Links Zawiya, Libya - Wikipedia Les campagnes d'Afrique : Libye, Égypte, Tunisie, 1940-1943 War Diaries of The 11th Hussars, (Prince Albert's Own) War Diary of 3rd Field Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 1943. ----- x ----- http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/18920751/&q=Zavia&o=relevance http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/18920875/&q=Zawiya&o=relevance
Events 17th January 1943 SRY War Diary - The order was given to advance at first light, 3RTR leading, Staffs Yeo right, Notts Yeo left, which necessitated the Grants passing behind Bde Tac HQ and going up on their right flank. Within half an hour of the start, a Stuka raid took place in which some vehs were damaged. 3RTR had not gone more than a mile when they encountered a deep wadi with no apparent means of crossing. The Regt were instructed to recce to the right, in company with 11H, and attempt to find a way round. This was done and after about an hour's delay we once again took the lead, Capt McCraith again navigating the Bde. This had proved to be long and the going difficult, the early part being down a defile through which not more than three vehs could pass abreast. The enemy did not take advantage of this action to bomb us, which was fortunate. After some ten miles of passing over hummocky ground we moved up onto a plateau which developed into first-class going, and once more the Regt went 'full steam ahead', to attempt to catch up with German columns reported but now unseen, moving in varying directions along the Zliten, Beni Ulio and Beni Ulio - Tarhuna roads. We reached the road at 1530hrs. At 23 kilos North of Beni Ulio, and after replenishing, pushed on with the intention of cutting the Beni Ulio - Tarhuna road before nightfall, as 164th German Div were reported in Beni Ulio. The going, however, now became appalling and stones and rocks made it well nigh impossible to move at all, and only with the greatest difficulty did the column negotiate this country. Ten miles were covered and then a halt was made for the night. Patrick (Pat McCraith) 18th January 1943 SRY War Diary : Staffs Yeo, having found a crossing place the previous night, moved ahead, followed by Bde Tac HQ, Sherwood Rangers and 3RTR. In this order, and in column of regts, a move was made to the edge of the Wadi Talasma, a magnificent wadi with very steep sides about 100ft high, and only three ways down to it, each one being only capable of taking vehs in line ahead. We arrived in the wadi and the going improved and, as it opened out, became much better. During the afternoon three air attacks were delivered, one enemy, two own side. This was quite understandable as all columns, both enemy and friend, must have been converging upon the Tarhuna - Castel Benito pass. Another quiet night was spent, despite enemy aircraft overhead. 19th January 1943 SRY War Diary : At first light Bde again moved forward. The wadi was now almost at an end and on all sides the ground rose steeply. The sand of the wadi changed to the green of wild flowers and we were ordered to move up on right of Staffs Yeo, remaining on the right of the Tarhuna road, while they operated on the left. We advanced over some rising ground in full view of a commanding enemy posn and immediately came under fairly heavy shellfire. A splinter from an HE shell killed Lt E R Godfrey. Little progress was made during the day. The guns of 5RHA and 7 Med Regt engaged the enemy posn vigorously. In the afternoon Staffs Yeo took over from the Regt, who withdrew behind the medium guns out of shellfire, where they leaguered for the night. Gen Harding was badly wounded by shellfire while standing on the Bde Comd's tank. Brig Custance assumed comd of 7th Armd Div and Col Dunbark took over the Bde. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21412 : Original wartime caption: The L/Cpl. in charge of the transporter reports at the workshop office. 20th January 1943 SRY War Diary : Moved forward to the left of the Tarhuna road and up into heavy country. No opposition was encountered in the early stages but a little shellfire was met in getting into the foothills. The posn then was 3RTR left, Sherwood Rangers centre, Staffs Yeo right, the latter regt having occupied Tarhuna shortly after first light. The town of Tripoli and its immediate hinterland is surrounded by a chain of hills, mountainous in appearance and conformation, and through it from the South runs but one road, easily defended and difficult to force a way through. This road occupied the attention of the Bde during the remaining hours of daylight and darkness on this day. The Regt slept in the hills in much more comfortable surroundings. 21st January 1943 SRY War Diary : This day was spent in the hills in another posn while guns and inf attempted to force a way through the pass. During the afternoon Maj J D Player, who had escaped from the Germans, returned to the Regt to our great pleasure. 22nd January 1943 SRY War Diary : At 0200hrs the LO (Lt Gauntley) returned from Bde with orders to move forthwith. It was bright moonlight and, as all arrangements had been made for a move, this was soon in progress. We moved on in rear of 3RTR, through the pass and on to the plain of Tripoli. First light brought us into the most lovely country with cherry orchards and eucalyptus trees. Some bridges were blown on the road and 3RTR had been held up by 88mm guns. 15th Pz Div were reported in Azazia and we were ordered to support the left flank of 3RTR in the event of any trouble in that quarter. We moved across sand-dry[?] country and to just short of Castel Benito. During the afternoon 3RTR and Staffs Yeo were moved on towards Castel Benito, where some opposition was encountered. The Regt was ordered to be ready to move if required and the order for this came through about ¾hr before nightfall. The Crusaders pushed on to their objective, which was the eastern edge of Castel Benito, the other two regts having been held up on the outskirts of the town. The remainder of the Regt moved right handed and leaguered for the night. During the night orders came through to the effect that 3RTR and Staffs Yeo would push on towards Tripoli, while Sherwood Rangers protected left flank of 131 Bde and took up posns to the West of the Castel Benito - Tripoli road. 23rd January 1943 The British 8th Army, under the command of General Bernard Montgomery captured Tripoli from Italy. The Italian Governor, Alberto Denti di Piranjo, formally surrendered to the British, relinquishing Italian control of Libya that had started in 1912. SRY War Diary : 3RTR and Staffs Yeo moved during the night to within about five kilos of Tripoli, 11H who were under comd, moving into the town during the first hours of daylight. The Bde was thus, after three months continuous fighting, among the first troops to enter the city. During the morning orders were received to move to Suani Benadem and protect 131 Bde, who were moving out in that direction. The Regt moved and found there very good quarters in a police barracks with running water, cookhouses etc. They began to prepare for a prolonged stay and arrangements were made for officers' and sgts' messes, canteens for the men and all possible amenities. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21500 : Original wartime caption: A typical tank man is Lieut. Ted Phelan of Streatham. Seen here in the turrest of his Sherman tank: he has advanced with the 8th Army all the way from Alamein to Tripoli. 24th January 1943 SRY War Diary : CO and sqn ldrs went out on a recce to examine the defences of this posn and, returning about mid-day, found that orders had been received for an immediate move out towards Zuara, to support 11H who had contacted the enemy. This move was accomplished and the Crusaders and 11H patrols came in contact with enemy inf and A Tk guns on the outskirts of Zavia. The heavy tanks supported them in the Bianchi area. 25th January 1943 SRY War Diary : Moved on across bad going, to the edge of cultivation. 1 Buffs on the road were held up and our tanks, denuded of guns and inf, pushed on until they were some five miles ahead and to the left flank. A certain amount of shelling during the day, to which our heavy tanks replied. Cpl Staples was slightly wounded. The tanks were beginning to show signs of wear and Crusaders were repeatedly breaking down. We withdrew to some 1,000yds, to a comfortable leaguer area where we spent a pleasant night. 26th January 1943 SRY War Diary : Moved forward under instructions to push on towards Sabratha. New Bde Comd, Brig C B Harvey 10H, came and visited the Regt that morning and informed us that we were being relieved by 23 Armd Bde and that 131 Lorried Inf Bde were continuing the attack along the road. A little shelling by both sides - no casualties suffered. At 1700hrs one sqn of 40RTR (Valentines) took over and the Regt withdrew to a pleasant area of palm and olive groves immediately South of Zavia. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21600 : Original wartime caption: Tanks of the 8th Army passing through the treelined streets of Tripoli. 27th January 1943 SRY War Diary : It rained in the night. We are encamped by the road which runs South from Zavia, with the tanks under trees and hedges round an Italian farm. The Bde Comd, Brig Harvey, came to breakfast with Maj Spence. Bde is 20 miles away at Zanzur, on the sea. Zavia is a large Arab village of 34,000[sic] Arabs, the houses hidden among palm groves. There is a modern town made up entirely of huge barracks, a school, married quarters or small houses, a church, government buildings and an Arab market. The Italian buildings must have been almost entirely emptied some time ago and then looted by the Arabs. The Div Comd, Gen Erskine, visited us. We had to put a mounted patrol on by night in Zavia to enforce the curfew imposed at 1900hrs. Lt Taylor was in charge of the patrol, which had the help of the local carabinieri, who have everywhere remained. FIELD MARSHAL THE VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN KG GCB DSO 1887-1976 E21966 : The Second World War: 1939 -1945: Montgomery wearing his bush hat decorated with the badges of some of the units which served under him. A characteristic of his leadership was the ability to communicate with and inspire his troops and he developed a clearly defined image, partly by wearing distinctive hats, and partly through his relationship with the press. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21700 : Original wartime caption: General Montgomery holds a conference of senior commanders before the attack begins, to familiarise them all with details of the campaign. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1943 E21701 : General Montgomery beside a Grant tank near Tripoli, 27 January 1943. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21800 : Original wartime caption: While a rapid advance was being made along the coast road, other columns of the Eighth Army were advancing round from the South. Near Tarhuna, the enemy made a stand and had to cleared out by infantry and guns. Here are infantry advancing towards enemy positions. Italian Newsreel : "Colpi d'obiettivo attraverso la fervida preparazione bellica" - Archivio storico Istituto Luce 28th January 1943 SRY War Diary : The CO visited the Div Comd. Div is quite close to Zavia, on the sea. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1943 E21969 : The band of 51st Highland Division plays in the main square in Tripoli during a review by General Montgomery, 28 January 1943. Two Humber Mk II armoured cars can be seen in the foreground. (Albeit the associated caption card says date / catalogued 1d2m1943) 29th January 1943 8th Army advance parties enter Tunisia. SRY War Diary : The CO visited the Bde Comd. On the new Div Comd's orders all tents have to be struck unless attached to vehs. We abolish a Regtl officers' mess which had only existed one day and make a RHQ mess in an outhouse in the farm. The sun shines all day; it is perfect weather. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21850 : Original wartime caption: The track leading to Beni Ulid was found to be heavily mined. Dismantled mines are seen in the foreground. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1943 E21873 : The crew of a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun watch the sky after a Stuka raid during the 8th Army's advance on Tripoli, 29 January 1943. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21900 : Original wartime caption: British tommies exploring the promenade near the harbour at Tripoli. 30th January 1943 SRY War Diary : One Sherman and four Crusaders go into Bde Wksps. We get a new Grant in a very poor state. The weather remains beautiful. We are getting plenty of vegetables, fresh lamb etc and the Italians on the farm are friendly and helpful - the son worked for Sir Henry Birkin! THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943 NA583 : Local Arabs and a British soldier buying sugar from one of the stalls at Ain Sebaa, 30 January 1943. 31st January 1943 SRY War Diary : During the day we got back 'Robin Hood' and one other Grant. We are expecting at any moment to be called upon to line the road near Zavia for Mr Churchill and everyone is very spruce for it and the ceremony rehearsed. Church parade in the orchard with mimosa and scented white broom on the altar. We remembered the three officers and eleven men killed since Buerat. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21937 : Original wartime caption: The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill and the Rt. Hon. R.G. Casey. 1st February 1943 SRY War Diary : Capt McGowan went to 1 Armd Wksps and brought back a few stranded men. Between 20 and 30 are still stranded at Ben Ulid - crews of tanks knocked out at Zem Zem. Maj Ringose recced a new camp area near Bde HQ. Brig Harvey dined with the Regt and stayed the night. WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 91 [Main Title] Object description : The Last Lap. Full description I. "THE LAST LAP." Eighth Army Crusaders (with sand skirts) and M3 General Stuart light tanks negotiate desert terrain at high speed. The commentary outlines the success of the Eighth Army in defending Egypt and in conquering Cyrenaica and states that the men of the Eighth cheerfully face the challenges ahead. Wounded British infantry are carried by stretcher. A Sergeant dressed in a artilleryman's leather jerkin offers a cigarette to a wounded man. Douglas Boston bombers of the Desert Air Force bomb Axis soft-skinned vehicles retreating along a desert road. Stock shot footage shows United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers in flight and Royal Air Force (RAF) Liberators bombing shipping in Tripoli Harbour. The commentary outlines the composition of the logistics tail following the British advance which comprises of soft-skinned vehicles carrying water, food, ammunition, fuel and support workshops. A German prisoner collects personal belongings from the side stowage bin of a Sd Kfz 10/4 (Demag D7) with rear mounted 2cm Flak 30 anti-aircraft gun. Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk IIa fighter-bombers of 260 Squadron RAF take off from a desert air strip (Castel Benito ?). An RAF Bristol Beaufighter takes off from an unidentified airfield. Axis soft-skinned vehicles are attacked by Beaufighters flying at very low level (No Squadron codes visible). Camera gun footage shows shipping coming under attack by cannon armed RAF aircraft. The commentary states that the British Army moved into the town of Tarhuna on the last leg of their advance on Tripoli over scenes of Eighth Army M3 General Lee tanks and soft-skinned vehicles moving through the outskirts of Tarhuna. British tank crews mix informally with the local populace of Tarhuna as Italian prisoners are marched into captivity, escorted by a British infantryman armed with a Lee-Enfield .303-in No 4 rifle. A British Crusader III tank (side skirts and 6-pounder gun) drives past a road sign bearing the legend "Castel Benito K 64, Tripoli K 88." The children of Italian colonists mix happily with the British crew of a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun. A camera car drives past a lengthy traffic jam made up of Eighth Army soft-skinned vehicles, Crusader and General Sherman tanks. Full description II. 'TRIPOLI.' The commentary outlines the arrival of the Eighth Army into Tripoli, described as the pride of the Italian North African Empire and a holiday playground rivalling the European Riviera. British Valentine tanks drive into Tripoli watched by the town's inhabitants. Panoramic views shows a large statue of the Roman she-wolf (Romulus and Remus) in the centre of Tripoli and sunken coastal vessels in Tripoli Harbour. General Bernard Law Montgomery presides over the official surrender ceremony in Tripoli where he meets town representatives including the Chief of Police and the Mayor. Montgomery salutes British Valentine tank crews who line the streets as he drives past in a Humber Snipe Tourer. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E21940 : Original wartime caption: Life in Tripoli went on almost undisturbed after the occupation by the 8th Army. The people came out to watch, to listen to the strong noise of the Scottish bagpipes, to see the tanks and armoured cars, then they went back to their normal occupations and the life of the city became normal again. These pictures show life in the native quarter a few days after the occupation. 2nd February 1943 SRY War Diary : The Brig went round the sqns and spoke to every man. He also interviewed Cpl Gauntly for a commission. An advance party from each sqn went to the new area. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 Original wartime caption: Life in Tripoli went on almost undisturbed after the occupation by the 8th Army. The people came out to watch, to listen to the strong noise of the Scottish bagpipes, to see tha tanks and armoured cars, then they went back to their normal occupations and the life of the city became normal again. These pictures show life in the native quarter a few days after the occupation. 3rd February 1943 SRY War Diary : During the night we were put onto 3hrs notice and, as we expected that a force consisting of ourselves, Staffs and Buffs was going to be formed, we recalled the advance parties and prepared to move with one complete heavy sqn. The Adjt went to Bde and it had actually been decided to move up the Staffs Yeo only. All the tanks in the Bde, totalling only 59, were to be handed over to them; but in tps complete with tp ldrs. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1943 E22064 : A tank landing craft ferries new Sherman tanks ashore, 3 February 1943. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E22100 : Original wartime caption: The main assembly sheds where vehicles of all kinds ar assembled. 4th February 1943 SRY War Diary : The Regt, less the tank crews, moved into the new area. This is a large estate West of Zem Zem called Ricott, consisting of very many orchards of oranges, lemons, apples, plums, figs, mulberries, olives, vines etc, in gardens hedged with tamarisk and cut by several fine avenues of eucalyptus. "A" and "B" Sqns share a farm, "C" Sqn has a cottage, "HQ" Sqn another and "RHQ" the palazzina, an unfinished building with a dome, property of a contessa in Rome. The tanks were loaded at the old area. We provided the following: Four tps of heavy tanks comd by Capt McGowan and 2Lt Taylor, "B" Sqn; and Capt Semken and Lt Holman, "C" Sqn; and two tps of Crusaders, Lt Stockton and 2Lt McKay. We have retained the CO's charger 'Robin Hood'. Yesterday there was a rehearsal in Tripoli for a review by the CinC. We sent three officers and ten men - we learnt that Mr Churchill would be there. In the evening Capt Randolph Churchill visited the CO. Today the CO, Maj Player and Maj Laycock drove into Tripoli early and took the place of the three officers already there. The review was most impressive, the Highland Div driving past with their guns four abreast and to massed bands. They wore kilts and every veh was polished and freshly painted. The tanks of 22 Armd Bde lined the road to the piazza. Sgt Lee, a young Yeoman, has been awarded the DCM. He was recommended for the MM for bravery at the Battle of Alamein, where he stuck to his tank all day, after it had been put out of action in front of our line, and shot about 30 German inf who tried to surround him; under cover of darkness the tank was recovered. 5th February 1943 SRY War Diary : 8 Armd Bde, less the remains of ourselves and 3RTR, moved. Their role is to force a causeway between two stretches of marsh near . . . [blank] . . . and form a bridgehead. If they meet with only slight resistance, to advance to . . . [blank] . . . We handed over a proportion of our wheeled vehs; we now have 321 men present with the Regt. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E22175 : Original wartime caption: Members of the (ENSA) party examine a damaged building in Tobruk. 6th February 1943 SRY War Diary : The stadium in Tripoli was allotted to us this morning and each sqn sent in two teams for football. They found a good ground and running track, very poor changing rooms and no showers. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E22200 : Original wartime caption: A tank passes through Zuara in pursuit of Rommel's forces.
