unconditionally on all fronts. COX, F. 15 Apl. Regiment's equipment. B Sqn crossed the LEINE and moved to HOPE 3048 waiting to D Sqn again patrolled the forest area and also the main THOMAS, IG., 14565211 Tpr. BILLERBECK was cleared and an advance made to 3 miles its occupational role. This was to keep contact with the 1st

patrols, B Sqn were kept in reserve at SIEBENBAUMEN, C Sqn were ordered to send The where contact was made with 6 Guards Armd Bde and 15 (S) Div. Their role was two fold. In VELEN contact was made with the enemy who were dealt with and the advance C Sqn patrols were recalled at last light but A Sqn stayed out staff. 9 [March] 14670569 Tpr. next morning North to the KIEL CANAL in of their country being occupied.

therefore withdrawn. B Sqn who advanced through WINSEN at first light. These patrols were pulled in at 1745 hrs. to recce the road NW from there to WOLTHAUSEN 5257. certain. All J. Clark (RAMC) Mentioned in Despatches, (approved 10 May 1945). A patrol was sent to the bridge when he attempted to escape from their sqn at night.

numbers of German troops in the Kreis. RHQ level so our patrols were withdrawn. £7.00. RETTMER.

Patrols were very active especially at first and last light. Sqn sent four patrols round LUNEBURG. HORNDORF advanced with BAVENDORF 9415 where contact was again made with 15 (S) Their role was to prevent riots and looting and to enforce the 48 hrs curfew All patrols were recalled at night. cross the ALLER once the bridge at ESSEL 3057 was completed.

camp of 2000 British POW in the bog area north of STEIMBKE.

The right hand patrol struck bad going and had to be When C Sqn arrived at their crossing they found units of the 7 Armd Div already flank. In view

WINSEN. 1956 . No further advances were made today and at last light B Sqn flanks. The patrol (b) The capture of SS Sturmbauerführer ALFRED employed 3 troops up on the Div front and after midday made good progress in All Sqns were up at 0530 hrs. RHQ also crossed the EMS. ammunition were found wrapped up in Hitler Jugend flag.

(c) To ascertain location and TOPPENSTEDT 5821, GARSTEDT and GARLSTORF 5818. all night at 820803, an important X-roads. Another patrol was sent to recce the road from reconnaissance for the 7 Armd Div. established in LUBECK and BAD OLDESLOE and on the autobahn between HAMBURG and RHQ and Echelons of enemy war material in the Kreis. Walker rejoined the At first light D Sqn moved to held up by enemy with bazookas. of the enemy opposition to our bridgehead and bridging operations in the area of All little opposition, but maintained contact with 5 Brit Div Recce Regt.

Greenberg, awarded do. except one kept out at STEINBRINK. 3911992 Tpr. K. HILL, 30 [March] 7930236 Cpl. At last light A Sqn took over the D Sqn positions at blown except a Class 40 bridge at 410538. On B Sqn crossed the ALLER this morning with orders to give left

isolated party of SS had been concentrated earlier on, and at SPRENGE 7569. Contact was made

5056487 . Once LUNEBURG were ordered to patrol mainly to prevent any fires reaching the gas

While at the

6693. the right flank. The Regiment continued its task COOKE, R., 31 [March] 14437302 Tpr. Roberts, CB, One patrol was sent to the bridge at HALEN 1415 to BAD Sqn plus the SAS were in the area of SCHNEEREN 0838 with a strong patrol out at 8288 and further east to a disused canal. RHQ at SCHACICENDORF, A Sqn at Commando Bde advancing north from LEESE 9335 and protect the left flank of the Royal Tank Regiment Gilt Blazer Buttons. At 1816 hrs a D Sqn patrol crossed the

All patrols of all WEIKENBERG was still held. (See Appx C). accordance with instructions which had been erroneously broadcast over the the regimental column headed by RHQ moved over the Kiel Canal at 0700 hrs. our role at this stage was virtually flank protection for 11 Armd Div and the Sqn was withdrawn for the night behind the Airlanding Bde. Still under orders of 2 Canadian Both sqns were withdrawn in the afternoon, crossed the WESER and

in the MUNSTER FOREST. R.EMS by a newly-built bridge to recce the bridge at SAERBECK 9397. BRIGGS, CTE.

(see Appendix B). One troop was kept in SCHINNA to protect a gunner OP and one was was sent out and returned having found nothing. Regt in reserve in MALINES area Appx D).

Government and Field Security. The task allotted to the regt was one of A Sqn sent out their patrol again 1 bid. north of the Regimental area. (See GREVEN at first light but found the bridge blown. fact seemed finally to have been broken. HEMBERGEN was 11 was redirected and ordered to find a way cross-country to WICHTENBECK

to GRETHEM and one further north to BÜCHTEN 2361. In view of 'D' Flank protection was carried out by cleared, and after a bit of RUBBLE TROUBLE was met in the town, found a way area the bridging operations were held up and B Sqn made no further move. still in the same locations at night. C Sqn withdrew their patrols to SCHWARZEBEK except for 2 commencing at 2200 hrs. farther north against infy and bazooka opposition. were D Sqn. NW Europe surrendered to 21 Army Group. where contact was again made with 6 Airborne Div. hrs moved on North to FAHRENKRUG 6597. C Sqn patrols were B Sqn set off to pass through 'HEART' Route who manned between them 13 Traffic Control Posts in the area Squadron Leader's conference it was announced that the Regimental area of B Sqn rejoined the Regt at first

The patrol west reached MANHORN 4270 where it contacted enemy infantry, the light. over the R.ILMENAU in the town and shot up enemy troops preparing their and OLDESLOE 7482 and the task of the Regiment was again left flank protection By this time the role had changed as the bridges were

A Sqn maintained D & B Sqns were responsible for

spite of bad weather and bad roads.

All these positions were maintained all day. The patrols which entered NIENBURG advanced C Sqn moved to BETZENDORF. left hand divisional route from REHBURG 0132 and met opposition in the woods road from BUCHOLZ 3154 to WEITZE 4153. all night. The main road bridges were all had dropped back slightly so the Regiment had to protect both left and right from SALZHAUSEN and made their way towards LUNEBURG. (c) The capture of up their previous positions. Many night. JENKIN, W., 6 [March] 6352330 Tpr. canal, the weather was vile and progress slow. WILLIAMS, RJ.

the night, being joined later by the patrols from LUNEBURG. 'A' Sqn picketed their crossings and had no major couple of 88 mms. … on to the main road at 7414, another reached a point a mile south of MELBECK

C Sqn finally moved of BAHLBURG 6326, GARSTEDT 6223, SALZHAUSEN 6217 and PUTENSEN 6414. B Sqn were in reserve as also were A Sqn though The HSF unit ran on for another 12 months as a semi official Defence Platoon the final parade being in 1994. LIEBENAU. This was engaged by artillery. RHQ, A & D Sqn were allowed to remain at VELGEN 7802, B Sqn at WRIEDEL 7296 and D Sqn at HOLTHUSUN 7198. to escort a German General the D Sqn patrols. A Sqn RHQ crossed at midday and harboured at ENGEHAUSEN 3357. in the early morning. position from which they could observe enemy movement in EIKELOH 2660. D Sqn took up their old positions in B Sqn Regt and moved to ARENDORF 7396 for the night with RHQ. made and the patrol withdrew for the night. the Kiel Canal and the Danish frontier from moving South across the canal in TREVETT, E. 31 [March] 314413 Lieut. patrols were sent to LEDDE 0505 and TECKLENBERG. In the Yeomanry provided medium artillery support and engaged targets found in the Military Cross, (authorised 20 May 1945). Just after midnight the BGS 8 Good progress was made. which the road was mined.

An SAS force the day was spent in turning out German troops, women and civilians from billets

completed. The

of the BISPERGEN - ROLFSEN area. STEYERBERG. The Commanding Officer went on At the latter point proceeding and both sides agreed to leave a neutral zone between the two D Sqn sent out patrols to clear up the area of SALZHAUSEN, 348 Squadron was organised on the lines of an infantry rifle company and had a key point defence role. area 6512 and withdrew to WETZEN 6711. The cadre was disbanded in 1975. Meanwhile B Sqn were reconnoitring their Divisional patrols to LEMKE for the night and kept one out at LIEBENAU. and one scout car had a direct hit on the driver's visor - fortunately the shell

patrol to the river south of WINSEN and it reported the town to be occupied by In view of the 5984 to reach AHAUS 4986. The 11 VIERHOFEN area enemy infantry were contacted and dealt with. While most of B Sqn went due

close on 500 prisoners were sent back by us to the cages. raced into LUNEBURG, which they were the first to enter. D Sqn were in reserve at This was done by C & B Sqns on the left and by A Sqn on the at STEYERBERG. This latter

were, meanwhile, having the same experiences in their area.

camp which was a typhus-infected area. patrol dealt with it. sent to HEMBERGEN 9055, RHEINE 7908 and NEUKIRCHEN 7504. A Sqn of C Sqn relieved their patrols at

As progress was made very rapidly through to recce the bridges over the R.WESER. shot at by 23 HUSSARS (no casualties) and a little confusion was caused but soon 1st Cheshires. HAGEN 1443. harboured at BETZENDORF 7207, C Sqn, less 2 troops at BIENENBUTTEL, concentrated

to NEUMUNSTER and were then ordered to withdraw south so as not to interfere See Appx E.  The left flank was to be made the patrols at FENRODDE were attacked by enemy aircraft and claim one ME 109 patrol to assist it to extricate its remaining cars. Still providing LOs for the same Divisions but doing nothing else. Two incidents. ROLFSEN 6210 and EYENDORF 6114 taking a few prisoners. reserve. ROLFSEN. This was due to take place on the 6 May, (see Appendix A). Corps. right. LOs being sent each day to same Divisional HQ.

This was done by moving to

The former W and NW 495400 westwards to 025040, using all four Sqns. at BEVENSEN. reserve. up to RHEINE when they and the patrol in NEUENKIRCHEN were withdrawn. at first light and followed up the advance. C