FIRST CLASH IN TUNISIA - 17th November 1942

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Instructor6, Nov 17, 2022.

  1. Instructor6

    Instructor6 Member

    On 16 November, the 6th West Kents, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Howlett, had marched east to seize the important road junction at Djebel Abiod. At this hamlet the coastal roads going north-east to Mateur and Bizerte joined with the road south-east to Beja. The 6th West Kents was a territorial battalion and as one might expect for a unit recruited in Kent, it had many accomplished cricketers among its ranks. This included its Commanding Officer (CO), Bernard Howlett, whose nickname in the army was “Swifty” due to his fast-bowling skills, which had been used to good effect while playing for Kent in the inter-war years.

    On arrival at Djebel Abiod on the morning of 17 November, Howlett deployed his companies and two scarce 2-pounder anti-tank guns under the command of Captain Bryan Valentine, whose pre-war role had been captain of the Kent County cricket team. While awaiting instructions, Howlett was alerted at about 1100 hours by personnel from HART Force to the advance of a German column. One account states that a motorcyclist from that ad hoc task force arrived and said: “The bleeders are coming.”

    The column including tanks, which were duly sighted by his hidden troops two-and-a-half hours later. On arrival of the Germans Howlett is reputed to have observed: “Looks as if we’ll be opening the batting for the Gentlemen versus the Players.”

    The column wending its unsuspecting way down the road from MATEUR was that commanded by Major Rudolf Witzig, who had been ordered by Nehring to delay the British forces. Witzig had won the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for his part in the daring attack on Fort Eben Emael in Belgium in May 1940. His force included two companies of his own Pioneer Engineer Battalion, a company of Mark IV tanks from the 190th Panzer Battalion and an artillery battery.

    Although his force also included six Italian armoured cars, Witzig failed to use them as scouts and was badly surprised when the 2-pounder anti-tank guns of the 6th West Kents, supported by the 25-pounder guns of the 138th Field Regiment, opened up at close range. Lieutenant John Maling's platoon watched as the tanks went by and 3 lorry loads of Germans de bussed right next to their concealed positions. They then opened up with Brens and rifles and at that range they could not miss. Subsequently Maling and his platoon had to extract themselves from the middle of the Germans and get back to the battalion. Maling received a well- earned MC for this action.

    Major Witzig’s force recoiled up the road, but not before leaving behind at least five damaged tanks and some 50 dead. The German force quickly retaliated with shelling and managed to inflict casualties on the unfortunate gunners, whose positions had now been revealed. Witzig’s initial repulse at Djebel Abiod, although a local success, could not be immediately exploited by the 54-year-old commander of 36th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Arthur Kent-Lemon. From this point on progress of British forces into Tunisia became more difficult.
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Uncle Target likes this.
  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Re: #2
    To quote someone on another thread:
    I am not inclined to proceed further, it could be "rabbit hole".
    I don't speak or read French, so my research is limited.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
  4. Instructor6

    Instructor6 Member

    Happy to be more specific and amend this to read British Army's First Clash. I plan to write about George Barre and his troops in this site at some point if time permits. In my defence have already separately highlighted Barre's role in Tunisia when many others have failed to do so.
     
    Uncle Target likes this.
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Must be honest and say that I've never heard of him.
    Until now.
    The French Military have never figured in my thoughts. Probably after listening to my grandfather's stories of WW1
    and being forced to learn 50 words a week at school.

    This guy looks interesting.

    Georges Barre
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
  6. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is a short thread, with nineteen posts btw 2011-2012 on this issue: French resistance at Medjez-el-Bab

    In a thread on the UA 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion it states, curiously:
    Link: 509 PIB
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
    Instructor6 and Uncle Target like this.
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    The past thread reveals a few thoughts regarding the French which only a few years later ring bells in today's pc thoughts.
    Bill beadle mentions a visit to a French Farmer in Tunisia.

    I’ve been out and about quite a lot, rambling around Roman ruins, exploring Arab villages and visiting French farmers.

    These latter are the aristocracy of the country and live in very beautiful ferro-concrete houses, usually of one storey surrounded by cactus.
    Their estates are usually on sloping ground running up into the mountains behind, hundreds of acres of vines, olives and citrus groves cut by inevitable ruts and ravines of the wadis.
    One such estate I visited earlier this week with Gerald Lewis. The owner is a Baron someone or other (we call him M. le Baron and can never remember any more) A very charming host indeed-a witty, wise and (for a Frenchman) genial man, with a very pretty wife who does all the cooking and housework and yet continues to look like a picture from Vogue.
    M. le Baron grows grapes, oranges and wheat, cattle and chinchillas. His rabbit house is a fascinating place with every inmate in a cage with stainless steel mesh, complete with life history and last mating date.
    He employs 15 Germans who work industriously and touch their Africa Corps hats respectfully as you pass.
    He says they seem quite happy “At least if one may judge from their appetites.”
     
  8. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Good and detailed info on the German side, given the dearth of available records from that period.

    All the best

    Andreas
     

Share This Page