C O P Y
HQ Squadron,
1st S.A.S. Regt.,
c/o 2nd Army HQ,
B.L.A.
12th April, 1945
My dear Mike or John,
I do not know which of you is Adjutant at the moment,
if it is Mike I expect you are still pale, sallow and worn, while our faces
are 'broowwn'. If it is John I hope you enjoyed and finished OK your jumping.
Well I am writing this to try and give you an idea what
is happening here, and would like you to forward this letter to Paddy, and I
believe he is off in battle, but have no definite news of him or "C" Squadron
and would like it very much.
We are fairly well, and the men are in good form, the
fighting is very hard and we have mixed it many times with the Hun, and they
are all S.S., the real thing and no doubt about it, although they no longer
have an organised defence they are fighting cleverly in a guerilla role, and
I can assure you they are far better at it then our friends the Maquis. As
you have heard by signal, I hope, we have suffered casualties, and on each
occasion the chaps have fought magnificently, and killed many S.S. and
captured a large number.
Each Troop, i.e. Tonkin, Welsted, and Muirhead, have
had three actions each. Welsted's Troop had a rather sticky one last Sunday,
8th April, 45, and suffered casualties, which have all been signalled but I
will put them down again.
Captain Welsted. Wounded in both legs below the knees,
but very cheerful and I think will be OK. He tried to advance through a hail
of bullets to a wounded man. Is now in hospital.
Tpr Owen, MM. A 2ns SAS signaller lent to us. Shot
through both arms and is now in hospital.
Sgt DuVivier. Wounded in leg, not very serious, was able
to walk about, drove jeep back, now in hospital.
Tpr Blakeney. Killed, shot through stomach and head.
Tpr Clyde. Killed, German Bazooka landed about two yards
from his jeep. His head was nearly blown off.
Tpr Davies. Killed, body wound.
Tpr Backhouse. Wounded, he is in hospital.
Tpr Ferguson. Wounded and prisoner, at first believed
killed, but later heard of in German Hospital, not yet in our hands, and
wounded in shoulder. Reported to be in good spirits, as you know he is my
batman it is a great loss and blow to me to have lost him, I hope to get him
back when we overrun his hospital. He did a very brave thing, dashing forward
to reach a wounded man when two attempts had already failed. I am putting him
in for a gong also the chap who rescued Ian Welsted.
4 jeeps were lost. We have recaptured three, and one is OK.
The other two complete write-off.
Well, I have drawn a rough sketch of the battle, and will
try to explain what happened. Wellsted's troop was sent with one armoured car
and two scout cars to act as flank guard on the left and Northern flank of the
main advance. They advanced through the large wood shown on sketch, up the
track from the South to X roads B and along west, till at A they were fired
on by the bazookas and heavy SA fire. The enemy had let the AFVs through, a
fierce battle lasting ten minutes took place, we lost one jeep, one man killed
/2.........
-2-
but took two prisoners, it was absolutely impossible to see the enemy as
the woods were too thick.
We were at a terrible disadvantage standing up high on the
road firing our Vickers while the enemy were lying in the undergrowth. We
then, plus the AFVs, withdrew to X roads B and prepared to make a stand, as
it was now known that our line of withdrawal to our own lines was cut off, the
enemy closed in on three sides, his main attack coming from the South. We
still could not see him but were suffering casualties from his SA fire. After
about 15 minutes he launched 3 AFVs up the track. It was not until the leading
vehicle was within 50 yards did it fire and we could definitely say it was
enemy. Then I got our armoured car to come up and bolt it with its two pounder,
which it did with great success. It knocked out one and damaged another, the
crews baled out into the woods, the third vehicle turned out to be a troop
carrier, and a large number of troops got out into the woods, and tried to close
in on us. The chaps fought like devils, firing everything they had. After
about ten minutes I saw we were outnumbered and positioned, and the casualties
mounting rapidly, so I gave orders for us to form a body in all the jeeps still
serviceable, got the wounded on board, and made a dash for it towards C, turn
right down the track which would bring us down to our own lines.
This was done. I sent Johnny Cooper off with the wounded first
at top speed, then made a dash with the rest later. The Jerry was about 30
yards away when we left, and believe me I never thought the old jeeps were so
slow, 50 miles an hour seemed a snail's pace. The first vehicle we met in our
own lines was an ambulance, which was lucky, so we got the wounded straight
aboard. I then went and asked for tanks to clear the wood in an attempt to
reach Ferguson and Blakeney who had been overrun and captured. This was
promised and the time was about 3 p.m. The Padre, Sgt. Terry, Harrison (my
signaller) went back to recce the woods and await the tanks. On approaching
the woods we met a Polish POW who told us he had just seen approximately
80/100 SS at crossroads B, 5 AFVs and 2 British wounded being quite well looked
after. It was not until about 7 p.m. that the tanks arrived, but the Jerry had
gone. We however recovered the bodies of Blakeney and Glyde, and had a burial
service next day. Later when the town of Nienburg, map reference 010500 fell,
we reached the hospital and found the body of Davies in a coffin, he was then
buried with the other two. Nienburg was the SS HQ, we guessed they were taken
there, and it was there that we received the news about Ferguson.
The lesson learned was, do not sit in woods with jeeps, also
Tony Trower's armour and windscreen was pierced by German SA. We are now being
very cunning about our battles and refusing to enter woods until we are sure
they are clear, open country is the only place for us. The map reference of
the wood and crossroads is 076421, Sheet number N3 (Minden) 1/100,000.
On the 10th April 45 Muirhead's troop had a very successful action,
against SS, capturing 30/40 and killing and wounding 6, no casualties ourselves.
I think we are getting this work fairly tied up.
The account of other actions will come later, as I am getting
the officers to write them up.
If Bill Fraser is back with you, give him all our regards. I
hope his hand is better. Also kick the wee man up the pants, what news of him,
please write.
Last night Tom Moore brought me a message from Mike Blackman
saying Paddy's casualties were two officers wounded, 15 other ranks and 4 jeeps
missing, but that they had taken approximately 200 prisoners. Jolly good. Let
me have further details as to wounded and missing please.
Today, 13th April, 45, all my troops are resting, as the country
immediately ahead is very woody and not our cup of tea at all.
Please have this letter typed and a copy sent to Paddy, and one
filed away safely, as it is in a way a sitrep, I find it hard to keep things up
here in that line.
To date we have killed approx 189 enemy, captured 233, and taken
much equipment - approx 37 Panzerfaust, 42 MGs, 1 88mm, 1 searchlight, and many
more light weapons.
/3......
-3-
Well cheerio for now, lets have your news,
Yours ever,
(Signed) H. POAT
P.S. Our new address is HQ 8th Corps (Main), 2nd Army, BLA.