TRANSCRIPT

Watch on the Maas

With the naval battle over the regiment went into defencive positions along the Maas River for the next 3 ½ months. The watch on the Maas was relatively quiet except for a daring daylight raid conducted by A Company at noon 17 January 1945. "Operation Schultz" as it was called was a huge success. Because of the terrain each platoon was dressed and equipped differently for identification. No.1 Platoon was to make the initial river crossing and wore winter clothing and were armed with Bren guns. No. 2 Platoon wore battle dress and beret and was lightly armed to speed their advance over the dyke and establishment of a firm base on the edge of the objective the town of Hoenzedril. No. 3 Platoon was to enter the town, capture prisoners and make themselves as disagreeable as possible, were equipped with PIAT's, flame throwers, phosphorous and fragmentation grenades and as personnel weapons Sten guns. They wore helmets and leather vests to protect them from flying rubble.
David Ratz