One for Gerry Chester

[Owen]

On page 146 of Mailed Fist by Ken Ford is this quote from Lt Allan Waterston of 2nd Lothian and Border Horse.

Later we paused for a while on what had been the Hitler Line, where almost a whole Squadron of Churchill tanks from the Northern Irish Horse had been destroyed by Panther tank turrets and guns mounted in concrete emplacements. It was a rude reminder of what could happen if the mist and smoke suddenly lifted.

Gerry care to elaborate?
Was it almost a whole Squadron?

That was the attack when you lost Ballyrashane-4 wasn't it?
The North Irish Horse - By Gerry Chester

[Gerry Chester]

Hi Owen,

Mark Zuehlke in his book "Liri Valley" made a similar statement - I wrote to him to extract a promise, in the event of a reprint of his work, he would make the necessary corrections.

The North Irish Horse had a total of 24 tanks put out of action of which 9 were destroved - the majority being Shermans which we had pending delivery of the Na75s.
I do not have accurate figures of the damaged inflicted on the 15 except I do know that nearly all had broken tracks/suspensions either from gun fire or from mines.

What the chap from 2nd L&BH saw, as did the one quoted in "Liri Valley", were the 15 hauled from the battlefield and placed in an arc close to the Pontecorvo road awaiting transportation to REME workshops.

You are correct, Ballyrashane - 4 was one of the Churchills destroyed. She led the way followed by the 2 I/C whose Churchill took a hit on the starboard idler. To my immense relief the belief that cavalry/yeomanry Squadon Leaders should lead the charge went out of the window after the Hitler Line battle!

Warmest regards, Gerry

PS I have nearly completed a series of galleries which includes one with after-battle photographs of the May 23rd assault. Will post if it is of interest.

[von Poop]

Definitely of interest here Gerry.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Owen]

Thanks for clearing that one up Gerry.
Funny how often I read or see something that makes me think of people on here.
Cheers.
Look forward to the photos.
O

[Tom Canning]

Gerry and I have had this conversation before ....but a few days after Gerry's squadrons were knocked about - some of us in the 145th Regt RAC/21st Bde - who were in reserve - were taken to the scene for a lecture to familiarise us with the latest in "Tank Killing Grounds" where we saw 14 tank in a semi circle as if they had been following each other in single file and the head of the column had turned to deal with a 50mm a/t gun and were all knocked out by a Panzersturm - it was a salutary lesson - but as Gerry pointed out - a little "porkie".

I also had occasion to reprimand Zeuhlke for his fiction on the "Gothic Line"

[Gerry Chester]

Tom, your post reminded me that I hadn't posted the photos I promised of the Hitler Line battle.
Here they are: Photographs Italian Campaign

Cheers, Gerry

[Bodston]

I was down in the Cotswolds at my brothers recently where I found an old copy of 'The Armourer' magazine. Issue 80, March/April 2007. On the letters page was a photo question from one of Gerry's old comrades. I have reproduced it here.



It shows 8 members of the North Irish Horse in 1940/41 wearing 'SP' armbands. The question was, does anyone know what they represented?