Researching family history of my wife's uncle who served in 300 Independent ATB in Sicily. I have consulted the unit diary and it refers to something called the 'Harpoon Force'. What was this? I have Googled it, but turned up nothing which appears to be linked. Many thanks in advance
Something taken from here about Harpoon Force:- http://www.bartcop.com/430802.htm July 13th, 1943 "British forces continue to advance in Sicily capturing Autusta and Raqusa. The "Hermann Goring" Division is beginning to shift position to face the advancing British 51st Infantry Division, 23rd Armored Brigade and Canadian 1st Infantry Division (Harpoon Force) near Vizzini, while the British 8th Corps opens attacks towards Catania and Lentini."
JONBoy no such thing as 8th Corps on Sicily - what there was on the landing and afterwards was XXX Corps under Leese - and X111 Corps under Dempsey along with the US 7th Army under both Patton and Bradley - the whole named as 15th Army Group 7 + 8 =15 ( rocket science stuff )- under Alex . 1st Canadian had replaced Brit 3rd Div at last minute and their Commander Salmon was killed going out to Cairo to Liase with Brit 3rd Div - he was replaced by Symonds - 231 bde joine 50th Div to replace 150th bde lost at Gazala - their commander was a big Scottish chap later Commander of 1st Paras at AHRNEM.....you know Sean Connery.. Cheers
Hi Tom The paragraph was taken from the link above which mentioned Harpoon Force which I thought may help the original poster. I acknowledge your comment that there wasn't an 8th Corps in Sicily, since you know more about it than I do- I was just quoting from the piece I found Lesley
Lesley - the British 8th Corps came into being for D Day under the command of Gen. O'Conner after his release from the Italian POW camp in 1943 after being captured in the desert after his great Victory over Graziani's Italian Army at Beda Fomm along with Gen Neame V.C. and Brigadier Combe to join yet another British Gen. Carton Di Wiert V.C. as POW's.....we were running short of Generals at that time- Wavell was fired then Cunningham took over under Auchinlek - he was fired and we got Ritchie who was also fired for the Gazala Gallop- Godwin Austen resigned - Norrie disappeared - "Strafer" Gott was killed - Auchinlek was fired - then Monty was given the job and he imported Leese - Kirkham and Horrocks- and finally Lumsden was fired at Medenine and we then came up with the Cab Rank and the British Blitzkreig and we won .....Ritchie was saved by Monty and given 12th Corps in France and Germany - O'Conner felt the strain and was transferred to the Far East - you should "google for ' Beda Fomm -it's an interesting battle and disproves Churchill's saying that before Alamein we never won a battle ..... Cheers
Lesley Another General we lost in those days of Auchinlek was MG Jock Campbell V.C.(7th AD ) the hero of Sidi Rezigh who was killed when his car - driven by Lt. Roy Farran KDG's - overturned on a clay patch - Farran considered suicide but after his wounds healed - he joined the SAS 2 batt. and was active in France and Italy and later in Israel - he died in Calgary, Alberta a few years ago... Cheers
Bingo! The 1 Devons' history Three Assault Landings refers to Harpoon Force: In fact, it looks like 2 Devons and 1 Dorsets overlapped a bit. The Bloody Eleventh Vol III records: The 23 Armd Bde elements were also well mixed according to 50th Royal Tank Regiment: The Complete History: RHQ 50 R Tks advanced behind B Sqn 46 R Tks on the road NW of Noto, while A Sqn 50 RTR took the road running north to enter Palazzolo from the east; each group had a slice of the other arms in support. Who said we couldn't do kampfgruppen!
Idler this is why I couldn't reconcile Harpoon Force with the Canadian 1st Inf Div - it had nothing to do with them but 23rd AB - we had already made up battle groups in North Africa with Blade Force and others - and again in Italy with Porter Force - Lusted Force et al - all were of mixed arms - and usually successful Cheers
Harpoon Force figures in the 300 ATB diary. On July 11 1943 ATB 300, less A/Troop is under the command of 23 Armoured Brigade. A/Troop is with 231 Brigade. The Diary notes that 'Noto occupied by "Harpoon Force" (23 Armoured Brigade)" Next day "Harpoon Force advances and occupies Patazzolo". There is no further mention of it after that. But it is now clear how it was comprised. One further question: was it an ad-hoc force put together on the beaches, or was it planned in advance? Many thanks for all the helpful information.
The impression is given that it was made up as they went along. There was certainly a desire to get some depth to the beachhead but there may not have been detailed planning prior to the landing simply because it was far from guaranteed where and in what state each unit would end up. It's worth adding that the 23 Armd Bde link was helped by a reference in the official history to a similar ad-hoc arrangement 'Arrow Force' around a week or so later.
FG usually these "Forces" were very much ad hoc depending on the terrain and situation prevailing when a larger force would be unwieldy - and consequently the problem was solved quickly - or not - and the "Force " disbanded very soon One "Force " I recall was two troops of my squadron - a company of Seaforths - a troop of M10's - a bunch of sappers and their task was to clear a rail bridge and 88mm turrets ( panzersturms) which was holding up a Divisional advance - job done in half a day and the division came through...applause all around...the leader - our squadron leader was threatened with a DSO.... Cheers
Tom, Very good. One final point. As well as the unit diary we have Uncle Barry's diary, too. It is interesting to read the two side-by-side. On 11 July 1943 Barry writes "Push on behind Shermans to the pretty mountain town of N(oto)." Would the Shermans belong to the Canadians? Cheers
FG While the 1st Canadian AB was in the area supporting the 1st Cdn Div - I would suspect that it was some Sherman belonging to the 23rd AB.....most ARMOURED units had Shermans whereas the Army Tank Brigades had Churchills Cheers
No, 23 Armd Bde had started to convert to Shermans in Egypt. This hadn't been completed in time for HUSKY, the 50 R Tks history says that they only had 50 Shermans on strength while 46 R Tks was only represented by a single squadron. The remainder of 46 R Tks and the whole of 40 R Tks seem to have been left out of the battle. At the end of July, 50 & 46 R Tks were transferred out of 23 Armd Bde, whose HQ went back to North Africa.
Hello Frenchgeordie, Like 300 Independent ATB, the 231st Infantry Brigade was at this time an 'independent' brigade; 1st Bn Hampshire Regiment, 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment & 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment. At the end of the Sicily campaign it joined the 50th (Northumbrian) Division as its third infantry brigade. You may find the War Diaries of these three infantry battalions and/or 231st Infantry Brigade for this month (or part thereof) a useful source of information, including the identity of the other units or elements of other units in Harpoon Force e.g. the M10s, Middlesex Regiment MGs, etc. Similarly, 23rd Armoured Brigade and sub-unit War Diaries... If each War Diary gives you just one more piece of the 'jigsaw' the picture becomes clearer. Best, Steve.
Idler it should be recalled that in 1943 - 50 Tanks were almost full strength for an Armoured Battalion such as 50th RTR - The one squadron of 46th must have been close to 20 - 24 Tanks i.e. squadron of four troops of four Tanks plus four in SHQ and ATB was 57 for full Regiment of five troops of three Tanks plus HQ's X three squadrons... Cheers
Hi Steve, Yes you are right. As I have gone through this project I have come to realise that the diary of 300 ATB only gives part of the story and that it is indeed a jig-saw. I need to see the histories and the diaries of the Devons, Dorsets and Hampshires to get a fuller picture. Unfortunately (my wife's) Uncle Barry was KIA on 19 July 1943. Next week there is a family pilgrimage to Sicily to visit his grave in Catania CWGC and to spend a couple of days in the steps on his final days. Thanks to the 300 ATB diary (which Barry actually kept for a while), Barry's personal diary which has survived, the RA history, a chat with the curator at the RA museum, the maps in the British Library, and the info you guys have been kind enough to provide we can do this. Many thanks once again.
