CHAPTER THREE

BREAKOUT TO VALKENSWAARD

The wait, the ambush and the halt at Valkenswaard

There has been much Post-War development along the road which during the period 10 – 17 September bisected the bridgehead held by the Guards Armoured Division, with the help of the West Countrymen of 231 Brigade. Drive north from Joe’s Bridge. Turn left onto the N74 towards Eindhoven. You are now in No Man’s Land which lay astride the Dutch/Belgian border, two hundred yards beyond the junction.

Sunday 17 September 1944

There was an air of uneasiness in the Neerpelt bridgehead on that Sunday morning in September. The vital foothold remained under command of the Guards Armoured Division but was actually being held by 231 Infantry Brigade detached from 50th Division. At 07.45 hours, a message to XXX Corps read:

‘231 Bde report following activities in bridgehead. Enemy has been infiltrating most of the way round. Enemy inf at 368988 one AFV at 372988 and MG at 335981 were all shot up by arty. Regtl shoot was carried out on mortars at 323989. Patrols report enemy in wood at 3500 and on rd at 3700. Furthest enemy penetration was to 367959.’

This was followed at 09.10 hrs by further and more alarming news.

‘231 Bde report that they think enemy is reinforcing NORTH of them. Sounds of transport and tps debussing in woods 3501 and 3700. Patrol sent EAST held up at 365959. It appears that enemy are closing in on EAST and WEST and a counter attack is expected at any time.’

With the British drive eastward having been halted for a week the Germans were expecting a renewed offensive from one of the bridgeheads along the Dutch / Belgian frontier.