War Diary - 6th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by Bruneval, Dec 20, 2021.

  1. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Good afternoon,

    I am researching a 2Lt Ivan Stanley RASC who was in charge of the Troop Carrying Platoon attached to a particular company (commanded by Capt RE Ovenden) of 6 DLI on 28 June 1942. On that day, 2Lt Stanley received an immediate Military Cross for his actions "...his action undoubtedly saved the Coy's left flank from being turned."

    Would anyone happen to have a copy of 6 DLI's War Diary for June 1942? Obviously, happy to pay for the record too!

    Thanks

    Bruneval
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2021
  2. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    I do not have any diaries and I made an enquiry with former member Verrieres who didn`t have a copy either but what he did have was a copy of Ovendens report made immediately after the action if that helps? He obtained this from the late Harry Moses (author of the Faithful Sixth) . Transcript below;-

    Bir el Hamam
    Capt Ovenden. Hq Company 6th Durham Light Infantry.

    Shortly after 18.30 hrs I was called to the head of the wadi in which I had established my headquarters, by a report of armoured cars and saw approaching from my left flank two self-propelling guns, a Bren carrier and other vehicles, including armoured cars. They were flying our pennants and gave an indefinite recognition signal. Covered by my men, they approached slowly to about 150 yds when I recognised them as German and at about the same moment, they put up their hands shouting, "Don't shoot." They were signalled to get out of their vehicles and the leading gunner started to do so with his hands still in the air. Suddenly, however, he jumped back into his turret and fired, scoring a direct hit on a 2 pdr gun near me, killing the two gunners and putting the gun out of action. At the same time the enemy must have dealt similarly with the 2pdr guns on my left flank for no fire came from them. This meant that the position on my front which was being attacked was without anti-tank gun weapons: as something else seems to have happened to the gun which was in the wadi about three hundred yards to my right."
    My two left hand platoons were shot up by the self- propelling guns and were forced to surrender. Shortly after this one of those guns was put out of action but the remaining one compelled the surrender of the forward section of my right centre platoon also. By this time an enemy ammunition wagon was burning fiercely and two armoured cars appeared to have been hit. The Regimental Sergeant-Major worked round to the right a bit and finding the two pounder anti-tank gun there deserted, got it into action and hit the remaining enemy gun which caught fire. He also put the enemy commander's staff car out of action and killed the officer. A small party of enemy infantry next debussed from a semi-tracked vehicle, but this was hit and the men dispersed by fire. One vehicle which had been set on fire was cleverly recovered by the enemy about this time - I believe this to have been an armoured car - and it was uncanny to see the plumes of smoke moving away from our position. The enemy started to shell us with 105mm guns but only half a dozen rounds fell. All this time my left flank was being held by my reserve Bren gun belonging to the Troop Carrying Section, RASC, which I had pushed up to the left centre position. I had, however, sent my Company Sergeant-Major to withdraw two Bren sections from the right hand platoon which had not been engaged and the arrival of these appeared to settle things and the enemy withdrew, the action having lasted for about two hours, most of it at a range of 200 yards or less.
    In addition there were, of course, the staff car and ammunition wagon and either two or three Troop Carrying Lorries in which our prisoners were taken away. These may or may not have contained enemy infantry.
    'I wish to recommend the following for immediate award: Second-Lieutenant I.G. Stanley, No 14 Company RASC and No 4442194 Regimental Sergeant-Major Page, A. Second-Lieutenant Stanley was the officer i/c troop carrying transport attached to us and kept one Bren gun mounted on a truck for A/A defence. This I was keeping in reserve. After my two left hand platoons had capitulated I shouted to him to cover my left flank. He immediately rushed his gun to a somewhat exposed but very advantageous fire position and kept up a very accurate fire for the remainder of the action, using armour piercing bullets. After about ten minutes firing, the firing pin of his gun broke and the gun was useless. Without hesitation, he went forward across bullet swept ground and brought back an abandoned gun from the A/A platoon and continued firing,although continually fired upon by both machine-gun and cannon. His general bearing was in the highest tradition and his action undoubtedly saved my left flank from being turned. Regimental Sergeant-Major Page was in command of the composite platoon on my right centre and from the very beginning of the action his bearing and conduct was of the highest order. Although commanding a very mixed force including clerks etc he put such heart into it that the two rear sections held on doggedly after the forward one had been captured. His personal bravery was beyond reproach and he was repeatedly standing up sniping the armoured car commanders who kept on trying to open their turrets this at a range of 150 yards. Working round to the right he brought an abandoned two pounder gun into action and personally knocked out a self-propelling gun. He also put the enemy commander's car out of action and killed the officer. A large number of maps and papers were taken from the car. Although wounded in the leg near the beginning of the action, he bandaged himself and no one was aware of the fact until the following morning. I consider it entirely due to his personality and efforts that the right centre of my position was held.



    Kyle
     
    Cpl Hadaway, PaulE, Steve Mac and 3 others like this.
  3. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Morning Kyle,

    Thank you very much for Capt Ovenden's report which puts 2Lt Stanley's action into context. I note all three received the Military Cross but only 2Lt Stanley would survive the war: RSM Page being killed on 2 Nov 1942 and Maj Ovenden on 22 Mar 1943.

    Thank you.

    Bruneval.
     
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