Captain Reginald Thomas WHATLEY, REME, attached North Irish Horse

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by Paul Whatley, Jan 3, 2007.

  1. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    Any information ref my late father's award of the Military Cross, he was seconded to the North Irish Horse in North Africa from Engineers later R.E.M.E., retired as a Major. Never told us anything about his award !!
     
  2. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    Any information ref my late father's award of the Military Cross, he was seconded to the North Irish Horse in North Africa from Engineers, involved in adaptation of our tanks on seing a feature on German tank according to post in North Irish Horse log/calendar, also went up through Italy recall him mentioning Monte Casino. His regiment was R.E.M.E., retired as a Major. Any other info would be appreciated. He didn't tell us anything about his award of the M.C., I can't find mention of it in London Gazette, any other sources? !!
    Many Thanks Paul Whatley
     
  3. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Hi Paul,

    His MC was gazatted on 21 September 1943

    Lieutenant Reginald Thomas Whatley (231260),
    Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
    (Totland Bay, I.O.W.)

    Gazette: Archive View



    With his service number, you could try to get his service record.

    I've attached a copy of the London Gazette for your reference.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

  5. ourbill

    ourbill Senior Member

    The North Irish Horse was part of the 25th Tank Brigade along with 142nd RAC and the 51st RTR.

    Gerry Chester was with the NIH and is on this forum, may I suggest you send him a PM, I'm sure he will be only too willing to point you to some info.

    In the meantime have a look at his site: http://www.nih.ww2site.com/
     
  6. Hugh Vaugh

    Hugh Vaugh Junior Member

    Paul,
    I'll be able to get a copy of the citation for his MC next week and shall then post it here.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
  7. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Bill,

    That is my site's old URL - it is now The North Irish Horse - By Gerry Chester

    Great to see Hugh coming aboard. He and his brother Doug have done so much for me and the North irish Horse!

    Cheers, Gerry
     
  8. Hugh Vaugh

    Hugh Vaugh Junior Member

    Gerry,

    Thanks for the kind words as ever.

    Is there a case for adding Lt Whately's MC to your site? Just a thought.

    Here is a link to NIH War Diary recording the award of his MC, see 14/10/43: -

    1943 Diary

    Cheers

    Hugh
     
  9. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Hugh,

    I did some research on Lt. Whatley’s record prior to his being posted to the NIH LAD, and promoted to Captain, 27.9.43. As the award of the MC was announced the following October, it was reasonable to assume that it is was earned while attached to one of our fellow 25 Army Tank Brigade units – 51 Bn. Royal Tank Regiment or 142 Bn. Royal Armoured Corps. While I suspected that it was with the former, nothing came up


    When you post his citation, especially if it refers to the Steamroller Farm battle, I may be able to come up with some more details for Paul. In any event I will check the NIH’s historian if it would be OK to add a footnote to the awards listing.

    As always, Gerry
     
  10. Hugh Vaugh

    Hugh Vaugh Junior Member

    This was found on microfilm at The National Archives: -

    The National Archives of the United Kingdom

    WO 373/2, COMBATANT GALLANTRY AWARDS, North Africa (First Army),
    02 Feb 1943-27 Apr 1944

    WO373/2


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    Gerry, you were correct about the action being before his time with the North Irish Horse. Can you work out from this which regiment he was working with?

    Regards

    Hugh
     
  11. Cpl Rootes

    Cpl Rootes Senior Member

    at the top it says he was '25 TK. Bde. W/shop R.E.M.E' or '25 Tank Brigade Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Workshop'
     
  12. Hugh Vaugh

    Hugh Vaugh Junior Member

    Yes, thanks for that. I meant, which one of the three regiments in 25 Tank Brigade was involved in the actions for which he was honoured, NIH, 51<SUP>st</SUP> Bn. Royal Tank Regiment or 142<SUP>nd</SUP> Bn. Royal Armoured Corps?
     
  13. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    This posting I am sending in two parts - for some strange reason that I am using 25 images etc. So here's hoping.


    Thanks to Hugh’s research, as the Citation sets Point 174 as being the scene, we can offer additional information for Paui.<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p
    The Churchills belonged to the 142<SUP>nd</SUP> Bn. Royal Armoured Corps which had the onerous task of assisting the infantry clear Guerat-el-Atach the higher of two hills sitting in the middle of the Valley down which the final attack to liberate <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ /><st1:PlaceName w:st=Medjerda</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=" /><st1:State w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></ST1:p took place. <O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p

    [​IMG]<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p
    As the map of the Valley shows, both Points 151 and 174 had to be cleared of the enemy to allow the thinner skinned <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pShermans</ST1:pl</st1:City> of the two Amoured Divisions to break through. This task fell to Churchills of the NIH and 142<SUP>nd</SUP> RAC the latter bearing the brunt of the attack. After Point 151 was captured, 142<SUP>nd</SUP> RAC ran into A/T fire while approaching the higher hill, although none of their Churchills was destroyed, being disabled they had to be moved quickly from the confined area between the two hills to permit the assault to continue. None of the NIH Churchills suffered any damage. An extract from the North Irish Horse battle reports is relevant:


    Gerry<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p
     
  14. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    "At 0430 hours on 6th May the big attack started. The 4th British Division was on the right and 4th Indian Division, supported by 142nd R.A.C., with N.I.H. C squadron vice their A squadron, and 145th R.A.C., were on the left. 145th R.A.C., supported 5th Indian Brigade and 142nd R.A.C. the 7th Indian Brigade. C squadron N.I.H. passed through the Gab Gab Gap and moved forward to an assembly area. By 0600 hours the first phase of the attack had proved successful and 142nd R.A.C. pushed through the Gap at about 0800 hours. C squadron N.I.H., whose role was to protect the left flank, formed up behind Souissi but the advance was slightly delayed by the infantry, who were late. By 1000 hours 7th Indian Infantry Brigade were on their first objective and immediately afterwards they pushed right on to Aoud Zriga. During this action C squadron captured six 88 mm. anti-tank guns, two of whose crews did not fire a shot.
    As C squadron reached the final objective the leading elements of 7th Armoured Division were starting to pass through the hole which had been punched. At the same time 6th Armoured were streaming through on the right. The timing of the whole operation was extraordinarily good and the work of the artillery against enemy anti-tank guns extremely effective and splendidly executed. Only five enemy tanks were seen and they were engaged as they moved away from the final objective which was immediately converted into a firm base by our infantry and anti-tank guns."<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p
     
  15. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    This is crazy - 25 Smileys still stopping things - hence three posts!

    The battle was a classic example of the effectiveness of heavy and lighter tank co-operation as espoused by Winston Churchill. <O:p</O:p
    “Tank Supply Policy
    Under the above heading, the P.M.l wrote a 6-point memo dated 23rd April 1943. Written as a result of receiving positive reports on "his" tank, it was addressed to Sir Edward Bridges et al. <O:p</O:p
    "The idea of having a spear-point or battering ram of heavily armoured vehicles to break the enemy's front and make a hole through which the lighter vehicles can be pushed has a very high military significance."<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p

    This is an extract from General B.G. Horrocks’:after battle report
    "By mid-day we were through the crust and the tanks were grinding their way forward down the valley towards <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ /><st1:PlaceName w:st=Medjerda</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=" /><st1:State w:st="on">Tunis.</st1:State></ST1:p It was a most inspiring sight to see these two well-trained and experienced <O:p</O:p
    armoured divisions being used for the role for which armoured divisions were specifically designed—to exploit a break-through deep into the enemy's heart. They worked like efficient machines, aircraft, guns, tanks, infantry and vehicles each fitting into the jigsaw of battle in its proper place.” <O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p

    Hugh has provided proof that Paul’s father commanded 142 RAC’s LAD and, more importantly, confirms that his award of the M.C. was more than justified.<O:p</O:p
    <O:p</O:p

    Cheers Gerry
     
  16. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    Hugh , Gerry & Cpl Rootes
    Many thanks for this stream of information, especially copy of record.
    Amazed to read dad recovered not just 1 but 12 Churchill tanks, under fire and mortar attack and through minefields!
     
  17. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Gerry -
    Knew my lot was in there somewhere - supporting the 4th Indian Div namely the 5th Bde.
    Cheers
     
  18. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    Photo of my fathers M.C. with his I.D. plus his other medals, plus further informatioin from my elder brother.

    Hi Paul, I have seen the NIH records which you have pulled through that
    forum thread . I know that he moved from the RAC to NIH after the
    incident in which he was awarded the MC. I have not been able to find
    any of his records pre NIH. There are some references to his
    involvement in recovering a damaged German Battle tank which was shipped
    back to the UK.

    Pa did not make much of his exploits during the North Africa Campaign
    although he did confess to being involved in an "oh shit" incident
    referred to in th NIH diary, when a shell was accidentally fired from a
    tank in which the gun was being checked. The shell hit trees just above
    an occupied truck causing a bit of damage and some amusement.

    Pa was with the NIH when the moved up through Italy including Monte
    Cassino which he did mention a couple of times.

    I have recently bought a new ribbon to remount his MC, the old one was
    almost threadbare and falling apart. I have attached photos of the MC
    and his full set of stars etc.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    MC & ID.jpg

    MC & medals.jpg He moved from the RAC to NIH after the incident in which he was awarded the MC. I have not been able to find any of his records pre NIH. There are some references to his involvement in recovering a damaged German Battle tank which was shipped back to the UK.

    Pa did not make much of his exploits during the North Africa Campaign
    although he did confess to being involved in an "oh shit" incident
    referred to in th NIH diary, when a shell was accidentally fired from a
    tank in which the gun was being checked. The shell hit trees just above
    an occupied truck causing a bit of damage and some amusement.

    Pa was with the NIH when the moved up through Italy including Monte
    Cassino which he did mention a couple of times.

    I have recently bought a new ribbon to remount his MC, the old one was
    almost threadbare and falling apart. I have attached photos of the MC
    and his full set of stars etc.
     
  20. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Quote.

    There are some references to his involvement in recovering a damaged German Battle tank which was shipped back to the UK.

    I just wonder if this is the Tiger put out of action by a shot to the turret ring stopping traverse of the turret.

    It was recovered to the Uk for evaluation and is now at Bovington Tank museum.

    Garry Chester and Tom Canning are the expert Veterans from this campaign and I am sure will make contact with you.

    Regards
    Tom
     

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