16th/5th lancers first actions in January 1943 in North Africa?

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by AntonHack, Apr 19, 2022.

  1. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    In order to find out what my father's first experiences of WW2 in North Africa were, I'm trying to determine what the first actions of the 16th/5th (particularly of B Echelon if possible) were after arriving in Teboursouk on Jan. 2nd 1943.

    There are one or two suggestions online that I have found which say that the 16th/5th were at Bou Arada in mid-January, but I am now doubting this as they are not referenced and I have been reading the recommended 'Mailed Fist' by Ken Ford where the first mention of the 16th/5th is around 18th Feb. 1943 when their tanks were added to the 26th Armoured Brigade between Kasserine and Thala.

    I got photos of the 16th/5th War Diaries from the National Archives, which I am transcribing into notes, but for some reason (which I forget now!) I have nothing from after Jan. 2nd until Feb. 18th 1943 - so this is the period I am most curious about.

    For a bit more context, here are the notes I took based on the war diaries from 18th Feb. 1943:

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    18th Feb. cont.

    6 casualties.

    Regiment moved to south of SBIBA as enemy tank attack (50 or so) was starting – kept in check by our heavy shelling. A squadron moved forward and 3 tanks were knocked out of by 88mm.

    20th Feb. - considerable amount of Germany infantry spotted arriving in sector. RHQ joined A squadron in harbour. 19 Shermans had arrived but 16th/5th infantry hopelessly scattered.

    Relieved by Churchills and returned to harbour North of SBIBA. Promised 48 hours rest – never materialized.

    22nd Feb. - Officer from 6th armoured arrived at 5.30 and ordered us to be on the road to Thala asap. Germans had broken through Kasserine gap and the skeleton 26th Armoured Brigade were in danger of being overrun. Shermans were in position by mid afternoon and other tanks arrived that evening. Enemy did not exploit their success, luckily, as this would have meant the end of our HQ and opened up the road to Le Kef for them. Heavy shelling and dive-bombing all day but we suffered no casualties.

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    Thanks in advance. Anton.
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I have PMed you with some information.
     
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  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

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  4. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    That's great, thanks Tony.
     
  5. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    If anyone has, or can obtain, the January 1943 pages of the War Diary of the 16th/5th Lancers (if there are any that is!) I would be very grateful. Regards, Anton.
     
  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anton.

    Was your father still with 16/5L during their time in the Fourth Battle of Cassino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  7. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    Hi Frank, yes he was still with them until that time and probably until around the end of 1944 - some notes I took from his military records:


    July - Edward Herbert Hack ‘posted’ to FDS - Field Dressing Station (or Forward Delivery Squadron?).

    August ‘administered’ to Casualty Clearing Station.

    September ‘discharged’ to same FDS as above.

    September posted to 6th Armoured Division

    Cheers, Anton.
     
  8. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anton.

    If he went to a Field Dressing Station then he was either wounded or caught some disease like malaria and had to be sent back through the medical chain.

    The moment he reaches the FDS, he is no longer on the books of 16/5L who are then entitled to submit for a replacement.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    No entry that can be found in the casualty lists, perhaps suggesting a disease rather than battle injury.
     
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  10. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    Thanks Frank and Tony.

    I have a feeling it stands for Forward Delivery Squadron as he is recorded on another document as being with the 250 Forward Delivery Squadron by August 1944. However, I wouldn't put it past my Dad to have caught some kind of 'social disease' ;-)

    The only reason I know that his address was 250 Forward Delivery Squadron at this time is because it is on his marriage certificate from that time - he had managed to get himself married in Italy (Aug. 1944) only a few months after arriving - no wonder he kept going AWOL!

    Maybe he was assigned to the FDS and CCS stations in order to help out there - or maybe that's where he found his bride to be and he contrived to keep returning there - both possible in my view but what do you less biased and more expert military historians think?
     
  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anton.

    You are absolutely right. As an armoured vehicle driver, he would have been ideally qualified for this role - a role that still exists in the modern British Army.

    As new equipment came off the docks, it all needed delivering to the forward Armoured Regiments to replace those lost in action or breakdown.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  12. AntonHack

    AntonHack Member

    Frank, do you mean that he would have been in an ideal position to help out at these medical posts - can you spell it out for me which role(s) you mean - the one that you say still exists in the modern British Army?
     
  13. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anton.

    What the info that you have provided, he was admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station in Aug with an illness before being discharged from there and returned to the Forward Delivery Squadron in Sep.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anton.

    He drove armoured vehicles from storage areas to front line units.

    The vehicles would, whenever possible in order to save wear on tracks, be driven on to railway flatbeds and railed as far forward as possible.

    From there, they would have been driven to the front line units.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  15. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    The WD for this date is - 16/5 Lancers | The National Archives
     
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