Oh Yes! trust me, I forgot, the complete list is.
Officers
NCOs
Men
Women
Horses.
sapperbrian

Hi Forum.
We now stand on the baks of the Rhine. My Division had been placed in complete charge of all preparations for the coming assault crossing and opposite us are our old friends, the German Para's
Come and join me as we prepare for thisgreat assault.
sapperbrian.

March 10, 1945 Brian ? or somewhere abouts.....

Erich

Hi Erich. Yes of course! but there was still the Wesel bridgehead holding us up, but before we tackled the Rhine.we had to bring up the equipment, The Rhine is a very wide river! On the 7th of March the allies were near, or on the Rhine, in several places. before the assault across the Rhine there had to be a great deal of clearing up and preparation.

There was a great deal going on in the next few days. The Germans had made sure that the approaches to the river was not going to be easy. Huge craters and mined road blocks that took time to clear this was not going to be a "Quick" crossing there was a huge army waiting to cross.

The crossing took place on the 23rd of March in our area. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Best Regards.
Brian

Hi Again Forum friends.

The situation regarding the Rhine on the 7th of March was as follows. Facing us were the German Para ‘s, they fought very well and with determination. The Enemy still held the bridgehead at Wesel, After considerable trouble, our old enemy Para Regiment Hubner, had been ejected from the Veen pocket.

The Americans had made contact at Geldern, having come up from Venlo were now at Alpen, with the 52nd Lowland Div in between them, and on our right, 2nd Canadian Corps were up to the Rhine at Xanten and approaching the river to the South, through Sonsbeck, Veen, and Winnenthal. 43rd Wessex Div had cleared the West bank of the Rhine from Emmrich to Xanten.

But first the Wesel bridgehead had to be eliminated, that was our divs job.
More later.
Sapper Brian.

Brian-I must ask, In October 1944, Easy Company, 506th PIR assissted in a rescue operation near Schoonderlogt, Holland to retreive 140 Red Devils in Germany Territory.
I heard that British and Canadian Engineers assissted, was your unit present at these rescues???

__________________
"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

The rescue mission was called 'Operation Pegasus'

__________________
"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Hi Everyone, A fine bright morning. Frosty. But a little sun to make the world look better.

Panzerknacker. Hi, You asked about rescuing para’s, no we had nothing to do with that operation. Our path up through Holland in the “Market Garden” Offensive was in the east of the Country. The Escaut canal. Weert, and Northwards, as opposed to the main drive that went up through the virtual centre of Holland, we finished up at Nijmegen, but then turned right to MOOK opposite the Reichwald Forest. After action there, we then went South to Overloon and Venraij. Always near the Maas river. Sadly, where the Enemy caught up with me again.

By the way, there is a beautifully cared for war cemetery at Overloon. where many of my friends are resting. Recently, a good friend sent me photo’s of the cemetery. as usual the Dutch people look after our service men’s graves and they make them a haven of peace and tranquillity.
Sapperbrian.
The Rhine crossing next.

Hi Panzerk;
Just read your last posting. We took part in the drive to help rescue the Airborne at Arnhem, but that was operation Market garden as I said earlier. If the operation you refered to was at Arnhem, then the R.E did take part in getting them out across the River. (But not mine) They were assisted by infantry from my County of Dorset. Fine fighters the Dorset's infantry, with a long and distinguished history. Country men mostly, like myself! We talk with a counrty brogue and slower than most. this seems to give the impression that we are "Simple Country Yokles" Nothing further fromn the truth. If you want to find a fool in the country side. Then you have to bring one with you.
We have a slogan "Dorset men dont shame their kind.
sapper

Hello again to the forum.

Now the Ironsides had been given the job of bringing together, and the preparations necessary to get a huge army across the Rhine. That entailed clearing the approach to the river, and paths down to the water by removing the flood banks. Much recce ‘s had to take place to secure the most advantageous paths to the river and the best area.

All this was complicated by being in full sight of the enemy from the opposite bank.
To facilitate this op, the company had moved into some bomb damaged houses in Calcar. Meanwhile the CO, with an officer and several NOCs and with the added comfort of infantry protection (Very comforting) made a comprehensive and wide ranging recce of the banks of the Rhine over some distance along its length.

At the same time, there had to be a great deal of work to fill the enormous craters and blown roads in the approach to the river banks.. Some of the craters were so large that they had to be bridged. This was further complicated by mines. What it boiled down to, was that there would have to be a great deal of preparatory work, and a hell of a lot of mine sweeping and clearing. All the time, under, and in full view of the enemy.
Not Nice! From the 13th of March up to the 19th bridges were built all over the place. Houses were bulldozed down and the resulting rubble used to fill the enormous craters where it was thought that bridges would not be needed. We lost men from being in full view of the enemy and also from the constant danger of mines.

The company tried to use smoke to hide the preparations from the enemy, but in the round, it just made matters worse, for the smoke was toxic, and in some cases swirled about making our operations even more difficult.

Finally it was decided that there would be three paths to the river, Marienbaum/Mormter then Appeldorn/ Neder Mormter last Calcar/Rees. If anyone wants to correct my spelling of these names? Please be my guest!
With all three of these paths to the river, the flood banks had to be blown at the last moment and a path for the buffaloes to enter the water.
Sapper Brian.
Any one fancy the idea of crossing a very wide river, in full view of the enemy who had plenty of time to prepare their defences?

You'll find an article on this on my website at:

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/re_memorial_driel.htm

__________________
Paul Reed
Webmaster - Battlefields of WW2- http://www.ww2battlefields.info
D Day Ancestors: The British Army in Normandy - http://www.ddayancestors.com

Hi Sommecourt.
No, As far as I know, we had nothing to do with that operation. As far as the Airborne were concerned, we took part in the drive Northwards towards Arnhem. (Operation Market Garden) but our drive was the Easterly route of the two pronged drive North. Via Weert and up though the villages and towns in the Limburg area.
Cheers
sapperbrian.

HI everyone! Hopefully will be back soon.
Brian.

Hi Forum.
Now that the plan to cross the Rhine had been completed, the first trouble to sort out, was to get the Ducks and Buffaloes through the high floodbanks, three teams had been assigned to overcome these river entrances. It was decided to blow the banks at the last moment. To do that there had to be tests to find the best way of doing this. Near Mook, these tests of blowing river banks were tried to create a passage through. In the end, after detailed trials it was decided that 'General Wade' charges were best suited for the task. each passage down to the water now became the task of each separate team. It had to go without a hitch, or there would be a terrible foul up. Once the vehicles came to the crossing there would be no way of stopping the traffic, for it was piled up waiting.
Brian

Hi SapperBrian,

Good to have you back! Thanks for this installment. One question: What are General Wade Charges???

Stevin

__________________
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

(banner by Otto)
www.basher82.nl

Hi Stevin.
The general wade charges were heavy and longer. the whole idea of blowing the flood banks at the last moment, meant that there had to be a passage from the high bank down to the water, free of all obstruction, ready for the troop carrying buffalos to charge straight down and into the water.

Had the paths down to the river been prepared earlier they would have come under heavy and sustained fire, for the banks were under direct enemy observation. While preparing (or trying to) the banks for the drive across, we had tried heavy smoke to disguise what we were doing. The smoke was toxic and caused all sorts of troubles. The men elected to prepare under the enemies gaze and shell fire, rather than under a great cloud of toxic smoke.
Brian.
More later.

The experiments carried out at Mook seemed to indicate that the general Wades would serve the best in this instance.
I have only seen them briefly and cannot honestly describe them in detail. They were not the normal charges that we held in the company, ours were Beehives, for demolishing stubborn enemy defensive positions. Not a task that was looked upon as "Desirable"

Thanks for that link Sommecourt...

__________________
"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Furthermore to my posting here....

For his actions as leader of the American end of the rescue operation of Operation 'Pegasus', Lt 'Moose' Heyliger was awarded the Military Cross by the British...

__________________
"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Thanks SapperBrian.

Hadn't heard of them till now. Can't find anything on the net either. Have you got any idea what the destructive power of thes chargers were? They were supposed to blown up a large piece of river bank....

Stevin

__________________
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

(banner by Otto)
www.basher82.nl

Hi Stevi.
Sorry I cannot help you with more information about the General Wade charges. It is not something that I came across, I had heard of them and probably have seen them, but I cannot go any further than that. I am coming up to the description of how they were used shortly. During the Rhine crossing they used quite a few to blow the banks. Will continue with this later.
Sapper.

Hi Sapper--glad to have you back and looking forward to your next installment.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Hi Folks. Hi Carl.
The problem of blowing the flood banks on the Rhine now had to resolved and put into practice. For the three routes down into the Rhine had to be ready at any cost.

When the time came to go, the Buffaloes and DD tanks would come straight up the prepared routs and would not stop. For in the rear areas awaited an army just waiting for the word. GO, then there would be no stopping. All the time the enemy kept up
Mortar, shell, and small arms fire, making life very difficult for the sappers.

Meanwhile the toxic smoke had caused so much trouble that it was discontinued, that meant that all the preparatory work was done under the direct gaze of the enemy on the far bank. All the charges had to be dug in, in two rows on each side allowing for armoured bulldozers to remove the centre and make a path down for an embarkation point. When the time came those in charge of the charges retired to the local buildings, ready to blow.

Quickly, as soon as the banks were blown, the armoured bulldozers were to get to work and finish the paths down. The men had been under fire for some time but had continued to work to get the explosives dug in. When the armoured bulldozers got to work they came under tremendous fire from the far side from 88s 40mm and 20 mm fire. Not nice!

Of the three armoured bulldozers with the task of opening up the three tracks down to the water, one was knocked out by enemy fire, another lost a track on the waters edge,
The remaining bulldozer in a most exemplary manner cut the paths just in time.
There had been one very worrying moment, when the officers charged with the task of the demolition having been wounded, was nearly evacuated with the exploder still in his pocket. The last bulldozer completed the task just as the first Buffaloes arrived.

Our job was nearly finished. But then the news came back the Buffaloes were having great difficulty in getting out on the far bank. Our sister company sent sappers over with the Buffaloes to help improve the bank exits.

The last armoured bulldozer while trying to improve one path, bogged down, and then came under withering fire from everything the enemy had. 88s the lot! Later that morning, the most inspiring sight of the arrival of the Airborne. First the Para’s, then the gliders. There were some pretty grim scenes as the heavy flak burst or broke up aircraft in the air. To top it all off, there were rumours that our old friends 24 para regiment “Hubner” were holding the other side of the river.
But for the moment our job was done. A good rest with a job well done.
Brain

Brian, again a big thankyou for the written memories.....you've mentioned Buffalo's several times.....what were they actually ? and another question. By clearing out the banks on the Rhine did you guys not have very much unsuitable conditions for foot as well as vehicle traffic ? I would of thought any type of road surface would have bee a mire, or am I wrong here ?

Erich