[John McGillivray]

The next day the battalion left Udem to participate in the Hochwald operation.

Having fought through the bottleneck of the Reichswald, attention was now turned to the Hochwald-Labbeck position in which the 30th British Corps and the 2nd Canadian Corps attacked on the right and left respectively. By this time the enemy had been able to deploy over 700 mortars and 1,000 guns to concentrate on the points on penetration and to support his by this time reeling, but still determined, soldiers. Although forced to withdraw from the south edge of the Hochwald forest the enemy had now taken up previously-dug defensive positions. These were supported and held in strength by troops of the German Seventh Paratroop Division and were directly supported by mortars, rockets, 88mm guns and heavy artillery.

The concentration area of the Glens was under fire by the mortars, artillery and rockets, so the men dug in for the night, having been ordered by Brigade that no move be made until well after first light. Private John F. Roffey was killed and six men were wounded before the attack went in.

Actually, the battalion only left for the starting line at 18.45 hours on the 4th March, "A" Company on the right, "C" in the centre, and "D" on the left, with "B" Company in battalion reserve. Major Thompson ("C" Company) was wounded in the leg on the starting line. The advance began across nine hundred yards of open ground. Fortunately, the Glens set out about half an hour late, because flank companies and the Highland Light Infantry of Canada were not in position; the Germans plastered the whole area of open ground in that half hour with mortar and artillery fire.

The attack of "A" Company led south from the perimeter of the Hochwald, across the open ground. Shortly after crossing the starting line the left-hand platoon was pinned down by machine gun fire and a concentration of bazookas; half of the platoon were knocked out. Lieutenant Stephen, seeing this, therefore struck with his platoon toward the right flank of the company's objective. The enemy immediately tried to break up this attack with machine gun fire from four dug-in positions, and forced the platoon to the ground. Lieutenant Stephen crawled forward at grave personal risk up to the enemy position and cleared out a machine gun nest with No.36 grenades. The platoon moved forward and, fighting furiously, they gained a foothold on the company objective.

When Lieutenant Stephen had consolidated on the objective, the enemy counterattacked and overran his rear section, killing the Bren gun crew. They then took up positions in an anti-tank ditch and continued to shell the platoon position. Lieutenant Stephen, securing a Bren gun, courageously fought his way to the overrun rear section, killing five and wounding eight Germans, and forcing the remainder to withdraw. His magnificent leadership in this engagement was an inspiration to all around him, and earned for him the Military Cross.

Corporal Melvin Coulas took command of No. 8 Platoon, which had suffered severe casualties, including the platoon commander. In the midst of withering crossfire from four enemy machine guns and through intense mortar bombardment, he quickly reorganized the men, killed and routed the enemy and reached his platoon's objective. While consolidating the position the enemy attacked in force, driving one section from its position. Once again, under direct fire, Corporal Coulas led his men, killing eight and wounding fifteen of the enemy, causing such confusion that they were forced to withdraw. His initiative and determination were in the highest tradition of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.

Meanwhile, No. 7 Platoon had gone down a narrow track road and found it honeycombed with German infantry. One section cleared the right side and another the left. Then they came under heavy fire from some houses 75 yards in front, and attacked with Bren guns until PIATs came up to give added force to the argument. Corporal George Phillips got hit in this fracas, and by the time the situation was in hand there were only twelve men in the Platoon still unscathed.

"B" Company went through before the Germans counterattacked but could not fire because "A" Company was in the line of fire. On the other hand "A" Company could not see because of the glare of burning houses. It was here that Sergeant Charles A. Post of the carrier platoon showed gallantry and promptness of action. He was supporting "B" Company toward its objective when he noticed that it was unable to advance. He manoeuvred his carriers further to the flank where he saw an enemy self-propelled gun taking advantage of the situation. Completely disregarding the danger, he rallied the carriers and with the Brownings blazing he rushed the gun and set it on fire. When the Germans counterattacked during the night he held the fire of his guns, although under severe mortar fire, until the enemy was within 300 yards of the battalion forward positions. Then he opened up and the enemy was driven off, leaving many killed and wounded. For his gallantry he was awarded the Military Medal.

Help in driving off the counterattack also came from a 17-pounder on a tank and a 75mm on a tank with a co-ax Browning. The tank commander was wounded while firing the Browning from the top of his turret.

It was here, too that Private Graham "Red" Smith was mortally wounded. He hated to leave his unit, and as he was carried to the jeep ambulance he said, "When I write to you chaps from England, I want you to answer my letters." Poor Red never wrote; word came through in a few days that he had died from his wounds. Privates C.O. Donahue and P.E. Mills were also killed in this action.

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada now relieved the Glens, who moved over to put on another attack going east. "C" Company got tied up with some opposition on its right. "A" Company was scheduled to go through "C" Company but could not move until the situation was stabilized. Waiting in a ditch, they heard "D" Company fighting in front and left. There was some noise in the immediate front, so Captain John Palmer crawled up to see what it was. To his utter astonishment he saw two Germans changing guard in the best parade square style; he killed them both with his Sten gun.

"C" Company cleared its objectives at first light and "A" Company went through them, while "B" Company went through "D" Company clearing the rest of the forest. In the afternoon the Royal Winnipeg Rifles went through the Glengarrians to their left and they were later relieved by the Glens. Some tanks of the 4th Armoured Division, which was working down toward Sonsbeek came into the Glens area to shell down into the valley.

In the quick movement of battle there were things noticed by participants that must be recorded. Private Joe Powers took over Corporal Phillips1 section until he was hit by a piece of shrapnel. Private Ossie Savoie got a bullet in his head through his steel helmet. When he was being carried out, every time shells came down Private Smith (No. 7 Platoon) threw himself over Savoie to protect him. Privates Len Murray, Van Brunt and Allan were overrun by the Germans and lost their machine guns. They played dead all night and were rescued by Lieutenant Stephen in the morning. Sergeant Norm Taylor (Acting Company Sergeant-Major) carried up a terrific load of forty bandoliers of ammunition. Fighting was so intense that the entire supply of PIAT bombs was exhausted. Due to the conditions of the road and the number of vehicles stuck in the mire the evacuation of the wounded was exceedingly difficult.

Fatal casualties included Lieutenant H.C. McWilliam and Privates L.C. Kaun, Kenneth R. Meehan, O.J. Savoie and Malcolm A. Ross. Private W.C. Rhamey died on the 9th of March of wounds received on the 22nd of July 1944.