Hello Anyone got information about the Battle of Sidi Rezegh of November-December 1941, with particular reference to the action, units involved and casualty figures? I am interested in this with special reference to the SA Irish Regiment, which was so heavily hit that it was virtually disbanded and re-roled as a gunner regiment in early 1942. Cheers Richard
Try Barrie Pitt's "The Crucible of War: Auchinleck's Command." That has Sidi Rezegh in enormous detail.
Thanks for that; I 'll look out for his book on ebay etc. I read his book on 1918 and found that to be of interest.
Ricardo you may be interested in this pic, the caption on the back is 'Sidi Rezegh Cemetary' i think the date is 1941 the photo was taken by my father chris
What Ho, Harribobs - Pretty grim picture, somewhat reminiscent of those of WW1, and they do look like rather new, temporary graves. Cheers for posting it. Ricardo PS I reckon the GWF is just a day or so off being rebuilt.
hi mate very grim indeed, did you notice the helmets on the first graves? from some of my fathers comments, i got the suggestion he been at Sidi Rezegh twice, was there two battles there? chris ps there will be a few lost souls roaming the web until chris finishes his repairs
Cheers, Chris. I'll have to look up more on Sidi Rezegh, but in the Nov-Dec. '41 action the force was (I think) primarily UK, South African and New Zealand and they were facing Afrika Korps tanks with few of their own. I think the GWF lost souls are known as 'ghosts in the machine'; I bet a good few will be itching to start fights with one another when it re-opens!! Until then, we'll be hearing lots of ethereal chanting over the swathes of unused telephone lines: "Forum ... we need Forum... Brains, I want to pick your brains!" Ricardo
i will have a look myself tonight, i've got a decent book on the desert war which i've not looked at for a good while (and i'll see if i've any more pictures) i'm getting a bit twitchy myself (not getting my fix ) but i'm going to a lecture on Mesopotania tonight, that should keep me going chris
Also good sources are the New Zealand and British official histories. The former are on the web, and the latter have been reprinted. New Zealand produced volumes for each battalion of the 2nd Division, including the Supply Company, Division Signals, Petrol Company, and Ammunition Company. Great material.
Originally posted by DirtyDick@Jan 26 2005, 12:05 AM Cheers, Chris. I'll have to look up more on Sidi Rezegh, but in the Nov-Dec. '41 action the force was (I think) primarily UK, South African and New Zealand and they were facing Afrika Korps tanks with few of their own. Ricardo [post=30895]Quoted post[/post] that would be operation crusader, i've had a quick refresher on the northern desert and i think it was that he was at sidi rezegh twice (rather than two battles) probably the retreat and the adzance i imagine
Chapter X of "Beyond the Lager" by Louis Duffus is dedicated to Lt Col Cyril McNalty Cochran who became commanding officer of the unit at about that time. I also have copies of reports prepared by Lt Col Cochran prepared after the battle. Finally, the regimental history of the South African Irish entitled "Clear the Way" also contains details
This may be of interest to you it's from a book I was given a few years ago called world War 2 remebered this a piece out of the small section on Sidi Rezegh 'Second Lieutenant George Gunn, Royal Horse Artillery, manned a portee 2 pounder anti-tank gun against a mass attack by German tanks, moving about his four-gun troop under the heaviest shellfire, redeploying and encouraging the men until only a sergeant and himself survived. He was joined by Major Bernard Pinney, his battery commander, who succeeded in putting out the fires which were threatening the ammunition bins, and then when Gunn was killed by a direct hit, took his place in the layer's seat, maintaining a high rate of fire against the advancing tanks who were concentrating all theirs on this, the only vehicle left offering any resistance. Another direct hit engulfed the portee in flames and Major Pinney then coolly collected the wounded and evacuated them before joining another sector of the battle to supervise his guns there.' He was killed in action the next day and like Gunn recommended for the Victoria Cross. Sadly Major Pinney only recieved the Military Cross. Hope this is of interest or help to you Richard.
Hi all Yeah my Great Uncle was killed on 23/11/1941 at Sidi Rezegh after the 15th and 21st panzer divisions basically surrounded them and well annihilated the 5th Brigade...I have posted some pictures...Out 0f 5800 5th Brigade under 2000 made it out!!!!
Dirty Dick - Before we end up with another case of revised history - why don't you get yourself a book by Barrie Pitt on his trilogy of the "Crucible of War" - particulary - as some else has indicated Volume Two (Auchinlek's Command)which has an excellent account of the Crusader battle in which the Tomb and battles - note the plural - at and around Sidi Rezegh - Belhammed - Hill 175 - Tobruk etal That will sort it all out even to the Gunners Gunn - Major Whitney and Brigadier Jock Campbell V.C. and many others.... Cheers
