WO 171/1384 - 2 Royal Ulster Regiment - December 1944

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1. and the Staff Manual respectively Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Army Form C.2118
	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Unit: 2nd Bn The Royal Ulster Rifles
Month and Year: December 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. I.C. Harris

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	1		Punctually to time "B" Company arrived in the forming up position, having passed through the gaps in the wire made by "D" Company in the earlier attack. Once again, however, the brilliant moonlight proved to be the downfall of the expedition. The ground was extremely flat and visibility was about 250 yards so that any movement across this flat country could be seen at great distance. So the leading platoon had advanced about 300 yards when a spandau opened up from the direction of WANSSUM. It was vigorously engaged by our leading section, but, at that moment, three more machine guns began firing, the platoon was effectively pinned to the ground. Then two verey lights were shot into the sky by the German positions and down came his defensive fire. The 2" mortar of the leading platoon was busily employed in trying to silence the MGs but all was to no avail because they were too well dug in and at least one of the guns was firing from a building. The shooting was low and accurate and at least one of the enemy MGs was a Bren Gun.

Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com, transcribing: Hans Houterman.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. Locations are calculated, so might not be in the correct place. For historical research, always check the originals.

Domains

More information

Contact