TUSSLE AT THOMASHOF*
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DATE: 18 February 1945*
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BATTLE TYPE: Great Britain advance vs. Germany delay*
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Two-Player PBEM Game*
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THOMASHOF, HOLLAND:  Operation "Veritable" was underway, and Monty's 21st Army Group was pushing forward to the Rhine. But, although the war in Europe appeared to be soon over, there was some stiff fighting left. The Germans in Holland were contesting each mile of the advance, defending the stout Dutch houses and stone-built barns of the farm complexes that often sat astride major roads. The British 51st (Highland) Division had already suffered serious casualties in its victory at Goch. But the 5th Black Watch and the 1st Gordon Highlanders, in support of the 107th Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps, were ordered to resume their advance despite the losses. On the morning of the 17th of February, as they approached the hamlet of Thomashof, the leading company of the Black Watch was pinned down by fire from one such fortified complex. According to the RAF, the farm consisted of a large house with a barn and two smaller nearby houses, the entire grouping ringed with trenches. It was further protected by a stream and swamp, and set in open pastureland broken only by barbered-wire fences. Impatient with any check to his progress, Montgomery would brook no delay. Major Lindsey was ordered to lead his Company A of the 1st Gordons in a night attack to remove the block. But only a few survivors of the company made their way back to the British lines. Word came down to Major George Morrison that his B Company, which had been held in  reserve, was now to "have a go at it".*
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AFTERMATH: Listening to the reports of the lone surviving corporal, Morrison was not optimistic-even though he'd been given several tanks, including a couple of Crocodiles, for support. In the dim twilight of dawn, he decided to concentrate on the group of houses on the flank. As B Company pushed across the fields, its men were greeted by a gruesome sight; many of A Company's dead lay sprawled on the wire fences. But, with the close support of a brace of tanks, the Highlanders managed to clear the two buildings and gain a firm base for their further attack. Some 300 yards of fire-swept open pasture separated them from the main complex, where they could see "hundreds of Boche walking around". Pausing only briefly, Morrison launched everything he had at the Germans. Setting off under cover of smoke, the first platoon let by one Lt. Ventris managed to race across into a group of buildings. But the following platoon was in the middle of its rush when "every Spandau in creation opened up". According to Morrison, who continued to feed in his troops, about half managed to reach the cover of the buildings. Once there, they found that the Germans who had been holding out quickly lost heart. Young Ventris himself capture 20 when they surrendered as he burst into a MG position in an upper bedroom. In the end, at a cost of 43 men, B Company took 140 prisoners and the farm at Thomashof. But the Highlanders got no rest. Promptly relieved by a detachment from the 1st/7th Middlesex Regiment who were to secure the farm, they were ordered to continue following the armored regiments eastward.*
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NOTES: This scenario is based off of Avalon Hill's Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) annual '93b deluxe scenario A12 with some minor modifications. The map is not based on the scenario.*
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Sources:  Deluxe ASL Scenario A12*
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Design by:  Don Lazov*