Having operated in the North West Europe theatre in late 1944, it was switched to India to command artillery units preparing for the liberation of South-East Asia.

Then, on 15 October, while 59 AGRA was in action in the Hoogboom area with its units under command of 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions, Brig Thicknesse and his Brigade-Major, Captain D.P.

[8] Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling and Major Simson of 121 Medium Regiment took over as acting CAGRA and BM respectively, until 21 October, when Brig K.A.

Then on 30 November the commander of XII Corps, Lt-Gen Neil Ritchie, visited HQ 59 AGRA with the news that due to the acute shortage of infantry replacements, the formation was soon to be disbanded.

This was an attack by 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division to take the Germans' last bridgehead west of the River Maas, at Blerick, opposite Venlo.

It was a textbook operation, employing 21st Army Group's superior resources in airpower, engineering and artillery to overcome formidable minefields, anti-tank ditches and fortifications with low casualties.

[5] In February 1945 the HQ staff were put through a basic training refresher course in Norfolk under a Sergeant Instructor, then told to prepare for deployment to a tropical location.