174926 2nd Lieutenant H.E RAWLINGS, 2nd London Irish Rifles

Hello all,

This is my first post, I hope to enjoy speaking to many of you in the future .

My Grandfather's name was Cyril Crouchman, he served as a private in the London Irish Rifles 2nd Battalion, E company.

The reason for my posting is due to a conversation I had with my Grandfather before he died regarding the action that took place on the 20-21st January 1943 in Tunisia during the attempt to capture a hill known as "Hill 286". In this conversation I remember him discussing his time serving as batman to a gentleman called Lieutenant Rawlings. He said that the last time he had seen Lieutenant Rawlings was being placed under arrest for refusing to lead his men, (Understandable and sensible it seems to me because of the orders they were given).

After reading another account of the event on the Irish Brigade website, its states that Lieutenant Rawlings was actually taken away wounded and that another officer was arrested for refusing to lead his men, but it doesn't mention who this was. I know that some of the details from different sources differ from that of my Grandfathers accounts.

So I was looking for anyone who may know the story of Lieutenant Rawlings or what may have happened to him and from this I will know if my memory of the story is correct or even mixed with another.

Many Thanks!

 

With them being officers there's a good chance it may get mentioned in this file at the National Archives:

WO 175/515 2 London Irish Rifles 1942 Dec.- 1943 June

 

Hello and welcome..

I think you might have read my Dad's account regarding the incident, where he says that "an officer refused to advance and was under arrest" ..separate to his comment about Rawlings being wounded - Dad certainly seems to suggest that they were two "different" men.

Sadly my Dad's not around to re-corroborate. My Dad's memory was generally pretty good, but I think there may be things that would be difficult to share with "outsiders", and names could easily be jumbled,

It's a pretty difficult subject no doubt - Hill 286 was an absolute total shambles. Col Jeffreys' account also referred to Rawlings being "wounded", but that doesn't preclude the possibility of Rawlings being "wounded" as well as "refusing to his advance".

I note also in the "LIR at War", they refer to "Lieut Josephs(sic) and his platoon held on", hardly a comment that would indicate he "refused to advance".

Jeffreys' contemporary account says of the 5 E Coy officers - Carrigan was killed, Joseph and Rawlings wounded, and Briggs missing. Lillie Costello led a counter attack and was awarded an MC. I'm nut sure if Briggs was later confirmed as "missing" as a POW.

I was up on Hill 286/279 last March and even in the middle of a lovely spring day, it was a pretty obvious that it was impossible to dig any defensive position to allow the opportunity to thwart the expected German counter attack, which duly came - cavalry fashion.

This is the the link to the London Irish At War http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/the-story-of-the-irish-brigade--1942-1947/london-irish-rifles/the-london-irish-at-war-1939-1945/the-2nd-battalion-london-irish-rifles-during-the-second-world-war.php

and 2 LIR's transcribed war diaries

http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/original-war-diaries---1942-to-1945/war-diaries-of-2-london-irish-rifles/war-diaries-of-2-london-irish-rifles---194243/january-1943-transcript.php

best

 

these are the bits about Hill 286 from the LIR at War http://www.londonirishrifles.com/history-2/significant-events/53-bou-arada

and what my Dad remembered...
http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/all-my-brothers-the-story-of-london-irish-colour-sergeant-edmund-osullivan/point-286.php

no doubt you've read them..but just in case.

Concidentally I'm meeting up with Sgt Charles Ward, (who was on Hill 286) tomorrow at the NMA and will no doubt raise the subject with him - although Charles was in G Coy so won't probably know names

 

I've now gone back to my Dad's original transcript and he refers to the Lieut "who had refused to advance" by name (Lieut X, let's say)...but unfortunately that name doesn't cross ref with the officers' roll for Dec 1942.. my Dad repeats the same name later a number of times in his original notes and then goes onto say that when Lieut X was due to be tried, the officer booked to testify (Lillie Costello) was too ill to attend, and my father, as CQMS couldn't testify against him because "it could have happened to anyone." My Dad was in no doubt who to blame, and it wasn't Lieut X. He was acquitted and my father suggests that he later became a "town mayor in Italy"

But the name is very strange...perhaps it came to be remembered after some post war reunion discussions with his mates.

 

David,

I hope this litany of notes isn't too intimidating, but I rechecked with Sgt Charles Ward yesterday and, as expected, he couldn't recall a "Lt X", so the mystery on that element will remain.

No doubt many men didn't perform to what might be described as the "highest military standards" that day, but it certainly is also true to say that the plan of attack was extremely flawed - the Brigadier had tried to step in, but the orders were coming down from the high levels. Attack a bare hill with no cover in front of the enemy, and then hold on with almost no ability to dig in. The German aggressive intent had been clearly shown during the week before (on Grandstand and Two Tree Hill). Our forefathers from the First World war would recognise that order.

sorry not to clariify too much,

best

 

Dear Richard,

Sorry for my delay in reply, I've been away for sometime.

Thank you very much for raising the subject with Sgt Charles Ward I hope the day went well for all.

I have visited and read your website a few times aswell as showing it to my Parents who were very close to my Grandfather and found it very interesting and informative, especially through accounts of someone else present at the time. Your trip to hill 286 looked very inspiring as I have concidered a visit to the Majaz al Bab memorial myself. I found your website by literally typing "london irish rifles hill 286" into Google and hoping that something would appear. So as you can imagine I was pleased to find the website.

My Grandfather always spoke about the war, but the subject of his time in Tunisia, especially of Hill 286 action was a little less detailed. On that day he witnessed the death of his brother (my great uncle) L.Sgt Patrick Crouchman on the adjacent hill and soon after news that his best friend "Johnny Rose" was killed in action near Tunis. So it was a very testing time for him.

I still have Patricks issued bible and some letters, his newspaper picture and obitchuary of the time, aswell as a book on the history of the London Rifles which my Grandad has scribbled in noting nicknames of people and places etc. I don't know if you'd be interested in seeing anything I have as you seem very connected, but I can make copies if you do.

Apologies again for the delay and thankyou! But I guess some questions as you say, are now out of history!

 

David,

Thank you for your follow up.

I was wondering if my streams of consciousness had completely put you off...

Actually about 4/5 years ago, I was speaking to a lady outside Westminster Abbey (at the Field of Remembrance plot for the LIR), who said that L/Cpl Crouchman was her uncle (I think), so that might have been a close relative of yours...

I guess your granddad's best friend Johnny Rose was this chap...

ROSE, JOHN ALBERT
Rank: Private
Service No: 1589798
Date of Death: 28/04/1943
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1st Bn.
Panel Reference Face 26. Memorial MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Albert and Annie Rose, of Footscray, Sidcup, Kent.

I've send you a private message (PM) with some other details..

best

 

On November 16 this year I shall be visiting the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance where an AJEX marker is being planted in memory of my late brother Jack, who was an air gunner in Bomber Command and died over Nuremburg on 16th March 1945.

If anyone wants a photo of a relative's marker or any particular unit, leave full details on this thread and I will do my best to oblige.

Ron

 

Ron,

Thank you.

Perhaps I might see you there on the 16th.

I know that Charles Ward, who I referred to in my original notes above, will be at the Field of Remembrance with his wife, Margaret (ex FANY), at its opening day next Thursday and he shall no doubt will be standing at the 1st Army section.

Sadly, Margaret and Charles were defeated by the additional information required this year by the RBL and will be prevented from marching in Whitehall again on 13th November as they've been able to do to honour their friends and comrades over the past years.. a real shame that...

best wishes

 

Richard

Commiserations to your friends on not being allowed to march on the 13th, security requirements do sometimes lack a little finesse and often seems to throw the baby out with the bathwater !

On the 16th of November I shall (hopefully) be at Westminster between 10:30 & 11:30 am and it would certainly be good to make your acquaintance.
Look out for a white bearded bugger accompanied by his daughter

Best regards

Ron

 

Ron,

Yes,hopefully they'll be on parade next year...16th mid morning now firm in my diary..

best wishes from 6,000 miles away (currently),

 

Ron,

Good news update about Charles and Margaret Ward...Charles has just dropped me a note and says that he has now organised an invite for Sunday, arranged by the Special Services (he served with SoE in NAfrica/Italy), and Margaret will be with the FANYs... a combined age of 190+ years...decent outcome all in all.

Hope to see you next week,