An Englishman at War

by James Holland

  Mike Laycock with part of his squadron, and also Sam Garrett and 1 Troop from A Squadron, tried to contact the New Zealanders on the left flank. They had to travel four miles to do so. Late in the evening, the Greys came up the wadi with their heavy tanks and a bit of a tank battle ensued, but I don’t think we did much damage to the Hun, except that he moved during the night. We formed leaguer late that evening and I had difficulty in finding the leaguer as we had the furthest to come in. We were all very weary. The Staffs Yeomanry, and the 3rd RTR had hardly any casualties. Bill McGowan had his tank knocked out and had to spend most of the night out with a wounded man before he was rescued by the 3rd RTR.

  This was a hard day for the Regiment and particularly so for John Semken, in Stanley’s A Squadron. John noted in his photo journal that they had been told that ‘one good punch’ at Wadi Zem Zem and Rommel would not stop again before Tripoli. ‘We gave him the punch,’ he noted, ‘but at what cost! Eleven tanks, many men and Freddie Cooper and, most bitter of all – Ken Graves! For nights afterwards I lay awake and thought of that vile day . . . My tank, in spite of its new Eye of Horus, was this time among the stricken. Frank Hilton, my driver – dead! Mac died from his burns! And Ken – Ken!’ Ken Graves had been John’s closest friend. He admitted his nerves were beginning to fray.

  Saturday, 16 January

  The enemy had gone during the night and we pushed on fast towards Sadada. In the afternoon we contacted an enemy column protected by a pretty strong rear guard of A/T guns.

  In the evening we bumped up against it again, but they had had time to prepare a position, although they were rather surprised to see us so soon. Some cleverly concealed A/T guns held us up, and also some German and Italian tanks. Mike Laycock was ordered to attack from the left flank, but this was a dangerous operation, as he couldn’t see what he was attacking. We were fortunate to have no casualties, but a Stuka attack did some damage to the guns behind, and some of the B Echelon lorries. During the day we travelled 70 miles and the strain is beginning to tell on the Crusaders; we are having a good deal of mechanical trouble. We all miss Jack Tyrrell, who was the gunner attached to the squadron for the Alamein battle.

  We knocked out two enemy tanks during the action.

  Sunday, 17 January

  Moved off again early in the morning. The going is becoming increasingly difficult and we had to find our way down a most difficult escarpment. Travelled another 40 miles. Another Stuka attack.

  Monday, 18 January

  Before starting we spent two hours on the tanks and this was sorely needed. We had another Stuka raid during the afternoon. We heard that 17 German tanks had been knocked out on another part of the front, which put us in good cheer.

  Tuesday, 19 January

  Arrived at the town of Tarhuna, which we found held by the enemy. Spent the day sitting outside and came in for a good deal of shelling. B Squadron lost Godfrey, who had a splinter from a shell right through his brain. We drew back in the evening, and the Staffs took over our part of the front. The country now is becoming more attractive, cultivated, and surrounded by the most fantastic-shaped hills.

  Wednesday, 20 January

  The Staffs entered Tarhuna, and we pushed on north-westwards, over most difficult ground to start with. We came across a farming settlement, flying white flags from their communal building. One fellow spoke a little English. He said that the Germans had left at 5 o’clock that morning. Today we struck the main Tarhuna–Castel Benito–Tripoli road, coming into Tripoli from the south. This road passes through a range of hills, which will have to be cleared before the tanks can get through.

  I moved forward and joined the light squadron of the Staffs who were working along the road from Tarhuna. After a most difficult climb, we came to a point which gave us a magnificent view. Coming up the valley, we saw the 3rd RTR far below us being shelled by enemy guns, which we could see far up the valley in some trees. We had an OP with us and so were able to bring down fire onto the enemy guns. We could also see the road winding through the hills.

  In the evening, Donny Player returned to the Regiment. Just after Christmas he went with the Long Range Desert Group to reconnoitre the front for the 7th Armoured Division. He was captured by some German armoured cars with a sergeant and taken to Army HQ where he was interviewed by some German staff officers, who had been educated at Oxford and Cambridge. They treated him exceedingly well and he messed with them. They had most interesting conversations. He has come back with a very high opinion of the discipline, turn-out and efficiency of the Germans, even when they are in retreat. He was eventually handed over to the Italians and taken to Castelvade, from where he escaped having made his Italian guard drunk with Chianti. With the help of the Arabs, he walked for 200 miles and contacted our advancing forces. A jolly fine effort.

  In the morning we killed the fatted calf to celebrate his return, having managed to obtain some Chianti, eggs and cheese from the local farmers. He seems none the worse for his experience.

  Thursday, 21 January

  Spent the day on maintenance. The country is most picturesque. The squadron fitter staff and the LAD have done wonderful work in keeping our Crusaders on the road.

  Friday, 22 January

  We moved out at 03.00 hrs. The 131st Infantry Brigade had cleared the road through the hills. It was bitterly cold when we moved. The CO led in his tank, and when we struck the road, we went flat out. Sergeant Bacon’s tank broke a track, and almost went over a ravine. The 3rd RTR had been held up outside Castel Benito, which prevented further progress. The Regiment was then sent to watch the left flank against a possible German tank attack. In the evening we pushed on again. Now we are going through orchards in full bloom and cultivated land. Most of the farmers appear to have left their farms. Having to run over olive trees, fruit trees and young grape vines in a tank is rotten. It would be so much better if all wars could be fought out in the desert.

  Just as it was getting dark the squadron was sent out to probe the defences of Castel Benito. I am rather glad that darkness prevented us probing too much as the next day we found a most unpleasant and cleverly concealed anti-tank ditch and many pill-boxes. The squadron did not rejoin the Regiment that night, but remained out on its own in an orchard.

  Saturday, 23 January

  Today Tripoli was entered by our tanks at dawn. The Jocks entered from the east and marched into the town with full pipes!

  We stopped the night at a place called Suani Ben Adam. We found an Italian barracks, consisting of a white building into which we all prepared to settle ourselves. I packed my tanks comfortably into an orchard.

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  The Tebaga Gap

  Churchill’s Parade, Tripoli, 4 February 1943.

  Sunday, 24 January 1943

  SAM GARRETT AND Ian McKay went off in the Jeep on a scrounging party immediately after breakfast. The CO and squadron leaders went on a recce of the area to form a defence plan. We called in at the Greys, whom we found settled in a farmhouse quite close. On returning we found that orders had come through for an immediate move further west, as the 3rd RTR had met opposition. How we all cursed, especially as most of the tank engines were having a thorough maintenance. We moved through the village of Bianchi, where luckily we met Sam and Ian, who had had a most successful morning, and obtained the following: one lamb (alive), two dead chickens, one turkey, vegetables, cheese, and a huge cask of Chianti. At every house where they had stopped they had been given a flask of wine, so they were in tremendous spirits and Sam was wearing his hat at a most exciting angle!

  They were amazed to see us on the move and soon jumped from the Jeep into their tanks. We contacted the XIth who told us that Zaila was held by the enemy with some 88s and 50mm. We had to push forward parallel to the main road through some orchards and very close country. The heavy squadrons remained behind to form a ‘firm base’ for us!

  Sam, Mac and I went forward to do a recce on foot and we were suddenly fired on by a machine-gun, which had us f
lat on our faces. It was too dark to see from where it came, so we crawled back to our tanks and went back and leaguered with a troop of armoured cars whom we were supporting. We heard today that Brigadier Custance had given up the brigade and was being flown back to England. Roscoe Harvey from the 4th Light Armoured has taken his place and Erskine has got the division in place of John Harding, who has been wounded.

  The Casablanca Conference ended on 24 January with the decisions made to invade Sicily following the end of the campaign in North Africa, and that only unconditional surrender by Germany would be accepted. There would be no armistice and no deals.

  Monday, 25 January

  Rejoined Regiment after much difficulty and pushed westward. The Buffs were attacking along the road. In the afternoon we came in for some shelling.

  Tuesday, 26 January

  During the night the enemy had evacuated Garman but had held Gabbatha. We had to try and work round the left flank. The going was exceedingly difficult, and the CO and C Squadron became detached from B and A Squadrons who were leading. In the end, I had to go myself to find them. On the way my tank broke down so I had to walk the rest of the way, much to the amusement of Stephen, who was watching me through glasses. The squadron had so many breakdowns that I only had three tanks. Mike Laycock did some useful shelling from the left flank on to enemy gun positions, but they were most difficult to see owing to the very enclosed country.

  The CO sent me out with an OP from the 6-pounder plus two Shermans to find the railway and to discover exactly where we were. I discovered from a farmer that the Germans had left that area at 10 o’clock that morning. At 5 o’clock that evening a battalion of the 23rd Armoured Brigade relieved the Regiment and we came back about 10 miles to leaguer.

  Wednesday, 27 January

  A day of rest and maintenance and cleaning up. We are in quite a pleasant spot among some trees and near a farm.

  Thursday, 28 January

  The LAD have condemned six out of the remaining nine Crusaders in the squadron so they will be evacuated. Another day of cleaning up.

  Friday, 29 January

  Our new divisional commander, General Erskine, paid his first visit to the Regiment. Unfortunately, the colonel and Donny were out and they took half an hour to find Stephen. The general was rather annoyed by this time and when Stephen did turn up he got the full blast of the general’s rocket, who said there was far too much of a peacetime atmosphere. He reminded us that although we had been relieved we were still in reserve.

  All our squadron mess tents have to come down and lean-tos against 3-tonners put up instead. RHQ have moved into a stable lent by the farmer, who has also lent some furniture and an aspidistra!

  Sunday, 31 January

  How pleasant this is after the desert. Excellent rations, ample water, trees and fields and sunshine. It’s been a most glorious day. Four of my tanks were evacuated to workshops, three more have been condemned and that only leaves me two here.

  A conference with Donny Player at midday about the reorganization of squadrons. All B Echelon drivers are to be transferred to HQ Squadron under Roger Nelthorpe. Donny and Mike Gold went out shooting with the Italian farmer. He is a racing motorist and the biggest stiff to look at that you have ever seen, but he has a good heart. He turned up for shooting in a complete white suit of plus-fours.

  Monday, 1 February

  Steve Mitchell received a parcel from home, marked ‘Contents Books and Tonic’. Why his father should have sent him ‘Tonic’ was quite beyond his comprehension. However, on opening the parcel the mystery was solved, for instead of tonic we found two half-bottles of Veuve Clicquot Champagne! He called on Sam and me to come and share it with him, which we did with alacrity.

  Wednesday, 3 February

  The CO went into Tripoli to see the rehearsal of the victory ceremonial parade and march-past. From the Regiment, we are sending 10 men. He came back full of enthusiasm and told us that everything was most impressive and beautifully laid on. Most of the Highland Division wore kilts and as each battalion went past the saluting base they played their own march on the pipes. All the streets were lined with tanks shoulder to shoulder. The PM’s attendance tomorrow was a greatly guarded secret, and the CO was sworn to secrecy as nobody knew about it. As soon as the CO arrived back here, the Italian who owns the farm came up and asked the colonel whether it was true that Mr Churchill was to attend the parade tomorrow! So much for security.

  The CO was telling Myles Hildyard about this when suddenly Randolph Churchill appeared in a Jeep to see the colonel. He could only stay a short time but he was quite interesting. He told us that the Germans had 300,000 men in Tunisia, which gave us rather a shock! The Soviet success had not been exaggerated: two and a half million Germans had been killed by the Russians. He was with his father for the conference with Roosevelt at Casablanca and spoke to some American Army commanders. They had made many mistakes, had lost heavily in tanks but had learned a great deal from their mistakes. They had rather underestimated the German 88mm gun and had suffered accordingly. Their air force was doing extremely well. On one occasion they got a mixed squadron of Honeys, Grants and Shermans bogged completely. All the crews baled out and made rather a quick exit in Jeeps! A British officer who was present accused them of rank cowardice in the face of the enemy as all their tanks were captured by Germans in thin-skinned vehicles! In a strong American accent, an American officer answered, ‘These lads are good guys, but I figure they are a little bit frightened that’s all!’

  He was a little surprised to hear that we had had so many tank casualties, being under the impression that the infantry had borne the brunt of the attack. He finished off by telling us that Eighth Army would probably have to take Tunisia, to which we gave him an appropriate reply.

  Saturday, 6 February

  Mike Laycock and I took 22 men into Tripoli to play a game of football. Mike and I had a look around the town, which we decided was completely and utterly dead-beat! All the shops are shut and it’s quite impossible to buy a single thing. However, Donny Player had told us that you could obtain a meal at one small café called Café Roma. After a long search, we managed to find the place in a dingy square full of Arab buses. But inside it was really quite comfortable and we had quite a good lunch – rice with tomato soup, followed by tinned tuna and lettuce and a little cheese. We each drank a small bottle of Chianti. This cost us 4s each and we paid out with British military money notes, which have just been issued. After lunch we had a look at the cathedral, which was most impressive and not damaged at all. A good many buildings along the sea front have been damaged. There appeared to be a great many troops in Tripoli, mostly Highland Division, but the general standard of turn-out was deplorable. All the men found the place equally dull. It will take some time before they get the place going.

  Tuesday, 9 February

  The army commander addressed the majority of XXX Corps officers in the main theatre of Tripoli. He spoke of the enemy positions on all fronts, then about Eighth Army and finally about the future. He was full of praise for Eighth Army especially the 7th Armoured Division, and told us how pleased the PM had been and what he had said to him when he visited us here in Tripoli. There was no mention about going home, and it looks as if Eighth Army will help to take Tunisia, where there are the remnants of Rommel’s army and the 5th Panzer Army facing the Americans. He told us that the attack on Tunis would be coordinated with the other armies coming the other way and that all forces would be under the command of General Eisenhower, much as the air force on both sides would be commanded by an air general who had been specially appointed.

  Thursday, 11 February

  In the afternoon a rehearsal at the theatre in Tripoli for the demonstration which the 3rd RTR and ourselves are putting on for the army command. It’s a grand little theatre; some of the stalls have been taken out, and a sand table made on the floor. We do all the speaking on the stage behind. I gather that some rather important people are going to be there.
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  Friday, 12 February

  At 4 o’clock in the afternoon the corps commander came to see the show and to criticize. At the end he told the CO that he was thrilled with it and gave us to understand that we should have some very important visitors to see the demonstration on the day. I rather expect that Eisenhower and some other Americans from the other end will be there.

  We have had continuous rain and gales for the last 24 hours. Last night the tent in which Mike and I are sleeping blew down in the wind. After a great deal of trouble, and getting very wet in the process, we managed to move our things from under the very damp tent into the half-finished hut, which we are building. Sam Garrett was very pleased with himself as he didn’t trust the weather and dug himself a hole in the ground and covered it with a ground sheet and kept himself perfectly dry. Rather a disturbed night. No mail for a very long time. Damn it.

  Sunday, 14 February

  Spent the day in Tripoli at the theatre where we had the dress rehearsal for our demonstration. We brought all our crew commanders to watch the demonstration. They were all very intrigued. We took our lunch with us and had it in the theatre – bully, biscuits, tinned fruit and dates.