Tunisia / Sidi Nsir "Then & Now"

Excellent, I'll be there in january and will take some more.

 

Excellent pictures - Kuno are you getting the first blood in before you know who

 

Kuno,

Very well done. Excellent Then and now photographs.

Regards
Tom

 

Kuno, Excellent Then and Now Photos, thanks fro sharing

Cheers
Paul

 

So who nicked the cross hanging from the window in post 14?

 

So who nicked the cross hanging from the window in post 14?

I definitly have my strongest doubt, that there is a "cross" hangig out of the window - the French would not have placed such at a Railway Station and the location would be a rather strange one....

 

These are really excellent - thanks Kuno!

 

The railway station was Battalion HQ for the 5th Hampshires' during the battle.

On the orders of Lt Col Newnham, the telephone exchange, wireless and all papers were destroyed, the station was then set on fire and grenades thrown in for good measure when they pulled out heading for Hampshire farm on the evening of the 26th February - hence why February's war diary for the 5th Hampshires' was destroyed.

 

That's a nice one - with a captured US Halftrack:


Yes this caught my eye too.

Half track with what looks like a 7.5 cm M8 Howitzer.

Regards
Tom

 

Excellent, I'll be there in january and will take some more.
Would you be willing to take requests to look for the Tiger Grave at Beja further down the road at Ksar Mezouar.

 

You mean the place, where all those rusty tanks are placed left and right of the road?

 

You mean the place, where all those rusty tanks are placed left and right of the road?

Yes, exactly. This one:
Tiger Grave at Beja [Updated] « Lone Sentry Blog

The location is a little north of Ksar Mezouar between Beja and Sidi Nsir.

 

If you don't mind, I prefer to open a new topic here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-battlefields-today/31004-tunisia-%22tiger-grave%22-beja.html#post345212

 

As near Talah, we can see some sort of an obelisque placed at Sidi Nsir. There is neither an inscription nor a plate fixed on it.

I always thought, that this is a German monument. But then started doubting it - now I feel that it is probably of British or US origin. Does anybody have better information?

 

As near Talah, we can see some sort of an obelisque placed at Sidi Nsir. There is neither an inscription nor a plate fixed on it.

I always thought, that this is a German monument. But then started doubting it - now I feel that it is probably of British or US origin. Does anybody have better information?

I seem to recall it being a German monument, however, sidi_nsir_memorial_and_railway_line.jpg

 

It was built to commemorate the Allied victory, but I don't know who actually erected it, whether the British or Tunisian government or someone else. I believe there is a similar one for Kasserine?
LIFE: Monument commemorating the battle of Kas... - Hosted by Google

A number of Tigers and Pz. III/IV were knocked out at Sidi Nsir, but the famous "Tiger graveyard" is further down the road at Ksar Mezouar. See map:
Sidi Nsir and Hunt’s Gap « Lone Sentry Blog

 

Be sure that no Tunisian Gouvernment would erect a monument to commemorate an Allied victory. The Tunisians principally favourized the Germans since a German victory would have helped them to get rid of the French colonial rule

It is definitely not a German monument. There are similar monuments and the plates with the inscription are in French telling that at this & that place the Germans had been defeated by the Allied forces.

 

Kuno

Many thanks for posting these photographs and the associated information. It has been great to see such a lot of photographs from the German side and also more up to date ones of Sidi Nisr.

I am currently still trying to write a book on the battle of the peaks which covers Operations SWEEP and VULCAN by the 78th Division and 25 Tk Bde including the NIH (it is good to hear that Gerry is still thriving out there in Arizona) and includes the attack on Longstop hill so this is all great background stuff.

Readers may interested to know that there is a useful book on the Cemetaries and Memorials by Dr Lillian Harris for anyone interested in this pretty specialist subject. I have a copy. The Sidi Nisr memorial which I am pretty sure is to 155 battery of 164 Field Regiment and the 5th hampshires is shown in her book but no details provided.

The War diaries of the 5th . 164th and various other units provide much useful original information on Sidi Nisr. Another useful and accessible sources is Brian Perrets Chapter in his Last Stands book. I have made copies of many of these contemporary accounts gained during research in the National Archives and have a copy of an orginal map from the time if anyone would like them send me a private message with your e mail.

As Gerry so rightly points out there were 2 separate battles Sidi Nisr in February 26th which resulted in a key delay to the 10 Panzer Kampfgruppe under Oberst lang and then the Hunts Gap action at Ksar menszouar which is further down the road to Beja on February 27th.

Interestingly enough I have copy of the 1:50,000 military map for 1942 for Beja which cover the area. Copies of several original 1:50,000 maps for the area are still kept at the british Libary maps section in London. The NA also has some maps. I have attached a photo of the Longstop Hill monument at halte De Hieri this was taken in Oct 2008.

If anyone is visiting the area around Oued Zarga or Northern Tunisia next year and would be willing to take a few photos please give me a heads up

I still hope to go in late April.

Best Regards

Educator

 

Kuno

Many thanks for posting these photographs and the associated information. It has been great to see such a lot of photographs from the German side and also more up to date ones of Sidi Nisr.

I am currently still trying to write a book on the battle of the peaks which covers Operations SWEEP and VULCAN by the 78th Division and 25 Tk Bde including the NIH (it is good to hear that Gerry is still thriving out there in Arizona) and includes the attack on Longstop hill so this is all great background stuff.

Readers may interested to know that there is a useful book on the Cemetaries and Memorials by Dr Lillian Harris for anyone interested in this pretty specialist subject. I have a copy. The Sidi Nisr memorial which I am pretty sure is to 155 battery of 164 Field Regiment and the 5th hampshires is shown in her book but no details provided.

The War diaries of the 5th . 164th and various other units provide much useful original information on Sidi Nisr. Another useful and accessible sources is Brian Perrets Chapter in his Last Stands book. I have made copies of many of these contemporary accounts gained during research in the National Archives and have a copy of an orginal map from the time if anyone would like them send me a private message with your e mail.

As Gerry so rightly points out there were 2 separate battles Sidi Nisr in February 26th which resulted in a key delay to the 10 Panzer Kampfgruppe under Oberst lang and then the Hunts Gap action at Ksar menszouar which is further down the road to Beja on February 27th.

Interestingly enough I have copy of the 1:50,000 military map for 1942 for Beja which cover the area. Copies of several original 1:50,000 maps for the area are still kept at the british Libary maps section in London. The NA also has some maps. I have attached a photo of the Longstop Hill monument at halte De Hieri this was taken in Oct 2008.

If anyone is visiting the area around Oued Zarga or Northern Tunisia next year and would be willing to take a few photos please give me a heads up

I still hope to go in late April.

Best Regards

Educator

We are having a book launch at Duxford on 9th April next year for a book on the Tunisian campaign but it concentrates on the 1st Para Brigade's service there.....may be of interest?????

 

Here is another Sidi Nsir photo from Ceges Soma showing a carrier lost near Sidi Nsir station where the main highway to Beja crosses the rail line.

Interesting to speculate when the photo might have been taken, because the background does not seem to show any signs of battle.