The Rushden Echo and Argus, 2^nd March, 1945

“Argus” Man as Guest of County Regiment
Stirring Story of Exploits of Northants Yeomanry
Chats With Local Men

By F. W. Skinner

  This week we present the impressions of a representative of this journal who has just returned from a visit to the 21^st Army Group area, during when he spent a day with the Northants Yeomanry, visited general hospitals, convalescent homes, and several places of interest, and encountered a number of serving men whose homes are in this district.

Pulse Quickening Narrative
Northants Yeomanry Have Been in the Thick of the Fighting

  The highlight of my trip was a visit to the Northants Yeomanry, which is serving as a Tank unit.  I was given a most cordial reception.  Officers and men are in high fettle, but I found that they felt rather keenly the fact that though they have taken a prominent part in many important actions, not a word has appeared in print about their exploits.  I had to explain that this was not the fault of the local Press, which is always eager for news of Northamptonshire units.  This Battalions B and C Squadrons, it will be remembered, were quartered at Kettering Drill Hall at the outbreak of the war.

  I promised that, in so far as I was able, I would let Northamptonshire people know what this county unit had done since it went overseas last June.  Seated at a table in an estaminet, I drew from an officer a story which, despite its terse and restrained phrasing, revealed the Unit as having played a brilliant part in the fighting.  It has suffered losses, but it has inflicted greater ones, and the experiences shared by officers and men have strengthened the camaraderie which was always so marked in the Yeomanry.

  It was impressed upon me that the regiment is a very happy one, and certainly everyone I saw seemed to be in excellent spirits.

First in Caen

  Now for the plain, unvarnished story of the Unit’s experiences.

  The Unit landed in Normandy on June 13^th last year, and fought several actions on the bridgehead.  They claimed to be the first troops to enter Caen, having a patrol in that town the evening before the date of entering announced by the B.B.C.  The patrol got into the town, but found the going was bad, that further progress was impossible without the help of Engineers.  The Unit captured the heights under severe shellfire.  This was their first major action, and casualties were relatively light.

  Following this action, the regiment was held in reserve for a fortnight, and was then engaged in local actions at Noyres, Landel and Tessel-Bretteville.  These engagements were fought against heavy resistance, and anything which has been published concerning the part the Canadian troops played in them applies also to the Northants Yeomanry.

  After this the Americans began their advance from Avranches, and the military situation developed in a prospective encirclement in the Falaise area.

  During this time the regiment was engaged with the Canadian Army in exerting pressure on the left flank, pressing the Germans at Caen and preventing them from sending reinforcements to the American front.  When the Americans had advanced sufficiently and the Falaise pocket had been formed, an offensive was “laid on” by the Canadian Army to close the Falaise gap and complete the encirclement of the German troops.

“The Position was Held”

  The big offensive took place on the night of August 6^th/7^th, and the regiment formed the left flank of the Canadian Army attack.  An advance of four miles was made into the enemy’s gun lines during the night, and the Yeomanry attacked and captured a village, which they held, whilst other troops mopped up the rear area.  After a morning of continuous shelling, the Unit on the afternoon of August 8^th was repeatedly counter-attacked by tanks and infantry.  In the course of the day 22 enemy tanks were knocked out and many infantrymen killed.  The position was held.  From then onwards the Unit pressed the enemy to the River Seine, meeting sporadic and at time determined resistance, particularly at Lisieux, where S.S. formations were encountered.  When the regiment reached the River Seine it had been fighting continuously for over three weeks.  Some notable acts of individual gallantry were performed, and the men were always in good spirits.

  Particular credit is due to the lorry drivers, who never failed to bring up the rations personally.

Over 1,000 Prisoners

  Following a few days’ rest, the regiment took part in the battle of Le Havre, and well over 1,000 prisoners were taken, without loss to themselves.  This was a great tonic to the regiment, and a fitting climax to a month’s hard fighting.

  Then came a couple of weeks rest.  The fighting had shifted to Belgium, and in the general excitement the Unit began to feel it might not fire another shot.  Then they went to Holland and formed part of the British forces engaged in clearing the ground up to the River Maas.  This operation was designed, in co-operation with the Canadian Army, to free Antwerp.  It can be said that these series of battles were enjoyed by the regiment more than any other.  A lot of ground and many prisoners were taken.  Experience had taught the men how to fight to the best advantage without unnecessary casualties.

  During this period the regiment captured Vught, where the big German concentration camp was, and was also concerned in the liberation of S’Hertonbosch.  The campaign ended with the smashing victory at Ramsdank, where 100 Germans were killed, 320 taken prisoner, and eight armoured vehicles knocked out.

  The Unit was then sent to the East of Holland, where an arduous campaign was fought in very bad weather to clear the territory up to the River Maas in the region of Venloo.

Christmas Spoilt

  At last the regiment could take a rest, and looked forward to enjoying a Christmas celebration peacefully.  But this was not to be.  Everything was “laid on” – Christmas dinner, concert party, etc. – and the troops were happily settled with Dutch families.  Then orders were received at short notice to counter the German offensive.

  This takes the story of the Yeomanry exploits up to the end of 1944 which is as far as we are allowed to go.