| Surname: | Wall |
| Initials: | H A J |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 2612009 |
| Notes: | CMP. Enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, transferred to CMP. 31/8/45 to class W (T) reserve. War Diary 113 Pro Coy, WO 171/3378. Report to OC 113 Pro Coy, CMP from 2654089 Sgt V Fisher, CMP Sir, I have to report for your information, that on the 22/9/44 at about 1220hrs approx. 3 miles north of VEGHAL on CLUB TRACK, I was engaged in diverting all SOUTH BOUND traffic off the road to facilitate the 50 (N) Div. which was proceeding NORTH, a TRAFFIC CONTROL Post situated at VEGHAL had given me these instructions. I had been employed about half an hour when I was informed by an Officer that the road between my post and VEGHAL was under shell fire. After a short time I was joined by L/cpl MOOREY, CMP who was also employed in assisting the free passage of the above diversion. I informed him of the position and he was about to ride off to see if the road had actually been hit and where, when a DUTCH MARQUIS approached on foot from a NORTHERLY direction and informed me in a excited manner that a GERMAN TANK and some infantry were within half a miler of the road proceeding from the fields in a WESTERLY direction The traffic passing at this time was nil. I told the drivers of the vehicles I has signalled off the road (this included CPL. KINGHORN REME and tow others belonging to his breakdown wagon and about four other drivers that the best plan was to make a dash with the vehicles through whatever opposed us. Some vehicles had mad a dash NORTH but the breakdown wagon and a 30 CORPS 3 ton TROOP CARRIER with a Pilot Officer and three or more other RAF personnel as passengers followed behind towards VEGHAL. We had proceeded about half a mile when i saw that part of a convoy had halted and the personnel were in defensive positions. I stopped and made enquiries from a gunner as to what was down the road and was told that at least one tank and a armoured car with infantry was in the field. An Officer of the RA then walked up and I believe stated that he was attempting a breakthrough with an ammunition wagon and BOFOR gun attached, in the direction we had just come. I assisted the troop carrier to turn round, the break-down being abandoned and its crew climbed into the carrier and we dashed after the RA vehicle. Within a hundred yards of our first position I saw that the truck and BOFOR had been forced to stop, so we pulled up. I heard the wine of small arms bullets by my head an immediately flung myself into the ditch with the others. I saw that L/Cpl MOOREY was also unhurt and was then told that a tank and armoured car and a German soldier with a machine gun were across the road just round the bend and that the ammunition wagon was ablaze, having had a direct hit. At this stage the Artillery Officer took charge of the proceedings and while we, that is the RAF OFFICER and his companions, with L/cpl MOOREY and myself were ready to give covering fire with our STEN GUNS, he and his crew unhitched the BOFOR from the burning truck and dragge3d it back to a defensive position some fifty yards down the road between the houses. There were about thirty of us and so far I think no wounded. A watch was ordered and detailed by the Officer to cover the lane, fields and road and I took up my position in the lane; L/cpl MOOREY was covering the road, Things seemed to be too quiet apart from exp0loding ammunition in the burning truck. so the Officer clambered up some corrugated awning to the house to see what was in the offing. On arriving amongst us again, he decided that as apparently the enemy was closing in on us it would be as well to give him all we had from the BREN and the BOFORS then get into the troop carrier and make a dash for VEGHAL. This was done and the BOFOR was attached to a Jeep. The Officer went in front with the Jeep and we lost him from then o. As we approached the position someone shouted :- "Get ready, fire." and as many as were able did so. All seemed to be going well until there was a crash and the two off-side wheels were in the ditch and we were flung amongst each other. Bullets seemed to come at us from all directions and everyone, except the RAF Officer and one of the wounded, rolled out into the ditch. Two were wounded getting into the ditch and another killed. The next I hears was someone shouting in a German voice:- "British tommy, Surrender." Someone put something white on the Bren Gun and lifted it up, but I don't think it would be seen from behind the truck. It was as this time that someone in front shouted:- "They are advancing on us, get ready. "Then:- "Its yanks" I looked over and saw about six American Infantry me with their rifles pointed at us. When they were convinced that we really were British, the walked across the road, We naturally felt a lot better and carefully wormed out way along the ditch, accompanied by the "pin" of rifle and machine fun bullets. Eventually we reached a house an got in through a window, and then into a barn adjoining. All through the night we kept watch in turns and it seemed as if everything was going off all round us. it was very cold so we slept in groups to keep warm. Periodically for short periods all was quiet, but we could hear s sniper from the road; it may gave been an American but the bullets were close. We heard footsteps throughout the night but kept quiet and I cannot understand why we were not discovered as there were numerous coughs and even snores. In the morning nothing could be seen but heavy shells were dropping close and there was plenty of small arms fire in the vicinity. This continued until about four o'clock in the afternoon when we heard and saw three tanks of the Guards Armoured Division stop outside the building we were in. We commenced to go for out motorcycles but had to burn back as there was sniping along the road. There were four killed when the truck overturned, six wounded and two were wounded during the night Field 28/9/44 signed 2612009 H Wall, Cpl, CMP Herbert Arthur John Wall. |