March the 5th 1945. Hi Forum, to continue the tales of long ago!

The company had to prepare for another bridging operation in conjunction with Guards Armoured div, the German anti tank ditches were quite a problem and slowed up the advance. Another section of the company bridged a huge crater on the Winnekendonk/Sonsbeck road.

While this was going on, in another dangerous operation, they removed 2 X 250 live booby trapped Bombs from the verge. Not funny under artillery fire! To keep the attack going they pushed on into the night, later a Kangeroo was extracted with the help of three more Kangeroos from the second crater. Another assault bridge was quickly completed at 2200 hours.

Meanwhile another section was completing the third Bridge at 0130 hours, All these bridges were built in the forward positions, while the Canadians were attacking Sonsbeck from the North West. All bridges were heavily defended against a possible enemy Panzer attack.

Back in England, I fumed with frustration while I recuperated at the rehabilitation centre at Egham. Pottering about in the Garden, would you believe? All the time attending physiotherapy, with the ladies who tried to get some movement back into my limbs. Cruel they were! Utterly and dedicatedly, Cruel, they told me to yell when it hurt, then gave my fixed joints another full blooded yank! Help!

There was a small bar at the end of the garden, but I was unable to get there, it was down a slope and I could not manage it. I made friends with another service man that had lost both legs. He used to walk from Egham to Virginia Water everyday, he would be out of the gates at the end of the drive, before I could get 20 yards. I teetered along with my crutches and my very painful iron calliper accompanied with some very bad ‘under my breath’ language. There is one thing that I lay claim to, and that is; I am undoubtedly, the Worlds worst patient. By a very wide margin! I still find the smell of hospitals deeply offensive!
Sapper Brian.