History of the 9th Medium Regiment RA (8 Buffs)
8th Buffs
Training Boston
Photographs: North West Europe '44-'45
Photographs: personalities
Wootton man KIA
Photographs: Then and Now
Operation Vitality
Operation Vitality (9th Medium War Diary)
Weert Then and Now
Buffalo as used by 79 Assault Sqn RE
Lieutenant Dempsey, RSF
On the 26th October 1944, seaborne landings by the 52nd Lowland Division took place on South Beveland: this is an attempt to tell the story of that battle in detail:
By 0100 hrs the assault force was assembled in Terneuzen. It became known as 'Burnsforce' after the commander Brigadier L.B.D Burns, CBE, DSO, MC. The first wave consisted of A, B and D Company, 4/5 Royal Scots Fusiliers. Travelling with them were the two FOOs of 9 Medium Regiment: Captain Rowland Jones with A Company and Captain Howard with B Company 4/5 RSF. The guns of the regiment were positioned in Kloosterzande (see map above). At 0345 hrs the LVTs carrying these troops left port and became waterborne, moving out into the Scheldt to an assembly area. LVTs provided by the 5th Assault Regiment RE (specifically 79 Assault Sqn RE) were Buffaloes.
At 0445 hr the first wave of A, B and D Companies landed on Green Beach. The sea wall proved a more difficult obstacle than expected and some trouble was experienced disembarking men and stores. A number of enemy were dug into the dyke (sea wall) and machine-gunned the landing beach from the direction of Hoedekenskerke. B Company set to work to silence these positions. Lieutenant Dempsey led his platoon in a charge against the enemy on the dyke. He was killed in the action as well as two privates.
Meanwhile D Company moved off left to clear the sea wall of enemy and head inland toward Bakendorp. A Company stayed in their LVTs (sufficient craft had managed to get over the sea wall) and pushed on inland in the direction of the railway station. Just short of this point the leading LVT came under close range fire from an anti-tank gun. Its first shot missed as did its second but the gun needed to be dealt with. There was some hesitation as the ramps of the LVTs could not be lowered owing to the fact that the men were so tightly packed in the craft; it had been necessary to do this because of vehicle casualties. Quick thinking, Corporal Allan leapt over the side of the LVT and killed the crew of the gun with well aimed Sten gun fire. He suppressed the position with his Sten until the rest of the men could extricate themselves from the LVT and assist. The advance continued and Allan was awarded the DCM for his part in this action.
The second and third waves were delayed in landing and had to lay off the coast. At this time they came under inaccurate machine-gun fire from Hoedekenskerke. The landings were eventually completed at 0645 hrs and HQ 4/5 RSF set up at Bakendorp. The beach became a dangerous place as it was shelled and mortared and casualties were suffered among the soldiers unloading and assembling there.
By 1000hrs B and D Companies were on their objectives, and could survey the landscape: large fields, divided by earth dykes, each with a ditch running along one side; the odd farmhouse could be seen; the Dutch farmers had collected in the potato crop which was stacked in mounds here and there, covered by straw and earth to protect it from the frost.
A company was hampered by the loss of one platoon, which had landed on the wrong beach. It was also meeting stiffer opposition. During the afternoon, the enemy launched a determined counter attack, supported by heavy mortar and artillery fire. Captain Rowland Jones and his OP party directed fire onto the attack and successfully broke it up. Later, just after dusk, the forward platoon of A Company was driven back to Coy HQ by further enemy attacks (around 150 men). Though in a very exposed position, artillery fire was brought down very close to the 9th Medium Regiment's OP with devastating effect on the German infantry, thus saving the situation.
C Company (landing in the third wave) were reported as nearing their objective by 14.20 hrs on the 26th. The leading platoon came under heavy fire from a wood, and German troops managed to infiltrate behind them, cutting them off from the rest of the Company. They managed to extricate themselves from this situation but because there was little contact with forward Companies and Battalion HQ it was believed that C Company had suffered severe casualties in this encounter with the enemy.
All positions were to be held so that the follow up troops (7 Cameronians) could push through and continue the advance towards Molenburg the following day. Given the lack of information from the forward companies, Lieut Ogaard and 27 men, who had just arrived as part of the build up, were sent forward to make contact with A Company and then to the unfortunate C Company, taking up position there to help hold against further enemy attacks. This party moved off at 2200 hrs, and on their way made contact with Lieut Currie of C Company who had been sent to report that casualties had not been so severe and all was in fact well.
During the night, 9 AGRA guns harassed the enemy positions and patrol activity kept the companies in contact with each other. B Company patrolled along the dyke between themselves and A Company meeting only scattered, unaimed shots. D Company also patrolled to A and C locations.
At first light on the 27th C Company advanced to K L Reinhouts Polder, taking over 100 POWs, which were completely shattered by the shelling from 9 AGRA. Later in the day (around 18.00hrs) German infantry put in a determined counter-attack against B Company from Hoedekenskerke. They were driven into shelter by the small arms fire of B Company. Captain Howard (9 Medium Regiment FOO) and his OP party joined in. The fighting was at close quarters and Howard used his Bren gun to effect, killing an enemy soldier at 30 yards range. The enemy brought a mortar into action which Howard also dealt with. On attempting to retreat, the enemy were then caught in the open by the fire of 9th Medium Regiment's 5.5 inch guns - the few that survived fled back to the relative safety of Hoedekenskerke.
At first light on the 29th, 4/5 RSF were ordered to attack and take Hoedekenskerke. The plan was to advance along the dyke leading from B Company position to the village itself, and link up with Canadian 2nd Division troops, who having moved along the isthmus connecting the mainland with South Beveland, were in striking distance of the beachhead. 9 AGRA were to provide a covering bombardment on Hoedekenskereke and on woods and roads to the left of the village to protect the flank.
B Company advanced, followed by C and occupied the town practically without any opposition as the enemy that were left were so stunned by the bombardment that they surrendered gladly. The town was quickly cleared of a few very frightened Germans. Contact was made shortly after with Canadian Recce Regiment.
Hoedekenskerke was very badly damaged and flooded. Furthermore, the civilian population were in a very sorry state because little medical care had been available for three days. 4/5 RSF quickly established a temporary hospital and the wounded were attended to. Patrols were organised, who moved westwards mopping up any enemy left in the area. Kwaddendamme was entered and found deserted. The battle was over and the battalion rested and licked its wounds.
Reflecting on the operation, the following notes were made and filed in 4/5 RSF War Diary:
"To my mind the outstanding lesson is the correct use of Arty fire power in overwhelming and crushing strength...it was the heavy and accurate firepower of 9 AGRA that helped us most in the Beach-head. If fire of that weight can be brought down at the right place and right time and the Inf can follow up quickly, the results are decisive. By this treatment the enemy is stunned, his will to fight crushed and the Inf can kill or capture him with comparative ease."