Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
---|---|
Location | Heitbrack 9295, Germany |
Entry | At first light the two fwd bns moved forward on their respective axes. The CAMERONIANS on the LEFT encountered no opposition until they reach the outskirts of BLECKEDE 0026, at approx 0930 hrs, opposition was strong. 5 ESSEX on the right advanced much slower encountering opposition from snipers and small groups of Germans armed with "BAZOOKAS", and other light A/T weapons. 1200: The C.O. was ordered by the Brigadier to move the Bn up on to the RIGHT flank of the 2 CAMERONIANS, and to clear the area up to ALT WENDISCTHON 0125 and Rd JUNC 0224. 1400: The battalion left concentration area in M.T., and moved up as far as ELLRINGEN 9818 where it debussed. B Coy moved off to ALT WENDISCHTHON 0125 and A Coy to the X Rds. When the village of NIENDORF 010225 was reported clear by the forward company the C.O. concentrated the remainder of the battalion in that area. 6 P.W's all MARINES surrendered themselves to the C.O. on the move up. A Coy secured the RD JUNC without opposition, but B Coy encountered some opposition in ALT WENDISCHTHON but the village was speadily cleared. In the meantime the 2 CAMERONIANS had encountered considerable opposition in BLECKEDE 0026 from very determined MARINES, and could advance no further at the moment. Therefore as a preparation for an attack on the town at DAWN the following morning, the C.O. was ordered to seize the village of ESTORF. B Coy was ordered to carry out this task, confused fighting went on after dark against determined resistance from an assortment of German tps, but the village was eventually cleared and set ablaze. While all this was going on, a patrol from B Coy led by SGT LEON penetrated right into BLECKEDE 0026 and heavily shot up German tps before withdrawing. When the village of ESTORF had been cleared, the C.O. withdrew B Coy into the Western end of ALT-WENDISCHTHON. In this operation B Coy suffered 9 casualties, 1 killed and 8 wounded, including 1 Officer. Approx 60 P.Ws were taken, and it is estimated that between 30-40 Germans, were either killed or wounded. |
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