After two years intensive training as a machine-gun battalion the 1st Battalion, commanded by Lieut Colonel Charles Harrington took part in the invasion of Europe. Bren gun carriers, equipment and men moved on 18 June 1944 from Faversham station to West India Docks in London where all was loaded onto the SS Samneva. The battalion landed at Arromanches on 26th June, D-Day plus 20, as the Machine Gun Support Battalion of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. The battalion took part in the general British and Canadian attack on the German positions in the eastern sector, designed to pin down the enemy armour while the US Army in the western sector was staging its break-out from the beaches.
On 2 August 1944 the battalion was engaged in a large and successful operation at Mont Pincon. The battalion crossed the River Seine on 30th August and reached Antwerp on 8 September. In October it spent some weeks in the Nijmegen bridgehead, in the attack & capture of s’Hertogenbosch. Then forcing the crossing of the Wessem Canal in bitterly cold weather in a desolate waterlogged countryside.
The battalion then went into reserve but was quickly ordered to man a section of the River Dyle, between Louvain and Genappes, when Von Runstedt delivered his counter offensive through the Ardennes. In one counter-attack in the Ardennes the machine guns and heavy mortars of the battalion were the only supporting weapons available and had to be manhandled through deep snow.
The battalion took part in the attack on Grimblemont and then withdrew towards Eindhoven. It was then involved in heavy fighting in the Reichswald Forest and at the end of March 1945 assisted in the capture of Bocholt. On 12 April it was involved in hard fighting at Rethem and Verden, which fell on 17 April. On 4 May the battalion entered Hamburg and whilst there the German Army surrendered. The battalion moved to Schleswig Holstein helping to collect the German Army coming down from Denmark.
The battalion then moved to Essen, relieving an American Parachute Regiment, before joining 5th Division in Seesen on the edge of the Harz Mountains, south east of Hanover. Returned to England in 1947 and amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion in May 1948.
For further reading I suggest that you obtain a copy of The Manchester Regiment 1922-1948 by A C Bell which is certainly available through your local library inter-library lending service.
Robert
