Arnhem, 2022. 17^th & 18^th August

18^th August 2022 Operation Plunder.

After a day tracing the Canadians during Operation Veritable and the clearing of the Germans from the south bank of the Rhine, today was to walk the ground for the crossing of the Rhine, Operation Plunder. This operation would also include Operation Varsity, which was the largest single day Airborne Operation in history.

Edwin Popkin was with me again. He is by far the best historian for this region and his explanations and descriptions allow you to understand what occurred many years ago in 1945. The operation was to launch on the evening of the 23^rd March 1945. The Allies used landing Craft which had to be transported across Belgium and Netherlands.

We started at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. It is a large cemetery beautifully kept and very peaceful. We visited the grave of Major General TG Rennie, who was the Commander of the 51^st Highland Infantry Division. He was killed on the 24^th March 1945 and this was a huge loss to his troops crossing the Rhine.

The operation took place along 40+ miles of the Rhine with the British and Canadians north of Wesel and the Americans south of Wesel.

We visited the destroyed railway bridge, which the Germans blew up when retreating across the Rhine at the end of Operation Veritable. Still with signs of war damage.

Royal Marine commandos crossed the Rhine and infiltrated the north part of Wessel. They had to call in an air bombing strike on Wesel, while they lay hidden only 1km from the shells. Once the bombers had dropped their loads, they took up their positions and secured any escape routes for Germans leaving the town. We visited the site where they were located. Some of the building still stood and you could see the repaired war damage in the walls. Once the main crossing took place, the commandos would move through Wesel clearing it of Germans.

The Airborne Operation, a mix of Paratroopers and Glider Troops would land beyond Wesel and stop any German counter attacks. They also had to secure 6 bridges. 3 for the British and 3 for the Americans. The British 6^th Airborne had to secure 3 bridges over the river Issel. Unlike Market Garden, the gliders were to land next to the bridges. This they did and secured all their objectives.

On amazing story of heroism took place on a Landing Zone we visited. Frederick Topham, a medic with 1^st Canadian Parachute battalion. His citation reads as follows: –

Department of National Defence, Ottawa. 3rd August 1945.

THE CANADIAN ARMY.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —

No. B.39039 Corporal Frederick George TOPHAM, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

On 24th March 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted with his Battalion on to a strongly defended area east of the Rhine. At about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were killed as they knelt beside the casualty.

Without, hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been killed before his eyes. As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself shot through the nose. In spite of severe bleeding and intense pain, he never faltered in his task. Having completed immediate first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of a wood.

During the next two hours Corporal Topham refused all offers of medical help for his own wound. He worked most devotedly throughout this period to bring in wounded, showing complete disregard for the heavy and accurate enemy fire. It was only when all casualties had been cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated.

His immediate evacuation was ordered, but he interceded so earnestly on his own behalf that he was eventually allowed to return to duty.

On his way back to his company he came across a carrier, which had received a direct hit. Enemy mortar bombs were still dropping around, the carrier itself was burning fiercely and its own mortar ammunition was exploding. An experienced officer on the spot had warned all not to approach the carrier.

Corporal Topham, however, immediately went out alone in spite of the blasting ammunition and enemy fire and rescued the three occupants of the carrier. He brought these men back across the open and although one died almost immediately afterwards, he arranged for the evacuation of the other two, who undoubtedly owe their lives to him.

This N.C.O. showed sustained gallantry of the highest order. For six hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of acts of outstanding bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all those who witnessed it.^[6]

 If ever a man deserved two VCs, it was Fred Topham.

Wesel was taken relatively easily and much of this was due to the intense bombing raid. Another major objective was the town of Rees. This has not been bombed by the Airforce and was a much tougher operation. The Gordon Highlanders and Black Watch struggled to take the town which was defended by Fallschirmjager. It had been prepared for defence with numerous strong points already being in place. It was not helped that the units were being given orders by the Corp Commander, Horricks, due to the death of Major General Rennie. It took two days to clear the town, each house having to be cleared under constant sniper fire. The use of a Mountain Division cannon which enabled to target a sniper in the main square effectively ended the sniper’s resolve.

By midnight of the 14^th March 1945 the 15^th Division had made contact with the 6^th Airborne and armour was starting to come across the river to strengthen the bridgehead. By the following day 12 pontoon bridges were laid across the Rhine. They were named after the bridges crossing the Thames in London. The German defences in the west had been breached and now the road was open for the 21^st Army Group to exploit the gap and head to the Elbe River joining with their American counterparts. Within six weeks the war in Europe would come to an end.