Godfrey Yardley - Ex Para of the 10th Worcesters, 2nd Oxford & Bucks
Operation Fortitude
The Ardennes Offensive
“This was commonly known as “The Battle of the Bulge” or “Runstedt Rush”. The Germans had broken through the American lines in the Eifell region of the Belgian Ardennes at the beginning of December 1944, the critical point came a few days before Christmas when the 6th Airborne Division was rushed out at twenty four hour notice to back up the Americans and prevent the Germans crossing the River Maas in the Dinant region. Within twenty-four hours on December 22nd we embarked by rail from Bulford station to Dover where we spent the night in a transit camp. The next morning (23rd December) we sailed from Dover to Calais on the ferry “Shepperton” being the first allied troops to use the port after liberation. Another night in a transit camp then onward by road in freezing cold lorries to Olsene where we spent the night, being distributed amongst the local houses, my Bren gunner and I sleeping in a bed!! On the 25th December we were soon off again by road; after travelling all that day and night we arrived in Givet on the River Maas at about 04.00 am –the coldest journey I have ever experienced in my life – snow, ice and freezing temperatures – ever since I have hated snow, ice and cold weather, and will do so for the rest of my life.
We were soon allocated defence positions, my Platoon No.l4 at the time, were given a small hill, just outside the town, where we found a cave in the hillside, it was so cold outside that to go into the cave was heaven, it then became our Platoon H.Q. Outside the ground was so deeply frozen that it was impossible to dig slit trenches, we tried blowing the ground with Hawkins anti-tank grenades with no effect, in the end we had to call in the Royal Engineer sappers with pneumatic drills. We soon found ourselves amongst the American paras manning anti aircraft guns. It was during this period I was suffering with neuralgia which was very painful due to the temperature change when first going outside and then back into the cave I reported sick and was given aspirin and sent back up the hill, however, my Platoon officer, Bob Preston and Sgt Mick Evans gave me some of the whisky ration from time to time to ease the pain it tasted good. From then on we moved about every couple of days until the crisis was over. During this time we carried out lots of patrols, day and night, in and around several villages. The civilians were very friendly but very poor, the houses etc being in very poor condition. During this period of movement our billets varied from houses to cattle buildings, the best was a hay loft over the cattle, which were kept indoors for obvious reasons, this provided dry and warm accommodation. On one occasion B Coy had the job of reconnoitring a certain area and finding a route for the rest of the Regiment to follow, this was done but someone had to go and lead them in; John Thorn and I had a mine detector and started to check the road for mines, this proved too slow for the corporal in charge, bearing in mind everywhere was covered in frozen snow he decided the ground was safe to walk on so off his party went, in the meantime John and I continued our mine sweeping, suddenly we picked up something and carefully started the procedure of uncovering it – it was a mine and we took the precaution of carefully checking for a booby trap – and it was – underneath as it happened. At the side of the road close by was a pigsty, also the telegraph cables were down, so we cut off a good length and carefully threaded under the pressure plate, paying out the cable behind the pigsty, making sure there was no one about we pulled the wire, the booby trap was live and of course the mine exploded blowing a goodly hole in the road. A few seconds late Major Ballard, the company commander, came dashing down the road to find out what had happened expecting to find casualties, we explained what had happened and he congratulated us on our procedure and caution
C Company were not so fortunate as they had to join a Company from the 13th Parachute Regiment to fight what was known later as “The Battle of Bure”. It was at this point that the German s reached the end of their advance westwards; this is a story on its own. However, the success of this battle cost the lives of several men from C Company and 13th Para, plus many wounded. It is interesting to note that the Commanding Officer of 13 Para was Lt. Col. Luard who was commissioned into the Ox & Bucks before transferring to the Parachute Regiment. We eventually moved north to Grubbenvor in Holland, still in very hard weather, again this was on the banks of the River Maas, the ground on both sides sloped down to the river which meant during daylight the area was a no mans land. During this period we were on one side and the enemy on the other and a certain amount of respect existed for each other – discreet movements during daylight as we were in full view of each other. On our side of the river was a small deserted village which we had reached just after last light in Platoon strength; just before first light we handed the position over to a couple of snipers, this was the routine day after day, we also sent a number of patrols across the river
A number of small incidents occurred which are worthy of note. One night I was called to accompany the Platoon Sergeant and a couple of other chaps on a patrol along the road which ran alongside the river our side, we had not gone very far when suddenly there was a “plop” quickly followed by a brilliant light, a trip flare, we were totally exposed to anyone within a radius of half a mile, needless to say we hit the deck in two seconds flat and waited to receive gunfire from the enemy side of the river at least. Nothing happened, when the flare burned itself out we stood up and the Sergeant said “Sorry chaps, I forgot about the trip flare” Can you think of what we might have said to him, Sergeant or otherwise! The patrol was terminated at this point with much ribaldry on arrival back at Platoon HQ.
I should point out that everywhere was still covered in snow so for those on patrol or other warlike activities we were issued with white snow overalls; as they were in short supply they were passed on to others for their use, needless to say they were very rarely dry.
Another occasion went something like this. It was normal routine to “stand to” half an hour before first light and half an hour during last light, always considered to be the best time for an attack. During the first light period and for some time afterwards we used to watch a number of Germans around their dugout having a wash and shave etc, plus a cyclist who appeared about the same time. One day someone had the idea we ought to put a stop to this blatant arrogance, so an artillery shoot was laid on. An artillery observation team came forward and when the man on the bicycle got to a certain point the order to fire was given. This had to be timed correctly so that the shells arrived at the right point at the right time, and so it was, a lot of 25 pound shells caused a lot of smoke and dust, after a few short minutes this cleared and out of its midst arose the cyclist, got on his bike and rode away to the cheers of everyone. We did not repeat the event; everyone thought he deserved to be left alone in future. We often wondered if he survived the war. I hope so.
One morning after we had handed over to the snipers at the deserted village, we had arrived back at our Platoon daytime positions. The normal procedure was to have our rum ration, which was slightly diluted with hot water, I have to say it was a generous portion, consequently within a short time it began to take effect, unfortunately we were suddenly called back to the village as the snipers had been confronted by some enemy soldiers. I cannot remember more details but no casualties resulted from this encounter, it could have turned nasty as we had to rush down to the village and rush back before it got too light, not that this worried us as by this time we were in high spirits literally as a result of the rum. Normally after a night standing patrol we would be tired and sleeping off the rum.
I should mention food. The British forces, particularly the army, lived on “Compo Rations”, in a box for seven men, it consisted of prepared tinned food, in the main pretty good but it could be monotonous, in addition a box would also contain such things as cigarettes, matches, chocolate oatmeal blocks, bully beef, etc. For a time in the Ardennes we had some American “K” rations, in our opinion totally inadequate under such weather/action conditions, whatever may be said about British compo rations it was good sustaining food, which a reasonably trained cook could make better, even today much good food is made unacceptable by the cooks. One high- light was the self heating tins of cocoa or soup; this had a heating element down the middle – remove the cap on top and ignite with a lighted cigarette, but before this it was VITAL to pierce the top face of the can, otherwise the heat generated within would turn it into a bomb - the contents were delicious. One can was issued to each man when going out on night patrol, especially in very cold weather.
Unknown to me at the time, the Regiment was arranging for a limited number of men to go on forty eight hour leave in Brussels. I was informed I was one of the lucky ones and to be ready to leave at a minutes notice, needless I was. I well remember the night journey, going along, closely followed by V1 doodlebugs also heading for Brussels and like targets. This is true, you could see them flying a few hundred feet above and alongside us; I guess they had been launched not very faraway and had not yet gained height. After Varsity we were to over-run many V1 and V2 launching sites. My leave was greeted by massive near explosions, in fact I looked through the window of our accommodation and saw one explode – they were in fact V2 rockets, you did not hear or see their arrival, only the explosion, nevertheless, despite the danger, leave was very enjoyable and soon ended; I cannot remember anything except the warmth and drink!
Some nights were very clear, the sky being full of stars, it was not unusual to hear our bombers flying into Germany, and on a number of occasions to witness them being shot down in flames, also we saw V2`s being launched; their propellant blast lighting up the launch point. Another daylight phenomenon was to see German artillery shells passing through the sky a few hundred feet up, seconds before they lost velocity and fell to earth and exploded. We reckoned they were long-range guns from the Seigfried Line, firing on their extreme range. We witnessed this as a blur, but without doubt, shells.
On arrival back at camp I was greeted with the news that an American unit was taking over the next day. The Americans did not observe the discretion we exercised in relation to day light movement, consequently we moved out O.K. but of course they drove up in their transport into their allocated positions; we had just got clear when the enemy opened fire on them with artillery etc. I don`t know the result of this indiscretion but lives must have been lost? We had to fly back to Bulford within forty-eight hours, travelling to Brussels airport and then to England on 28th February 1945 – what of the future?
Our hasty return was of course in relation to the crossing the River Rhine, we guessed we were in line for another airborne operation and as the 1st British Airborne Division had been badly depleted at Arnhem it was taken for granted that it was our turn again – it was just a matter of when. After seven days leave extensive training followed and finally ended with a three-hour mass divisional flight – this was as expected a rehearsal for the Rhine crossing operation – Varsity. One British, the 6th, and one American, the 17th, were to fly side by side across the Rhine into the heart of Germany in one single lift, the largest of WWII. On the 19th March 1945 we moved to Birch airfield and flew from Gosfield on 24th March.”
