Seige of Boulogne and Kenneth Macksey

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Chris C, Aug 30, 2018.

  1. Tolbooth

    Tolbooth Patron Patron

    Kenneth Macksey gets a mention in 'In at the finish: NW Europe 1944/5' by John Smith who was a operator/loader in the 141RAC.

    Smith's tank has just stopped in a village somewhere on Mount Lambert-

    "Then a Churchill gun tank drew level with us. With a rending of metal its air louvre wrenched away our near side rear wing. The offender stopped. From the cupola a pink face peered back at us. Jack (the tank commander) stood up in his seat and shouted and waved his fists. The officer, Lieutenant Macksey of A Squadron, with whom I had been on the flame course, got down and came over to us. Jack, who had no respect for rank when his blood was up, swore at him. Shag and I were giggling in the turret and George was scandalised. The officer was apologetic - with Jack in a flaming temper he had not the chance to be anything else. Then his tank moved on and a little later we heard him babbling about the number of Germans who were surrendering to him. Jack, only slightly mollified by the apology, was still muttering about his wing."

    Later that day they move up closer to Bolougne ready for action-

    "...the second tank in line came up.
    "Two-two has had it," cried the commander.
    "What's that?"
    "Two-two has been knocked out."
    "Did you say knocked out?"
    "I said knocked out. The poor bugger's brewed up. There's an Ant on the cross road."
    "An Ant? Is there? Did you see what happened?"
    "Yes. He brewed up straight away. But I think they all got out."
    "Is he blocking the road?"
    "Yes."
    "Can you see a way round?"
    "No."
    Silence. They were digesting this one. In my tank there was a babble over the I/c:
    "Listen! Did you hear that?"
    "Yes. Two-two's had it."
    "Who's Two-two, Smudge?" (
    Smith was, of course, nicknamed Smudger)
    "Whatsisname. Macksey, bloke who hit our wing."
    "They said they all got out. Who's his crew?"
    "Dunno. A Squadron. Do you know George?"
    "No. Did they say a anti-tank gun?"
    "They did indeed"
    "
    After the fall of the town Smith has another encounter with Lt Macksey-

    "I was looking for the Fitters at the rear of the column when Mr Macksey was brought up in a jeep. He was wounded in the shoulder, very pale, and either slightly delirious or else wildly excited. The officers rushed around to shake his hand and soon there was a crowd to hear his story before he was packed off to the dressing station.

    After baling out the previous evening he had crawled up a sewage pipe but had emerged when the Germans started to shoot up it. They had taken him to their HQ where all their officers were arguing as to whether or not they should surrender and he had his say. Eventually they decided that they would become his prisoners."
     
    Chris C likes this.

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