A n o t h e r m e m b e r o f t h e R e g t , w h o w a s v e r y h e l p f u l w a s
few o c c a s i o n s w h e n I v i s i t e d t h i s v e r y l o f t y a n d a l m o s t
m y t h i c a l H . Q . , m y a l a r m a n d d e s p o n d e n c y w a s i m m e d i a t e l y
dispelled i f L a w r e n c e w a s o n d u t y . A s w e l l a s a f r i e n d l y
welcome a n d p r o m p t a t t e n t i o n , h e u s u a l l y m a n a g e d t o i m p a r t
some s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h I s h o u l d n o t o t h e r w i s e h a v e
obtained.
A f t e r a s t a y o f a b o u t a f o r t n i g h t a t S t . P o i , w e m o v e d
t o a p l a c e c a l l e d M o r g n y, n o r t h o f t h e Seine. I t w a s a t t h i s
stage t h a t l i a i s o n w o r k r e a c h e d i t s c l i m a x , a s m o s t o f t h e
people w e w e r e t r y i n g t o l i a i s e w i t h w e r e u p i n B e l g i u m , a n d
every o u t i n g w a s a t w o o r t h r e e d a y t r i p . B e i n g a w a y a l l
t h i s t i m e g a v e m e m u c h g r e a t e r l a t i t u d e e n r o u t e , a n d a t
d i ff e r e n t t i m e s I m a n a g e d t o v i s i t \ r i m y a n d T h i e p v a l
memorials. H o w a n y o n e e v e r l i v e d i n t h e p l a i n b e l o w w h e n
t h e Germans were o n V i m y ridge, I d o n ' t k n o w, a n d t h e a t t a c k
j u s t doesn't bear t h i n k i n g about. T h e m e m o r i a l i s so designed
t h a t i f y o u w a l k u p t o t h e t o p o f a f l i g h t o f s t e p s o n i t s
southern s i d e b e t w e e n t h e t w o m a s s i v e c o l u m n s , y o u f i n d
yourself l o o k i n g o v e r t h e l i p o f a t r e n c h a n d s u r v e y i n g t h e
area t h a t t h e G e r m a n s m u s t h a v e observed s o e a s i l y.
Thiepval M e m o r i a l i s g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d t o b e o n e o f
Lutyens' g r e a t c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o a r c h i t e c t u r e , a n d i s i n t h e
f o r m o f a n i m m e n s e f o u r - s q u a r e b r i c k a n d c o n c r e t e classical
arch. C l o s e t o . i t i s b r e a t h - t a k i n g . F r o m a d i s t a n c e i t h a s
an e t h e r e a l q u a l i t y w h i c h suggests t o t h e b e h o l d e r t h a t i t i s
either suspended f r o m h e a v e n o r else a mirage. A s o n e races
along t h e r o a d f r o m A m i e n s t o A l b e r t , i t hovers o n t h e h o r i z o n
on t h e l e f t h a n d , i n t h e m i d d l e o f a n u n d u l a t i n g area, w h i c h ,
a l t h o u g h n o w u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n , h a d r e m o v e d f r o m i t d u r i n g
the w a r o f 1 4 - 1 8 , e v e r y s i n g l e f e a t u r e . b o t h n a t u r a l a n d
artificial, e x c e p t t h e a c t u a l c o n t o u r s o f t h e g r o u n d i t s e l f . A t
Intervals t h e r o a d i t s e l f s u d d e n l y c h a n g e s f r o m t a r m a c t o
pave—the o n l y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t here r a t h e r m o r e t h a n 30 years
ago s o m e v i l l a g e o r s m a l l t o w n t h r o v e . I l i k e t o c o n s i d e r
t h a t I w a s t h e f i r s t E n g l i s h m a n t o v i s i t T h i e p v a l a f t e r i t s
liberation, because a s I a r r i v e d t h e r e a w o m a n r u s h e d o u t o f
a l i t t l e b u n g a l o w n e a r b y a n d p r e s e n t e d m e w i t h a b o u q u e t
of flowers, a n d i n t h e m , hand-made, t h e U n i o n Jack, t h e Stars
and S t r i p e s a n d t h e Tr i c o u l e u r.
Most o f these l o n g r a n g e v i s i t s w e r e t o 30 C o r p s w h o h a d
carried o u t t h e p u r s u i t w i t h G u a r d s A r m o u r e d a n d 1 1
Armoured, t h e t w o a r m o u r e d d i v i s i o n s t r a i n e d b y ourselves.
T h e o n l y w a y t o f i n d t h e i r H.Q. w a s t o keep o n a l l d a y o v e r -
t a k i n g t h e endless s t r e a m o f t r a ff i c . O n t h e c e n t r e l i n e t h e
traffic w a s endless w h i l e o n a n y o t h e r r o a d t h e r e w a s n o n e ,
so y o u k n e w y o u w e r e o n t h e r i g h t t r a c k i f y o u c o n t i n u e d t o
shoot p a s t t h e convoys. T h e r e w a s n o h o p e o f c a t c h i n g u p
w i t h t h e m b e f o r e d a r k , a s t h e y w e r e a l w a y s o n t h e m o v e
u n t i l t h e n .
I t h a p p e n e d t h a t I w a s p u r s u i n g 3 0 C o r p s t h e d a y t h a t
o u r t r o o p s f i r s t crossed i n t o B e l g i u m . A s t h e y h a d n o t d o n e
t h i s w h e n I s t a r t e d o f f f r o m 8 Corps, i t w a s a g r e a t m o m e n t
w h e n i t s u d d e n l y d a w n e d o n m e t h a t t h e f l a g s o u t w e r e
Belgian o n e s a n d t h a t w e h a d a c t u a l l y crossed t h e f r o n t i e r.
I f I h a d d e l a y e d a t 3 0 C o r p s a b i t l o n g e r t h e n e x t m o r n i n g
I c o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e s e n t a t t h e m e m o r a b l e e n t r y i n t o
Brussels. T w o o r t h r e e d a y s l a t e r I passed t h r o u g h Brussels
twice, o n a r u n t o G u a r d s A r m o u r e d , a n d a t a t r a f f i c h o l d - u p
became t h e f o r t u n a t e r e c i p i e n t o f a b u n c h o f g r a p e s a n d a
cigar! J u s t b e f o r e m y v i s i t , G u a r d s A r m o u r e d h a d c a p t u r e d
t e n l o r r y loads o f champagne, so t h e h o s p i t a l i t y o f t h e i r Mess
was even m o r e l a v i s h t h a n u s u a l , w h i c h i s s a y i n g s o m e t h i n g .
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h i s , j u s t a s w e a t 8 C o r p s w e r e c o i n i n g t o
the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w e w e r e a b o u t t o b e d i s b a n d e d , h a v i n g
had a l l o u r c o r p s t r o o p s a n d h a l f o u r s i g n a l s t a k e n a w a y t o
assist i n t h e p u r s u i t , w e w e r e s u d d e n l y o r d e r e d u p i n t o
Belgium. T h i s w a s i n o r d e r t o t a k e p a r t i n t h a t m e m o r a b l e
operation, M a r k e t G a r d e n , w h i c h w a s t h e n a m e f o r t h e a i r -
borne a t t a c k s o n N i m e g e n a n d A r n h e m .
This p l a n b r o a d l y s p e a k i n g w a s a s f o l l o w s : 1 s t A i r b o r n e
was t o g e t t h e b r i d g e a t A r n h e m , 8 2 U . S . A i r b o r n e w a s t o
capture t h e b r i d g e s a t N i m e g e n a n d G r a v e a n d 101 A i r b o r n e ,
l a t e r o f B a s t o g n e f a m e , w a s t o c a p t u r e s o m e b r i d g e s i n t h e
Eindhoven a r e a . A t t h e s a m e t i m e 3 0 C o r p s , u s i n g G u a r d s
A r m o u r e d a n d i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s b e h i n d t h e m , w e r e t o l i n k
u p t h e a i r b o r n e divisions. T h e r e w a s o n l y o n e n o t t o o good
road f o r a c e n t r e l i n e , a n d o w i n g t o t h e b o g g y n a t u r e o f t h e
ground, w e k n e w, a n d as soon as t h e a t t a c k was launched, t h e
THE QUEEN'S OWN GAZETTE.
1
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IN N . W . EUROPE
BY C A P T. I . M . 1-11.1LBURD.
C o n t i n u e d f r o m L a s t M o n t h .
Germans k n e w, t h a t t h e a r m o u r c o u l d n o t d e p l o y o f f i t , n o r
was t h e r e a n y a l t e r n a t i v e r o u t e . I t w a s j u s t K.B.O. T o g i v e
an i d e a o f t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e o p e r a t i o n o n s u c h a n a r r o w
centre-line, i t w a s s t a t e d t h a t t h i r t y t h o u s a n d v e h i c l e s h a d
to go u p t h e c e n t r e l i n e before a n y were t o be allowed back.
I t i s p r o b a b l e t h a t i f t h e w e a t h e r h a d h e l d , t h e o p e r a t i o n
w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e l y successful; a s i t w a s , w i t h t h e
weather b r e a k i n g o n t h e second d a y , s i x o f t h e seven v i t a l
bridges w e r e c a p t t t r e d , a n d f i v e o f t h e m i n t a c t . T h e b r i d g e
t h a t w a s b l o w n , w a s o n e o v e r t h e c a n a l a t Z o n n o r t h o f
Eindhoven, T h i s w a s v e r y q u i c k l y p u t u p w i t h t h e h e l p o f
German P. W. T h e y s a y t h a t e n t h u s i a s m i s i n f e c t i o u s , a n d i t
certainly w a s i n t h i s case, f o r some officer w h o h a d b e e n s e n t
up t o r e p o r t progress b a c k t o G u a r d s A r m o u r e d w a s r o u n d l y
cursed b y a G e r m a n f o r g e t t i n g i n t h e w a y !
The j o b o f 8 C o r p s i n t h i s b a t t l e w a s t o c l e a r u p t h e
r i g h t f l a n k o f t h e m a i n t h r u s t ; i t developed i n t o a series o f
assault crossings o v e r endless c a n a l s . I t w a s a l s o o u r t a s k
to t a k e over c o m m a n d o f various divisions as 30 Corps dropped
t h e m off o n t h e w a y u p . I t was s t i r r i n g t i m e s f o r l i a i s o n w o r k ,
as t h e G e r m a n s w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y p o p p i n g i n a n d c u t t i n g t h e
centre-line. a n d D.Rs. a n d L.Os, a n d a i r a P s . were b e i n g picked
up a n d s h o t d o w n i n p r o f u s i o n . I h a d m y d r i v e r, m y j e e p
and m y k i t c a p t u r e d b y o n e o f t h e s e s o r t i e s , w h e n I w a s
already a t t a c h e d t o t h e 101 a n d m y k i t w a s b e i n g s e n t u p
to j o i n m e .
Being a t t a c h e d t o a n A m e r i c a n A i r b o r n e D i v i s i o n w a s
q u i t e a n experience. T h e y were a m a g n i f i c e n t c r o w d o f chaps,
b u t t h e i r c o n v e r s a t i o n seemed t o b e e n t i r e l y l i m i t e d t o g u n s ,
knives, f i g h t s a n d b l o o d ! T h e y a l w a y s p l a c e d t h e i r H . Q . i n
the m o s t o b v i o u s p l a c e t h e y c o u l d f i n d , a s t h e y t h o u g h t i t
was c o n d u c i v e t o a t m o s p h e r e t o h a v e a f e w s h e l l s f a l l i n g
around t h e m ! L a t e r o n w h e n t h e y were p u t i n Bastogne, t h e i r
General w a s o n l e a v e i n t h e S t a t e s a t t h e t i m e , b u t h e w a s
flown o u t a n d dropped i n , i n sufficient t i m e t o send h i s famous
message " T o t h e G e r m a n G e n e r a l — N u t s , " i n r e p l y t o t h e i r
u l t i m a t u m t o s u r r e n d e r.
One A r m o u r e d C a r T r o o p o f t h e H o u s e h o l d C a v a l r y d i d
succeed i n g e t t i n g t o t h e b a n k s o f t h e L e k b e l o w A r n h e m , b u t
had t o b e w i t h d r a w n ; n o t b e f o r e t h e y h a d m a n a g e d t o s i n k
a barge m o t o r i n g g a i l y d o w n t h e r i v e r a n d f l y i n g t h e Swaztika.
I n r e t u r n f o r t h i s f e a t t h e y received t h e s i g n a l " S p l i c e t h e
main-brace" f r o m d i v i s i o n .
By t h e e n d o f O c t o b e r H . Q . 8 C o r p s w a s b e t w e e n E i n d -
hoven a n d H e l m o n d a n d r e m a i n e d t h e r e t i l l M a r c h . O n c e t h e
west b a n k o f t h e Maas h a d been cleared t h e w a r i n o u r sector
became v e r y s t a t i c , w h i l e t h e o t h e r c o r p s , p a r t i c u l a r l y 3 0
Corps, r a c e d b a c k w a r d s a n d f o r w a r d s b e h i n d u s . A b o u t t h i s
t i m e I s p e n t a m o n t h w i t h U.S. 7 t h A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n . W h e n
I f i r s t j o i n e d t h e m t h e y h a d f o r reasons b e s t k n o w n t o t h e m -
selves, s e t u p t h e i r H.Q. i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e largest p e a t b o g
f o r m i l e s . H o w e v e r w e s o o n p e r s u a d e d t h e m t o m o v e i n t o
a more sophisticated m i l i e u . I became k n o w n as " H i g h Power"
when I w a s w i t h t h e m , f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g reason: c o m m u n i c a -
t i o n w i t h c o r p s w a s b y l i n e w h i c h w a s v e r y w e a k because o f
the d i s t a n c e a n d also p r o b a b l y because t h e l i n e w a s t r a i l e d i n
a f e w canals e n r o u t e . T h e consequence was t h a t t h e m o m e n t
I g o t t h r o u g h t o c o r p s I u s e d t o h a v e t o y e l l a t t h e t o p o f
m y voice. " G o o n h i g h p o w e r, " a s A m e r i c a n p h o n e s h a d n o
h i g h p o w e r f i t t i n g . I a l s o f o u n d t h e i r s y s t e m o f pass-words
alarming, a s I n e v e r c o u l d r e m e m b e r t h e m . H o w e v e r , a f t e r
about a w e e k I f o u n d t h a t i f I s a i d " O h L o r d ! I ' v e f o r g o t t e n
the b e a s t l y t h i n g " o r s o m e s u c h , t h e y n e a r l y a l w a y s r e p l i e d :
" I s t h a t t h e B r i t i s h l i a i s o n officer?" s o a l l w o u l d b e w e l l .
They l e f t o u r c o m m a n d i n N o v e m b e r a n d w e n t i n t o
American reserve. W h e n t h e A r d e n n e s offensive s t a r t e d , t h e y
were r u s h e d i n t o S t . \ n t h . a n d i t w a s t h e i r h o l d i n g o n t h e r e
w h i c h e n a b l e d 101 A / B D i v. t o g e t i n t o Bastogne u n m o l e s t e d .
8 Corps w a s i n n o w a y connected w i t h t h e b a t t l e o f Ardennes
and I h a v e o n l y m e t o n e m e m b e r o f t h e r e g i m e n t w h o was.
This w a s C a n t . A l a n G a r d i n e r, t h e n w i t h t h e F i f e a n d F o r f a r
Yet>. 29th Armoured Bde., who h a d j u s t been sent back to Belgium
to exchange t h e i r Shermans f o r Comets, w h e n t h e f u n started.
They t o o k o v e r t h e i r S h e r r n a n s a g a i n a n d r u s h e d f o r t h e
nearest b r i d g e o n t h e M a a s s o u t h o f Liege a n d t h e F i f e a n d
F o r f a r arrived t h e r e j u s t as t h e German t a n k s , a t t h e i r extreme
p o i n t o f p e n e t r a t i o n d i d t h e same. A l i t t l e s h o o t i n g t o o k
place a n d t h e n t h e n e x t d a y n o t h i n g happened. A f t e r a l i t t l e
careful reconnaissance t h e y f o u n d a b o u t a d o z e n a b a n d o n e d