EXTRACT FROM 5/7TH GORDONS WAR DIARY
24th March. Daylight found the battalion with its task accomplished, and firmly settled on its objectives, but very much over-looked by the enemy entrenched on the eastern side of the river. The 'island' was extremely flat and bare and the enemy snipers were quickly active. No movement was possible and the area occupied by the forward coys, and even Bn H.Q. at 'van Willishof' was under direct observation and fire from the enemy.
During the afternoon the C.O. received orders from Bde, over the wireless, that the battalion was to cross the river during the night. The arrangements for the attack whereby made with difficulty, for wireless remained the only means of communication available,. It was possible for the Coy Comds to move from their areas back to Bn HQ, and a smoke screen to assist them to move took two hours to bring down. It was dark before the last member of the 'O' Group arrived at Bn HQ.
At 2300 hours the assault boats were taken by the carrier platoon to the selected crossing place at 095582. zero hour for the attack had to be postponed, however, owing to some difficulty concerning the artillery plan and it was 0115 hours before the first platoon of 'A' Coy, which was leading the assault, entered the water. They were met by concentred fire from many machine guns , for the enemy were obviously well prepared for this move and the bright moonlight was an advantage to them. 'A' Coy commander became a casualty and was evacuated and the leading platoon, after having several men killed and wounded were pinned down and unable to move.
Casualties :-
Captain A.E. McIntosh wounded,
Other ranks - 2 killed, 15 wounded.
25th March. Eventually it was decided to call off the attack. 'A' Coy was withdrawn back to its original position. The company was re-organised by Lieut. Fisher, one of the platoon commanders.
Ammunition, food and water were taken up to the forward coys while darkness remained. When daylight came the enemy renewed his sniping activities with even more intensity than the previous day. The slightest movement brought down Spandau fire from several points and some casualties were caused during the day.
At 1330 hours the C.O. returned across the RHINE to the west bank to attend a conference at Bde HQ. Plans were made for the battalion to undertake a second crossing of the river, this time by the bridge in front of 'C' Coy at 085525. 5B.W., who were already in the south-east parts of REES, were to capture and hold the east bank of the river in front of 'C' coy, thus enabling 5/7 Gordons to cross without having to make an assault.
Casualties :- Other ranks - 2 killed, 5 wounded and 1 missing.
26th March. This time the operation was a complete success. Zero hour was fixed at mid-night, and the two leading coys, 'C' on the left with the farm 092527 as its objective, and 'D' on the right clearing the river bank and making its objective the farm at 094521, were both able to report themselves form by 0115 hours. The next move was made by 'B' coy who advanced through 'D', clearing the bank and making the farm at 100524 its ultimate objective. Slightly more opposition was encountered during this phase, but it was successfully liquidated and 'B' Coy had completed its task by 0400 hours. At daylight 'A' Coy, which had been left in the rear at Gr.Sandenhof, to prevent enemy infiltrating across the river, moved across to the east bank via the bridge at 101518 making contact with 'B' Coy and finally occupying the farm at 106523.
The day passed fairly quietly in the new positions. Some patrols were sent out by the coys and one patrol contacted an enemy patrol near the hospital at 101537. A few enemy deserters came in to surrender during the day and number of Russian and Polish civilians who had been forced to work at nearby farms, came to seek refuge with us.
History Section Reference :
Rhine Crossing
Museum Reference :
Documents - Rhine Crossing