[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Wigger;

Further to my earlier post regarding the liberation of Nunspeet on 19 April 1945 by elements of the I Canadian Corps, the following is taken from AHQ Report No. 39 - prepared by the HISTORICAL SECTION (G.S.) ARMY HEADQUARTERS - dated: 17 October 1950 and revised: 31 January 1951

In regards to the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade (1st Cdn Inf Div) on 19 April 1945:

- On the morning of the 19th Apr, the 1st Brigade received orders to sweep to the north in "flying columns" and contact 5 Cdn Armd Div. Consequently Hast & P.E.R. were instructed to go to Elspeet, 48 Highrs to Hard erwijk, and R.C.R. to Nunspeet. One company was to be left at each base to form a brigade reserve. The three moves were without incident and all formations were back at their bases by early evening. Orders were then received that the brigade would remain in its present position for the time being with the exception of Hast & P.E.R., which would move to Elspeet. This was done on 23 Apr. (W.Ds., Hast & P.E.R., 48 Highrs, and R.C.R., 19 Apr 45)

In regards to the British 49th Reconnaissance Regiment (49th (WR) Inf Div) on 19 April 1945:

- With the taking of Ede and Wageningen the operations of 49 (W.R.) Inf Div to all intents and purposes came to an end. Between 18-28 Apr the British kept pace with 2 Cdn Inf Bde on their right so that by 28 Apr they held the general line Runswoude (4988) - De Klomp M (5185) - Wageningen (5776) just short of the Grebbe River. The Recce Regt, which had been harbouring in the area of Lunteren (5589), moved north of Apeldoorn on 19 Apr to sweep the area of Heerde (8422), Vesen (8721), Kampen (7641), Nunspeet (6721), and Harderwijk (5519) (ibid; (H.S.) 235B4.018(Dl): W.D., G.S., H.Q. 49. (W.R.) Div, 18-28 Apr).

In regards to 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)), C.A.C. (of the 5th Cdn Armd Bde/5th Cdn Armd Div) on 19 April 1945:

- The next day (19 Apr 45) a squadron of the Strathconas swept north along the coast to Nunspeet, and early in the afternoon reported Nunspeet clear and that a link up had been made with 49 Div Recce Regt. The rest of the Division were occupied with flushing the last remaining Germans from their areas and getting a well needed rest and clean-up. At 2100 hours the command of the sector passed to Maj-Gen Foster's 1 Cdn Inf Div and on 20 Apr word was received that next day 5 Cdn Armd Div would relieve the 3rd Division in the Emden area. Preparations were immediately made for the move. (W.D., G.S., H.Q. 5 Cdn Armd Div, 20 Apr 45)

Cheers