Samuel Tweedy

Rifleman Samuel Tweedy (14428101) served in 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War. He was the son of Samuel Tweedy and Mary Tweedy of Belfast. Rifleman Tweedy died on 13th April 1945 aged 19 years old.

On that day, 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles relieved 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment at Harpstedt, Niedersachsen, Germany. Oat 0545hrs, a Recce Party left the Battalion Headquarters, followed by an Advance Party at 0615hrs. The Main Body of the Battalion left from Dierholz at 1100hrs on Bedford QL Troop Carrying Vehicles. They arrived in position by 1330hrs. Subsequent orders to patrols sent them along the three main roads from Harpstedt with the objective of making contact with the enemy, establishing their forward line of defence. Remarkable achievements by the patrols saw them cover great distances and report back with valuable intelligence.

The first patrol from D Company under Lieutenant Campbell reached a junction 5,000 yards northeast of Harpstedt, outside the village of Kirchseelte. They captured a small enemy patrol who were covering the approaches to the village. From this enemy patrol, Campbell’s men gathered information that the enemy held Kircheseelte with a strength of two companies.

A second patrol from A Company under Lieutenant Songest reached a point 1,000 yards south of Horstedt, a village 5,000 yards northwest of Harpstedt. The former village was held by the enemy with the strength of one company. There were mines along the main road. As Songest was questioning civilians, six self-propelled guns opened up from 400 yards outside Harpstedt. Sonegest’s patrol was able to accurately pinpoint the location of the guns and they were taken out later in the day.

The third patrol was less fortunate in their mission. They drove northwards along the main Harpstedt to Delmenhorst Road on Universal Carriers and Scammell Pioneers. A patrol was 14 soldiers from C Company under Lieutenant Harris. They reached a junction 5,000 yards north of Harpstedt, half a mile south of Grosse Ippener. A brief skirmish ensued with German soldiers opening fire from the edge of the wood.

One enemy soldier was shot and killed, a second wounded but he escaped through the wood. Two hundred yards further along, an explosion occurred obscuring the riflemen from their vehicles. It soon became apparent, this was a prepared charge that had been detonated. The patrol commander and seven of his men died as a result of the explosion. Three others were missing, of which one died later of wounds. Two other rifleman sustained injuries but managed to make it back to the vehicles.

The explosion was a signal for the enemy to direct intense machine0gun fire and mortar shells towards the Royal Ulster Rifles. The vehicles remained in position under fire for some time, only escaping later with great difficulty. While the day of 13th April 1945 had been costly for 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, the information gathered was invaluable.

Rifleman Tweedy’s grave is in Section 4, Row H, Grave 6 of Becklingen War Cemetery, Wietzendorf, Niedersachsen, Germany. His headstone bears the inscription: