My life in an armoured regiment, 1945 – Tony Booth, Formerly 4th Hussars and RTR.
ON GERMAN SOIL
In early February 1945, we were briefed on Operation Veritable to clear the Germans out of the land that lies between the Rivers Mass and Rhine as we were to become a part of General Crerar’s 1st Canadian Army. We were loaded into transporters and moved up to tile Dutch Town Nijmegen, the snow had now gone and rain with glutinous mud became the main problem to our advance.
Nijmegen was a salient into German-held Dutch ground and it was to be the starting point for the next part of our operation. We refuelled and were given extra Jerry cans of fuel to carry on our backs as refuelling could be difficult however, I was not keen on carrying cans of petrol on the back of the Kangaroo and soon as possible topped up the vehicle and dumped the remainder. Churchill gun tanks lead the way into the tow of Kleve where we lost one Kangaroo hit by an armoured piercing shell. Vicious enemy shelling continued and on one such barrage, we lost two Officers and one Sgt whilst in our harbour area.
Kleve fell and we were briefed to attack the fortress town of Goch, it was here we picked up the Kings Own Scottish Borderer’s and carried out a night attack into the town. Our troop Leader Captain Matthews formed us up and we went at night over the anti-tank ditch into the town. the infantry jumping off our vehicles into hand to hand fighting, it was this action that led to the fall of Goch, not without cost as Corporal Holmes was killed and four others wounded For this action Captain Matthews was awarded the Military Cross.
It was here that I was to take a Royal Artillery Spotter into an area near Bucholt where we took over a farmhouse and the Spotter was able to direct fire from his Battery of 25 Pounders onto the German pockets of resistance. Working in isolation like this was not easy as we provided protection for the Spotter and of course, the enemy was always on the lookout to stop him, so it was pleasing to get back among the troops.
It was about this time we heard that a squadron of CDL Grant tanks was to be reformed and I for one volunteered to join it, but typical of the army the reinforcements were flown out from the UK and took over the duties of CDL crews. It seemed to me that my years of training in CDL were wasted and alongside many we were not pleased. There were times when I found some of the tasks we were asked to do were inexpiable and it nearly gave me an early bath later in an action.
An example is on one attack on the German town of Calcar tanks and Kangaroos from the 1st Canadian Regiment and ourselves ran into an anti-tank screen of guns and Panzerfaust positions. We were ordered to drop the infantry and then were ordered to take the lead with only a 300 Browning machine gun to defend ourselves so it was hardly surprising that seven of our number were knocked out.
It was incidents like this that could have been avoided if only the link between infantry commanders and tankmen was understood. The only way you can deal with a determined infantry Panzerfaust position is tanks operating with infantry on foot where each can support the other.
On the attack on the German town Kelvelaer, I was the lead vehicle when we ran into heavy anti-tank fire, the infantry dismounted and moved into the town. I pulled alongside a house and offered machine gun support as the infantry moved into the town. I heard a dog barking and looking into the window I saw a large Springer Spaniel Dog chained up in the room. We had been warned that houses and dead Germans had been booby-trapped, so I smashed the window and went into the room. I cut the dogs lead and helped him through the window and put him into my Kangaroo, he was starving and very thirsty, so with a drink, and some army rations he quickly became a valued member of the crew. We called him panzer and within a few days, he was able to find my Kangaroo among all the others, not surprising as we had not bathed for weeks and our personal hygiene needed to be improved!
In the last few days of this operation, the Germans had evacuated the bulk of their troops via Rees,. but had heavy losses in the rearguard actions. However, our objective had been achieved and the allies stood poised on the River Rhine, ready to cross. In early March 1945, we returned to Eindhoven where our Kangaroos were to be refitted and we met up with Dutch friends. It was at this stage I decided to give my dog to the Dutch family that had befriended the crew, promising them I would be back for him later; if I had to go back into action I thought he could at least enjoy happy family life, although he was not too pleased when we prepared to leave and cross the Rhine.
It was at this stage the 52nd Independent Tank Squadron joined us as F Squadron and were equipped with Kangaroos. We were now a bit outfit three Squadrons of Kangaroos and one Squadron of CDL tanks and out of the blue, I was promoted Corporal and was to command my own armoured carrier the Kangaroo.
THE RIVER RHINE
In Mid March 1945 we moved back into the Rees area and the CDL Squadron took up positions on the Rhine there we were informed we were to cross under darkness on floating rafts alongside the 11th RTR in their Buffalo’s. Fortunately, due to the hard work of the Assault Engineers, a long pontoon bridge was built and on my 22nd birthday, I crossed the Rhine on the pontoon bridge.
The river Rhine at Rees was very wide and as I approached this very narrow bridge I was told let the vehicle in front clear the next four boats before you cross. Our crossing was quiet and apart from the odd searchlight and burst of machine-gun fire, we crossed without any trouble with CDL tanks providing illumination and cover. Opposition was light and we were able to press inland with support from the County of London Yeomanry in their Sherman tanks, large numbers of Germans surrendered.
Demands for our service became more often as infantry commanders could see the benefit of our armoured carriers and at times we were like a taxi service on call at all times. Once the crossing was secure our role later was to move into north Holland and liberate the Dutch cities of Hengelo, Enschede and Borne, the population came out onto the streets to cheer us as we rolled by. It was my experience that the Dutch people had suffered the greatest under the control of the German invader and their pleasure at being
released from this tyranny was plain to see.
After the Dutch towns had been liberated it was our turn to operate in Germany again and our squadron was split into two and began operating in parallel routes often advancing 30 or 40 miles in anyone advance. It was at this time the Kangaroos with the support of gun tanks were able to make these fast advances and cause havoc in the back areas of the enemy.
On one such advance, we ran into trouble, the lead tank of the 13/15th Hussars was knocked out by a German Panther tank. and we hurried to get off the road before he took us on. Nearby was a large building and the column moved into its grounds. It turned out to be a Maternity Hospital so we cleared the building but leagued up on the grounds.
Towards late afternoon the Troop Sgt ordered me to shoot a section of infantry into a wood that was about 500 yards from our position. I asked him what I was going to use and why a gun tank had not been chosen, he informed me if I did not comply with this order he would charge me. I objected, but under protest, I moved into the centre of the Hospital drive and moved forward with the infantry advancing among the trees on my right. I saw the flash of the gun in the wood before I heard the bang and the bedding roll and camouflage netting on the rear of the Kangaroo caught fire. I ordered a bailout, and we left the vehicle in no time at all. The infantry section NCO said he was going back and I agreed and we made our way back to the Squadron.
The German gun did not fire again and I believe he thought he had knocked it out if it had been a gun tank the armoured piercing shell would have taken the turret off.
Our original Troop Sgt had been injured in the Ardennes offensive and it was his replacement who ordered me to carry out this task. Later that evening I walked out to the Kangaroo climbed over the side of it into the hull, I selected reverse engaged the clutch on allowed the engine on idle to slowly move back until I was able to turn. the vehicle round and rejoin the troop. The Sgt never mentioned the incident again and in my part, I kept out of his way but later it transpired he had been asked to help in getting this section into the wood by the Company Commander of the infantry regiment.
In the early morning, the next day Typhoons from the RAF attacked the wood with armoured piercing rockets and knocked out a Panther tank and some 88mm anti-tank guns. During this advance, we were carrying elements of the Wessex Infantry Division and you became very friendly with your passengers and often provided them with the heartening brew of tea and if possible the odd meal.
It was now mid-April 1945 and there seemed no let-up to the war and the Germans were using young boys (Hitler Youth) and old men to hold up our advance. On these long road marches a Kangaroo often led the way and we used to take turns we relied on the infantry inside to spot the German infantry who would try to knock us out with their handheld Bazooka anti-tank missile although at times if I thought they might be hiding at the side of the road I would have our machine gunner spray the areas as we moved forward.
Towards the end of one long march, we were leagued up as we were short of fuel and we had to wait for the regimental echelon to reach us with fuel, ammunition and rations. When we were replenished we moved onto the main road to Bremen and we moved on to attack the town. It was very difficult as we were now counterattacked as we tried to remain in the recently captured town of Alborn. A force of infantry supported by Tiger tanks attacked us and in the ensuing fighting three Kangaroos were damaged and the infantry fought hand to hand to repel this attack. It was these small pockets of resistance that dragged the war on in Europe for another few weeks and the roads were becoming full of refugees, many from the Concentration Camps that had been liberated by the Allies. German civilians added to the throng as they were leaving their areas in the east in an effort to get to the west away from the Russians.
Towards the end of April, we were ordered to attack Bremervorde with the Seaforth Highlanders and as we approached the town the enemy started to come out with their arms in the air. We disarmed them and they were sent to the rear, but the rest of them continued to hold us up with their sniping and Bazooka teams.
One night after a long exhausting day we leagued up in an old farmhouse and soon got a fire going with a brew of tea readily available, when there was a banging on the farmhouse door I opened the door and in front of me stood a six-foot German soldier. When he saw me he tried to get the rifle off his shoulder while I was trying to draw my pistol, it took ages it seemed and as the pistol cleared my holster the German turned and ran, I shouted to him to halt, when he didn’t I fired and he went down. I felt quite calm and walked over to him and to my surprise, he was alive and asking to surrender.
On examination later my bullet had struck his leather equipment and the bullet had not penetrated his tunic, so we took him in, gave him a cigarette and fed him before turning him over to headquarters; we were both lucky men.
Later on one of the long night moves we were using Artificial Moonlight, that is when searchlights are shone one low cloud so you could advance under cover of the night when our column was halted by a large explosion. We all stopped only to find out later the Germans were burying sea mines in the road and when exploded blew the vehicle to bits.
In daylight, you could see where the road had been dug, but at night it was not possible; I walked up to see what had happened only to find a Bren Gun Carrier towing a 17 pounder anti-tank gun had run over a sea mine. The explosion blew the carrier to bits including the crew, the gun was at the side of this large crater and its towing eye was cut as if a gas cutter had done the job, but the carrier and crew had been vaporised. I thought this was an awful thing to do as it gave no one a chance to survive and this stuck with me for a long time.
The next night as we were being refuelled the Squadron Quartermaster Sgt informed me I was to report back to Headquarters and a replacement NCO took my place. I asked what was the matter but was told I would be informed when I arrived, I wondered if the incident with the Troop Sgt was the reason for my recall or had I carried out some forgotten crime, but in the end, I felt sure it must be something to do with my family and that made me feel worse.
I presented. myself the Squadron Sgt Major SSM Henshaw a long served regular soldier who informed me the OC wanted to see me. Expecting the worst, I was marched “in to see Major Holloway who stood up and said, ‘your name has come out of the hat and you are to go on 7 days leave tomorrow well-done take what kit you want and you will be taken to the railhead in the morning and your leave will not start until you arrive in the UK’.
It was as if I had won first prize in a raffle and I left his office in a trance, my clothing was dirty and I needed, a bath, the SSM said don’t worry, you will get a bath and new clothes plus money in the Transit Camp at Calais and with that I was shown a B vehicle I could sleep in and my journey home as close by. There was a part of me that wanted to remain as I felt guilty leaving my crew before the job was done but the thought of being able to see my wife and newborn son soon made me see what a blessing this was.
The journey to Calais was a long one on a train with wooden seats, no glass in the windows and a journey of fifteen hours or more, but I didn’t care I was going home. It was funny hearing one man telling his story to all in the next carriage about the dangers he had faced while driving his Kangaroo, I could not take it anymore and when we stopped I went to see who it was only to find it was a man from the spare crews who was going home on compassionate leave and I knew for a fact he had never been in a Kangaroo let alone served in one when he saw me he shut up and kept out of my way for the rest of the journey.
