FIRST BATTLE OF LONGSTOP HILL -2ND COLDSTREAM GUARDS

Today is the 80th anniversary of the initial attack by the 2nd Battalion The Coldstream Guards on Djebels Ahmera and Rhar (Longstop Hill) which is located about a few miles east of Medjez El Bab in Tunisia.

This attack took place on the night of the 22nd December and was planned by the staff of 78th Division and the newly arrived 1st Guards Brigade. It was supposed to be part of a renewed offensive by the V Corps of the 1st Army which would capture Tunis.

Sadly surprise was lost for a range of reasons and moreover the Germans were all too aware of the tactical importance of Longstop Hill and had prepared a good defence and more importantly a significant counter attack force. The initial Coldstream attack captured Djebel Ahmera but did not capture the 2nd part of the longstop hill complex - Djebel Rhar. A difficult relief in place conducted at night in truly the worst circumstances (at night and by a foreign unit) by the 1st Battalion the US 18th Infantry Regiment took place.

The 2nd Coldstream Guards had withdrawn 12 miles to near Medjez and were resting when they were ordered back on the afternoon of 23rd December to Longstop so had to march back a further 12 miles all of this in the rain. The Germans had launched a serious counter attack early that morning and most though not all of the 1st Battalion 18th Infantry was forced to withdraw and Longstop Hill was lost.The Coldstream Guards arrived at Djebel Ahmera on the night of the 23rd December The Germans held on this to this feature - it was now Christmas Eve.

On Xmas Eve the Coldstream launched an attack to recapture Longstop and managed to take Djebel Ahmera but then realised the significance of Djebel el Rhar the 2nd part of Longstop complex which was separated by a ravine from Djebel Ahmera. An initial attempt to capture Rhar was repulsed and Xmas Day arrived.

It was at this point the Germans counter attacked up the valley just north of the 2 hills and also along the road at Halte de Hieri. A French company holding that flank was ejected by a attack led by Armoured cars. Both the Americans and the Coldstream Guards fought to hold the ground through the night but at 9am on Xmas Day the V Corps commander accepted the inevitable and ordered a withdrawal. Longstop hill was then held by the Germans for another 4 months until captured in late April.

I would have attached a word copy of the war diary of the 2nd Coldstream Guards that summaries events from the perspective of that battalion but there was a error message.

Recommended Books
Probably the most detailed account of the 2nd Coldstream Guards at Longstop forms part of Adam Robson's book Tunisia 1942-1943 - 2nd Coldstream Guards this was privately printed and is sadly very difficult and expensive to get hold off.

A valuable US perspective can be had from R W Baumer's book American Iliad - The 18th Infantry in Wolrd War 2. Aberjona Press, 2004. Sadly this is also not easy to get hold off. Bryan Perrett's book At All costs has a very useful chapter on Longstop Hill though the focus is on the 2nd battle.

Finally I gather there is a book called The Battle of the Peaks and Longstop Hill by a chap called Ian Mitchell and it is supposed to be not half bad.

Merry Xmas

 

Intel map 19/20 Dec 1942



Intel report 20 Dec 1942



Air recce report 20 Dec 1942

Daily report PzAOK 5 to OBS 23 Dec 1941

Enemy position map, 22 and 25 Dec 1942


All the best

Andreas

 

As you can imagine, there are a few photos on the IWM site of the scene on 25th December 1942 (as stated but perhaps, it's the 24th?) - a couple here:

1) "Men of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards going into action at dusk against Germans at Long Stop Hill, a German strongpoint about 6 miles NNE of Medjez el Bab, 25 December 1942." (© IWM NA 332)
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943




2) “Men of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards going into action at dusk against Germans at Long Stop Hill, a German strongpoint about 6 miles NNE of Medjez el Bab, 25 December 1942”(© IWM NA 334)
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943

 

Couple more of the Coldstreamers heading back from Longstop on Christmas Day 1942..

1) Men of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards on the road to Medjez el Bab after taking part in a night attack on Long Stop Hill, a German strongpoint about 6 miles NNE of Medjez el Bab, 25 December 1942.
(© IWM NA 329)
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943



2) Men of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards on the road to Medjez el Bab after taking part in a night attack on Long Stop Hill, a German strongpoint about 6 miles NNE of Medjez el Bab, 25 December 1942.
(© IWM NA 328)
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943