Wondering if anyone might have some information on the activities of the 20 Anti-Tank Regiment RA for May 17, 1940. Seems they were engaged with the advanced guard of Infantry Regiment 11 in Woluwe St. Etienne (old name) east of Brussels. I have an account of the action from the war diaries of IR 11. Two men of 99 Battery are buried in the local town cemetery, Bombardier George Thomas and Gunner Charles Stokes. ststevenswoluwe Taghon, Mai 40 has a picture, Chapter 18 Plate 1, of one of their guns which looks like at the intersection of Kleinenbergstraat and Leuvensche-steenweg in the town. The IR 11 WDs indicate they KOed 2 artillery tractors (Vickers Light Dragon Mk II), one towing an AT gun and a tank?. The 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards were covering the withdrawal at Woluwe St. Etienne but their WDs don't mention any tanks being KOed here. The German involved in the engagement received the EK I award. I have yet to see the 20 AR RA WDs and was wondering if anyone had knowledge of their side of the events. Thanks in advance for any input.
The gun in the Taghon photo doesn't look as if it has been set up there so could well be the gun that was being towed. The early 2pdrs on the Mk1 carriage could be fired from their wheels but this one doesn't look to be ready. The German diaries have a habit of referring to Bren Gun and Scout Carriers as 'panzers' so it may not have been a tank that was hit. The BEF establishment for an anti-tank regiment listed 48 Light Dragons. To my mind, photographic evidence is rather lacking of anything like this sort of quantity.
Rich, you are probably right and the "tank" was another Light Dragon. The regimental history for 5 RIDG mentions they shot up a platoon of Germans on bicycles near Woluwe St. Etienne who approached their rear carrier troop. This was likely the scouts of the advance guard of IR 11. The IR 11 WDs mentioned that during the engagement Gefr. Fietkau of 2 Kompanie IR 11 engaged one of the "panzers", Vickers Light Dragon Mk II, with an MG 34 from close range, (15m), from the cover of a nearby house. He is credited with killing and wounding several "Tommys" most likely Gunner Charles Stokes, age 37 and Bombardier George Thomas, age 29. Then Hauptmann Emmerich, the commander of 14/IR11 (anti-tank company), was said to have manned a 37 mm Pak and KOed another "panzer" Light Dragon II. Fietkau and Emmerich got the EK I. There is also an interesting account in the IR 11 WDs of how the surrender of Brussels (east of the Willebroeck), occurred in the evening of May 17 and the involvement of the commander of I/IR 11 Maj. Weiß, the mayor of Brussels and the Spanish Ambassador to Belgium. It would be nice to see the British side of events. I'll see if Andy has the 14 AR RA WDs.
His old list was marked to the effect that he had copied it and it runs until June, although there is always the risk that it was written up afterwards. It occurs to me that there may have been proper armoured carrier there for some reason as well. A 37 PAK goes straight through them as well, of course.
Rich, here are the terms used in the IR 11 WDs: "einige gepanzerte englische Zugmaschinen" and "Die andere Zugmaschine und der Panzer waren darauf von der Straße her-unter in die kleinen Gärten der Bauernhäuser ausgerissen." Have an email in to Andy about 14 AR RA WDs.
So they seem to be referring to two types - an armoured tractor and one that presumably wasn't. 20 anti-tank Regiment were certainly equipped with Light Dragons. They are shown with their '6' Arm of Service markings withdrawing into Leuven in the Pathé film. Great images of them turning tightly. Not the same gun though as this one appears to have the later shield
Thanks for the British Pathe stills! I noted Taghon Mai 40 Chapter 2 Plate 3 shows another picture of them in Light Dragons in Alost. I rechecked 5 RIDG WDs, the 5 RIDG regimental history book and their book of personal accounts, Tracks in Europe but did not see any accounts of carriers or tanks lost on May 17. They did note one KIA on May 17 a Trooper B.S. Brewin, 201871. But he might have been a DR. He was buried in Berchem Ste Agathe. Hopefully 20 AR RA WDs will have an account of their losses on May 17 which will help figure out the 3rd AFV. Here`s the rather colourful account from the IR 11 WDs: Der Erfolg war vernichtend. Kaum 15 m von der Ecke steht das klobige englischer Kraftfahrzeug auf der Straße, tot oder schwerverwundet sind alle Tommys darin mit wächsernen Gesichtern und verkrallten Händen übereinandergefallen, Blut und Öl verfließen miteinander im Wageninnern.
Hi Steve - I got your email but not had a chance to reply yet. I've just got back from Holland and still 'catching up'.
