per RA OO No 7 Appx C and Trace F.

        (b) Harassing Fire - confined to scale 1 on suspected Mortar or Bty posns; BCs or OPs may fire the reglt scale 1 as a normal counter measure to HM or HB activity.  If posn is unknown the most likely posn (from the map) in the particular HM or HB area must be engaged scale 1 from all available guns in the Regt.

13.  Amn.

        (a) Restrictions not to reduce less than 100 rpg without ref to RHQ.  Emergency reserve 60 rpg.

        (b) Special shell - coloured smoke will be fired 20" interval by one gun (increasing to 30" if good conditions) for 3 mins when ordered to indicate a tgt.  If aircraft not in vicinity and ETA is ordered tgt will be indicated for 2 mins before and 3 mins after ETA.

        (c) Bulk loaded amn together with 25 pr guns will be fetched soonest with all available jeeps and amn numbers.  211 Bty responsible for bulk Horsa.

15.  Survey

        Regt grid.  Local mag var 5 dgs 38 mins W.

16.  Demolition

Each GPO will report to RHQ the necessity or otherwise of demolishing the pylons and which ones required removing.  Bty demolition parties will NOT blow without ref to RHQ.

ADMN

17.  Amn Pt - area down rly 1000 yds SOUTH of Div HQ.  Resupply 160 rpg per day.

18.  RAP - Barn in area 212 BHQ 191486.

19.  Traffic Control - vehs or personnel moving about the regt area for any purpose whatsoever will keep to rigid tracks or paths and avoid any open ground operationally necessary.

20.  Civilians - All civs will be disarmed and centralised by Btys to ensure that no one leaves the area at any time.  Glider pilots are providing guards but each Bty is responsible for civs in its own area.

21.  Div Pool - Each bty will reserve 10 jeeps and trailers for Div tpt pool.

22.  Supply drops expected: 1st - P plus 45 min 150 tins.  On D plus 1 2 days resupply equals 450 tons.  DZ area SOUTH of Div HQ.

23.  See RA 6 Airborne Div Adm Instr No 2 (1 copy to each Bty).

INTERCOMN

24.  Code Names (for each reference only)

        Copse 186493 Preston

        Copse 185484 Bunty

        Copse 189481 Vixen

25.  LO

        212 Bty will reserve one offr to act as Div RA LO with Arty HQ 17 US Div.  R/T set probably provided by HQ RA.

26.  Netting

        On landing each set will immediately call up control and senior set in action will assume control on respective nets.

(SD) AE LEAF Capt RA

for Lt Col RA

Comd 53 (WY) Air Landing Light Regt RA

Appx

Appx A

Regtl Fire Plan OP FRIGATE in sp 6 Airldg Bde 8 Apr 45 H hr 1130 B

OP FRIGATE - DF at call

Appx B

REPORT ON DRILL ORDER (212 Airldg Lt Bty RA) 12 Apr 45.

1140 hrs.  Warned to move tp sp 1 Cdn Bn in wood clearing.

1245 hrs.  Bty moved to con area SCHEREN BOSTEL 3538.  Ops to contact 8 Para Bn at MELLENDORF 3540.

1400 hrs.  8 Para Bn HQ did not know location of CO or the two Coys out wood-clearing.

1600 hrs.  Bty moved forward to conc area MEITZE 3743.  BC contacted Bde Comd at 8 Bn HQ after searching area unsuccessfully for our inf.

1630 hrs.  Bty moved into action in square 4047.

1715 hrs.  Capt Tweedle contacted CO 8 Para Bn at 421493.  Coy held up by small arms fire from WIEKENBERG 4250.  Recce had reached posn at 405500 and a second coy from 8 Para Bn was advancing on WIEKENBERG from the east.  Our tps pinned down and suffering cas.  CO 8 Para Bn decided to withdraw fwd pl until en posn had been engaged by arty fire.

1800 hrs.  Capt Tweedle est OP at 422495 and engaged houses at 425507 with the bty.  The OP was sniped continually.  15 rpg fired by obs in burst of 1 and 2 rds gf sweeping area.

1815 hrs.  By arrangement with 8 Para Bn CO coy advancing from East was halted and tgt was engaged for 5 mins (15 rds gf 20 secs).

1830 hrs.  Coy moved fwd from the East.

1840 hrs.  Coy with FOO moved in from South.  No opposition and all en fire had ceased.

2000 hrs.  Objective taken and village cleared.

2030 hrs.  Received orders from Bde Comd to return to billets.

2200 hrs.  Arrived back in STELINGEN.  No cas in bty.

E Troop OP Summary 12 Apr 45

1730 hrs.  Contacted OC 8 Para Bn at 421493.  One coy pinned down on rd running N into WIEKENBERG.  Asked for fire on houses and wood on S side of town.  Guns on move.  CO asked me to wait while he brought fwd tps back a little way.

1800 hrs.  Ranged on 44254506 and went to fire for effect, sweeping with the conc along front edge of the wood and town.  Observation difficult as a lot of sniping.

1830 hrs.  Gave "Stand Easy" to guns.  MG and SA fire had ceased.

1850 hrs.  Moved fwd with coy comd into village.

1900 hrs.  Objective taken.

(sd) NG Tweedle

Capt RA

Appx C

PATROL REPORT 18/19 Apr 45

12 Devon Patrol  To 067932 NTR.

52 LI Patrol  To Poloeu 0894.  At 077944 around track about a platoon of Germans were engaged with SA fire and grenades and finally stonked by 63 Med Regt.

1 RUR Patrol  At 2355 hrs 50 Germans and sound of veh engines 068908 were stonked by 63 Med Regt and 1 RUR mortars.  The same noise was heard again at 0140 hrs and again stonked as before.  After that nothing further was heard.

Appx D

PATROL REPORT 19 Apr 45

12 Devons  1. Rosche to Schwamlitz via Borg.  Borg reported clear but Schwamlitz heavily held.  210 Bty engaged 30 men at 027964.  The first round of gun fire sent them to ground so airburst was used.  Scale 6 was fired altogether, sweeping the area.

                   2. To Polali via 065944 and returning via 065937.  20 en reported at 052933 and Poloeu appeared clear from 076946 otherwise NTR.

1 RUR  1400 to 2130 hrs.  Patrol to investigate a report of an SP at 073903.  Patrol met posts of about 20 men at 075905, 074910, 075913, 075904, 073903, 063898.  All these were engaged by 212 Bty.

Appx E

PATROL REPORT 19/20 Apr 45

12 Devons

2200 hrs ) Patrol from Rosche to area 0692.

0200 hrs )

0030 to 0300 hrs.  Patrol to area 0691.

0100 to 0300 hrs.  Patrol to 065898.

1 RUR  Patrol along the front edge of the woods E of Tagendorf twice during the night.  Report nothing fresh from the afternoon's patrol.

Appx F

OP LOG

1 Apr 45

210 and 211 Btys OP.  NTR.

E Tp.  0900 hrs.  Lt Tweadle went to a local OP to engage an SP gun at 978926; results unknown.

          1330 hrs.  E OP engaged snipers, 40mms and an SP gun spread along the North Western side LADBERGEN with 212 Bty.  The shoot successfully neutralized the en of whom nothing further was seen in that part of the village.

          1800 hrs.  The OP, mobile in the eastern part of the village engaged an SP gun moving out of sight apparently along a rd to the east.

F. Tp.  NTR.

2 Apr 45

All OPs.  NTR.

3 Apr 45

A Tp OP.  1015 hrs.  Advancing on Osnabruck.  The OP engaged 20 inf in a house at 165075 with a sec of A Tp.  Nothing more than hits on house could be reported.

                 1315 hrs.  210 local OP engaged 160075.  10 - 88mm and 2 - 20 mm AA guns.  No damage to the eqpt was seen, but the guns were blown up during the night.

E Tp OP.  1730 hrs.  Engaged flak guns at 195096 with the Regt on demand from RHQ and 210 Bty who were being shelled by these guns.  The effect was neutralising, no visible effect was reported.

4 Apr 45

NTR.  All OPs in.

5 Apr 45

E Tp OP.  1800 hrs.  Fire plan on 826208 and 833208 successfully neutralised while 12 Devons crossed the river WESER in assault boats.

6 Apr 45

A Tp OP.  1115 hrs.  4 tanks at 892201 were engaged by 61 Med Regt, 63 Med, 6 Fd Regt and ourselves.  One was damaged.

B Tp OP.  1530 hrs.  4 tanks carrying prisoners were engaged as a M tgt at 870126.  An offr from 12 Devons on one of the tanks managed to escape as a result.

F Tp OP.  0700 hrs.  Bty fire plan at 878218 to help 1 RUR to get into    ; the village was successfully occupied.

                 2000 hrs.  Wireless comns had broken down and the OP offr motor cycled to Bde HQ with a tgt 882204 - en attempting to surround a coy posn.

7 Apr 45

Posn static.  Considerable en mov in woods S of Lahde was harassed at intervals during the day.

8 Apr 45

0900 hrs.  A fire plan was fired in sp of an attack to clear up the woods to the south.  See Appx for details.

10 Apr 45

Moving into action with 6 Airldg Bde.  NTR.

11 Apr 45

1800 hrs.  Moved out of action.  NTR.

12 Apr 45

See Appx.

13 and 14 Apr 45

Out of action.

15 Apr 45

NTR.

16 Apr 45

A Tp OP.  1005 hrs.  Fire a fire plan on Stederdorf 925835 to assist 12 Devons capturing the place.

B Tp OP.  1050 hrs.  M tgt on dug in posns at 948840.  As a result the en left the trenches and arms and eqpt and retreated E into which was taken a few minutes later.

E Tp OP.  1600 hrs.  In posn at 795684.

                 1800 hrs.  Fire a fire plan to get 1 RUR into the wood 795686.  Details:- stonk Axis 100º, 1 min rapid, 7 mins normal, 2 mins rapid.

F Tp OP.  2105 hrs.  Fire plan on 976883.

                 2115 hrs.  Lifted to 972886, in sp of 1 RUR attack on Hanstedt.

                 2140 hrs.  972886 engaged.  2 vehs moving away from a RUR patrol.  Repeated 5 mins later and 2 more vehs moved out.

17 Apr 45

A Tp OP.  1135 hrs.  The OP engaged a suspected 88mm dug in at 947927.  Hits on the diggins were recorded but nothing more could be seen.

C Tp OP.  1915 hrs.  Smoke screen laid down by a Bty of 6 Fd Regt to assist 52 LI into Kehlstorf 9885.  Inf reported it was extremely successful.

E Tp OP.  0845 hrs.  Inf in the area of 000888 were fired on by E Tp.  No results observed.

                 1100 hrs.  Regtl tgt on a digging party at the same place as above.

                 1245 hrs.  Airburst shoot with 212 on the same area.

                 1320 hrs.  Scale 3 from 212 on the same area.

                 1355 hrs.  Scale 1 from 212 on mov in the digging area.

                 1450 hrs.  Spasmodic HF in the same area while the inf prepare a patrol to mop it up.  1550 hrs.

                 1915 hrs.  M tgt on 000889 - automatic weapons harassing the patrol.  One multiple mortar projector was knocked out.

                 2040 hrs.  OP established at 000888.

                 2045 hrs.  Recce reported inf in woods 802688.  Taken on by 212 Bty.  1 A Tk gun KO'd.

                 2050 hrs.  Returned to original OP at 999888.

18 Apr 45

B Tp OP.  0700 hrs.  M tgt on a camp and SP guns at 037920.  Scale 7 with Scale 2 from one Bty on add to the congestion.  12 Devons moved to within 100 yds of the concentration, took 60 PW there and then captured the camp.  En cas - 7, own - NIL.

                 0735 hrs.  210 Bty tgt on a Neberlwerfer posn 038896, silenced the mortars.

E Tp OP.  805691.  NTR.

F Tp OP.  0700 hrs.  Regtl conc 002893 as a preliminary to the inf attack to capture the village of Molbath.  1 Nebelwerfer on a tank chassis knocked out by our shooting.

                 0835 hrs.  Regtl conc on Malchau 006906 before the inf attacked and captured it intact.

                 0910 hrs.  OP at 038916 to register Tegendorf 053911; registered as M tgt.

                 0955 hrs.  Tegendorf stonked as RUR advanced, lifted 400 yds as inf got into the village.

                 1200 hrs.  OP established at 051909.

                 1210 hrs.  20 inf seen at 042895.  Regtl tgt on them started an AFV on them which disappeared into the wood 054801.

                 1230 hrs.  Further mov at 042895 re-engaged.  Nothing more seen in the area.

                 1445 hrs.  Demolition observed on a br 206º, probably Batensen br.

19 Apr 45

A Tp OP.  1500 hrs.  On patrol with 12 Devons to investigate 0296.  Found village firmly held and saw 20 plus inf walking about in the open at 028965.  Brought down scale 10 from 210 Bty, sweeping the area.  (Later it was discovered that the en there had surrendered on account of the accuracy and effect of the fire).

F Tp OP.  1630 hrs.  Set off with fighting patrol of 1 RUR.

                 1750 hrs.  Patrol pinned down at 073903 by SA fire.  Called for Bty tgt on 075904.  This was sufficiently effective for the patrol to get on.

20 Apr 45

F Tp OP.  0200 hrs.  A tracked veh heard at 070909 engaged by the Regt 2' rate 4 followed by 3' rate 3.  No further sound of the veh was heard.

                 0800 hrs.  5 inf engaged scale 3 with a tp at 073904.  Inf scattered under cover.  Nothing further seen.

22 Apr 45

1800 hrs.  All OPs in.