WO 171/7822 - 110 Provost Company - April 1945

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: 110 Provost CMP
Month and Year: April 1945	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Capt. J.D. Brown

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
LAER 7384	1		The company is disposed along “Square Route” with No. 2 Sec. attached Main H.Q. 8 Corps. No. 1 Section under command 6 Gds Armd Bde and No. 5 at F.M.C. 60. The problems at present being tackled by the company are the maintaining of an uninterrupted flow of traffic up “Square Route” and its return; the maintenance of the road surface itself in several places, notably GESCHEN and the bridge at RAMSDORF; the disposal of enemy P’s o.W. who are giving themselves up regularly in small parties; the disposal of Allied ex P.O.W. who have escaped or been released from prison camps; and the passing back of displaced persons – Russians, Poles, French, Italian, Dutch, &c. No reference is made in Appx A to P.O.W.’s because they are picked up from the roadside, or as they come to company H.Q. and put immediately on any available traffic returning towards the F.M.C. or P.O.W. cage. No Military Government is as yet established in LAER and the company so far has had to undertake many of their responsibilities.	See Appx ‘A’
	2		No change in disposition of the company. Heavy traffic continues up “Square Route” with the road collapsing in places and needing repair, and vehicles getting ditched. These matters were speedily altered by RE’s and Recovery, and the flow of traffic only slightly impeded. A constant stream of displaced persons arrived in LAER and every effort was made to get them on vehicles back to a collecting centre at WESEL. German soldiers also came in in steady numbers as POWs or to surrender and were put on vehicles to the P.O.W. cage at VELEN.
Rd junc 041011	3		No’s 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 Secs & Coy H.Q. moved locations. No. 1 returning from opn’l command 6 Gds Armd Bde. Two German soldiers were found hiding in a farm at RAMSDORF by No. 9 Sec. 13 others were found near Coy HQ new location. A case of suspected rape on a girl of 14 at RAMSDORF was reported and is being investigated. Traffic still heavy on Square Route. Army Traffic Control have now taken over part of “Square Route” and resigned it No. 230. Whilst on reconnaissance near TEILENBURG 0402 a Cpl of No. 6 Section was involved in a skirmish with a small pocket of resistance and was shot in the leg.	See Appx “A”
	4		No change in coy disposition. All effort was disected on “Square Route with return”. The forming of new F.M.C.’s, and preparation for changing present route of square to go through OSNABRUCK instead of round it as at present. Many prisoners were dealt with.
KELLEN	5		Coy H.Q. moved to KELLEN and sections as in Appx “A”. “Square Route” was extended through OSNABRUCK to M. Ref. 698158. There was heavy traffic moving up along the whole route, and occasional hostile enemy aircraft made brief attacks through low cloud cover, but the flow of traffic was not hindered. Various parts of the route, particularly at LADBERGEN and SCHMEDEHAUSEN bridge (9889) area became unserviceable and alternative routes laid on.
	5	0715	L/Cpl Cooke, No. 8 Section was killed in an accident on the canal bridge (960026). Cooke, Sidney Thomas	Appx. ‘A’
	6		No change in coy disposition, but No.’s 3 & 5 Sections were preparing to move. The latter sending forward a recce party to F.M.C. 62 rear area. No. 7 Section signed a bridge diversion at 3417 and traffic is still kept going.
	7		No. 3 Section moved to 6017 into reserve. “Square Route” was altered between 3516 & KELLEN. Displaced persons are still a problem. Distances are now so great, that it is impossible for them to be cleared off the road quickly. They are taking cars, farm carts, horses & bicycles from the German owners, and they add to the difficulties of traffic movement on the roads. Reports are heard from time to time of assaults on women by these people, but they are quite few, considering the large numbers about the country side. Owing to our continual advance however, no time can be spared for investigations.
	8		No change in disposition of company, except that No. 9 Sec. moves to PETERSHAGEN to take over bridges over the WESER from 6th Airborne. Arrangements were made for the disposal of refugees and displaced persons before entering OSNABRUCKE. Approximately 8,000 D.P.’s are now held at the town barracks for transit.
X rds 9626 (LOCCUM)	9		No. 8 Section moved to LOCCUM 9629 and Coy H.Q. to X rds 9626. Arrangements in rear of company area for collecting D.P.s and ex P.O.W. are improving, but in the forward area there is still no real system.
	10		No change in disposition of coy. The coy is now in control of bridges at SCHLUSSELBURG, and PETERSHAGEN over the WESER. Special arrangements were made for the move of 15 Scottish Div West to East at PETERSHAGEN, they being given priority on both Class 9 and Class 40 bridges. A census revealed that 360 vehicles per hour passed over the Class 40.
X rds 2811379	11		Coy H.Q. moved to 281379. No. 6 Sec to BORDENAU. Traffic in all areas was heavy. Slight enemy air activity at SCHLUSSELBURG bridge resulted in the shooting down of a Ju88 which crashed about ½ mile from the bridge & burnt out. The Class 9 bridge at PETERSHAGEN was dismantled by R.E.’s and return traffic had to use the Class 40 bridge. A diversion was also laid on by 9 Section for a small bridge over a culvert that was breaking up.
	12		No. 6 Section moved to MELLENDORF 3640. “Square Route” up, having reached MELLENDORF, this section signed the “Down” Route back to 130391. The bridge at HELSTORF 2552, was taken over from 11 Armd Div. Traffic was lighter in corps area. At PETERSHAGEN the German civil police informed against a Gestapo agent, Robt. Nottelmann, he apparently had been employed on clerical duties. He was taken to Corps P.O.W. cage.
	13		No.’s 1 and 7 Sections moved to CELLE 5850. Traffic over Square Route lessened as the main bulk of troops had got forward. No. 5 Section moved to CELLE with F.M.C. 64. No. 2 with Main H.Q.
CELLE 5850	14		Coy H.Q. moved to CELLE. “Square Route” was extended up to M.R. 762683 where further extension was stopped due to unexploded road charges and the presence of enemy troops in the next village 4 kilometres away. Delays are being caused in the traffic flow by the presence of commandeered civilian cars; these continually breaking down, or else fouling bad surfaces with their low slung bodies. These minor delays are cumulative in their effects on the main stream of traffic.
ESCHEDE 6962	15		Coy HQ and No’s 3 and 9 Sections moved to ESCHEDE 6962. No 8 Section moved to BELSEN 4867. This section has been sent with a battery of A/Tank artillery, to an area containing three camps with a total population of between 50,000 and 60,000. It is not clear at present what these camps are. But at least one has typhus and typhoid present. But they contain all nationalities including British P.O.W. On this date both armies are present; British and German. These being about 200 German soldiers and 700 Hungarians. The section’s job at the moment seems the security & guard on the British Detachment’s HQ.
	15	1130	A man dressed in civilian clothes was arrested near the CELLE bridge by an N.C.O. of No 7 Section. He was found in possession of a loaded pistol and a camera, and the documents hidden on his person showed him to be a member of the German Waffen S.S. He was taken to Main H.Q. 8 Corps.
	15		Investigations were carried out at NEUSTADT re report of sheep stealing by Poles & Allied personnel. At NEUSTADT five Luftwaffe men were arrested while trying to cross the bridge dressed in civilian clothes.
	16		At NEUSTADT a reported rape of three German women by British soldiers was investigated, investigations not yet finished.
	16	1300	Reported at NEUSTADT that German S.S. troops in the village of HAGEN were being fed by the villagers, believed to include a high ranking officer.
	16		No. 8 Section assisted in distribution of food to starving internees at the concentration camp, Belsen.
	16		No. 9 Section moved to WEYHAUSEN.
SUDERBURG 8381	17		The numbers of ex P.O.W. and D.P.’s returning west along the routes reached new proportions, and they are beginning to interfere with our forward traffic flow; particularly so in CELLE, where many are halting for a time. The machinery for their disposal is not good, and does not appear to have been planned for the numbers we are getting.
	17		At NEUSTADT the investigations were carried on regarding the rape of three German women, without result. A complaint re the maltreatment of Poles at OTTERHAGEN was also investigated.
	17	2000	A German named Obserahls, W. was arrested, he being a prominent member of the S.A.
	18		All Square route was exceedingly busy.
	18		Sections were kept fully occupied on diverse duties.
	18		No. 1 Section provided escort for 46 POW for Mil. Govt. at CELLE, and assisted in the harbouring of 1,000 French P.W.X.
	18		No. 7 Section arrested an S.S. Group Leader acting on information rec’d.
	18		No. 9 Section handed over a female civilian prisoner to Mil. Govt. at CELLE.
	19		No. 3 Sec. moved to UELZEN and extended the signing of “Square” Route up to LUNEBURG. 110 Buffaloes in transporter convoy passed thro’ CELLE.
	19		A complaint of attempted rape was reported and investigated at MELLENDORF by No. 6 Section. The offender, a driver in the R.A.S.C. was arrested. At NEUSTADT five German soldiers dressed in civilian clothes were detected at the bridge and taken to the P.O.W. cage.
	20		No’s 8 & 9 Sections moved to LUNEBURG. Circuits up & down were arranged through the town and traffic points taken over at 1100 hrs from 11 Armd Div Pro.
	20		The convoy of 100 Buffaloes on transporters passed up the route through MELLENDORF and UELZEN. R.E. bridging convoys also came up through the latter place. R.A.F. convoys are now appearing up Square Route, the first for many weeks.
	20		At NEUSTADT a complaint of factory looting by British troops was investigated. The premises were made secure.
	21	0700	Coy H.Q. moved to LUNEBURG.
	21		An Information Post was established at LUNEBURG, and “Square Route” down, signed from all adjoining roads. Organisation for disposal of D.P.’s is now working in UELZEN and the section there is working in conjunction with the Mil. Govt. in handling this problem.
	21	1100	At NEUSTADT a group of 200 Russians were dispersed from attempting to loot a large house.
	21		Many convoys came up the CELLE-UELZEN section of Square Route.
LUNEBURG	22		No change in coy disposition.
	22		Now that R.A.F. have arrived in CELLE an Inf. Post has been set up for their service. No 1 Sec. retains control of the traffic. The road surface is suffering from effects of heavy rain where the foundations and metalled surface were destroyed by enemy action – in places it is subsiding.
	22		Brothels were discovered in LUNEBURG and the proprietors warned that no soldiers were to be admitted.
	22		No’s 4 and 6 Sections (NEUSTADT and MELLENDORF) handed over duties on Square Route to Traffic Control (Army).
	23		No. 4 Section moved to LUNEBURG in reserve. No. 6 moved to CELLE to take over traffic from No. 1 section who began disciplinary duties in liaison with the Town Major there.
	23		The O.C. Coy. Capt. Brown left to take up duties with 6 Airborne Div. Command being assumed by Lt. D. Murphy until new appointment made. Brown, Joseph Donald Murphy, D.
	24		No. 6 and 7 Sections handed over points in CELLE to RAF Police (83 Gp) at 1630 hrs. Refugees at a camp at CELLE were found to have arms, and 16 rifles and about 1000 rounds amn. were confiscated by No. 1 Section. A case of suspected rape led to the identification and arrest of two soldiers by No. 3 Section at UELZEN. A large number of vehicles were removed from civilians on Square Route.
	25		Sections in UELZEN and LUNEBURG were kept pretty busy with heavy casual traffic throughout the day. The only sizeable convoy, consisting of 70 Buffaloes of 79 Armd Div, all on transporters, caused some excitement at LUNEBURG because one of the vehicles got stuck passing under a railway bridge. A diversion was found, and the jammed Buffalo eventually freed.
	26		No. 3 Section at UELZEN coped with heavy traffic throughout the day, including a large convoy of 8 U.S. Division. Two German girls, formerly of the Luft-waffe, were apprehended at LUNEBURG and handed over to G [(IB?)] 8 Corps.
	27		The signing of Square route and Triangle route were continued as far as LUDERSHAUSEN 8131 and JURGENSTORF 9029 respectively, in preparation for coming operations.
	28		Following notification that Square route from MELLENDORF up to LUNEBURG had to be changed, in consequence of a change of boundary with the American Army, Square signs were picked up between these two places. Two sections signed marshalling areas etc. in preparation for an assault crossing of the ELBE. Two more sections moved up to within a few miles of the ELBE in order to take over crossing control at H hour.
	29		Square route near of LUNEBURG was re-signed. H hour for the ELBE crossing was at 0200 hours and points were manned and signs lit on two routes up to the near bank of the river.
	30		Certain modifications to Triangle route were carried out by re-signing. Cl 9 and Cl 40 bridges were completed at LAUENBURG and ARTLENBURG respectively, and traffic released from the Marshalling areas immediately began to stream over the bridges. The bulk of 15 (S) Div passed over, as well as parts of the 6 (Gds) Armoured Bde and recce parties of 11 Armd Div, 53 Div and 6 Airborne Div. The Class 40 bridge was heavily shelled throughout the day and bombed by Fw 190 aircraft.

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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.

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