The Mareth Cross

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“THE MARETH CROSS

After the Battle, the Pioneers of the 6th Battalion built this Memorial Cross from local stone, carved the inscription, and placed it in the Grenadier Cemetery on the Battlefield….

… It was moved to its present site [Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks] and dedicated on 21st May 1995.”

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...t/DSCF6369.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...t/DSCF6370.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...t/DSCF6371.jpg

[Owen]

Diane , hope you don't mind I displayed your photos in your post in an easier to view way. When posting images from Photobucket use the bottom of the four links, the IMG code, that way the image will display on the forum.

These are from the Grenadiers History.
The cemetery that is mentioned on that sign in your post & a map of the battle.

[dbf]

Owen,

Don't mind at all, wasn't sure if it was best to show the links or to place the photos in the thread itself.

Thanks,
D

[von Poop]

What an interesting thing.
Painting of it in the original location:
SpecialEvents

Anybody seen any photographs of it when it stood alone in the desert?

Cheers,
Adam.

[Gerard]

Wonder why they moved it in 1995?

[dbf]

Hi Ger,

Think it is in a more appropriate place anyway - opposite Guards Chapel entrance. More likely to been seen there than at Pirbright ... glad it was moved, or I wouldn't have known about its existence. Nice story about how it was shipped back to Caterham. Personally, I wonder why it was left when the graves were moved. Perhaps it was intended to remain as a mark of respect at the original site ...



D

[Gerard]

I suppose you're right Diane, it is more appropriate there alright! Thats a nice painting of it that VP has posted.

[Paul Reed]

Just doing some research on this today - very interesting indeed to discover this exists.

Think I have found rough area of where the action took place on GoogleEarth:

33°35'41.75"N 10°18'34.26"E

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Document and newspaper articles relating to The Guards in Tunisia here ... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-do...s-tunisia.html

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Captain (temporary Major) Thomas Pierce Butler, Grenadier Guards, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Major Butler was a Company Commander in a battalion of the Grenadier Guards.

On the night of March 16th-17th, 1943, the battalion was ordered to carry out a night attack against a strongly defended portion of the Mareth Line. Major Butler’s company led the assault. This officer led his company through two minefields and two belts of mined wire; some disorganisation was caused by these obstacles and by the enemy which it was necessary to deal with during the advance, many of whom were killed with the bayonet. His Commanding Officer then personally ordered Major Butler to continue the advance to the farthest objective, and this order was carried out in fact of very considerable enemy opposition, since by this time the assaulting troops were well behind the artillery barrage.

Having reached his objective with about 50 per cent. of his company, the remainder having become casualties in the minefields, Major Butler set about organising his very isolated position.

The company was attacked twice during the night but held its ground in spite of heavy artillery, mortar and small-arms fire. At about 4 a.m. he was ordered on the wireless by his Commanding Officer to withdraw about 400 yards if he could do so. This order he found was not possible to carry out; instead, he remained on his position and fought until overwhelmed, being himself badly wounded and the only officer left alive.

Major Butler’s gallant action, his powers of leadership and devotion to duty were largely responsible for the battalion remaining on its objective for the time it did.

Major Butler comes from Ballintemple, Tullow, Co. Carlow.

http://thepeerage.com/p19497.htm#i194966

Sir Thomas Pierce Butler, 12th Bt. was born on 18 September 1910. He was the son of Sir Richard Pierce Butler, 11th Bt. and Alice Dudley Leigh. He married Rosemary Liège Woodgate Davidson-Houston, daughter of Major James Hamilton Davidson-Houston, on 21 October 1937. He died on 9 April 1994 at age 83.

Sir Thomas Pierce Butler, 12th Bt. was educated at Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London, England. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). He fought in the Second World War, where he was mentioned in despatches. He was decorated with the award of Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1944. He was invested as a Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1954. He was invested as a Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (F.R.G.S.). He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.). He gained the rank of Colonel between 1955 and 1958 in the service of the The Grenadier Guards. He succeeded to the title of 12th Baronet Butler, of Cloughgrenan, co. Carlow [I., 1628] on 25 March 1955. He was Military Advisor to the UK High Commissioner in New Zealand between 1959 and 1961. He held the office of Major and Resident Governor of the Tower in 1961.1 He held the office of Keeper of the Jewel House at the Tower in 1968. He was invested as a Companion, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (C.St.J.). He was invested as a Commander, Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) in 1970.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=first_na me%3dthomas%7clast_name%3dbutler%7cscope%3d53159&c atid=22&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=*

Recommendation for Award for Butler, Thomas Pierce
Rank: Captain
Service No: 53159
Regiment: 6 Motor Battalion Grenadier Guards
Award: Distinguished Service Order

Recommendation for Award for Butler, Thomas Peirce
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 53159
Regiment: Grenadier Guards
Award: Officer of the British Empire

London Gazette:
13 June 1944
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36563/supplements/2856
1 August 1944
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36637/supplements/3605
28 June 1946
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37635/supplements/3370


See this thread for ref:
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852