Goch - the final objective
Reichswald, 19th February 1945
Goch was planned as the Divisions final objective. The task fell to 153 Brigade. The town was very well fortified with many pill boxes and the river on one side and an antitank ditch covering the other three sides.
15 Scottish Division would clear north of the River Niers to east of Goch and 51 Highland Division the west including the town itself.
Order were given to the Brigade on the 18th February for an attack early on the 19th. The plan was for 5 Black Watch to attack from the northwest, enter the town and take the majority of it up to the main square. 5/7 Gordons would then pass through them and clear to the railway line. 1 Gordons would clear the south end of the town and the major road leading to the south west.
In a preliminary operation 152 Brigade, 2nd Seaforths in fact, made a crossing over the anti tank ditch.
The following two descriptions explain the battle:
John McGregor's account of the attack on Goch (Reichswald) by 5th Black Watch on the 18th February 1945 - taken from "The Spirit of Angus" by John McGregor.
Martin Lindsay's account of the attack on Goch by 1st Gordons on the 18th February 1945 - from 'So Few Got Through' by Martin Lindsay. (Goch, Reichswald)
An extract from the 2nd Bn. The Seaforth Highlanders' War Diary covering 18/19 Feb 1945 during the final stages of Operation Veritable and the Attack on Goch.