It is nice when things start to come together. I have been researching my Father Gnr.Burnikell G Battery (Mercers Troop) 5 RHA. I was particularly interested in when he was wounded at El Agheila in North Africa. I never realised up until now what an intense action it was with 3 Gunners earning MM.s This is what has come up so far with the help of Drew5233 who obtained the 5 RHA war Diaries (Thanks Andy) The first report is from the 5RHA war diaries. The Second the MM Recommendations. And my Fathers report from his Journals To really pin point it in Fathers Journals he says that the shell that wounded him also damaged the wheel on the gun as mentioned in report 2 EL AGHEILA We were subject to heavy retaliatory fire as we approached El Agheila casualties were very high. We were still in the desert and with four others I caught a packet, shells were bursting close, and as was the drill I had thrown myself down in the sand beside the gun. The wheel of one of the 25 pdrs was blown off and part of the shrapnel from shell hit me as it were in a straight line Through the base of my shoulder blade through my back the base of my bottom and the back of my thigh taking a large lump with it then went on to puncture the tyre on another gun. There were others hit, one had the bottom of his leg hanging off, although being shelled everybody knew what to do, it had happened before. First aid was applied, blood everywhere. I and the chap whose foot was nearly off were put in a jeep and driven about a mile back where a tent was being set up, to patch up the wounded.17 View attachment Dads Action 1.docx View attachment Dads action2.docx
Redtop It must be a funny experience for a relative to understand what war and action and consequent wounding is all about as this is exactly why forums such has this exist - in order to teach what it was all about as not many Veterans talked too much about it all in the past….El AGHEILa comes to mind in three different actions as it was close to Beda Fomm where a small amount of British wiped out an entire Italian Army - secondly where Rommel and his Afrika Corps made their initial entrance to the war in Africa and thirdly Monty's hesitation as no British troops had managed to go beyond that point in the war as he struck out for Tripoli…. So your Father helped to shape History - probably without knowing it… Cheers
The fact that veterans would not talk is mentioned quite often on this site. My father spoke very little . As Kids we knew he had been in the Army to Africa Italy and Europe and was wounded twice and was on a disability pension and that was it. All he ever said to me was "I have seen terrible things Bryan ,Terrible things," He died a couple of years ago when he was 98 and only then did we find the Journals in his personal effects. This is why I amtrying to get it all together to pass on down the generations.,
Redtop Sounds like he was with XXX Corps ( 50th Div ; 51st Div and 7th Armoured Desert Rats ) and so you should follow that up as they had quite the time of it from the BEF days - then the Desert - Tunisia - Sicily - few weeks in Italy before the landings at D Day- the grandchildren won't believe it as they did more than most… Cheers
You are right Tom he was with 5 RHA at the Battle of Alhafa,Alamein,wounded at El Agheila,Landed at Salerno,Portered supplies up Mount Cameo. Back for Day 1 on D Day Villers Bocade then Up to Echt where he was wounded again and still not out till 46 as you say they did quite a bit.
Just to thank Drew 5233 for his help getting 5 RHA War Diaries. Just skimmed them at moment but found a lot of previously unknown Facts will now go through in detail. Thanks Andy.
Whilst researching your 2023 thread on another family member I found this 2014 thread on your father (minus any first names). The 2023 thread is: Indian Parachute Brigade/ Buffs? In Post 6 you summarised your father's wartime service as (with some amendments and spacing added): You have a stand alone thread for his injuries at Echt: Help identifying Units please. and another with eleven posts: Incident at Echt There are several other threads on your father, best id'd by checking Redtop's activity. The 5th Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) have an entry here: 5 Royal Horse Artillery - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 This has a link to summaries of the war diaries for G battery (Mercers Troop) 5 RHA, for 1939 to June 1946 (produced by Gerboa). There is a May 1942 entry for an Albert Mortimer Burnikell; then in 1943 his Service Number is given as 1088581 after he was wounded on 14/12/1942 El Agheila and his assignment to a 25 pounder crew. The 1944 Diary has one entry with him for May 1944, when the battery was using Ram (IIRC a Canadian built version of the Sherman used as the Sexton self-propelled gun). The 1945 Diary refers to him on 5-6/2/1945 being evacuated sick and not mentioned again - plus in the 1946 Diary.
