BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

7^th MARCH, 1915.

163 – Command – Temporary – of Brigade –

            Brigadier General Trevor Ternan, C.M.G., D.S.O., having proceeded to-day to York, in accordance with Northern Command Order 314 of the 4^th inst., the Command of the Brigade temporarily devolves on Lieutenant-Colonel C.H. Innes Hopkins, 20^th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish).

164 – Northern Command Order –

The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Order No. 330.

165 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

NECESSARIES –

            It has been decided that the following additional items in the scale of necessaries for all soldiers enlisted in units raised by individuals or municipalities will be provided by the Army Ordnance Department:-

Brush, blacking                    1

    “       brass                         1

    “       clothes                      1

    “       polishing                  1

Button, brass                         1

Wax polish, tin of                 1

Indents for requirements to be put forward to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, by units concerned.

Authority, A.C.D./Manch/673 (Q.M.G.7), dated 1^st March, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 46405/O.S.  Northern Command Order No.328.

CHAPLAINS –

It is notified for information that in view of the pending moves of the New Army Divisions it has been decided that Chaplains at present attached to Brigades should continue to serve with the same Brigades, and should accompany them on transfer to other stations.

Authority, War Office letter No. Clergy/General Number/4185 (Chaplains), dated 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N. C. No. 45991 (M.S.).  Northern Command Order No.329.

DISCHARGE DOCUMENTS –

            It had been brought to the notice of the War Office that the completion of discharges of men by Officers in Charge of Records is much delayed through the following reasons:-

1. Mistakes in documents prepared by units.
2. Failure to close the mens’ accounts, the men being only partially paid up, and the final settlement of the balance left in abeyance.
3. Neglect of units to send Part II Orders weekly to Officer in Charge of Records, in conformity with paragraph 1890 King’s Regulations.
4. Delay in replying to queries from the Record Officer.

Commanding Officers should accelerate as far as possible the preparation of

all documents etc., of men due for discharge, in order that their discharge may be carried out without undue delay.

            It is very desirable, in the interests of the Army generally, as well as of units themselves, that men should not be sent back to civil life labouring under a sense of dissatisfaction at their treatment by the Military Authorities.

Authority, War Office letter No. 35/Gen. No./1450 (A.G.2.B.), dated 26/2/15.

C.R. No. 45993 (A).  Northern Command Order No.331.

COMMISSIONS FROM THE RANKS –

            It is notified for information that the very large number of names that have been submitted with a view to promotion to commissions from the ranks is far in excess of the number of commissions that can be allotted.

Selections have been made, and instructions will shortly be issued regarding the disposal of those Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers whose promotions have been approved.  Those who have not yet been selected will be considered from time to time as opportunities offer, and it is requested that no further recommendations may be forwarded unless very special reasons can be given in support of any individual case.

It is observed that in certain cases Non-Commissioned Officers have been recommended because their juniors have already been selected.  In no case, however, is this a valid reason for recommendation, which should be based solely on each man’s individual merits.

Authority, War Office letter No. 100/General Number/1492 (M.S.I.), dated 27^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 46035 (M.S.).  Northern Command Order No.332.

INSPECTION OF HIRED BUILDINGS –

            General Officers Commanding Divisions, Garrisons, Districts, and Brigades, 4^th and 5^th New Armies, will be responsible that a thorough inspection of all hired buildings, etc., occupied or used by troops under their command, is made weekly for the purpose of assessing all damages that may be reasonably considered as chargeable against the troops under their command.  Steps should immediately be taken to make good all such damages regimentally.

Northern Command Order No.333.

With reference to the above Order, Officers Commanding Units will render a report to this Office by first post on Mondays. 

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

6^th MARCH, 1915.

161 – Clothing – Immediate Issue of, on Joining –

            The War Office point out in circular letter 54/General Number/Q.M.G.7/, dated 3^rd March, 1915, that in spite of constant and frequent communications having been made emphasising the necessity of completing troops with Service dress, the weekly reports received show invariably a number of men without Service dress.

The attention of O.C. Units of this Brigade has on previous occasions been drawn to this matter.  Officers Commanding Battalions will at once take steps to ensure that every man on the day of joining their Battalion is immediately clothed in Service Dress.  This order is to be rigidly carried out.  To ensure this being done without fail a sufficient stock of surplus clothing (and necessaries) will be kept in the Quarter Master stores both with the Headquarters of the Unit and with the Depot Company.

Should the Brigade Storekeeper be unable to supply at once the clothing, the Commanding Officer concerned will be held personally responsible that an indent is immediately forwarded to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, for the supply required.  Should the stores be unobtainable from York, a report to that effect will be made to this office.

162 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

PERISCOPES – ISSUE OF –

            It has been decided to issue Periscopes, on the scale of 12 per Infantry Battalion, to all units of the New Armies and Territorial Force proceeding to the Continent of Europe.

The mobilization store table for these units, as detailed below, should be amended by inserting the above item under Section No. 15 B. and the equipments adjusted accordingly.

Army Form G. 1098-110, dated January, 1915.

Army Form G1098-43A, dated February, 1915.

Authority, 84/W/6063 (Q.M.GF. 10), dated War Office, 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 46157(O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.315.

AMENDMENTS –

The following amendment should be made to Army Form G/1096-34 Inventory Form for Wagons G.S. Special 14 feet long:-

Under sub heading of “Spare Parts” –

Insert Blocks, brake (Front 2, Rear 2), in seat box.

Brake Bars will be allowed spare at the rate of 5 per cent., but these items will not be mentioned on the inventory.  For purpose of Indents. The nomenclature of this store is:-

“Bar, brake wagon G.S. special, 14 feet long.”

Authority, 57/3/4503 (A.3), dated War Office 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 46144 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order, No.317.

BICYCLES –

            It has been decided that only the Service patterns Bicycle is suitable for service overseas, and that when units are ordered to proceed there, they may be so equipped.

Non-service machines are suitable for Home service, and any displaced by the issue of Service patterns should either be returned to store or passed to the Reserve Unit as directed in Command Order No. 252, dated 22^nd February, 1915.

Authority, 57/Aldershot/8858 (A.3.), dated War Office, 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 38021/15/6 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.320.

APPLICATION FOR SUPPLY OF STORES –

            Attention is again called to the frequency with which application for Supply of stores and ordinary routine correspondence are forwarded to Headquarters. Northern Command.

Much unnecessary correspondence is caused thereby.

All such communications should be addressed to the Chief Ordinance Officer, York, under paragraph 18, Equipment Regulations, Part 1.

C.R.N.C. No. 46388 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.321.

ALLOTMENTS OF PAY – DEPENDANTS OF SOLDIERS –

            It is notified to all concerned that in all cases where a soldier offers an Allotment of Pay on A.F.O. 1838 in support of an application for Separation Allowance for a dependant under Army Order 440/14, the Officer Commanding should take steps to regulate the cash issues to the soldier in accordance with the amount allotted from the date of application (or date of  enlistment of [if] application is made within 10 days of that date).           

Authority, War Office letter No. 46/203 (Accounts 3 c), dated 24/2/15.

C.R.N.C. No. 45374.  Northern Command Order No.323.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

5^th MARCH, 1915.

156 – Increased Accommodation –

            No schools, halls, or other buildings at present occupied by Battalions of this Brigade are to be evacuated without written orders from this office.  Commanding Officers of Units will take immediate steps to ensure that in no case whatever is an allowance of space of less than 30 super feet per man available.  Should it be found after measurement that further accommodation is required, application will be at once made by telephone to this office.

157 – Medical Aid on Furlough –

            The following extract from War Office letter is published for information:-

“A soldier on furlough who requires medical aid must apply, either in person or otherwise, to the nearest military hospital if he resides within two miles of the hospital.

“If he resides outside the radius of two miles, he may apply to a civilian medical practitioner.  The soldier must report the employment of the civilian doctor to his Commanding Officer by letter immediately.”

Authority, W.O. letter No. 93/1056 (F.2.), dated 23^rd February, 1915.

158 – Attachment –

In accordance with orders received the Unit named below will be attached to this Brigade from this date:-

12^th (Service) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Tees-side).

Authority 20 – General No. – 3592 (A.G.I.)

159 – Arms – Issue of –

            An issue of M.L.E. rifles to the Battalions of this Brigade will be made as follows:-

600 per Battalion.

Sword bayonets, pattern ’88 will be issued in similar numbers.

Officers Commanding Units will submit indents at once to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, showing the rifles and bayonets (if any) of this description already in possession, and demanding balance to complete.

Authority, telegram, O.1494 (A.D.O.S.) Northern Command.

160 – Barbed Wire –

            Officers Commanding Units will indent on the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, without loss of time, for barbed wire required for (practice purposes) entanglements.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

4^th MARCH, 1915.

153 – Infectious Diseases – Weekly Return of –

            Attention is again drawn to Northern Command Order No. 216 of 1915, and returns will be posted without fail so as to reach this office by first post on Friday.  “Nil” returns to be rendered when no cases have occurred.

154 – Soap – Supplies of –

             Officers Commanding Units will indent on the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, for the necessary supplies of soap, sanctioned, as a first issue, sanctioned under Para. 380, Equipment Regulations, Part 1, 1912.

For subsequent issues see Northern Command Order No. 224.

155 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE”

The following extract from the Third Supplement to the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 23^rd of February, 1915, is published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish). –  The undermentioned temporary Second Lieutenants to be temporary Lieutenants:-

Joseph B. Cubey.  Dated 1^st January, 1915.

Creassey R. Longhurst.  Dated 2^nd January, 1915.

Frank Milburn.  Dated 4^th January, 1915.

Henry D. Whittaker.  Dated 5^th January, 1915.

Sydney Smith.  Dated 6^th January, 1915.

Russell Phillips.  Dated 7^th January, 1915.

Henry A. Bolton.  Dated 8^th January, 1915.

Robert J. Dougal.  Dated 9^th January, 1915.

John H. Patterson.  Dated 11^th January, 1915.

AMMUNITION – BLANK –

It is notified for information of all concerned that the issue of blank ammunition for IV. and V. New Army Units cannot at present be Authorised, but the matter is receiving full consideration.

Authority, 54/General Number/1799 (M.T.2.), dated 23^rd February, 1915.

C.R. No. 45127 (A.).  Northern Command Order No.306.

EXCHANGE OF FRENCH NOTES –

It is notified for information that arrangements have been made with the General Post Office for the acceptance and exchange at any Post Office in the United Kingdom, of French Notes sent or brought Home by soldiers from France.

The rate of exchange is 9 ½ d. (ninepence halfpenny) per franc.

Notices should be posted in all Military Hospitals to the above effect.

Northern Command Order No.310.

HORSES – DESPATCH OF FROM REMOUNT DEPOTS –

1. It is notified for information that Remount Depots are experiencing great inconvenience owing to units wiring to say that they are not ready to take animals that are despatched to them.
2. No animals are issued to units unless intimation has been received from the units or from the Divisional or Brigade Commanders concerned that they are ready for horses.  The number of horses and mules in various Remount Depots is very great, and the number coming and going to be dealt with is such that the organisation can only be handled if they are issued at once in accordance with orders received or co-ordinated from the War Office.  I am, therefore, to say that Remount Depot Commanders have been informed that the first and last communication that should pass between them and the unit to which they are issuing horses is a telegram from the Depot saying that the animals have been despatched and stating probable time of their arrival.
3. Commanding Officers are directed to revive the horses sent to them, and if they have any objections to make to communicate them to Command Headquarters, and not to Deputy Assistant Director of Remounts of Circles or to Depot Superintendents.
4. All applications for horses should be forwarded to Command Headquarters, stating in the case of horses for Officers their weight and height.  The name of the station to which horses should be consigned must always be stated.

Authority, War Office letter No. R.1418 (Q.M.G.4.), dated 26^th February, 1915.

C.R. No. 46034 (R.).  Northern Command Order No.312.

LECTURES ON PRESERVATION OF HEALTH –

Arrangements have been made for lectures to be given to the Troops in all Garrisons on “Preservation of Health.”

Commanding Officers should communicate with Major T. Wardrop Griffith, Royal Army Medical Corps (T), Organizing Secretary, 43, Park Square, Leeds, stating date and hour when it will be convenient for their men to be lectured, when arrangements will be made accordingly by Major Griffith.

Northern Command Order No.313

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

3^rd MARCH, 1915.

151 – District Court-Martial –

            The detail of officers as mentioned in Brigade Order No. 144, dated 26^th February, 1915 will re-assemble at the Orderly Room, Newburn, on Saturday, March 6^th, at 10 30 a.m., for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused person named in the margin.

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank,” Alnwick.

The Officers Commanding 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Battalions, Tyneside Scottish, will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.

The accused named in the margin was Regt. Sergt.-Major Alfred George Minter, 22^nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish).

152 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

STORE – PRICES OF

            It has been decided to adhere to Vocabulary Rates as the basis of unworn value in assessing charges for deficiencies against the soldier.

Authority, War Office letter No. 15/15 (Q.M.G.F.b.), dated 22^nd February, 1915.

C.R. No. 43386 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.296.

CORRESPONDENCE – POSTAGE TO BE PREPAID –

Postage must be prepaid on all correspondence, etc., in ordinary “O.H.M.S.” covers sent to Command Headquarters and Departmental Offices by Units.

The payment of surcharges causes much inconvenience and delay, and should be avoided as far as possible.

C.R. No. 45649 (A.).  Northern Command Order No.297.

SICK LEAVE – OFFICERS –

To obviate the necessity of ordering medical boards on officers when the leave likely to be granted is under one month, Divisional and Brigade Commanders are empowered to grant leave up to one month on medical certificate, Army Form B. 175.

Command Order No. 973 is hereby cancelled.

C.R. No. 42898 (A.).  Northern Command Order No.298.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES – WEEKLY RETURN OF –

Attention is drawn to Command Order No. 216 of 1915, which must be strictly complied with.

Northern Command Order No. 301.

CANADIAN HORSES – UNITS ISSUED WITH –

            It is notified for information that Canadian horses issued to units have usually somewhat tender feet.  Great care should therefore be taken that they are not put to fast work on hard roads until their feet have time to get thoroughly hardened.

Northern Command Order No. 304.

BOOTS – ANKLE –

With reference to Command Order No. 256, dated the 22^nd February, 1915, it has now been decided that in the event of regulation pattern boots not being available, the Standard No. 1 pattern may be taken by men proceeding to join the Expeditionary Force.

Authority, War Office letter A.C.D./Boots/10(R.A.C.D.), dated 23^rd February, 1915.

C.R. No. 44617 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.300.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

(Britain)

During October 1944 a string of crimes were committed near Staines in Middlesex culminating in the murder of taxi driver George Edward Heath. Karl Hulten, a Swedish born deserter from the U.S. Army met an 18-year-old Welsh waitress Elizabeth Jones and they joined forces and became partners. Both had troubling and unruly upbringings resulting in illusions of grandeur about their lives. He was awol from the army and considered himself to be a dangerous gangster, she on the other hand, was a potential stripper in a nightclub. After meeting and for six days beginning on the 28^th October 1944 they lived out their fantasies. Driving a stolen army truck, they knocked over a nurse cycling along a country lane and robbed her. After, they picked up a female hitchhiker, knocked her unconscious, robbed her then threw her into a river. She did not drown and survived the ordeal. Finally, they murdered Heath, robbing him of £8.00, then stealing his taxi after abandoning the army truck. The murder became known as “The cleft chin murder” on account of Heath having a cleft chin. They were eventually caught with the taxi still in Hulten’s possession and both charged with murder. The Americans waived the “Visiting Forces Act” allowing him to be tried in a British court. They were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Hulten was executed at Pentonville Prison on the 8^th March 1945 and Elizabeth Jones was reprieved and her ultimate fate is uncertain.

(Liberated Europe)

During October 1944, German V2 rockets and launching units had been relocated to the Dutch city of The Hague. The prime targets for the rockets were London and Amsterdam. On the 3^rd March 1945 the Allies attempted to destroy the V2 launching sites plus any V2 rockets waiting to be launched. They were unsuccessful as the Allied pilots were given the wrong co-ordinates. By the 15^th March 1945 V2 rockets continued to hit London and Antwerp. Over 3,000 V2 rockets were launched at England and the whole of liberated Europe. The final rocket exploded at Orpington in Kent, killing one civilian, on the 27^th March 1945.

(Germany)

In retaliation for the bombing of London during the blitz of 1940/41, the Royal Air Force (RAF) bombed the city of Cologne on 262 separate air raids. During the second world war Cologne was the fourth largest city in Germany, and the largest city on the River Rhine. By the time the RAF carried out their last air on the 2^nd March 1945, most of the city had been destroyed. Cologne was a heavily industrialised city producing war supplies and as such was an important military target. On the 5^th March 1945, U.S. armoured and infantry divisions were approaching the city and on the 6^th March 1945 they moved toward the city centre. A single German Panther tank ambushed two U.S. Sherman tanks, one of which was slowed down by a pile of rubble in a narrow street. Two shells from the Panther took out the first Sherman and a third shell hit the tracks of the second Sherman. A U.S. Pershing tank approached and destroyed the Panther as the German tank commander hesitated possibly believing it was a German tank. By the 7^th March 1945 all of Cologne west of the Rhine was captured by the Allies. In 1942, RAF Commander-in-Chief Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris made his now famous statement, “They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind”. Rightly or wrongly the bombing of Cologne was Germany’s WHIRLWIND!![O1] 

The Battle of Remagen began on the 7^th March 1945 when U.S. troops captured, intact, the Ludendorrf Bridge over the Rhine. For the next ten days the Germans tried many tactics to destroy the bridge, including aircraft.  By the 14^th March 1945 the air offensive had failed. Hitler ordered that V2 rockets be fired against the bridge. When the bridge finally collapsed on the 17^th March 1945, American combat engineers had built temporary bridges across the Rhine.  Over 125,000 U.S. combat troops and equipment crossed the Rhine and the eighteen-day battle ended on the 25^th March 1945.

By March 1945 the Allies had advanced into Germany and approaching the River Rhine. The city of Mainz was bombed by the RAF on the 27^th February 1945, damaging large parts of the city. However, the main targets of the air raids were the railway facilities, which were undamaged. Multiple Allied air raids had rendered approximately 80% of the city destroyed and many of the defenders withdrew across the Rhine. U.S. General George Patton’s troops captured the city on the 22^nd March 1945 and what remained of the German defenders surrendered without a fight.

Rivalry between Patton and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery dictated Patton’s next move. He sneaked U.S. troops across the Rhine at Oppenheim on the 22^nd March 1945. The attack was successful as they were not opposed by German forces

On the 23^rd March 1945, Operation Plunder was a joint British-Canadian-U.S. crossing of the Rhine and commanded by Montgomery. The operation was an attack of the lower Rhine and consisted of an airborne assault, an artillery barrage and Anglo-American bombers. On the 24^th March 1945 Operation Varsity was launched, which consisted of over 16,000 Allied paratroopers. They landed east of the Rhine, consolidated, and finally met up with the Allied ground forces. Success in the lower Rhine region ensured an Allied victory for Operation Plunder on the 27^th March 1945.

The Battle of Frankfurt began on the 26^th March 1945. U.S. soldiers approached to city from the south and found the bridge crossing the River Main mostly intact. The River Main eventually merges into the Rhine River. Under fire and supported by U.S. tank artillery on the 27^th March 1945, the U.S. troops fought the Germans in fierce house to house combat forcing them out of the city. The three-day battle ended on the 29^th March 1945 when the Americans took control of Frankfurt. Accompanying the U.S. army was a female war correspondent, Lee Millar. She was the first correspondent, from the front line, to report to the U.S. press of the liberation of Frankfurt. Lee was one of six British and American War Correspondents who had been reporting events since 1936. Their theatre of operation was Europe and not the far east. Even then the U.S. assignments were regulated by the U.S. military.

With the Germans in general retreat, the Red Army was closing in on Germany from the east. Danzig (modern day Gdansk) is one of the oldest cities in Poland, which became a “Free City” following the Napoleonic wars. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, they officially annexed the “Free City”. The Siege of Danzig occurred when the Red Army approached the city on the 13^th March 1945 and ended on the 30^th March 1945 when Danzig was captured.

Heinrich Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany. After joining the Nazi Party in 1923 he rose through the ranks to become Reichsfuhrer-SS in 1929. He also became a principal architect for the Holocaust, the extermination of the Jews and other so-called inferior races. Himmler was primarily a master organisational officer and under his leadership the Gestapo and Waffen-SS w developed. Hitler appointed him as commander of the hastily formed Army Group Vistula on the 25^th January 1945. However, Himmler did not have the military and combat experience to halt the Red Army advance. Eventually, after some delaying tactics, a counter-attack was launched against the Red Army on the 16^th March 1945. The attack was halted by heavy rain, mud, minefields and strong anti-tank defences. Under pressure from Hitler as to why the mission was not accomplished, Himmler was unable to provide a viable alternative. Accusing him of not following orders, Hitler held Himmler personally responsible. The military command of Himmler ended on the 20^th Match 1945 when Hitler replaced him with General Gotthard Heinrici. Hitler’s response to Himmer’s failure marked a serious deterioration in the relationship between the two leaders

(Eastern Front)

In Denmark, resistance fighters in Copenhagen had asked for a long time for the British to conduct a raid on Shellhus in the city centre. The building was being used by the Germans as Gestapo headquarters. Plans were approved for a low-level raid, and code-named Operation Carthage. On the 21^st March 1945 eighteen de Haviland Mosquito fighter-bombers conducted the raid. They were escorted by 30 Royal Air Force (RAF) Mustang fighters and two RAF Mosquito Film Production Units to record the results of the attack. The attack was conducted at roof-top level. On the first wave of six aircraft one Mosquito hit a lamppost and crashed into a school just short of the target. The crash set the school alight killing 123 civilians, many of them children. Shellhus was destroyed by the remaining aircraft, eighteen resistance prisoners escaped and Gestapo operations in Denmark were severely disrupted. Over 100 Danish employees of the Gestapo, Danish prisoners and German soldiers died during the attack. For the Allies, four Mosquito bombers and two Mustang fighters were lost and nine airmen died on the raid.

(Burma-Pacific)

Near the end of the Burma Campaign, two separate battles, the Battle of Meiktila and the Battle of Mandalay were decisive engagements. The Japanese supply lines had been extended and troops had suffered heavy losses in the mountains after the battles of Imphal and Kohima in 1944. The Allies were pursuing the retreating Japanese south along the Burma spine. The Japanese losses included conscripts who were not ready for battle. The air force was reduced to a few dozen aircraft and the tank regiment only had about twenty tanks to face the Allied advance.

—

With disastrous Japanese losses their military realised they needed to make sweeping changes to their commanders. On the 28^th February 1945 the Japanese began preparing for the defence of Meiktila as they became aware of the threat of the Allied advance. The Indian 17^th Division captured the city of Meiktila on the 3^rd March 1945. The Japanese re-enforcement troops, when they arrived, were dismayed to find they would need to capture Meiktila again. Battle weary troops were weak after the preceding weeks heavy fighting. Meiktila was besieged and the siege ended when the Japanese commander was ordered to abandon the siege during the final days of March 1945. At the same time, they were ordered to prepare to resist further Allied advances to the south.

For his actions during the Battle of Meiktila on the 18^th March 1945, Lieutenant Karamjeet Singh Judge was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was 21 years old and serving in the 4^th Bn. 15^th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army. The platoon he was leading was held up by machine-gun fire from tunnels and bunkers. With complete disregard for his own safety he went forward and directed the supporting tanks to destroy the first bunker. After ten bunkers had been destroyed another three were located. A smoke bomb directed a tank to the first bunker, he led a few troops to mop-up after requesting the tank to cease fire. Within a few yards of the bunker a machine-gun opened fire and he was mortally wounded.

—

Japanese troops had been ordered to abandon the Siege of Meiktila and reinforce the city of Mandalay, and defend the city to the last man. Japanese military honour would be a loss of prestige should the city be abandoned. South of the city, were large supply dumps, which the Japanese could not afford to lose. A battalion of 4/4^th Gurkha Rifles stormed Mandalay Hill on the 8^th March 1945. Fighting their way into the city the Gurkhas faced Japanese defenders who were located in tunnels and bunkers. The Japanese defenders were gradually over-run until Mandalay was liberated on the 20^th March 1945. With the loss of Mandalay, the Burmese population turned against the Japanese. Guerilla forces would continue in Burma until the end of the war in September 1945

(Pacific)

The first raid on Tokyo was the daylight raid of the 25^th February 1945 when 174 USAAF B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs destroying approximately 643 acres of the snow-covered city. On the 9^th March 1945 the most destructive raid on Tokyo, code named Operation Meetinghouse, was conducted by the U.S. military. With a change of tactics, 324 B-29 bombers flew at night and at a lower altitude of 2,000-2,500 ft. (610-760 m). Mostly the bombs dropped were 500^lb (230 kg) cluster bombs which contained incendiary bomblets. The first B-29’s to arrive dropped the bombs in a large “X” pattern in Tokyo’s city centre which included the dock area. Approximately 15.8 square miles of central Tokyo’s densely populated area was destroyed. The destruction was caused by individual fires mixing and creating one huge fire. The result was that approximately 100,000 were killed and over one million homeless. Of the 339 B-29s launched for Meetinghouse, 282 reached the target. What happened to the remainder is not known. 27 were lost by being caught up in fire updraft, mechanical failures or being shot down by Japanese air defences. Sometime during March 1945, Emperor Hirohito’s tour of the destroyed areas of Tokyo was the beginning of his involvement in the peace process between Japan and the U.S.A.                                                                             

In Nagoya, the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works was the major target for the USAAF a ir raids. The Doolittle Raid in April 1942 was the first raid. The second phase created the most serious bomb damage  during the aerial attacks of 1944 and 1945. Twenty-one separate raids dropped nearly 20,000 tons of bombs between the 13^th December 1944 and the 24^th July 1945. Prior to that another phase of precision bombing on Mitsubishi factories were launched on the 13^th and 18^th December 1944 respectively. Two further attacks were launched on 3^rd and 14^th January 1945. On two separate dates, the 11^th and 18^th March 1945, there were large scale air raids culminating into widespread firestorms. The raids on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works in Nagoya continued into April 1945.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima, following the capture of the second Japanese built airfield on the 23^rd February 1945, the U.S. marines slowly moved northward. Located at the extreme north of the island was Hill 363 where the marines encountered more Japanese defenders. Clearing the fortified ridges of Hill 363 and the area around Hill 382, known as the “Meatgrinder” was difficult as the defenders were often hidden underground. By the 7^th March 945 the marines had taken both hills and Iwo Jima was finally declared secure on the 26^th March 1945. However, a few Japanese soldiers remained in isolated strongholds until the end of March 1945. The suicidal defence of Iwo Jima by 20,000 Japanese troops was part of the Japanese code of not surrendering, but to die for the emperor. Of the 1,000 who did not die approximately 850 were taken prisoner, owing mainly to their injuries. For the marines the battle was the bloodiest in the Pacific Campaign. They had approximately 22,000 casualties of which 7,000 were killed in action. Their casualties were actually more than the Japanese casualties.

(Other Theatres)

Saudi Arabia was a neutral country during the course of the war, who rapidly expanded their petroleum industry. This expansion was largely due to investment from the Allies to ensure the supply of oil to the Allied forces. In February 1945 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt met the Saudi king and an agreement was reached that the Saudis would join forces with the Allies. On the 1^st March 1945 with both the Axis powers in full retreat, Saudi Arabia declared war on Germany and Japan.    

During the course of the war Argentina had remained neutral. British investment in the country ensured that the two countries would both benefit from Argentina’s exporting foodstuffs and agricultural products to Britain. Resentment was growing in Germany and Italy of the British influence as they were not receiving pre-war trading facilities. However, Argentina declared war on Germany on the 27^th March 1945 when they conceded to Allied pressure.

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