56th Reconnaissance Corps

29 November - Dad was wounded in Action at Medjez El Bab. Cpl’s Christian and Jopling were killed instantly with Tpr Abraham dying later. When he jumped off Portee he was conscious of pain across neck and of a jarring feeling in his spine. After the mine explosion his ears suffered from ringing noises and his speech was affected for about 6 weeks and his chest was sore. When their own ammunition exploded he had to lie behind a few rocks trying to avoid exploding ammunition for an hour or more. There were 2 vehicles in convoy; Dad was in the 2nd vehicle.

Lance Corporal JOHN CHRISTIAN
2720969
"HQ" Sqn
Who died on Sunday 29 November 1942 . Age 22 . KIA Morris Portee ran over Mine
Son of Walter and Josephine Christian.
MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL Tunisia Face 33.

Lance Corporal ALFRED JOPLING
5115624
"HQ" Sqn
Who died on Sunday 29 November 1942 KIA Morris Portee ran over Mine
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jopling, of South Shields, Co. Durham; husband of Christina Jopling, of South Shields.
MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL Tunisia Face 33.

“While making a recce in the Medjez el Bab sector. Nov 1942. Tunisia North Africa at that time we were being engaged by enemy patrols. I was serving as an Anti Tank Gunner and was sitting in the rear of the vehicle, which is a Portee specially, made for transporting an Anti Tank Gun and its crew. I remember it was night time and we had received orders to put the guns in position. We were in convoy moving down a track when we received a sudden blast killing 3 of our crew instantly, I was admitted to a Casualty Station (the unit I served in was 56th Recce Regiment 78th Div 1st Army) suffering severe blast affect on the neck and shoulder’s when I was standing, my head was leaning to one side and my arms were sticking outwards, my chest was sore, my ear’s and speech were also affected for approx 6 weeks. I lay on a stretcher in an occupied school we were attended to mostly by NCO’s of the Medical Corps at no time did I have an x-ray, very seldom did we see officers in attendance unless seriously wounded, being most fortunate to some of my comrades and I am not complaining about my treatment, they did their duty to the best of their ability under extremely difficult conditions. I certainly have great admiration for the Royal Medical Corps. I’m afraid I cannot remember the dates of these happenings. Eventually returning to my unit who were in battle positions 30 kilometres south west of Tunis, in the weeks to follow we estimated 65% casualties in our Recce unit, and we were long overdue for relief. Most of us being exhausted when relief did eventually arrive and for the second time being admitted to hospital where it was diagnosed as suffering from anxiety state then was given two weeks at a rest camp. Afterwards returning to my unit for the invasion of Sicily then onto Italy. A few days after arrival being admitted to the 99th General Hospital under the command of the Royal Marines with pneumonia. They gave me Sulphamanide tablets and a right pleural effusion. When it was considered fit for me to travel with a 2 weeks stay in Catania, Sicily. Then to Algiers for several weeks, then returning to UK.”

“After our rest our CO decided to give these blokes some experience at driving Portees. We were all on the same gun but instead of me driving I was in the back with the rest of the gun crew. If I were driving I wouldn’t be here as he died of his wounds when I got wounded. You’re in a confined bloody space in those vehicles; they were only made for a certain crew. It was made to tow an Anti Tank Gun a Portee was. There was only so much seating. I wasn’t the only driver changed to give the new guys night driving and war time at the front experience. There were 6 of us on the vehicle.”

“You never got familiar with them (replacements). Blokes just out from England, never met them in your life before, never had a chance to get to know them. With Christian and Jopling it was different, you came out with them, and you knew them off pat as you’d been with them for a while…they were me mates. But once they’d went and were replaced you weren’t together long enough to get to know them. Faces changing so fast you couldn’t keep up with it…hundreds of bloody soldiers …you only got to know a few of them. A Geordie was Jopling. He used to make us laugh. Geordies always strike me as being funny.”

“There were two Portee’s. One in front of us. How did we cop it and yet the one in front didn’t. That was another thing that was a talking point for a bloody long time. I can never understand how we copped it when there was another Portee in front of us doing the same as we were. This was a night-time job and the CO wanted the new blokes to get experience. In night-time convoy driving you were watching a light on the diff in front. The differential was painted white and the light was fixed on it. And that was how you used to go to follow the vehicle in front.”

“The gun plates were between me and the driver…gun plates ½ inch thick…that’s what saved me. They were too cumbersome to use so we used to sling them in the back of the truck behind the driver.”

“When I jumped off Portee in November 1942 I was conscious of pain across neck and of a jarring feeling in my spine. I suffered from ringing noises in my ears for about 6 weeks after the explosion. After that I would have ringing noises in my head on and off for some years after the war. I got more than a bloody knock when I got blown up. I had sore lungs from the blast, I could hardly speak when I got picked up too, stuttering all over the place. Shells were exploding all around the bloody place.”

“There’s nothing worse than being blown up…when we was picked up…American’s picked us up…they took us into a farm stable and this bloke had a hurricane lamp…I could see the driver’s burns. When they took his battledress off he had one big blister on his back…poor bugger and his face was burnt off…you could see his teeth...all you could see was his jaw… I think his name was Abraham…he suffered. He was lying along side of me…lying on this straw like I was. It was a terrible sight when they cut his tunic off… big blister on his back… poor bugger died.”

“It brings it home to me (roll of honour) that these people had next of kin, it must have been horrible for them…it was like me mum receiving the notification that I’d been wounded…except worse. My name could have been on here if it hadn’t been for the armour plating.”

WD 56th Recce

29th

0900: B Sqn report enemy since in MASSICAULT area but later in day report enemy forces withdrawn, and MASSICAULT clear. Mines located near harbour area at X Rds. 1Portee & 2 guns out of action. 2 killed & 3 injured.

C Sqn proceed South and reach SOUAREF & ZAGHOUAN.

Parachutists who landed at DEPIENNE at 1500 hrs contacted.

French Intelligence Officer on General Barres staff picked up by B Sqn and taken by IO to 78 Div, he has very important information of enemy situation in Tunis.

RHQ now at GOUBELLAT. Enemy appear to be withdrawing East & South.

 

November 30 – Dad was treated by 159th Field Ambulance. Evacuated sitting to 8 CCS.

Determined German resistance halts Allied invasion of Tunisia.

By late November, early December daily patrols were in force and 56th Recce had penetrated to within 15 miles of Tunis and were now regularly coming up against German 6-Wheeled Armoured Cars, Half-Tracks and the very lethal 88mm.

It should be recorded that although called the "1st Army" at this time, (the end of November), it consisted only of two Brigades, Blade Force and some Divisional Troops, - a total of 12,300 men versus some 20,000 for the Axis.

56th Recce padre was killed by a mine.

WD 56th Recce

30th

0800: Padre killed by mine and buried at GOUBELLAT.

MEDJEZ EL BAB

1330: RHQ move back to previous location. Enemy tanks, ARCs and lorried infantry in formed patrols reported moving from Tunis – MASSICAULT & TUNIS – PONT DU FAHS contact & observation kept by both Squadrons all day. PONT DU FAHS and FURNA limit of enemy advance. Enemy appear to be pushing forward again South & West from Tunis. PZKW 4s reported in area.

Chaplain 4th Class The Rev. PHILIP STAPLETON HORDERN
77494, Royal Army Chaplains' Department
Who died on 30 November 1942 Mine
B.A. (Oxon.).
MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY IV. M. 2.

Trooper SIDNEY ABRAHAM
10601091
"HQ" Sqn
Who died on Monday 30 November 1942 . Age 24 DOW Morris Portee ran over Mine
MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY Tunisia 6. H. 13.

“We had blokes (captured by the Germans) just about to be taken to a prisoner of war camp (released). The situation had changed so rapidly that the Germans were ready to ship these blokes off and the next thing they were captured. Our DR, our Dispatch Rider, Braithwaite, he was about to be shipped off. He told us how he got took prisoner. He was going down this track and he saw this 15 cwt platoon truck and as he got near it the canopy opened and there was a muzzle of a bloody machine gun. And the bloke in front of him said the wars over for you sonny boy. That was a German speaking bloody good English. He was taken prisoner.”

 

Hi all,
Apologies if this has already been posted, I couldn’t see it.
56 Recce. ‘I Remember: Armoured Cars in the Hills’. Article by Major J.C.Allan commanding A Squadron in the advance on the Gothic Line, from the Winter 1946-7 edition of The Reconnaissance Journal.
Robin

 

There is a thread on the Reconnaissance Journals, but if you have any more it would be nice if you could post them:
Reconnaissance Journal

As far as 'Armoured Cars in the Hills' is concerned I think that you will find a misprint in the journal, my father made a correction in his copy and suggested it was in fact the 46th and not the 56th.


In the article mention is made of the death of Lt Rozan who can be found on the CWGC and attributed to the 46th:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2381802/raymond-louis-joseph-rozan/

Major J C Allan is also mentioned in the 46ths war diaries posted by RecceMitch

 

Interesting. The perils of typos. Thank you.

 

Hello,
I'm trying to trace info about my father,
Geoffrey Tidman Harris
Joined up to Herts and Beds regiment 1939
Joined the Recconaisance Corp
Specialised as wireless operator
Went thru North Africa
Went to Italy.
Ended up joining 17th 21st Lancers
Ended war in Austria (I think) as rank of Quarter Master Sargent

I'm not sure he was in the 56th but given the bits of info I know and his ultimate joining to the 17th 21st I think the 56th is most likely. Any info, or a steer in the right direction for more info would be gratefully recieved. Dad has not been with us for many years now but I've only recently discovered the Recce involvement.


Mod edit:
See separate thread

• Geoffrey Tidman HARRIS, Beds & Herts, Reconnaissance Corps & 17/21 Lancers

 

As advised by Lesley I'm posting my great Uncles medal card (sorry its blurry don't have the subscription). I've found that my great Uncle Herbert Deacon was in the 56 Recce.

I know the only way to go is by applying for his service record but I just thought I would post it just incase any expert here can add anything.

Name Herbert Deacon
Rank Sergeant
Age 25
Award Date 28 Feb 1950
Applicant's Delivery Address 1 Marden Cottages Whitley Bay Northumberland
Service Group Number 41
Class of Release Z/T
Service Number 10601281
Regiment 78th Div. 56 Recce North Irish Horse 14/20th K. Hussars.
Stars/Medals Issued 1939-45; Africa; Italy; Defence; War


Regards Mike

 

Thanks for posting Michael.
Another 56 Recce to add to the tally .

Lesley

 

Tpr Deacon was wounded 18.3.45, perhaps this was the incident:-

 

More here:-

 

Which Squadron was Tpr Deacon in please? I don't have the lists handy at the moment.

Lesley

 

Lesley, A sqn according to the squadron lists, this also ties up with the above.

 

Thats great information Tony thank you very much Lesley said that you would come up with the goods cheers.

Kind regards Mike

 

Not unusual to transfer between squadrons, before deployment he was in HQ Sqn:-

 

Very good chance that he knew my father who was also in HQ Sqn & he defiantly knew S Abrahams who was on same carrier course & who was killed in the same Portee incident that my father was wounded.

Cheers
Paul

 

Cheers Paul thats also some great info thank you very much.

Regards Mike.

 

My father, George Leonard Waddilove served in the 56th Reconnaissance Corps. Unfortunately I have no information on his service yet as I am applying for his service record. He would never talk of his service and suffered with challenges relating to his service. He only mentioned being the only survivor from a shelling and was found wandering around the desert in North Africa before being hospitalised and demobbed. I shall update when I receive his service records.

 

Hello and welcome to the forum Ian.
Lovely to have another 56 Recce here . Have you any pictures you would like to post please?

Lesley

 

Hi Ian, good to see you. Have made a quick perusal of the squadron lists, casualty lists and missing men reports but nothing comes to light so far, applying for his records is the only way to go. When you say 'wandering around the desert' are there any clues to a location?

 

Wonder whether there is a medal card for him.