"C" COY NARRATIVE, D Day & D 1 (Mar 24 & 25, 1945)
The task of "C" Coy on our operation of the 24th was to secure two objective as quickly as possible an to enable the remainder of the Bn to gain their objectives. We were the first sub unit of our Bn to parachute into Germany.
We crossed the Rhine at approx 0956 hrs. About 4 minutes later or thereabouts the number ones of the leading Vics jumped.
There was quite a bit of confusion on the DZ. There was still quite a bit of small arms fire being aimed at us. Now that I have you on the ground I would like to define our objectives more clearly. Nos 7 & 8 pls had as their objective "The line of the woods running EAST and WEST along the edge of the DZ. This job was given to #7 pl. #8 pl had as its objective "The road which ran NORTH and SOUTH along the forward edge of the wood. #9 pl had to take the buildings at a T-rd junc MR 154479. The MR for the objective of the two platoons in 156477.
Our plan was to take our objectives as quickly as possible using all the weapons we had. The Coy got off of the DZ quite quickly and our objectives were taken within a half an hour from the time we landed.
Incidents that should be mentioned are these because they have a bearing on what follows: Our Major had a fractured collar bone. Our 2IC Capt Clancy was missing. Men who did outstanding jobs were Sgt Bray, Pte. Desalliers, & Pte. Bithrey.
After consolidating our positions the enemy started to shell and mortar us. He did this all through the night. In the afternoon a carrier tried to come through our position. The enemy dropped a lucky one right on it. It sure was a hot spot for a while.
About 1700 hrs I received word to take over the Coy because the Major was being evacuated. This I did and tried to carry the Coy through.
The gliders of the Bde had dropped also on our DZ. During the afternoon and evening we sent patrols to try and unload them. Some of the parties succeeded and others could not reach them. During the night we established a patrol EAST of #7 pl's position where a hedge ran out to the small woods on the DZ. The enemy by this time had been retiring from the Rhine and we had seen approx 200 of them go into a wood 800 yds NW of #9 Pl's position. Also in the night he moved up some 20 mm guns and fired at the gliders. Two of them he set on fire.
This is where Capt Boss came into action. He was the F.O.O. that was attached to us. He had the arty. lay down a concentration on this posn.
During the night the enemy kept up his shelling and mortaring. At approx 0530 hrs of the 25th he attacked out position at the T-rd junction. His attack was not a success. We suffered a few casualties. We had foreseen a possible attack from that position and had taken the necessary measures to counteract it. We had in that position 2 sections of Vickers, 1 det of Mortars, 9 bren guns and 27 stens; also 3 PIATS.
In the other pl areas 1 sec per pl was ready as a counter attack force. They were used but just to strengthen the other pl's positions. One of the mortar crews cooperating with the PIATS knocked out an 88 mm SP gun. The attack beaten off, things quieted down for a while. The enemy still continued to shell our position. During the shelling of the afternoon, Capt Boss was wounded and evacuated.
At about 1500 hrs, 25th I received word that contact had been made with the 15th Highland Division.
They came through our positions and proceeded NORTH along the main rd.
That night things were quiet and we left our little area and made contact with the American 17th Airborne and started on our way to BERLIN.
We crossed the Rhine at approx 0956 hrs. About 4 minutes later or thereabouts the number ones of the leading Vics jumped.
There was quite a bit of confusion on the DZ. There was still quite a bit of small arms fire being aimed at us. Now that I have you on the ground I would like to define our objectives more clearly. Nos 7 & 8 pls had as their objective "The line of the woods running EAST and WEST along the edge of the DZ. This job was given to #7 pl. #8 pl had as its objective "The road which ran NORTH and SOUTH along the forward edge of the wood. #9 pl had to take the buildings at a T-rd junc MR 154479. The MR for the objective of the two platoons in 156477.
Our plan was to take our objectives as quickly as possible using all the weapons we had. The Coy got off of the DZ quite quickly and our objectives were taken within a half an hour from the time we landed.
Incidents that should be mentioned are these because they have a bearing on what follows: Our Major had a fractured collar bone. Our 2IC Capt Clancy was missing. Men who did outstanding jobs were Sgt Bray, Pte. Desalliers, & Pte. Bithrey.
After consolidating our positions the enemy started to shell and mortar us. He did this all through the night. In the afternoon a carrier tried to come through our position. The enemy dropped a lucky one right on it. It sure was a hot spot for a while.
About 1700 hrs I received word to take over the Coy because the Major was being evacuated. This I did and tried to carry the Coy through.
The gliders of the Bde had dropped also on our DZ. During the afternoon and evening we sent patrols to try and unload them. Some of the parties succeeded and others could not reach them. During the night we established a patrol EAST of #7 pl's position where a hedge ran out to the small woods on the DZ. The enemy by this time had been retiring from the Rhine and we had seen approx 200 of them go into a wood 800 yds NW of #9 Pl's position. Also in the night he moved up some 20 mm guns and fired at the gliders. Two of them he set on fire.
This is where Capt Boss came into action. He was the F.O.O. that was attached to us. He had the arty. lay down a concentration on this posn.
During the night the enemy kept up his shelling and mortaring. At approx 0530 hrs of the 25th he attacked out position at the T-rd junction. His attack was not a success. We suffered a few casualties. We had foreseen a possible attack from that position and had taken the necessary measures to counteract it. We had in that position 2 sections of Vickers, 1 det of Mortars, 9 bren guns and 27 stens; also 3 PIATS.
In the other pl areas 1 sec per pl was ready as a counter attack force. They were used but just to strengthen the other pl's positions. One of the mortar crews cooperating with the PIATS knocked out an 88 mm SP gun. The attack beaten off, things quieted down for a while. The enemy still continued to shell our position. During the shelling of the afternoon, Capt Boss was wounded and evacuated.
At about 1500 hrs, 25th I received word that contact had been made with the 15th Highland Division.
They came through our positions and proceeded NORTH along the main rd.
That night things were quiet and we left our little area and made contact with the American 17th Airborne and started on our way to BERLIN.
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