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#7
27-05-05, 13:18
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Hi Charlie,
Thank you very much for your comment, it explains a little more. I am also slightly surprised that the Polish 1st had no allotment for CB. Maybe the reason is in fact that the TOEs of both divisions were not identical when it comes to artillery. The only one kind of field artillery of the Polish unit were the Sextons and their 25-pounders. There were two such regiments in the 1st whereas in the 4th there was only one and the second regiment was composed of 105mm field guns. Unfortunately the problem may be more emotional than merit-based because generals Kitching and Maczek did not like between them too much and accused between them of various things. Kitching has always emphasized the fact that his division had no supplies shortage in the Falaise Pocket and Gap and the Polish 1st consumed food, fuel, ammo and whatever else at such a high speed that it was the only one division in the Falaise Gap that needed air drops of the supplies. As I wrote above I understand Kitching many times when he criticizes Maczek and his division because I know all weak points of the 1st but in this case Kitching is unjust in my opinion, what is more his information that the 4th has never had supplies problem is not true. Of course the 4th had the same supplies shortage problems at least in one region – St. Lambert and Chambois but I think I do not have to write the SAR story here. In 1977 Kitching told in his interview that the Poles received hundreds of tons of supplies dropped by the RAF. Canadian general means the only one such a drop which took place on August 20th for encircled Polish positions at famous Hill 262, hellish "Mace" hill. In fact the drop was so dispersed and misdropped that almost nothing reached the Poles. According to the Polish Quartermaster Section documents three-fourth of the ammo air dropped then reached the Canadians and only one-fourth landed at the positions of the Polish 10th Mounted Rifles Regiment. Also "on call" category of ammo allotment for the Poles is twice as much as in the case of Canadian 4th and this is – in my opinion – an advantage of the 4th over the 1st. The ammo allotted is ammo allotted and stored at the guns whereas "on call" in war circumstances is pure theory. The Canadian 4th had more ammo really allotted and stored and less "on call". The figure "400 rpg on call" for the Poles is such a "virtual" figure and pure theory in the real battlefield circumstances of the Falaise Gap. Both the Canadian 4th and Polish 1st were so dispersed in terrain and so mixed with the Germans that many times it was impossible to deliver the ammo on time. Polish veterans of the 1st Armoured Division of Normandy Campaign period mention great sacrifice of their quartermasters to deliver them ammo. Total losses (KIA, WIA) in the midst of Polish quartermasters then were 36 men including CO of the Quartermaster Service. One more time thank you very much for your comment. Best regards C. 
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