JS45/3c 50th Ann War II Operation Veritable Brig Sir J DarelI Cdr Tank Sqn (B)

8 2 95 BFPS 2443 Operation Veritable Battle of the Reichwald Special postmark. RAF Cover Operation Veritable Battle Reichwald 8 February to 30 March 1945. Flown in Hercules C130 Mk 3 of No 30 Squadron from RAF Lyneham to RAF Bruggen en route flying over the Reichwald Forest and the approaches to Goch where Operation Veritable was fought. Then on to Decimomanou and back to Lyneham. Personally Signed by Signed.by Brig.Sir J.DarelI Bt MC Commander .Tank Sqn lst Battalion Coldstream Guards through Operation Veritable. Commissioned into the lst Battalion Coldstream 1939 served in the British Expeditionary Force as a Platoon Commander. Was eventually evacuated fron the beaches near La Panne. June 1940 to May 1941 With Coats Mission ( Special detachment to guard the Royal Family in the event of invasion ) May 1941 posted back to lst Battalion Coldstream Guards which converted to the use of armour on the formation of the Guards Armoured Division. July 1944 Crossed to Normandy with 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards taking over command of No 1 Squadron after the liberation of Brussels 4th September 1944. September to October 1944 Had a lucky escape in the Battle of Arnhem when crossing the Nijmegen Bridge. A stick of bombs fell so close that his tank overturned in a crater. March 1945 In Operation Veritable his Squadron of Sherman tanks was supported by 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards when the battalion carried out the final assault on the German bridgehead west of the Rhine at Wesel. Awarded the Military Cross. 8th May 1945 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards received the surrender of the German 7 parachute Division on Cuxhaven Aerodrome. Full details enclosed. Certified copy of 500.