Off the top of their heads could anyone tell me whether the 6th Bn Green Howards were in Egypt (Western Desert) in late May 1942? Cheers Skip
On the 28th May 1942 they were at Knightsbridge with D Squadron 42 RTR. The following day they moved to Bir Tamar.
Great - thanks very much Drew - have just been looking at someone killed in action in the Western Desert on the 27th and wanted to confirm he was with the 6th Bn. Obviously it sounds right thanks to you. Much appreciated. Cheers Skip
No worries. Is the battalion given on CWGC? I have the regiments history and there was a few battalions in North Africa in 1942.
Was just checking as I have several cases where in the case of a casualty the last unit logged by the CWGC is incorrect. Am making a list of errors to send on to them - however, this one seems to fit thankfully.
From the Regimental History dated 27th May 1942 The Divisional Mobile Reserve was under command of Brigadier W C L O'Carroll, DSO and consisted of Brigade HQ, 1st Army Tank Brigade, 44th Battalion, The Royal Tank Regiment, one squadron 42nd Battalion, The Royal Tank Regiment, one squadron armoured cars, 287 Battery, Royal Artillery, 124 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 6th Battalion Green Howards and one company of machine-guns of the 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. This force moved off soon after 10 o'clock on May 27 to occupy Bir Aslagh, and, an hour later met a large enemy column moving northwards along the Bir Hacheim-Acroma track. At least one Panzer Regiment was halted on the track, probably refuelling , and staff cars could be seen darting in all diretcions. The 6th Battalion came under heavy shell fire, and the order was given to debus, and to advance and occupy the higher ground which lay across the Bir Hacheim-Acroma track. The Battalion went into the attack with 'D' Company under Captain F H Brunton on the right, 'C' Company under Captain C M Hull on the left and 'A' Company under Captain J L Hughes, MC in reserve. This was the first real contact with the enemy that the Battalion had made, as a complete unit, since 1940, and the conduct of all ranks was to prove the value of the training and discipline which it had gradually built up since the return from Dunkirk. Through increasing shelling and machine-gun fire the sections and platoons advanced in perfect formation, with their bayonets at the high port. Casualties occurred, particularly in No.14 Platoon of 'C' Company, which received a shell burst right in it's centre, but the men never waivered, and marched straight forward, leaving the wounded to the care of the stretcher bearers. 2/Lt B Burn, who was soon to loose his life in the break out from Gazala, led his anti-tank guns, with great dash and gallantry, against two enemy armoured cars which were threatening the advance. Both were knocked out and their crews taken prisoner by 'D' Company. The Battalion reached its objective, on which it proceeded to dig itself in as best it could in the hard ground. For the remaining hours of daylight there was intermittent shelling and machine-gun fire, but the Green Howards held firm. Later, the 44th RTR went into the attack, but met with little success owing to the superior fire power of the enemy. Towards evening the Panzer column attacked the 201st Guards Brigade at Knightsbridge, but was repulsed with heavy losses, and, sidestepping the Guards, moved northwards towards Bir Rigel. The night of the May 27 passed quietly so far as the 6th Green Howards were concerned with the exception of the following incident. Shortly after dark a German staff car, with two others, one of which contained a fully equipped fitters shop, drove towards No.15 Platoon of 'C' Company. The platoon waited until the cars were so close that there was no chance of their getting away, before they sprang out of their trenches and effected their capture. Not a shot was fired, and hardly a sound was made. Immediately after this Captain Hull took out a patrol to reconnoitre the route to Knightsbridge. This he found to be clear of the enemy, and early the next morning, the Battalion moved to Knightsbridge in its transport.
Thanks very much Drew - I'm pretty happy now that he is confirmed as 6th Bn rather than having been killed serving with on elf the numerous SF units floating about at the time as has been suggested to me. Your posts are very much appreciated. Cheers
