| HOLSBEEK | 1 | Location of RHQ 891615 | ||
| HOLSBEEK | Location of 53 Bty 905620 | |||
| MAASBREE | Location of 54 Bty 825079 | |||
| HOLSBEEK | Location of 12 Corps S Rg Tp HQ 907621 | |||
| day 1 | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A. NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp : visibility prevented any observation from 1530 hrs to 1630 hrs, | ||||
| otherwise base fully manned; list of possible enemy OPs Completed and | ||||
| sent to CBO and 10 Svy Regt RA : enemy gun activity NIL | ||||
| S Rg : 2 periods of activity, 1045A to 1715A, 5 shelreps from guns | ||||
| reported as heavy, and 1650A to 1715A, producing 8 shelreps reported as | ||||
| several Fd; no locations obtained ; series of explosions reported 95o | ||||
| at 1650A | ||||
| Svy : O/A :NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp : O/A. NTR | ||||
| 1/2 | Night 1/2 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A. NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 1/2 | 54 Bty | |||
| F Sp ) Both bases out of action 012230A on orders from CCRA 8 Corps | ||||
| S Rg ) | ||||
| Svy O/A NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 2 | Day 2 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 2/3 | Night 2/3 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 3 | Day 3 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| HOLSBEEK | F Sp ) advanced parties sent to HOLSBEEK rest area | |||
| S Rg ) | ||||
| Svy O/A NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 3/4 | Night 3/4 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 4 | Day 4 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| HOLSBEEK | 4 | 54 Bty BHQ location 890615 | ||
| F Sp Main body moved to rest area HOLSBEEK HQ 890618 | ||||
| S Rg Main body moved to rest area HOLSBEEK HQ 890620 | ||||
| Svy O/A NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 4/5 | Night 4/5 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 5 | Day 5 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, O/A NTR | ||||
| 5/6 | Night 5/6 53 Bty. | |||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 5/6 | 54 Bty. | |||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 6 | Day 6 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty. | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 6/7 | Night 6/7 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty. | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 7 | Day 7 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 7/8 | Night 7/8 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 8 | Day 8 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 8 | 12 Corps SRg Tp O/A NTR | |||
| 8/9 | Night 8/9 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps SRg Tp O/A NTR | ||||
| 9 | Day 9 | |||
| PANNINGEN | RHQ. CO on recce, with Tac HQ moving to Area PANNINGEN 7704 | |||
| 7704 | 53 Bty | |||
| FSp Recce party sent forward | ||||
| SRg | ||||
| Svy Recce party sent forward | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| Fsp Recce party forward | ||||
| SRg Recce party forward | ||||
| Svy Recce party forward | ||||
| 12 Corps Srg Tp Recce party forward | ||||
| 9/10 | Night 9/10 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| Fsp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 9/10 | Night 9/10 | |||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps SRg Tp. O/A NTR | ||||
| 10 | Day 10 | |||
| KASTENRAA | RHQ Tac. Now u/c 8 Corps. Holding Party moves to KASTENRAAR to recce | |||
| billets for assembly area for regiment (KASTENRAAR 8122). Meanwhile at | ||||
| main HQ at HOLSBEEK the regiment takes necessary srcurity precautions | ||||
| removing formation signs from vehicles, clothing, etc. Also completed | ||||
| second observation ladder on half - track vehicle. | ||||
| 53 Bty. Holding party KASTENRAAR. Recce area MARIENBAUM 0545. Main | ||||
| still at HOLSBEEK. | ||||
| SRg O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy See FSp | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) Recce In area XANTEN 1041 BIRTEN 1338 SONNSBECK 0535 area. | ||||
| SRg ) Holding party at KASTENRAAR. Main Body still at HOLSBEEK | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps SRg Tp. | ||||
| 10/11 | Night 10/11 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| FSp ) | ||||
| SRg ) O/A NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 10/11 | night 10/11 | |||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp ) | ||||
| S Rg ) O/A. NTR | ||||
| Svy ) | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp : O/A NTR | ||||
| 11 | day 11 | |||
| Kastenraa | 1600A | RHQ main : moved up to Tac RHQ at KASTENRAA X rds est HQ | ||
| 819227 | 53 Bty HQ | |||
| F SP : main body moved up to area KASTENRAA 8122 | ||||
| S Rg : tp moved to KASTENRAA | ||||
| Svy : tp moved to KASTENRAA | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp : moved to KASTENRAA | ||||
| S Rg : tp at KASTENRAA | ||||
| Svy : tp at KASTENRAA | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp : at KASTENRAA | ||||
| 11/12 | night 11/12 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp | ||||
| S Rg | ||||
| SONNSBECK | Svy : est RC at area SONNSBECK | |||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| 093421 | F Sp : deploying area XANTEN : tp HQ 093421 | |||
| 109396 | S Rg : deploying base roughly line of rly MARIENBAUM 0545 - XANTEN | |||
| Tp HQ : 109396 ; in action on 4 - 1 at 111810A | ||||
| 11/12 | night 11/12 | |||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| Svy : report centre being est 121200A | ||||
| 128351 | 12 Corps S Rg Tp, Nos 2 and 3 secs : 4 Pen deploying areas GINDERICH | |||
| 1739 and GIEST 1837 : tp HQ 128351 | ||||
| 12 | day 12 | |||
| LABBECK | RHQ : tac HQ in LABBECK mr 063393 ; main still ar KASTENBREE | |||
| 53 Bty HQ 028437 | ||||
| 031421 | F Sp : undertaking close obs by day ; HQ 031421 | |||
| 005419 | S Rg : held in reserve ; recced hide at 005419 | |||
| 025425 | Svy : closing section report centre at 121800A and opening as permanent | |||
| report centre at 025425 : BPs fixed, 3 | ||||
| 54 Bty HQ : under comd 54 Bty, "B" Obs Tp 10 Svy Regt in action base E | ||||
| Post 189333 ( F Sp and closed obs ) : F Post 177358 ( F Sp and close obs ) ; | ||||
| G Post 172392 ( F Sp and close obs ) | ||||
| F Sp : to be in action evening 12 Mar, base now manned by Cnd Obs Tp | ||||
| S Rg : tp in action on 4 left - hand mikes and 1 Ap ; will complete base | ||||
| by evening 12 Mar ; complete base will be M1 149356 M6 082425 ; AP "P" | ||||
| 151382 : AP "Q" 112423 | ||||
| 097381 | Svy : svy report centre opened 121200A at 097381 | |||
| 130352 | 12 Corps S Rg Tp : tp HQ 130352 est at 121200A ; svy report centre same | |||
| location ; svy of bases almost complete ; No 2 sec deployed HQ 167378, | ||||
| AP 171402 M1 180377 M4 150380 | ||||
| 181353 | No 3 section deployed HQ 181353 AP 198388 M1 182347 M4 179381 | |||
| 12/13 | night 12/13 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp : recce for close obs posns in area GINDERICH - VYNEN carried out ; | ||||
| VYNEN Ch (0846) to be completed during daylight : OP of 10 Svy | ||||
| GINDERICH Ch covers area centre 2042 | ||||
| S Rg | ||||
| Svy : 8 BPs fixed during day and evening 12 Mar and list of BPs already | ||||
| est obtained from 2nd Cnd Svy Regt : 186 Fd Regt RA supplied with data | ||||
| and data completed for 6 Fd Regt RA ; comns est with F Sp, BHQ and RHQ | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| 093421 | F Sp : HQ est at 093421 ; base lines completed and tp in action by | |||
| 121800A ; posts A 506025 545515 ( F Sp ) B 510007 544217 ( F Sp ) and | ||||
| ( close obs ) ; C 511270 541256 ( F Sp and close obs) D 512694 539811 | ||||
| ( F Sp and close obs ) ; results during night - 2 HBs, 3 int reps, 4 | ||||
| shelreps ; comns good | ||||
| 109396 | S Rg ; Op HQ 109396 tp rear HQ 055406 ; base in action on 6 and 2 : svy | |||
| completed : base M1 149356 M6 082425 ; AP "P" 151382 ; "Q" 112423 ; | ||||
| results - 7 HBs during night and 4 shelreps | ||||
| Svy : svy of S Rg base completed : 14 BPs provided in allotted area : | ||||
| smoke screen made difficulties in work | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp : No 2 sec AP line laid and completed by 122330hrs; | ||||
| quiet night ; No 3 sec : jeep blown up by Riegal mine, 4 casualties - | ||||
| Gnr HARWOOD killed, Gnr JARVIE died of wounds 13 Mar, Bdr MELVILLE and | ||||
| Gnr COOPER serious injuries : jeep written off. Under comd 10 Svy | ||||
| counter mortar - base M1 182347 M4 178379 AP 197368 ; in action ; | ||||
| report line comn est with B tp 7 Svy Regt at 122100A. | ||||
| 12/13 | "B" Tp 10 Svy Regt : in action | |||
| 13 | day 13 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. D post deployed as single OP during day, withdrawn at 1700A at | ||||
| VYNEM church 0846. Recce for short base at MARIENBAUM church completed | ||||
| and REs contacted ref construction of tower. Results of D Post - 12 | ||||
| Intelligence Reports | ||||
| S Rg. MARIENBAUM base recced M1 1034 4162 M6 0556 4580. Marked with | ||||
| banderole. | ||||
| Survey. Following regts on theatre grid : 59 Hy Regt RA, 67 Med Regt | ||||
| RA, 13 Med Regt RA, 79 Fd Regt RA, 186 Fd Regt RA, 80 Fd Regt RA, 6 Fd | ||||
| Regt RA. German Trig at 0835 found to be incorrect on trig list - true value 5 | ||||
| 508805.2 535125.1 | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. Lifting of smoke screen during afternoon gave OPs chance. 9 | ||||
| Int Reps were produced of infantry activity which in most cases was | ||||
| taken on by local gunners. Considerable enemy gun activity after | ||||
| lifting of smoke screen and road XANTEN - MARIENBAUM came in for | ||||
| more attention particularly Y junction 105418 and X rds 088432. Alter- | ||||
| native line routes recced and will be laid morning 14 Mar. | ||||
| S Rg. Increase in gun activity during day produced 11 locations average | ||||
| accuracy B. Troop waggon lines moved to 113391. Increased visibility | ||||
| confirmed that AP"Q" Has covered approach but that AP "P" has last 200x | ||||
| under obsn. "STOP" notice erected. AP "Q" disturbed at 1450 hrs by sudden | ||||
| arrival of shot down "squirt" jet plane ( probably ME 262 ) 100 metre | ||||
| NW of AP location. | ||||
| Survey. Special areas survry completed . " George " Radar, 79 Fd Regt | ||||
| RA and 25 Fd Regt RA and 65 med Regt RA supplied with theatre data. | ||||
| 13 | 12 Corps S Rg Tp. Survey of bases completed and both bases in action | |||
| Slight activity during day, no mortar activity. Survey : 16 BPs and | ||||
| points fixed during day and survey in allotted area complete | ||||
| No 2 section 10 Svy Regt. "B" Tp 10 Svy Regt : good visibility | ||||
| produced 12 Int reps including 50 infantry at 1435 hrs area 193417. These | ||||
| were dealt with by local gunner. 2 Shelreps obtained. | ||||
| LABBECK | RHQ Main RHQ joines Tac at LABBECK. Comns established to Btys and tps | |||
| and sigs centre to CBO 8 Corps. | ||||
| 13/14 | night 13/14 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. NTR | ||||
| S Rg. NTR | ||||
| Svy. NTR | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. Visibility poor throughout night. Results - nil HBs. 15 | ||||
| shelreps. Comns good. | ||||
| S Rg. 2 HBs, 17 shelreps, comns good. | ||||
| Svy. NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 2 section. Extremely quiet night, two films only | ||||
| run. Results NIL. AP report that enemy have been reported digging | ||||
| in. No 3 section : several enemy guns active from 2014A to 2100a. No | ||||
| locations obtained but 8 sound bearings obtained. No HB or HM activity | ||||
| from 132100A onwards. | ||||
| "B" Tp 10 Svy Regt RA - NTR | ||||
| 14 | day 14 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. OPs deployed. D Post at VYNEM ch ( 0846 ) and A Post at WARDT | ||||
| ch ( 1044 ). Results : Intreps, 4 : sound bearings, 8. Ground | ||||
| haze rendered visibility to between 1000x and 2000x for most part of day | ||||
| 14 | S Rg. NTR | |||
| Svy. 6 BPs fixed. All Canadian BPs checked and found correct. | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. Close obs impossible due to poor visibility preventing OPs | ||||
| from seeing any part of the river. Zone of obs of OPs increased as | ||||
| follows : A 35 - 145o , B 355 - 136o , C 10 - 110o , D 00 - 120o , Shel- | ||||
| reps produced - 6. | ||||
| S Rg. Enemy activity considerably less than preceeding 24 hours. | ||||
| Main activity AA but two HBs active at 1141 and 1258. Using | ||||
| experimental mike on base. | ||||
| Survry. 3 BPs fixed, | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp . Little activity. Nil HBs. 8 BPs fixed. Data | ||||
| issued to 534 Hy Regt RA, 81 Fd Regt RA and Radar. | ||||
| No 2 section 10 Svy Regt. One HB location | ||||
| 14/15 | "B" Tp 10 Svy. NTR | |||
| night 14/15 | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F SP, S Rg, Svy : NTR | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp : only 2 shelreps reporting during night | ||||
| S Rg : 18 HBs - all AA except 2 ; comns good. | ||||
| Svy : NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp. No 2 section : no locations obtained ; film | ||||
| complicated by aircraft and our arty activity ; AP line cut by shell | ||||
| fire at 2204 - restored by 0034 hrs . No 3 section ; no activity | ||||
| No 2 section / 10 svy Regt : no activity | ||||
| "B" Tp 10 Svy Regt RA : 5 shelreps | ||||
| 15 | day 15 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| WARDT | F Sp. Close obs OPs manned at WARDT and VYNEM churches with "I" Posr | |||
| VYNEM | manning additional post at 0786 4890. REs completed erection of | |||
| tower at 061443 and B post personnel are finishing off cabin construction. | ||||
| Good visibility during day resulted in 25 Intreps being produced. Also | ||||
| 1 shelrep. | ||||
| S Rg : NTR | ||||
| Survey : 4 BPs fixed. Survey of MARIENBAUM base ( C Tp ) completed | ||||
| 72 Med Regt supplied with data. | ||||
| 114380 | 54 Bty HQ est 114380. Efforts made to evict HQ from billets resisted | |||
| vigorously. | ||||
| F Sp : improved visibility from 1400A gave D post a chance to see something of | ||||
| what goes on across the water. Total of 11 Intreps were produced - the | ||||
| majority covering infantry activity. C Post reported BISLICH church well | ||||
| and truly hit and at 1815 hrs it collapsed. Shelreps 3. | ||||
| 113358 | S Rg. Quiet day with only 1 location. A number of films were run by | |||
| Q on suspicion, but the gun or guns were inaudible. Tp main now at 113358. | ||||
| Survey : 2 further BPs produced in special area. | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, No 2 section. One location obtained. Little | ||||
| activity. New AP line laid on alternative route avoiding village. | ||||
| No 3 section. No enemy HB or HM activity during day. Lines to two | ||||
| mics o/a for one hour due to activities of bulldozer. In action by | ||||
| 1520A. Svy : fixed 5 BPs and issued data to 77 Med Regt RA. | ||||
| No 2 section / 10 Svy Regt. No HM activity - little HB activity. Nil | ||||
| HBs, 3 shelreps. | ||||
| B Tp, 10 Svy Regt : 11 intreps, mainly covering infantry activity, were submitted | ||||
| and 7 shelreps. | ||||
| 15/16 | night 15/16 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F Sp. S Rg, Svy : NTR | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F Sp : 1 location ; visibility NIL from 0045 hrs. | ||||
| S Rg : 3 HBs and 5 activities reported | ||||
| Svy NTR | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp, No 2 section : marked enemy arty activity 1830A to | ||||
| 2000A and 2300A to 0130A resulted in 14 Locations being obtained during | ||||
| periods. Rest of night quiet. 1 Intrep, 1 shelrep. | ||||
| No 3 section : enemy active at frequent intervals during night. 3 guns | ||||
| and 2 mortars located, 7 shelreps. Base out of action for one hour, | ||||
| 151600A to 151700A due to broken lines | ||||
| No 2 sections / 10 Svy Regt : NTR | ||||
| B Tp 10 Svy Regt : 5 int reps and 30 shelreps | ||||
| 16 | day 16 | |||
| F Sp, B Post tower completed at 061443. Three pos |