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1st Battalion War Diary November 1944 - Worcestershire Regiment

1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - War Diary November 1944
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November 1944			Commanding Officer: Lieut.-Colonel R. E. Osborne-Smith
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
CUIJK	1		ENSA & Cinema Shows. Recce of new Area made.
	2		Relief of 130 Bde. by 214 Bde.
	2	13.00	Bn commenced relief of 4 Dorsets - completed by 16.00 hrs.	Appendix "A" issued.
742513	2		Bn. H.Q. at 742513. Coys Patrolling.
	3		Patrolling day & night.
	4		Bn. visited by Corps Comd. Orders received that Bn would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 5th but these were cancelled and further orders received that we would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 6th and would then relieve 7 Som. L.I. on the 7th.
	5		Orders received (at C.O.'s. request) that previous instructions regarding relief were cancelled and Bn remain in present area. Active patrolling by Coys.
	6		Patrolling by Coys.
	7		Patrolling by Coys.
742513	8		Bn Recce Party left for new area.
	9	12.00	Bn relieved by Canadian Fusiliers & moved to new area MALDEN. Relief completed by 16.00 hrs.	Appendix "B" & "C"
	10	08.15	Bn moved to concentration area N.W. of AACHEN. B.H.Q at PUTH.
	11		Orders received that 214 Bde would relieve 129 Bde. Recce Party left but arrangements cancelled and Recce Party returned.
	12	14.00	Recce Party left for BRUNSSUM area.
BRUNSSUM	13	10.30	Bn left PUTH and moved to BRUNSSUM. Move completed by 12.00 hrs. Counter-attack role for Operation "Clipper".	Appendix "D"
	14		Bn. BRUNSSUM area.
	15		Recce by Coy Commanders for Operation "Clipper".
	16		Bn. BRUNSSUM area.
	17		Bn. BRUNSSUM area.
BRUNSSUM	18	10.30	Bn. left BRUNSSUM and moved to assembly area for Operation "Clipper".
	18	14.05	Moved to F.U.P. GILLRATH - NEIDERHEIDE having been taken by 7 Som. L.I. Bn. commenced attack on RISCHDEN - minor opposition and objective successfully taken by "A" & "B" Coys. Lt.-Col. R. E. Osborne-Smith received leg injuries and was evacuated. Major J. D. Ricketts assumed comd. of Bn. "A" & "D" Coys attack TRIPSRATH and encountered very severe opposition from large wood on left. Objective was taken although a few enemy remained in North end of village. Bn. consolidated with "A", "C" & "D" Coys in TRIPSRATH and Bn. H.Q. & "B" Coy in RISCHDEN. Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling.
TRIPSRATH (GERMANY)	19		Heavy counter-attack put in by enemy at first light, particularly from wood on left of Bn. H.Q. This was beaten off and at 15.00 hrs. 4 Dorsets commenced clearing wood but were held up by heavy MMG fire. No change in Bn. positions. Heavy enemy mortar & shelling throughout day.
	20		Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.
	21		Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.
	22		Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling throughout day.
	23		Orders received that Bn. would be relieved by 5 Wilts. Recce Party left 14.00 hrs. for rest area at SCHINVELD. Relief commenced 17.00 hrs. and completed by 05.00 hrs. approx.
SCHINVELD	24		Refitting. Bath Parades.
	25		Same area. Bn. H.Q. at Schinveld School.
	26		Lt.-Col. Vickers assumed command of Bn.
859676	27		Orders received that Bn. would relieve 4 Dorsets in wood West of TRIPSRATH. Commenced at 14.30 hrs and completed without casualties.
	28		Bn. H.Q. 859676. Area stonked at intervals during day.
	29		Area shelled & mortared. Orders received that Bn would be relieved by 5 DCLI on 30th.
	30		Less enemy arty activity. Bn relieved by 5 DCLI and moved to area NIEDERBUSCH.
			Field Returns d/d 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th.
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