Thursday 1.3.45
Moved forward this morning to village of Hulm, about 2 miles S. of Goch. Goch itself a terrible shambles: practically every building and house damaged: Centre of town almost wiped out. Our bombers raided this town (and Cleve) (Kleve on the Michelin Map) the night before present offence started.
Precise location of enemy not certain, but we are under fire here. Only a few cottages in Hulm - and remains of the village church. My troop harboured in church: several gaping holes in roof and walls, but we have found one or two sheltered corners in the place.
Friday 2.3.45
Remained at Hulm all day. Crews very busy hunting chickens, ducks, eggs etc. Some civvies in the area. They seem quite docile.
Slept on floor between 2 rows of pews last night. We have a huge brazier made from dustbin for warmth - located in centre of main aisle: plenty of timber for fuel. Chickens and ducks for lunch - roasted in ammo tin over brazier: graveyard surrounding church now resembles a poultry farm. Several crews are keeping live hens for eggs - wire netting enclosures around gravestones.
In between graves - many hit by HE - infantry have dug slit trenches. Whole scene is rather fantastic and unreal. Dead horse among graves: wooden cross now serving as hen-perch: steel helmet in slit trench containing portion of man's head: church tapestries, carpets etc being used for bedding: steel safe in vestry still locked in spite of infantry's efforts to burst it open with A.P. rounds.
Front has moved forward today, so we may have quieter night tonight - and easier guard! Jerry '88 close by - now wrecked - also 75 mortar. Dicky and I "spiked" the latter.
Saturday 3.3.45
Still at Hulm. May move forward today but not certain: too much stuff on main roads. Recce officers Honey went up on mine this am. seeking a route to the front.
Later. No move today: perhaps tomorrow. Believe the tanks are temporarily "frozen" owing to enormous demand on the roads. And moving across country is impossible in this land of ditches, bogs, floods, rivers, mines and tank ditches: also, practically all bridges are blown.
Tank crews having a good time looting in this locality. There are many empty houses - mostly well battered - and much stuff is being unearthed, particularly clothing, sheets, towels, pillow cases etc - mostly new - and, significantly, bearing Dutch labels. It would appear that the looters are now being looted -!! Some of the houses are still occupied, but the civvies seem quite docile. In this connection, I have seen a few German males of about 30 years, and apparently quite healthy, calmly idling about the farms and cottages. Cannot help wondering whether they are deserters from their army. Food seems quite plentiful with these Germans. Several of our lads have asked for, and received, home cured bacon and ham. And in the empty houses, large quantities of lard and bottled foods have been found - and used!
Several dead cattle in this locality - also a few bodies. One of the latter - a mutilated German, was being eaten by a hen and a cat simultaneously today.
Sunday 4.3.45
We left Hulm at 11.30 today - en route for Walbeck - about 20 miles south, but we only travelled about 7 miles and were then stopped on the main Venlo-Nijmegen road and "frozen" again. So we are now harboured in various cottages just off the main road. A wretched day - heavy rain and cold. We all got soaked on the journey. Depressing countryside too, Terribly flat, badly water-logged, ditches by the mile: all road bridges blown, but now "Bailey bridged." Much damage to property: roads also very badly cut up: mines are plentiful too, and many of the roads bear the horrible sign "verge not checked." Have today seen more of Jerries Siegfried defences - mostly trenches - endless miles of them, also tank ditches, mostly flooded.
The cottages we are now occupying - in Holland - are badly damaged, but we have made them habitable after clearing tons of debris. Had a job finding a stove, but eventually rigged up a crude stove from bits of scrap iron found in neighbouring barns etc. Todays departure caused a complication with the live hens, but the lads never seem to be daunted. My crew packed their two hens in a Compo box - and J????? packed his cock and five hens in a sack -!! When "unpacked", our two had laid one egg - broken, but J's had laid two - unbroken!!
Two letters from Jess today. Sleeping on a wooden form tonight. Too many mice in the house for my liking. Our room is leaking water - but we hope for a fine night! Still doing guards every night. Capt Link now temporary OC - whilst Major Holden is Batt 2 i/c in Major Massy's absence on leave.