Rhine Crossing
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| Royal Artillery Battalion - © IMW B 15767 |
March 1945
In preparation for the Rhine crossing the Division moved to a concentration area in Roermond and Nijmegen Here there was time for relaxation, reunions and several beating retreats took place. The Northants Yeomanry who had been away carrying out amphibious training with their Buffalo (amphibious armoured vehicles) rejoined the Division.
The Operation to cross the Rhine was to be called Operation Plunder. In preparation for the operation "Notes on Town Clearing", written by Lt Col JA Grant-Peterkin, Commanding 1 Gordons, were issued by HQ 30 Corps.
Briefings for the Division on the 9th and 11th March were followed by a rehearsal for the Rhine crossing on the River Mass on the 14th March.
The Plan
The Plan for Operation Plunder was to cross on a two corps front with 51st Highland division on the left leading 30 Corps. The Divisional objectives on the other side of the Rhine were Honnepel and Rees. The order for the crossing would be 154 Brigade left, 153 Brigade right and then 152 Brigade behind 153 Brigade.
Extracts from 51 (H) Div planning notes No. 3 Operation Plunder
The crossing on the 23rd March was preceded by a huge preliminary bombardment which commenced at 1700hrs while smoke generators were used to screen the river.
An account of the initial crossing from Trooper Albert Bellamy - published in his local newspaper
The Divisional crossing began at 2100hrs. The time taken to cross the River was little more than two and a half minutes but it seemed longer to the exposed troops. Never the less the lead battalions of 154 Brigade crossed with few casualties and secured their initial objectives but their third battalion, 1 Black Watch, met very stiff resistance but by dawn had advanced to Speldrop.
154 Brigade Operations - extract from 154 Brigade history
On the right 153 Brigade's leading battalions crossed and established a bridgehead either side of Rees, although 5/7th Gordons on the right having crossed the Rhine were caught in the island formed by the Alter Rhine and pinned down. 1 Gordons in depth were committed to clearing through Rees.
Just before midnight 152 Brigade began crossing. Advancing on Mittenburg they were held up by an antitank ditch. Their third battalion, the 5th Seaforths, were slow to cross as craft were now limited as a result of losses but they crossed at dawn and moved up to Esserden under heavy shelling.
The Germans now reinforced the 8th Parachute Division in the Divisional sector with 15th Panzer Grenadier Division. 1 Black Watch were forced out of Kleinesserden and 154 brigade withstood a number of counterattacks. 152 Brigade also had to withstand these counter attacks but, assisted by a squadron of Staffordshire Yeomanry, they managed to cross the antitank ditch that had held them up. Middleburg and Groin were taken and Rees cleared.
Extracts from 51st HD newsletter - PIOBAIREACHD.
The breakout now commenced with the Division pushing northeast to Anholt and Isselburg.
On 31 March the Commandeer of the 2nd Army wrote to the Division:
"Now that the Battle of the Rhine has been won, and the breakout from the bridgehead is well under way, I would like to give you and your magnificent Division my very sincere congratulations. Yours was one of the two divisions which carried out the assault across the river, defeated the enemy on the other side, and paved the way for all that followed. A great achievement - and I am sure you will all be very proud of it."
Sadly, among the casualties was the divisional commander, Major General T. G. Rennie, CB., D.S.O., M.B.E., was killed by a shell.
Appreciation of Major General T.G.Rennie, C.B., D.S.O., M.B.E.