Requesting info regarding 51 Royal Tank Regiment, Tunisia

Original title: battlefields bou arada Laroussa for James Laroussa Bou Arada Tunisia

hi everyone,
look for documents and maps of 51 royal tank regiment in Tunisia ww2.
thanks
ali

 

Ali,

If you use the tag for 51 RTR it will show several relevant threads. Not everyone uses the tag system when they create a new thread. If you search online with "51 Royal tank Regiment" site:ww2talk.com there are more than the tagged ones. You change the text within "..." to 51st or RTR to check if other threads exist.

I expect there will be may threads with Tunisia in. I know the war was there, but am not an expert.

Quickly looked to find Bou Arada was a battle, so who is James Laroussa? That name does not appear to a dead British / Commonwealth soldier. The Web has a number of hits on water & irrigation - only a quick look - for Laroussa Bou Arada.

 

51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment - Wikipedia



'Battle of Steamroller Farm' | ͏

Tunisia AMS Topographic Maps - Perry-Castañeda Map Collection - UT Library Online

 

Laroussa = El Arrousa, possibly?

 

that's right

 

I meant El Aroussa

 

Operation Ochsenkopf - Wikipedia

 

thanks a lot. what I need is more details and maps where 51st TRT acted.

 

I forgot to say that this is a complete cartridge from the lower sthn slope of Longstop in contemporary pine plantation. Nov 2024. P

 

Hi everyone,
I am looking also for information of the 51 RTR in Tunisia, but slightly later on 22. April 1943 near Bou Arada and the El Kourzia Lake.

What I know are the war Diaries of 46th Division:
"22.04. Attack started about the lake.
1000
16 DLI were meeting resistance at 285 6806.
1/4 Hamps were at 6707.
C Sqn 51 RTR tanks at Ruins 6909.
[...]
C Sqn 51 RTR tanks lost at least half their tanks in minefield 6808. These are being recovered. Enemy identified as “II” and “III” Btl. of Herman Goering Gren. Rgt.
[...]
23.04.
A/P minefields 665068. Minefields MEHALLA being lifted to permit recovery of CHURCHILLS of C Sqn, 51 R Tanks."

According to the map, this should be:
View attachment upload_2026-1-10_6-46-11.png

So far I was not able to get the book from Ronald Addyman: The 51st Royal Tank Regiment: Morley, Tunisia and Italy, 1939–1945.
-> Does anyone have it and let me know, what it states about this dates/fights?

I have the regiment history of 128 Bde, which is great, but does not contain much information about the Tanks.

I also looked at Kew, but Digital Copies of WO 175/281 (51 RTR) sum up to 350 GBP...

 

Only a few were id'd with an online search: "51 RTR" site:ww2talk.com You could try with 51st and Leeds Motor.

This one appears found by trying with Addyman could be helpful: 51 Royal Tank Regiment

It appears that no-one here admitted to having the Addyman book an old thread (2012) referred to his website, but that has now disappeared.

 

If it is of any help, there is an archived version of Addyman's website here: Ronald Addyman: Publications

But I don't really see much of use.

 

Ingo,

Have you tried to identify the War Diaries of the infantry units the 51st were supporting. Normally there were three infantry battalions, what was the other one?

Just looked for threads where Kourzia appears and found your posts in: 1/4th Hampshire
Regiment

An online search with: "16 DLI" + "tunisia" site:ww2talk.com found a few posts, not looked at.

Might be worth a similar search with all the named locations.

There are members who visit TNA, whose copying rates are below the TNA's and you could request their help. Just one day, or dates either side? Drew5233 and Gary Tankard.

 

Thanks for your help! I ordered 1/4 Hamps and 2/4 Hamps at the TNA - waiting to get it.

In comparison to the Hamps, 51 RTR were a lot of pages, but it is a great idea to contact your suggestions!