"25-pounder guns in action at the Rhine Crossing, 23rd March 1945"

Ref: DR029

by David Rowlands

Giclee Print 58 x 38 cm

By March 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery was preparing to cross the Rhine and take the war into the German heartland. An airborne assault to secure a firm bridgehead was accompanied by formations crossing in Buffalo amphibious vehicles (Operation WIDGEON). 21 Army Group was supported by 3,500 field, medium and heavy guns. Their covering fire as the assault crossing began must rank as the largest of the war by the Royal Artillery. The barrage commenced at 21.50 hours on 23rd March, while the Germans were also hammered by aerial bombing.

Lt Col John Dean, CO 3 RHA, had done a lot of research on this action. In 1985 he and I drove to view the exact location (at Unterbirten) where the guns of 3 RHA had been sited forty years earlier, with maps and extracts from the Regiment’s War Diary.

The painting shows 25-pounder guns of 3 RHA in action, covering the Rhine crossing by 1 Commando Brigade. Nearby, the town of Wesel is being bombed by Lancasters. To the left is a crashed glider. In front of the position is der Alte Rhein (an oxbow lake), lined by trees. The guns and their ammunition limbers are all packed close together, dug in amongst apple orchards and a barley field. The Gunners’ rifles and a sten gun are stacked, while empty brass cartridge cases are flung to the side of each gun. In the rear are stacks of ammunition boxes. The scene is one of disorderly confusion, deep mud and huge ruts. On the right sleeve of each man's Battledress blouse is the red jerboa of 7th Armoured Division.