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1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade
53rd (Worcester Yeomanry) Air landing Light Regt., Royal Artillery
The March to the Sea: March to May 1945
After Op VARSITY, the regiment reverted to its three-Battery formation under Major Godfrey, Major Craigie, and Major Anderson. They fought in day and night moves with little rest capturing many stragglers and deserters as they advanced North-East through Greven, Lengerich, Osnabruck, Minden and Lahder.
The most determined German resistance was encountered near Celle on April 15th 1945. Here the enemy’s self-propelled guns caused much difficulty until the 6th Airborne outflanked it after heavy shelling by the Batteries. The Allies eastwards advance met with the Russians westward advance finally on 30th April 1945 on the Baltic Coast at Wismar, crushing the German forces between them. In its persistent efforts to be always in range of the infantry it was supporting, it is doubtful if any artillery Regiment had every occupied so many gun positions as did the Worcestershire Yeomanry did during the six weeks of the German campaign.
The most determined German resistance was encountered near Celle on April 15th 1945. Here the enemy’s self-propelled guns caused much difficulty until the 6th Airborne outflanked it after heavy shelling by the Batteries. The Allies eastwards advance met with the Russians westward advance finally on 30th April 1945 on the Baltic Coast at Wismar, crushing the German forces between them. In its persistent efforts to be always in range of the infantry it was supporting, it is doubtful if any artillery Regiment had every occupied so many gun positions as did the Worcestershire Yeomanry did during the six weeks of the German campaign.
