El Agheila

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Ramiles, Dec 13, 2022.

  1. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    El Agheila

    Editing in progress ;-)

    Screenshot_20230121-160529_Samsung Internet.jpg

    Screenshot_20221213-221834_Samsung Internet.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2023
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  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

  3. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Events

    1941

    February/May
    Operation Sonnenblume - Wikipedia

    1942

    January 1942, Axis forces retreat to the Marada - Mersa el Brega position with DAK at El Agheila.

    9th December 1942

    The Enemy in early December | NZETC

    WH2Bar03a.jpg

    11th - 18th December 1942 : Battle of El Agheila - Wikipedia

    12th December 1942... 12d12m1942...

    [section] | NZETC

    Across the Rift | NZETC

    Varying dates - Catalogued 26d12m1942 - Nb Picture & Object description numbers currently differ.

    13d12m1942...

    SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945: BATTLE OF NUFILIA. NORTH AFRICA
    Nb Picture says E20488 : E20487 : Object description - A British truck "bogged" in soft ground being dug and pulled out at a location 49 miles South East of Agheila.

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    Nb Picture says E20489 : E20488 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Another bogged truck being dug and pulled out. This was 40 miles S.E. of Agheila on December 13th.

    14d12m1942...
    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    Nb picture says E20491. E20490 : Object description - Original wartime caption: A track sign on top of a 'pimple', 35 miles off Agheila, taken on December 14th.

    Pushing on—14 December | NZETC


    Recommendation for Award for Bethel-Fox, John Andrew Rank: Lieutenant ... | The National Archives

    15th December 1942... 15d12m1942...

    Into the Blue—15 December | NZETC

    WH2Bar04a.jpg

    SRY War diary

    15 Dec The Bde formed up with two regts only, Staffs Yeo not having managed to get through the minefields during the previous day. A dense fog, the worst I have ever seen in North Africa, lasted well into the morning. Sherwood Rangers on right of 3RTR, and so bad was the fog that it was difficult to maintain contact with only a few yards separating the advancing lines of tanks. The move was, however, successfully conducted, good navigation being shown on the part of 3RTR. This is the second occasion on which I consider their navigation has done extremely well, the first being at Ghalal Stn.
    At the end of about eleven miles the wire defences were reached which, after recce by the Crusader sqns of both regts, proved to extend North and South for a good many miles. The RE sec under comd Sherwood Rangers cut the wire and, having penetrated some 150yds, stated that, in their opinion, there were no mines - this proved to be true. After a delay of about one hour, while the fog was lifting and the situation being discussed, Bde Comd called a conference of COs of 3RTR and Sherwood Rangers and decided that 3RTR should [advance] through on a wide front with their tanks only; Sherwood Rangers to follow them through the gap; all guns to be left in their present location.
    Enemy shellfire had been seen some distance away shortly after the fog lifted and gradually, as day lengthened their range, shells began to fall among the tanks of both regts. Sherwood Rangers sent a tp of A Sqn to the high ground to the right as recce for 3RTR and shortly after the tail of this regt had moved inside the wire defences, the advance of Sherwood Rangers commenced.
    Upon 3RTR reaching the line of telegraph poles and the track running South from Agheila Fort, they came under fairly heavy shellfire and tanks and other enemy vehs began to be reported to the North. CO Sherwood Rangers appreciated that the situation required a swing to the North, which he reported back to the Bde Comd, who agreed to his carrying this out. At this time 3RTR, facing West, were to the rear of the telegraph line and NE of the Agheila - Geifer road, Sherwood Rangers echeloned behind on the right.
    Shellfire then became fairly intense and one shell scored a direct hit on the bonnet of the White scout car in which Capt G O Brooks MC GM RAMC was travelling. His driver, Tpr Robertson, who had won the Military Medal for great gallantry at Deir el Acram on 1 Sep 42, was killed instantly and Capt Brooks was seriously wounded. This officer has been with the Regt for six years. By his great courage and outstanding qualities of heart and mind he has won the greatest respect, not only from all ranks in the Regt, but from all officers and men with whom he has come in contact. His loss will be greatly felt and his presence irreplaceable.
    The tank formation of the Regt then moved forward, swung right and shortly afterwards the Crusaders gained contact with the enemy in fairly large quantities, tanks and MET being reported frequently. The enemy shelled the advancing tanks sporadically but the advance was continued, the Crusaders taking up the line of the ridge facing the main German posns on the high ground immediately South of Agheila. 3RTR moved up on the left and Staffs Yeo on the left again. After they were in posn CO Sherwood Rangers Regtl Gp moved up K Bty, so that they could be in range of the enemy posn and in support of A Sqn.
    The action during the day was largely fought by the Crusaders, who did fine work under command of Capt J Garratt MC, in the absence of Maj J D Christopherson, sick. The enemy put in a small half-hearted attack by M13s during the afternoon and twelve of these were accounted for by the Bde. In addition 12 x 47mm Italian A Tk guns were destroyed and some 50 prisoners taken. Of this score the Regt claimed four tanks, two A Tk guns and about ten prisoners, without the loss of a single tank. In the evening, while entering leaguer, Lt Bethel-Fox, who had done fine work during the day, was wounded by a shell, his arm being broken in several places. This is the second time that this officer has been wounded since the campaign started and his work throughout has been of outstanding quality. The Bde leaguered just behind their forward posns.

    16th December 1942... 16d12m1942...

    The Enemy escapes—16 December | NZETC


    17th December 1942... 17d12m1942...

    CHAPTER 4 — Nofilia | NZETC
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2022
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  4. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY



     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2022
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  5. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Under events you can add January 1942, Axis forces retreat to the Marada - Mersa el Brega position with DAK at El Agheila.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
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  6. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    My Fathers Gunner Burnikell experience at El Aghelia with G Battery (Mercers Troop ) 5 RHA. in 1942.
    I find the American presence interesting.

    BATTLE OF EL AGHEILA


    We were subject to heavy retaliatory fire as we approached El Agheila

    casualties were very high.



    We were still in the desert and with four others I caught a packet,

    shells were bursting close, and as was the drill I had thrown myself

    down in the sand beside the gun. The wheel of one of the 25 pdrs

    was blown off and part of the shrapnel from shell hit me as it were

    in a straight line Through the base of my shoulder blade through

    my back the base of my bottom and the back of my thigh taking a

    large lump with it then went on to puncture the tyre on another gun.

    There were others hit, one had the bottom of his leg hanging off,

    although being shelled everybody knew what to do, it had happened

    before. First aid was applied, blood everywhere. I and the chap whose

    foot was nearly off were put in a jeep and driven about a mile back

    where a tent was being set up, to patch up the wounded.

    CASEVAC

    I don't remember the journey I had lost a lot of blood but I remember

    being put on a stretcher with about 20 others outside the canvas tent.

    I saw a medical bloke bury the foot of the chap that went in front of me

    his foot and leg was shattered. The MO and squadie never had time to

    put overalls on.

    I was the second in after the foot was taken off, then somebody stuck

    a needle in my arm and I knew no more. I about came too being put

    in a small van two chaps strapped either side ,this was driven by

    American Volunteer drivers. The van was rolling all over the place

    because of the sand track. The chap that had lost the bottom part of his leg

    began to come round and cussed everybody and the driver, the track was

    terrible and every roll brought a scream .And a wounded tank driver was

    shouting orders.



    We got back to Agedabia and were laid out on the sand next to an

    airstrip, then four of us put aboard a small plane, a Lockheed Hudson

    two strapped to either side I don't remember the journey as I was out

    cold.



    HOSPITAL AND CONVALESCENT

    I woke up in a hospital casualty tent in Tobruk and had another

    operation they pulled Vaseline gauze right through the wound,

    shoulder, bottom and thigh, when I came round I remember I was

    singing it must have been the jabs I had. The tank driver badly wounded

    was still screaming orders as if in battle, “Right driver, left, left, right

    driver “his tank had been knocked out, and he had been dragged out.



    Three or four days in this hospital then put on a train to Alexandria.

    And then to Casa (SiV? ) Number 6 Scottish Hospital near the Suez

    Canal. I was at a pretty low ebb and do not remember the journey as an

    infection had started in the wounds. I was put in an emergency ward,

    we were attended by Italian POW’s I can remember having to take 6

    M&B's every 3 hours and drinking gallons of water.



    A chap opposite me an Australian Officer named Hook was in a bad way, he

    had been in a Bren gun carrier and a star shell had hit the centre, and

    he had lost an arm and a leg, he was still bleeding despite pints of blood

    put into him. On the 24th December a Brigadier told him they must

    remove his other leg and Hook said “Yes sir but can I keep it till after

    Christmas” they agreed and it was done and after a week he was taken

    back home.

    I gave him some money for a small box camera, that I might have my

    photo taken (When I could get up) to send to my wife to reassure her

    that I still had my legs.

    All I can remember of that Christmas is shivering and shaking with

    6 M&D’s shoved down my throat and drinking lots of water, and the

    terrible smell from the wounds, I mentioned it to a sister called Nurse

    Brenhan and she said “Let it stew in its own juice.”
     
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  7. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

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  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    "Scotties near Agheila" - photo series...

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    IWM E20354 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Men of the Seaforth Highlanders. Rommel calls these men 'butchers'. Apparently he does not like them.
    Photo taken by Sergeant Fox. Catalogued 19d12m1944.


    Etc.

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    IWM E20355 : Object description - Original wartime caption: A piper of the Camerons leading his comrades along the road near Aghelia. All the Scottish regiments have pipers to lead them into battle.

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
    IWM E20356 : Object description : A piper of the Camerons leading his comrades along the road near Aghelia, 19 December 1942. Photo taken by Sergeant Fox. Catalogued 19d12m1944.

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    IWM E20357 : Object description - Original wartime caption: A piper of the Camerons leading his comrades along the road near Aghelia. All the Scottish regiments have pipers to lead them into battle.

    -- x ---

    "Petrol tins for Cooking" - photo series...


    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
    IWM E20358 : Object description - Original wartime caption: One half of a petrol tin is used for a fire. It is filled with sand which is then soaked with petrol. The other half of the tin is used, after scouring with boiling water, to make stew. Photo taken by Sergeant Lambert. Catalogued 19d12m1944.

    Etc.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2022
  9. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Britsh Army Strengthens Front In Africa

    Africa : Description - issued 7d1m1943.
    SLATE INFORMATION: The Middle East Front
    EGYPT: Matruh Governorate: Alamein:
    EXT
    ALEXANDER, General W. Gen. Montgomery in Jeep car in W.Desert
    BAZAARS Market in North Africa..children etc.
    BENGHAZI. R.E's put railway station in order
    CHILDREN Children in market in North Africa
    GERMAN MILITARY. Row of captured German tanks in El Agheila area.. & smashed tank on fire..captured equipment inc. steamroller..
    MILITARY BRITISH. troops climb up steep cliff..smashed German plane & tank 8th Army west of El Agheila..row of captured German tanks..Gen. Montgomery in car..& w. Gen. Alexander in Jeep..unarmed combat for army off duty..market in Africa..children..blitzed streets..natives picks way among debris on wall..Bejz signpost w. town in background..Sherman tanks..R.E.'s clear main track.. & putting Benghazi station in order.. German signs outside Tobruk captured steam-roller equipment etc..Entry of Br: troops to Mersa Matruh
    MINES & MINESWEEPERS AND MINELAYING. R.E's clear mines from main road in W. Desert
    MONTGOMERY LT. GEN. Arrives by car at Agadabia..shakes hands w. commander ..C.U's..w. Gen. Alexander in Jeep
    NATIVES. Natives & children in North African market
    TANKS. Sherman tanks used by 8th Army in El Agheila area
    Monty, Anglo-Irish, British Army, Viscount of Alamein, Egypt, Libya, Earl Alexander of Tunis, infantry, infantries, Axis, Allies, Second World War, WWII, World War II, war, World War Two
    Background: General Bernard Montgomery and General Harold Alexander inspect the 8th Army in Africa.

     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2023

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