50th RTR tanks roster in the battle of Mareth line

That sounds like a great tip! I was indeed thinking of some sort of a form the units had to fill out and send up the chain. I was hoping it would also be preserved at the unit too. But it does seem reasonable that the higher along the hierarchy level you go, the more they would care about documentation.

All signs point to IX at this point, thank you for you looking this up! And it's an interesting anecdote, because it does mean these 6-pdrs indeed took part in the battle.

 

Hi

From page 93 of The History of 50 RTR by Stephen D Hamilton.

On the morning of March 20th the Regt leaguered in the area with 51 operational tanks, 43 of which were 2 pounder and 8 with 6 pounder. 1 other 6 pounder, used by Lt Senior of 10 troop was in workshops with gearbox trouble. Senior took the Cpls tank.

Page 65 of Valentines in North Africa by Bryan Perrett, identifies the tanks in the battles as Valentines but nor type of gun fitted. It does say that by the end of the day they lost 27 tanks. 8 dead (including their CO), 31 wounded and 4 missing.

Hope This Helps

Gus

 

This doesn't help with 50RTR but here is evidence of both Mk IXs and Mk Xs being used as artillery officer "chargers" in 1945. As I recall from discussion here, BLR = beyond local repair.



from around War diaries : T-16455 - Héritage

 

Evidence that the X was undergoing acceptance trials from June 1943:

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5776/2559?r=3&s=3
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5776/2552?r=3&s=3
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5776/2525?r=3&s=3

 

Just following up with a little snippet from the war diary of 40th Bn RTR (WO169/9370) which I thought might be of interest:

12 March 1943 6788
During the morning the C.O. was admitted to M.D.S., having been indisposed for several days. The 2nd I/C and the I.O. spent the greater part of the day on reconnaissance in front of the 152 Bde. positions. Two new officers, Lieut. P.H. Smith and Lieut. F.L. Desbottes joined the Bn. The first three Mark IX Valentine tanks (6 pdr gun and no Besa) arrived at ‘B’ Echelon.

13 March 1943 6788
Lieut. Hayward and the two Bde. tanks together with two more supplied by the Unit moved at 0830 hrs to join the 41st B. R.T. R. (Scorpions). During the morning the 2nd I/C and I.O. visited ‘A’ Sqn. and made a reconnaissance forward of the 152 Bde. positions.
In the afternoon three 6 pdr. Mark IX Valentines arrived in the Bn. area, but the same evening an order was received that these were to be passed over to the 50th Bn. R.T.R. who were priority.

Regards

Tom