Normandy, June to August 1944

Plans for the liberation of France, as the next step towards final victory, had long been in preparation, and early in 1944 began to take definite shape. The systematic bombing of the German installations, communications and ports was begun, and an early date in June for the landing operations was decided on. The American General Eisenhower was appointed as the Supreme Commander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery being given charge of the landing operations of both British and American troops.

D Day was on 6th June. On the previous night the invasion flotillas crossed the Channel. In the darkness of early morning the airborne troops landed on their objectives inland. Covered by in-tense naval and aerial bombardment, the British effected landings near Caen and the Americans on the coast west of Bayeux. Against fierce resistance bridgeheads were established into which reinforcements were poured while the Germans rushed up their reserves for counter-attack. Caen caused some delay and two months' bitter fighting in Normandy followed. General Montgomery's vigorous offensive held the German armour while the Americans farther west made a "right hook" which ended in the surrounding of the elements of some fourteen divisions of the German Seventh Army in the Falaise Pocket, with all their guns and transport. By 21st August the battle was over; 25,000 Germans had surrendered.

The enemy thereupon retreated north and north-east, pursued by the Allies. Paris was liberated on 25th August and Brussels on 3rd September. The Channel ports were either taken or invested one by one, and the pursuit continued through Holland to the River Maas.

Meanwhile, the American armies had cleared the South and East of France.

The Regiment in Normandy

The first five months of 1944 were a period of intensive training for the three service battalions in England, the 2nd, 8th and 12th.

The 2nd Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. Heathcoat-Amory, landed with the 4th Armoured Brigade in Normandy on 7th June, with motor companies under the command of armoured regiments, each regiment supporting one of the three brigades of the 51st (Highland) Division. The Battalion was continually in action, mostly with motor companies under their armoured regiments, the Brigade supporting various infantry divisions in turn.

The 12th Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. Oxley, landed on 15th June with the 8th Armoured Brigade. They took part in the 49th Division's attack on Rauray under Major-General (later Lieutenant-General Sir E. Barker, of the Regiment; and after a short rest took over a sector of the line east of Caumont, at very close quarters to the Germans. This was followed by a successful battalion attack at Robin on 1st August, with two troops of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards (tanks) in support, against strong enemy opposition including tanks.

In June the Regiment lost Lieutenant-Colonel H. R. Woods, D.S.O., M.C., killed in action in command of a battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.

The Falaise Pocket

Both the 2nd and 12th Battalions took part in the fighting round Falaise. At the end of this operation the 2nd Battalion, with the 44th Royal Tank Regiment, cleared a section of the pocket and captured many thousands of prisoners. During this time the 12th Battalion had some hard fighting near Danvou.

8th Battalion Disbanded

Owing to the heavy casualties incurred by the other battalions the War Office decided to disband the 8th Battalion at the moment when they were due to embark for Normandy. The Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel C. T. Mitford-Slade, had reached a high state of efficiency after long training. Most of the personnel were drafted to the 2nd and 12th Battalions, for which they proved most valuable and timely reinforcements.

The Pursuit into Belgium, August 1944

The Battle of Normandy was over and the pursuit northwards began during the last week of August. Armour played a prominent part and both battalions, with their respective armoured brigades, were well to the fore. The 2nd Battalion advanced to the Seine and crossed by Bailey bridge at Louviers on 28th August. The 12th Battalion crossed at Vernon the same day, both crossings being almost unopposed.

The 2nd Battalion advanced to the Somme without any pause, brushing aside light opposition and capturing numerous prisoners. A stiff enemy pocket was encountered on 1st September at Airaines, where their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Little-dale, D.S.O., was killed in the town. From Airaines the pursuit continued. The Somme was crossed at Picquiny, and Auxi le Chateau, St. Poi, Lille and Oudenarde were captured in quick succession. Everywhere the Allied armies received a tumultuous welcome from the French and Belgians. There was a sharp and successful encounter at Oudenarde in Belgium, and the advance continued to Termonde, Hamme and St. Nicholas. On one day the Brigade made an advance of eighty-five miles.

The 12th Battalion advanced to Beauvais, crossed the Somme and had a stiff encounter at Doullens. The advance continued without respite through Arras, Vimy and Lille, into Belgium, then Brussels, Louvain and Aerschot against slight opposition. Enormous numbers of prisoners were taken by both battalions all the way.

During this advance, unparalleled for its speed, opposition was bypassed and left for the troops following up or often sharply attacked and overcome. The very high standard of maintenance of the Regiment proved its worth and remarkably few vehicles broke down.

The Arnhem Operation

On 17th September three airborne divisions were dropped in a large area from Arnhem to Eindhoven. The plan was for the Second Army to link up with the nearest airborne troops at Eindhoven and to advance and cross the Rhine by the bridges which the 1st British Airborne Division had captured at Arnhem. The 12th Battalion, with a squadron of tanks, was to lead the 43rd Division, which was advancing with the Guards Armoured Division.

After protecting Eindhoven from the east the Battalion moved to Nijmegen and prepared for an attack on Arnhem bridge. However, the 1st Airborne Division could not hold out any longer and after heavy losses were withdrawn before the attack could take place. The Battalion took part in severe fighting in that area until 1st October, when they were relieved and went into reserve.

Winter in Holland, 1944-45

The winter was spent in opening up the port of Antwerp and clearing up to the River Maas. This involved several long and bitter operations, with limited objectives but heavy fighting. Every yard was fiercely contested by the Germans. In October the British XII Corps attacked north up to the Maas Estuary on a very wide front. The 2nd Battalion took part in some fierce fighting west of Tilburg. In November the 2nd Battalion were under the 49th Infantry Division (Major-General E. H. Barker,' D.S.O., M.C.) in an operation clearing up to the Maas east of Eindhoven. In January the 12th Battalion took part in the 7th Armoured Division attack east of the Maas to clear the Heinsburg—Roermond—Sittard triangle, with the 2nd Battalion supporting this attack from the flank.

For the rest of the winter both battalions had long periods of holding very extended sections of the front, with the duty of pre-tending that they were in greater strength than, in fact, they were. Intensive patrolling and harassing achieved this; many gallant patrols were carried out with great success and earned high praise from the Higher Command for "the keenness, energy and offensive spirit of all ranks " in continuous operations in which they " had always borne the main burden" (Order by the Commander, 4th Armoured Brigade).

The Reichswald Forest

In February and March, 1945, both battalions took part in the battle of the Reichswald Forest which was to clear the country right up to the Rhine.

These operations saw extremely fierce fighting. Rain and mud added to the difficulties. The 2nd Battalion fought without rest from 27th February until 3rd March, day and night, in a series of gallant attacks against German paratroops holding the Schleiffen Line. Near Udem they were transported for the first time in Kangaroos (Sherman tanks with the turrets removed for troop carrying). On 3rd March they were relieved by one of our affiliated regiments, the Regina Rifles of Canada, and were moved back to Bourg Leopold to reorganize for the Rhine crossing. Casualties had been heavy in officers and other ranks, but the attacks had been entirely successful.

The 12th Battalion also had severe fighting around Goch with companies under the command of their armoured regiments. They also suffered heavy casualties in a series of successful battles.

Crossing the Rhine and the End of the Campaign

On 23rd March, 1945, 40,000 airborne troops were landed across the Rhine between Rees and Wesel and the last stage of the campaign began. Both the 2nd and 12th Battalions were concentrated with their respective formations just behind the river. Little more than twenty-four hours before H Hour the officers of the two battalions were playing an Eton football match. On 24th March the 2nd Battalion crossed the Rhine with motor platoons riding on the Greys' tanks, carriers and other vehicles crossing on other ferries. The 12th Battalion crossed three days later. The assault had been successful, but opposition increased as the advance continued. For much of the time the battalions were with an armoured regiment of their brigade, advancing on a single road with one platoon /troop leading. When opposition was met a company/squadron, or perhaps more, was deployed, and the enemy was attacked and frequently outflanked. Surprisingly, the Germans fought with remarkable determination. At other times the battalions were in their familiar role of guarding a flank of a division.

The 12th Battalion on several occasions sent motor companies to work with armoured regiments, who in turn were under different divisions of the Corps.

When the "Cease Fire" sounded on 5th May, 1945, the 2nd Battalion had reached Hamburg, their advance having taken them through Bocholt, Vreden, Rheine, Neuenkirchen, Bramsche, Deipholz, Sulzingen, the outskirts of Bremen and Luneburg. The 12th Battalion had reached Bremervorde, north-west of Bremen, having advanced through Vaarseveld, Neede, Enschede, Lingen, Kloppenberg, Bremen and Zeven.

The German armies in North-West Germany, Holland and Denmark surrendered unconditionally to Field-Marshal Montgomery on 5th May, 1945. A similar surrender took place to the American Army and on the Russian Front. So ended, in complete victory, the Second World War in Europe.

End Of The War

The advance of the British-American armies into the West of Germany had coincided with the Russian invasion from the east. When hostilities ceased the Russians had occupied East Prussia and Berlin, Hungary and the eastern part of Austria. A line of demarcation between the Allied armies was agreed upon and all the remaining German forces capitulated to the respective occupying armies.

Japan, Germany's last ally, capitulated on 15th August, 1945, after the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The liberation of Burma, Singapore and the French, British and Dutch territories in the East Indies and China followed soon afterwards.

At the end of the war Germany and the countries which had joined her in aggression were occupied by the victorious Allies and the new world organization known as the United Nations was inaugurated to conclude peace and if possible to make it permanent

War Memorials

The names of those who gave their lives are recorded in the Roll of Honour Book of the two World Wars in Winchester Cathedral.

The Memorial Fund has been chiefly allotted to the benefit of some 300 children whose fathers lost their lives in the Regiment during the war.

A Greenjacket Memorial to those of the three Rifle battalions who fell in the defence of Calais, May, 1940, will be erected on the quay of Calais harbour.

Welfare of Riflemen and their Families

No summary of the Regiment's story in the Second World War would be complete without reference to the welfare organizations at home which have stood high in the estimation and gratitude of the men who fought at the front. It was the object of the Regiment to make every Rifleman feel sure, while he was away, or if he were taken prisoner of war (the episodes of Calais, Greece and Crete were responsible for many prisoners), or if he were wounded, or if he fell in battle, that he would not call on the Regiment in vain, either for his relatives or for himself. Thanks to the work of the Riflemen's Aid Society, the Ladies' Guild, the Prisoners' Parcels Depot, and the ladies' organization for visiting the hospitals; thanks also to those who generously provided the funds which enabled the work to be done, this object was largely achieved. The work is being carried on still, with the active help of the numerous branches of the K.R.R.C. Association, which now have a membership of well over 4,000.

After The War

At the conclusion of hostilities in Europe and as soon as the surrender and disposal of the enemy forces had been completed, the 1st Battalion remained with the army of occupation in Italy and Austria, and the 12th Battalion in Germany.

The 2nd Battalion moved into Denmark and from there, at the end of July, returned home preparatory to proceeding to the Far East. The war with Japan, however, came to an end and the Battalion was sent to Tripoli and later to Palestine.

The 12th Battalion was in Hanover until February, 1946, when it was disbanded.

The Regiment's Services

When the Second World War ended there remained on the field, as has been seen, four service battalions of the Regiment: the 1st in Austria, the 2nd and 12th (Queen's Westminsters) in North Germany, and the 11th (Queen's Westminsters) in Greece. The 7th and 8th Battalions (Queen Victoria's Rifles) had been disbanded in the autumn of 1942, and in September, 1944, respectively. The 9th Battalion (Rangers) had been disbanded in July, 1942, and the 10th Battalion (Rangers) had become a training battalion.

The war services of the Regiment may be summed up as follows:

Calais, May, 1940: 2nd and 7th Battalions.
North Africa, 1940-43: 1st, 2nd, 9th and 11th Battalions.
Italy, 1943-45: 1st, 2nd and 11th Battalions.
France,Belgium, Holland and Germany, 1944-45: 2nd and 12th Battalions.
Greece and Crete,1941: 9th Battalion

Officers: killed and died, 159.
Other ranks: killed and died, 986.
The number of wounded and missing probably exceeded 8,000.