7044610 Harold LAWTON, MM, 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers: Dec 1944

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Ravrick, Aug 16, 2011.

  1. Ravrick

    Ravrick Senior Member

    Hi, does anybody have access to the War diary of the 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers? I wonder of there is any mention of the action in which Sgt H Lawton won his Military medal? The citation is below:

    Info from his recommendation, I am sure the enemy were german paratroopers, who were facing the 78 Div at that time.

    38 (Irish) Infantry Brigade, 78 Division, 13 Corps
    7044610 (U/L Sgt) W/Cpl LAWTON, Harold.
    Granted Immediate award of Military Medal.
    Recommendation, Ref: WO373/11

    Italy 1/25,000 sheet 88 III SW MR 013306

    On the night of 18th December 1944, L/Sgt Lawton’s Platoon of “D” Company, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, participated in the raid on the strong point TAMAGIN.
    Half way to the objective the platoon came under extremely heavy fire from the buildings and the advance was temporarily checked. Realising the value of closing with the enemy, L/Sgt Lawton crawled forward with a bren gunner and got to within ten yards of the house, when they set off several booby trapped grenades, happily surviving. Despite the knowledge of this additional danger, he continued up to the house where he grenaded the first two rooms.The fire from the upper floor, however, had not abated, and the remainder of the platoon was still pinned down. This left L/Sgt Lawton and his bren gunner in the sole position whence the enemy counter attack could be perceived, as it came from behind the house. He immediately engaged this new enemy, at the same time warning the company of their approach. The order was given to withdraw and he remained firing to the last possible moment before withdrawing behind the main body of the company.

    Throughout the whole action L/Sgt Lawton showed a disregard for his own safety an was an inspiration to his men, in particular the Bren Gunner who accompanied him. But for his steadfast action at the completion of the operation, the company might have become involved in a running fight with disastrous results.

    I wonder how the bren gunner felt and if he got anything?

    I am also trying locate any copies of the regimental magazine "Faugh-a-Ballagh" in which he may be mentioned...

    Cheers,
    Rick
     
  2. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Rick,

    Unfortunately I don't have current access to the Faughs' war diaries, but I've seeen two references to this action.

    In the History of the 38th (Irish) Brigade written by Richard Doherty:

    "...One target was the German position at Casa Tamagnin, where the defenders had a group of houses on the side of a steep spur about one thousand yards forward of the Irish positions. Parallel to this spur ran two others, one on either side, the right spur was held by the Germans and the left was occupied each night by a patrol of the Irish Brigade.

    The first raid on Tamagnin was made by D Company of the Faughs on December 18th. Led by Major Pat Howard, the men of D Company went in against Tamagnin in the evening and the attack succeeded in taking the first house in the German positions. The assaulting troops were pinned down some thirty yards from the second house; a second attack went in and some Faughs succeeded in reaching the second house before discovering that it was barricaded. Then came the usual German counter attack which D Company met with its own weapons and the support of mortars and machine-guns, directed by Lieutenant Bert Parish. The counter attack was dispersed and D Company was ordered to withdraw to its own positions....

    ...D Company had suffered fourteen casualties that night although Bert Parish was the only fatality"

    The Faughs' commanding officer Lt-Col Horsfall recalls the outcome of the 18th Dec action in his memoirs "Fling Our Banner To The Wind"

    "..Here, so far as I was concerned the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Para Dvision had the final say - and they still held their posts at the end of the night

    I had walked back with Bert at the conclusion, and quietly discussing our opponents we never heard the damn things coming - only the hiss of that last split second, as the night turned to searing flame round us. Moments later, I examined my young companion lying there, and knew then that it was the last thing he would ever hear - in this life. I then crawled back to my HQ in ignominy, my own legs no longer serviceable..."

    Richard
     
  3. Ravrick

    Ravrick Senior Member

    Hi,
    I am researching Sgt H Lawton MM of the 1st Bn who was wounded on 2 occasions with the Bn the 24th June 1944 and 22nd March 1945, does anybody have access to the war diaries or are able to tell me where he was wounded and what action was taking place at the time?

    Cheers,
    Rick
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2020
  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Strange first date - the Faughs were not actually in the line on 17th Dec '42 and still moving up from Bougie - so not sure what type of wound he would have suffered then ....the second date in the attacks on Ranciano/Pescia west of Lake Trasimene on 24th June '44. The MM award came from the time in the mountains north of Florence in Dec '44.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2020
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  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    For other members information there is more information on your other post:
    1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers MM action Dec 1944

    MM award:
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37091/supplement/2649/data.pdf

    The Casualty lists have him wounded as follows:

    List No. 1497 dated 13 July 1944 - Wounded
    1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers
    7044610 LAWTON Cpl H 24.6.44

    List No. 1721 dated 3 April 1945 - Wounded
    1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers
    7044610 LAWTON U/L/Sjt H 22.3.45

    When researching be aware that the battalion has another H Lawton mentioned in the lists, don't get them muddled:-
    7044781 LAWTON Fus H
    List No. 1030 dated 12 January 1943 - Missing 27.12.42
    List No. 1071 dated 1 March 1943 - POW
    List No. 1154 dated 7 June 1943 - Wounded & POW
    List No. 1838 dated 22 August 1945 - Previously reported POW now not POW
     
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  6. Ravrick

    Ravrick Senior Member

    Hi, my apologies (I have edited my initial post) but the dates he was wounded are 24/06/44 and 22/03/45, sorry for the confusion,
    Rick
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    22th March '45 - Senio riverbanks
     
  8. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    22/3/45: 1 RIrF - 347316.
    0140 D Coy (Major AJ Wilton) enemy party digging area 332338 dispersed by rifle fire.
    0150 D Coy, enemy retaliate with three 81 mm Mortar bombs.
    0815 A Coy (Capt Manson MC) - two enemy seen 321331 requested a sniper.
    1530 Enemy in “Blow” 329334 shot by Lieut G Melliard.
    2100 Tank Officer (Lieut Dawney), Pioneer Officer and IO out to recce route and site for tank shoot.
    Died on this Day:
    Fusilier Victor Pywell, Royal Irish Fusiliers.

    Major John Wilton mentions Tamagnin and the Senio on Reel 8 here:
    Wilton, Arthur John (Oral history)
     
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