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Operations Report Pippingford Park Pippingford Park is located in Sussex and is used by theMOD as a training area. The majority of terrain is woodland, thick areas of bracken a steep ravine leading down to the river! A.I.M arrived at Pippingford Park late on Friday evening after a long drive to Birmingham. Along the way we met Private Daniel Barrell, as it turned out this was his first event, as a re-enactor and credit must be shown to him for getting all his kit together in time for the event. As we all know re-enacting is not a cheep hobby at all.
Loading clips for the M1 Garrand On Friday night we had a chance to meet the organiser of the event Pete Skillman who gave us an intro as to what will be happening over the weekend and what to expect. We learnt that we where expected to be ‘suited and booted’ by 08:00 hours on Saturday morning weapons and ammo sorted. Friday night was spent sleeping in the car where the valley echoed in the sounds of PFC Woods snoring!!!! An early wakeup call at 06:00 was given so we could join the queue for the hire of the weapons. After we all sorted our ammo out, loading as many clips as possible we up gathered our kit and got changed so we could group up for our final briefing before we headed into combat. We headed out in tactical formation and had the long walk up to our lines. We all positioned up and defensive positions and dug in using mainly old foxholes from previous engagements. PFC Woods and myself where in charge of manning a listening post forward of our lines to look out for enemy patrols probing our positions. Later I was called upon to take part in the first probing mission to investigate enemy positions and observe where the MG42’s where positioned. Four men went out on the patrol Pvt Harris and myself where led by two men from the special services. We got about 300 meters from our lines when we met a patrol off Fallschirmjager who fired on us and withdrew. Our patrol diverted away from its objective to follow on where the Fallschirmjager withdrew to see where there positions lay, but had no luck. The rest of the team were still digging in but heard the gunfire and all positions were now placed on high alert. We carried on with our objective but had to fall back when we spotted 15 plus troops heading for our positions around our right flank. A runner was sent to back to alert our lines and preparations made the attack. The first attack was made by Fallschirmjager troops to our front lines whilst a flanking force consisting off crack SS troops attacked our right flank. Our lines were spread thin, but the Fallschirmjager units attacked our positions where we were strongest, and after charging our lines they realised they could not penetrate and withdrew. The SS force on our right flank was outmanoeuvred and forced back to their lines. During these attacks Pvt Barrell suffered a twist to his ankle which was hindered by his boots – Sgt Wright asked Pvt Barrell if he wanted to retire to the reserve lines but Pvt Barrell insisted on staying with the main attack force.
German Fallshirmjager - Picture Copyright James Dietz After this our patrols went out again to find the enemy lines. During this time I led a squad off three men to find again the Fallschirmjager positions that we had encountered earlier. We came to a grass field and came under heavy fire from the enemy. Our patrol was in deep threat off being outflanked by a low bank that surrounded the grass field, so I gave orders to withdraw. We lay down covering fire and tactically withdrew to a tree line where we could manage a more defensive position. At this tree line we were reinforced by Pvt Harris and a Ranger who had heard our fire fight. I left command to PFC Woods and we set out around the back off the enemy to attack and flank from behind. We came in around the rear of the enemy and found their defensive positions and motor pool there, but could not find the enemy. Going back to our original positions and realised that the squad we left behind had been made to withdraw. After this point we decided to investigate the enemy positions whilst no one was there, and spotted a perfect crossing point that was undefended over the other side. Stalking forward we followed the Fallshirmjager troops hoping to set up an ambush or take a prisoner back for intelligence. This we could not do as they crossed the river and joined back to their front lines. Staff Sgt Wright took a six man patrol in an attempt to locate the two MG42’s hidden along the top of the riverbank. They made it to the waters edge and two men were sent to cross the river whilst the others gave covering fire. The Germans had the area covered well and opened fire on the unit. Both of the men sent across the river returned injured but alive. No Germans were reported dead or injured. Realising that they had stumbled on the MG42 they tactfully withdrew before any more casualties were suffered. My last patrol off the day was a diversionary one to engage again the Fallschirmjager around the grass field. This was meant to distract the enemy whilst two special service men went around the lines and crossed the river at the crossing point that our patrol had identified earlier. PFC Wood a PVT (Sam) form the Rangers and myself engaged the enemy around the grass field area once again. I had PFC wood cover the bank around the grass field, as I knew they would try and outflank from that rout again. Sam and myself laid down fire from the grass field. The plan worked and PFC wood got a kill as a trooper from the Fallschirmjager came around the corner. Unfortunately PFC wood suffered head injuries by another member off the Fallschirmjager as he was trying to reload. At this point we withdrew back. PFC woods was okay to make it back to our lines for medical attention under his own steam so Sam and myself reengaged the enemy using the river bank to get around the side off the enemy positions. We came up from the riverbank and once again engaged. As the two special service troops had been spotted and were just about to be engaged when our attack started and this diverted away their attention to us. The fire fight was brief but bought enough time for the two troops to cross the river. After the days fighting we withdrew back to our lines where we where able to do an ammunition check and have something to eat. A briefing was organised for 19:00 to decide the best rout for attack the next day. We knew that the frontal enemy positions were very strong, as they had at least five MG42’s dug into well camouflaged positions. The patrol that went behind the enemy lines gave us more Intel about the type and number of enemy positions, we also learnt that all positions were connected via cable telephone for organising attacks and defence manoeuvres. It was decided that an early morning attack on the enemy positions would be the only way to flush the enemy out. That night the 3rd infantry settled down, defensive positions - Pup Tents erected. At 21.00 hours on the Saturday evening a mixed patrol of American and British infantry teamed up to do night patrol. The 3rd infantry were left to defend the lines. Around 30 minutes into the patrol a horrific fire fight started and 2 flares could be seen lighting up the whole valley. The patrol returned a short while later and preparations where made to settle in for the night. The next morning at 7:00 hours, our attack started as planed to flush out the german lines. We stormed quickly the german lines taking most by surprise who where still asleep when we attacked. Two positions where captured without firing a shot. As we advanced on the 3rd position, a fire fight broke out. Our British comrades used the valley slop to push around the flanks and slowly but surly the position was captured. Sweeping forward the patrol to look for other positions, when none where found we withdrew back. We intercepted some small pockets off resistance from small groups of German’s, but they were dealt with via outflanking. With the job done our boys headed back to our lines, encountering a small force off Fallschirmjager troops that where out patrolling between our lines. We engaged them with force and the Fallschirmjager where forced to retreat. Upon returning to the position and resting for an hour or so Sgt Wright had received orders to penetrate the enemy defences via the river where his unit had been repulsed earlier on the Saturday. He took all of the 3rd this time and several of the Rangers and FSSF. As we hit the enemy across the riverbank they decide to charge us full on as we were successfully starting to penetrate their defences. Sgt Wright and I took to the left flank in order to come at the enemy from two angles, after about five minutes of constant firing I noticed the Germans had penetrated our side of the river and were now both in front and to our left flank. Sgt Wright took three of the Germans out to our rear and then a clip jammed in his M1, at this point he received a serious wound to the chest. The enemy by this time had overrun the main attack force and those remaining had now surrendered. I was running out of ammo and as I tried to change a clip I felt the cold steel of a K98 pressed to my head. We had been overrun. I surrendered and stood up from my kneeling position. As I was ushered along to the rest of the prisoners I caught a glimpse of an SS officer shooting our men with his pistol in cold blood as they surrendered. Luckily one of the Germans reminded him of the Geneva Convention and he ceased to shoot any further prisoners. Sgt Wright was picked up and we were taken by the enemy.
Pfc Sam Harris Pfc S.Harris |
