First-hand account of Battle of Knightsbridge?

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by WREN, Feb 20, 2020.

  1. WREN

    WREN Member

    Can anyone please recommend a first-hand account of the Battle of Knightsbridge from the perspective of the First Army Tank Brigade?
     
  2. James Colvin

    James Colvin Member

    Sir Robin Dunn's battery supported them on the second day of Knightsbridge - excerpts from his diary in my book 'Eighth Army v Rommel: Tactics, Training & Operations in N Africa 1940-42 (Helion).
     
  3. Flamula

    Flamula Member

    You could try "Tank commander from the fall of France to the defeat of Germany" (the memoirs of Bill Close) which has an account of the Gazala battle, the author was with 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. I think his main actions took place between Bir Harmat and Bir Hakeim, but it's all tank related and 'Battle of the Cauldron' territory.

    My Grandad passed through that battle with various NCO's from 150th infantry attempting to their units encircled further west at Rotunda Ualeb. He had little to say on the matter other than he passed through a tank battle at Knightsbridge dodging armour piercing shells.

    There were 200 tanks knocked out in a single day there I believe.
     
  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There are approx. twenty threads on this battle, which can be id'd by searching the North Africa & Med section with Knightsbridge. On a quick look there are other accounts of the battle.
     
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  5. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Have you searched the IWM sound recordings? Here is a promising one:

    Fitz-John, Harold (Oral history)

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  6. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I have often wondered if Major George Learmouth Streeter, MC.

    Wrote any accounts of his war...

    FB_IMG_1623331672600.jpg

    Re. Major George Streeter, M.C.

    British Newspaper article...

    OBITUARY Major George Streeter, M.C. 20 years' Army service THE death occurred at his home on Thursday last ..
    ... training with the 21st Army Group in preparation for the invasion of Normandy, in which served as second.in-command of the 24th Lancers and was again mentioned in dispatches. After the war he was in command of the R.A.C. ranges at Castle Martin, Pembrokeshire ...
    Published: Friday 28 December 1951
    Newspaper: Herts and Essex Observer
    County: Hertfordshire, England
    Type: Article | Words: 217 | Page: 3 | Tags: none
     
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  7. James Colvin

    James Colvin Member

    Stuart Hamilton's 'Armoured Odyssey' covers this period - he was in 8 RTR at the time, got an MC and survived.
     
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  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    The Battle of Knightsbridge Box

    https://podbay.fm/p/the-history-of-wwii-podcast-by-ray-harris-jr/e/1666873380

    SHOW NOTES
    With the Battle of Bir Hakeem over Rommel is ready to drive on Tobruk, but first he has to get passed the Knightsbridge Box, where the 2nd and 4th Armored Brigades are waiting. What follows is mistakes by both sides, but Rommel reacts more quickly because he is with his men. Meanwhile, 8th Army Commander Ritchie is far away and has no idea what’s going on
    .

    Battle of Gazala - Wikipedia

    Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0109.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby
     

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