During the next ten days, prior to being relieved by
British troops on 3 January, the companies of the 51st
continued their mission of maintaining roadblocks and
bridge protection along an extended front. On 22
December, a barrier line was installed from Hamoir
(423052) to Hotton (369879), along the Ourthe River,
thence through Marche and southwest to Rochefort. The
line consisted of prepared demolitions inculverts; mines
in roads at critical intersections, combined with bazooka
teams; and 40-mm. AA guns.87
At 1500 on 22 December, Company C, now returned from
its defense of Trois-Ponts, sent a reconnaissance party
along Highway N4 to set up roadblocks. The party con-
sisted of Major Yates, Captain Scheuber, Lieutenant Green,
and Lieutenant Nabors. The men approached southeast of
Marche and were fired on by the lead vehicles of an
enemy armored column at (310805). They stopped their jeep
and advanced on foot and were soon cut off by five enemy
tanks, two half-tracks filled with enemy personnel, and
additional armor that was not actually seen. All officers
but Major Yates escaped by taking off through fields and
Major Yates, who had only a few days
avoiding roads.
before returned from the hospital where he had been
confined with a foot injury, could not run and hence hid
in a bush by the road. After two hours he was discovered,
disarmed, and taken prisoner. When the man guarding Major
Yates relaxed his vigil for a moment, Major Yates dived
into a stream beside which they stood, worked his way
downstream under about three feet of water, and escaped
under a hail of small arms fire to return to friendly
lines shortly before 2200 the same night.88
On 22 December, Company A relieved Company B of the
responsibility of roadblocks in the vicinity of Aye,
H u m a i n , and Rochefort; Company B extended its defenses
from Durbuy to Hamoir, taking over from the 300th Engineer
Combat Battalion. (Map 6) The following guards and
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