3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer

[Derek Barton]

1 Mountain Rgt were in action with their 3.7's at Walcheren. At one point, the advance had been held up by a pillbox built into the wall of a reservoir which despite several direct hits continued in action. Capt Cohen of 452 Bty returned to the beach and collected D sub borrowing the Brigadiers Weasel to tow it. He took them to a house next to the Bty OP and the gun was broken down and carried to an upstairs room overlooking the pillbox.

Firing over open sights the gun fired 8 rounds into the target. The first round opened a large crack in the ceiling of the room they were in and by the 8th round the gun trails were nearly in the room below. They were just about to risk one more round when a white flag appeared at the pillbox and 14 very dazed Germans walked out.

The 3.7's were also in action at the Rhine crossing. 1 Mountain Rgt provided close support for 1 Commando Bde's attack on Wesel.