Thetford Battle Report

By Staff Sgt Wright

Saturday 28th

At approximately 5am Private Ricky Woods and I left the camp to bring Cpl Berry back to the 28th position. Cpl Berry was already packing his gear up after having a bad night sleep but was in good spirit. Having informed the Rangers that we were departing and would rendezvous at 6-30am for the beginning of the attack, we moved out.

The camp was nearly ready to move into position by the time we returned. Just before moving out whilst eating breakfast Cpl Costin bought up from the main CP the men’s mail – I decided it would be good for morale to disperse the letters before we went into action. This proved an excellent moral booster for the men. Unfortunately for me it had the opposite effect as I received a ‘Dear John’, I could not think about it then as I had the men’s lives to consider but I decided that as soon as I could I would put in for leave and sort out this horrible mess.

At exactly 6am we moved all three squads out to the front lines. Having reached our destination we met up with the first part of the Rangers forces. Lt Pratt informed me that I was to take the 28th to the right flank and hold the lines at the rear of the forest. The second element of the Rangers swept to our right and continued around us to come in from a far N/E position. Lt Pratt’s’ men went to the left leaving a small squad in reserve to fight any escaping enemy from the left of the woods as the main attack force pushed in from the North West. The idea was to force the enemy into our position whereby we would out flank them, stopping the German troops from escaping the woods altogether.

Everything was quiet as we moved into position. At approximately 7.30am we noticed German forces to our left, front and rear positions, encircling us. Fearing a complete disaster I decided to engage the enemy to our left and rear. First squad stayed in position, second squad under Cpl Berry went to the rear and third squad kept to the far right flank. First and second squad came under heavy fire and received minor injuries including one fatality. Having defeated the enemy to the rear and left flank all three units moved forwards about 200 yards. Enemy movement was detected to our front position, we engaged the enemy as they got within 50 yards, we presumed this was a part of a retreating force being pushed into us from the Rangers attack. The woods were dense and eerie and contained many hiding places making the battle a fierce and bloody one. We took several casualties but no fatalities. Having defeated the enemy we moved forward through the woods to join up with the main attack force.

After 20 minutes of debriefing with the Rangers we moved into position to continue to take the rest of the forest, the Rangers took the left flank and moved North. We came under very heavy fire in the last 200 yards of the forest as the German troops desperately fought to keep their ground, they were hardened veteran troops who did not give up easily. It was a very bloody and difficult battle, much more difficult than the previous encounter in the first part of the woods. At one point we were pinned down by sniper fire - I managed to spot the position and throw a grenade into it. The sniper fled.

There was a brief artillery barrage, though it was too far forward of our positions to have any effect, I did hear later that some of the Rangers were caught up in the middle of it. There was that much smoke and confusion, it would have been hard to tell how far ahead of us the barrage was but my guess is about 100 yards. This would have landed right on the Germans and realising how close it was to the allies it may well have been called off to avoid friendly. Having finally cleared the area we regrouped. The Rangers had now pushed to our left and were entering dense vegetation but not thick trees like in the forest, we joined in the rear of the position and started to help out with the clearing of the area.

It was then brought to my attention by Pvt Barrell that Pvt Gillett had collapsed with dehydration, fearing that the rest of the men may suffer the same fate, I returned to the rear to communicate with the Rangers and requested immediate withdrawal, Lt Pratt granted my request and the 28th retreated back to the 28th CP. Water was sparce.

Some of the 28th could not be found as they were in the midst of the fighting with the Rangers, messages were sent to them for immediate withdrawal. Back at the CP Pvt Gillett was being tended to by Cpl Harris, he was given plenty of water and an isotonic drink in order to replace lost sugars. Pvt Gillett was fine about an hour later. During this time the rest of the 28th made their way back to the camp having fought hard around the woods and German CP, all men were present and accounted for though very thirsty, tired and hungry.

Whilst these men fed and rested the rest of the 28th started to dig in around the CP as we had received a message that there was a unit of SS troops headed in our direction. Sgt Grover and Cpl Costin headed out to the main CP as the unit leaders had requested a meeting.

The Rangers who we shared camp with by now were also fed and rested and went out to intercept the German attack. Shooting was heard about 500 yards away but the Rangers in full force had repelled the attack, the Germans withdrew.

At this point I bedded down for an hour having not slept for two days, Sgt Grover and Cpl Costin had gone to the CP and made the decision to leave me to sleep as they knew I was exhausted. All fighting for the rest of the day now ceased. Upon waking an hour or so later I decided to give the men a little additional training in the local area to where we were, this was based on flanking manoeuvres in virtually open ground, something which we had used very effectively during the days fighting. This lasted for just over an hour.

At approx 7pm the men sorted their bedding and food and started to get some much needed rest and relaxation.


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