Fought Gallantly By Day, Withdrew At Night

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1940, Page 6

Fought Gallantly By Day, Withdrew At Night

(Received 3 p.m.) RUGBY, May 9. A graphic descriptoin of a succession of three actions in the Norwegian campaign, enabling three British battalions, fighting by day, to withdraw during the short hours of darkness. 103 miles over the single track railway down the Gudbrandsdal and Romsdalen Valleys to the sea, was given in London by an officer of Generl Paget’s staff. Holding their position at Kvam for 48 hours in the face of incessant air attacks to which they were unable to reply except by machine-gun fire, a battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry successfully held up the German advance until they were ordered to withdraw. Nazi Mechanised Units The German column, led by tanks, and armoured cars, made contact with the British troops early in the morning of April 26, firing somewhat indiscriminately into houses on the roadside as they advanced. Throughout the day Nazi ski troops vainly endeavoured to work round the snow-covered hills to pierce the flanks of the British battalion. When darkness fell the Yorkshires withdrew with precision down the railway line to the little village of Otta, where a battalion of Green Howards—together with one of the Yorks and Lance Regiment—had prepared defensive positions. Hand-to-Hand Fighting’. Here, on April 28, severe fighting took place, the troops being engaged hand-to-hand.

Such was the effect of the British resistance, the staff officer said, that it was noted that the Nazi troops that day seemed unwilling to press home attacks.

When the action was broken off that night, the British troops withdrew unmolested to the trains and a concealed tunnel about three miles behind the front line.

The staff officer paid a great tribute to the efficiency and devotion to duty of the Norwegian railway and telephone services which, at great risk, gave magnificent help to the British troops. As the troops withdrew, the demolition of bridges proceeded accorded to plan, and in no case did a planned demolition fail “to be blown.”* Day’s Much-Needed Rest.

The next halt was made at Dombas, where, because of the successful destruction of bridges, the troops obtained a day’s much-needed rest, and it was not until April 30 that the enemy again made contact, having received the machine-gun replacements by air. During the afternoon, the Yorkshires again fought splendidly, and at 9 p.m. again entrained at the Dombas Station.

It was anticipated that this battalion would go direotly to Andalsnes, and there embark, but the train was derailed, and troops had to march 17 miles.

The staff officer states that it says much for their morale that, in spite of having fought hard for six hours on April 30, suffering a train wreck, and then marching 17 miles, they readily deployed again at 5.30 p.m. on May 1, and easily held the enemy until dai'k. Last to Leave When again they entrained and reached Andalsnes and embarked they were the last troops to leave Norway. The staff officer described the German troops as efficient and well-train-ed.

He paid, high praise to those British Territorials, who held the enemy in spite of both air and artillery attack, without any means of replying. The rations position was satisfactory. Only the most advanced troops, who must- always rely on such provisions as they have with them, did not receive regular or adequate supplies. He described the German claims relating to the capture of materials as “fantastic,” adding that he did not think such quantities had been taken into Norway.. .

The British troops took all ..they could carry and destroyed as much more of what was left as they were able