The Roer Salient: 21 January 1945
While out of the line in December the Division was deployed in Northern Belgium as Rundstedt's Ardennes offensive temporarily threatened to cross tie Meuse and strike north-east for Antwerp. The Division also supped a composite force, the Reconnaissance Regiment, with infantry, artillery and engineer units under command, to hold the vital Meuse bridges between Vise and Huy, including the Liege area. It was not engaged.
The Division returned to the line in mid January, taking over the same sector over which it had fought during the Geilenkirchen offensive. Here it took part in the limited operations to eliminate the German salient west of the Roer river. Attacking on the 2Ist, the villages of Waldenrath, Uetterath, Dremmen, and others were captured. The Hampshires and the Wiltshires together took the majority of the 8-900 prisoners captured. Opposition was not heavy, the enemy being preoccupied with his efforts to pull back across the river.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
