Does anyone know if there is a book or books or even a web-site detailing the contribution made by the French in Tunisia.
Hi, Welcome to the Forum. Two books which should prove helpful, particularly the former. Both are available in most libraries. 'The Bloody Road to Tunis' Author: David Rolf Publisher: Greenhill Books, London Copyright: 2001, 320 pp. 'An Army at Dawn' Author: Rick Atkinson Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, New York Copyright: 2002, 681 pp. Cheers, Gerry
Hello Gerry Thanks for the two book titles. I've read 'The Bloody Road to Tunis' . The 'Army at Dawn' I could not finish, maybe it's just me but I didn't like the style. You might remember me from a few months back asking you about 51st RTR.You kindly passed me on to Geoff Prater. I wonder if he is OK because I've not heard from him since August. We were getting along fine and it turned out he was in B sqn 6 troop and my father-in-law was in B sqn 7 troop. I'm amazed how small the world is! The reason for the post on this forum. I'm really looking for information such as war diaries or books specifically about the French Corps in 1st Army. On another matter. I've been trying to find maps of the Tunisian campaign of the right scale to be useful. Have you any ideas. I've been on IWM site but, try as I might I can't find any maps. Regards Roger
Hi Roger, Have you tried to get hold of: Une campagne que nous avons gagnée, Tunisie, 1942-1943 by Louis Koeltz the commander of the XIX French Corps during the Tunesian Campaign? It was published in Paris by Hachette in 1959.
Good day Steen Many thanks for the book reference. Just what I'm looking for. I'ii try to find it on Abebooks.fr. Regards Roger
Thank you all for the hearty welcome. I 'm interested in North Africa and Italian campaigns simply because my father-in-law was there with the 51st RTR as part of 25th Army Tank Brigade. He never talked much about his service but he had a drawer full of medals. With just his name and number I've managed to construct an outline of his life from 1940 to 1945 but it is not easy to fill in many of the interesting details. At the moment my main concern is North Africa and the time 51RTR spent with XIX French Corps. I've got war diaries and spent a forture on books and negleted my dog walking duties reading them. I'm having difficulties finding any maps of the area in the right scale to be useful. I'm planning a visit to the Bovington Museum in the summer to have a good look at the archives, my camper needs a bit of sea air if her in doors will agree! Best regards Roger
hello my grandfather nobby ballinger was assigned to the XIX french corps in north africa he was with the RASC i came across this while reading his war diaries it tells me where the french were for a few months while he was attached to them i will have another look at his diaries if its any help? regards bally
bally Thanks for the offer to delve into your grand father's diary for a few references. First let me quote from the Short War Diary of the 51st RTR: ' B Squadron under command French 19th Corps, had been engaged with the enemy, first at Ousseltia on 11th March, a most successful action in which the Squadron Leader, Major F.A. Dow, gained the Criox de Guerre, which was also awarded to one other Officer and 4 O.R.s........they next met the enemy, at very short notice, at Sidi Bou on 29th March and successfully drove off a German counter-attack, enabling the French to advance some 5 miles. They also carried out with the French two further advances towards Pichon' What I would like to know is which French part of 19th Corp. was advancing and in action with the 51RTR. Roger
