Does anyone know the actions of the 232nd Field Company between The beginning of June 1941 and the end of March 1942? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Hello BC Mon, As Owen's e-mail infers, 232nd Field Coy, RE, were Divisional Troops of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, but serving with the 150th Infantry Brigade [4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 4th and 5th Bns Green Howards] of the Division. They were overrun by the DAK at Rotunda Ualeb on 1 June 1942 and were evetually struck off the nominal role. I have a book that covers the 150th Infantry Brigade and the attached Divisional Troops during the period you mention. Do you require more detailed information on the actions the 'Brigade' was involved in? If so, I will sort this evening! Best, Steve.
Many thanks Steve, I am researching a man that was with the 232nd Field Coy from June 2nd 1941 until he was killed in action on March 21st 1942, so I would be happy to know what the actions of the 150th brigade was involved in over that period. Terry
Hello Terry, I have written up matters as far as the date your man was KIA, but will need to provide further detail on the action itself; so expect another message... The 232nd Field Coy, RE, sailed in HMT Empress of Russia from Liverpool on 21 April 1941 and assembled in a convoy in the Clyde on 23 April 1941. The convoy was escorted by HMS Repulse, 14 destroyers and one armed merchantman, as far as Freetown. The escort was much reduced for the journey from Freetown to Durban, as they left to take part in the search for and sinking of the Bismark. They arrived at Suez in the first week of June 1941. From disembarkation at Suez, they moved to a tented camp at Quassassin, nr Ismailia, where they stayed for a few weeks. They then moved to Bagguish in mid-July 1941, along with Brigade HQ and the 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and were therefore established in the Western Desert for the first time. Whilst here the Brigade trained, got used to the conditions and patrolled. During the second week of August 1941, the Brigade moved on HMNZS Leander and several Royal Navy destroyers to Cyprus, with most of the Brigade including 232nd Field Coy being situated at Kondea (to the east of Famagusta and in the current Turkish Zone, and north of the current British Sovereign Base of Dhekelia). Here training continued and defences were constructed in preparation for the expected Axis invasion. During the first week of November 1941, the Brigade moved on destroyers HMS Jaguar, Hasty and Hardy, and minelayer HMS Abdiel, to Jalama camp nr Haifa, Palestine. This is situated at the foot of Mt Carmel. On 30 November 1941, the Brigade (plus the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [the 50 Div's Recce Bn] and some RASC units) moved independent of the rest of 50 Div to Amryha camp, nr Alexandria, spending a week there. It then moved back up to Bagguish. On 22 December 1941, the Brigade moved to Bir Thalata. Then on 25 January 1942, it moved west to Bir Harmat and then along route 'F' to Tengeder, which was on the left flank of the 8th Army, which was now in retreat from Benghazi towards Mechili, Timimi and Gazala. After a few days facing the enemy, the Brigade was withdrawn to Bir Hachiem in the Gazala line defences, to conform with the rest of the 8th Army, where the Brigade began the construction of the 8th Army's defences there. On approximately 15 February 1942, the Brigade swapped position with the Free French Brigade and moved to Bir Geff, which was further north and again work began on the construction of the 8th Army's defences there. Patrolling no-mans land and Jock columns - mixed arms - were undertaken to harass the Axis forces. These latter usually lasted 4 days. On the 20th, 21st and 22nd March 1942, a larger scale operation was undertaken. The primary objective of this operation was to draw off the Axis airforce(s) whilst an important convoy proceeded from Egypt to Malta. Two columns were to attack the Axis most important forward air-bases at Martuba and Timimi, whilst a third column would take up a covering position in the area of Bir Temrad. The operation was codenamed 'Full-size.'
An armoured column from 1st Armoured Division was to demonstrate against Mechili, the south flank of the main operation. The RAF was to bomb, both, Martuba and Timimi airfields. Troops of 151st Infantry Brigade, also of 50 Div [6th, 8th and 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry] and tanks, were to operate against the Timimi airfield. Troops of 150th Infantry Brigade (designated 'Norcol') were to operate against Martuba airfield, consisting of: * 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment - 'C' Company, a Battle Patrol and a Carrier Platoon; * 3rd South African Reconnaissance Bn - One Platoon; * 72nd Field Regiment, RA - 285th Battery; * 95th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA - One Battery; * ??? Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA - One Battery; * 232nd Field Coy, RE - One Section; * 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment - One Platoon [Machine Gun Bn]; and * Medical and Ambulance units. This column constituted around 200 vehicles, and 400 Officers and men. Unfortunately, on the 19 March1942 the enemy captured an important feature - Ras El Eleba - on Norcol's direct route to Martuba. This feature had to be retaken in a night attack whilst the main column slipped by. Brigadier Haydon, who was to be KIA at Rotunda Ualeb on 1 June 1942, personally led this attack and received a bullet hole through his forage cap in the process. The 285 Bty, 72nd Field Regiment, RA, started proceedings at 12 noon on 21 March 1942, firing salvos of 8 guns at a time. The enemy countered with Medium Artillery fire, and attacks by fighters and dive bombers - there were continuously 28 of the former in the air and four attacks by 21 of the latter. Three ammunition trucks were hit and exploded, meaning a loss of anti-aircraft capability. Consequently, only one enemy aeroplane was shot down. Enemy tanks also patrolled to Norcol's front, but never came closer than 3000 yds during daylight. Norcol had been ordered not to withdraw before 19.00 hrs and did so at midnight, but with some difficulty as around 40 of their vehicles had been destroyed. One British three-tonner actually towed two Bofors anti-aircraft guns, as well as being loaded with men and equipment. Progress was slower than was necessary and the column suffered one further attack by enemy dive bombers. However, they eventually passed the forward-most British troops at around 11.00 hrs and were safe in their own 'home' by 15.00 hrs on 22 March 1942. Losses were circa 15 KIA, 40 wounded. Also, 2 x 25-Pdr, 2 x Bofors, 2 x Anti-Tanks guns and 50 vehicles. Lt. D Cowton, 232nd Field Coy, RE, who commanded the RE section involved, was awarded the MC for his part in this operation. Information mainly gleaned from '150th Infantry Brigade (50th (Northumbrian) Division) in the Middle East June 1941 - June 1942', (WE Bush and others). NB. I have a book written by Lt D Cowton and will revert with further comment.
Complimentary information obtained from John Cowtan's book 'From the Gazala Line to Behind The Lines - Wartime Memories of John Cowtan'. NB. He is not referred to as 'D' Cowtan, but instead "John Cowtan". The reason the Brigade waited at Quassassin was that the ships carrying all the vehicles and a lot of kit, were slower and rather than go via the southern route to Port Tewfik, as the troops had, they went through the Mediterranean to Port Said. The vehicles were collected from Port Said by their Drivers, were driven south to Kantara and Ismailia, then to the Base Vehicle Depot at Bbassia (Cairo). After a stop over, the journey was continued via the pyramids to Alexandria, where they turned left and up to the Western Desert. They then spent a lot of time laying "mines, mines, mines and mines", in the expectation that the Axis forces would soon be on the attack again. The 232nd Field Coy, RE, travelled as a whole unit with vehicles to Cyprus aboard HMS Neptune. They were transhipped from HMS Neptune to destroyers and taken into Famagusta. They then moved not in conjunction with the Brigade to Kondea but to a place between Larnaca and the nearby salt pans, building anti-glider defences including pillboxes and concrete obstacles. Interestingly, they were also given responsibility of starting the construction of a base hospital in a green field site at Dhekelia, which we now know as a UK sovereign base. It was then a field(s) filled with sheep. They also had to undertake a demolition recce of the island, principally port demolitions at Famagusta, Limasol and Kyrenia. However, also subject to recce was the railways, copper mines, certain bridges and possible mine laying across the narrow part of the Karpas Peninsula (the Pan Handle). They travelled to Haifa, Palestine in HMS Abdiel - the 'minelayer'. Regarding Operation Full-size, Martuba airfield was some 70 miles behind the lines, over very rough desert; wilderness, rocky, very overgrown and nasty going desert. All other information is analogous with that in my two immediately previous messages. There is no mention of the 232nd Field Coy, RE, KIA's during Operation Full-size. John Cowtan was taken prisoner by the DAK on 1 June 1942 and transported to a PoW camp in Italy, from which he later escaped and fought alongside Italian partisans. He stayed in the Army, reaching the rank of Major General. There is a good write-up in the book about life in the Western Desert, including daily routines, food, etc. Best, Steve.
Another fact that flags the importance and probable impact of Operation Full-size, is that the 72nd Field Regiment, RA, was allocated 2,000 rounds of ammunition for their 25-Pdrs. This coupled with the RAF bombing of the Timimi and Martuba airfields, must have resulted in the Axis forces getting a real plastering. The artillery was firing on the Martuba airfield for the best part of 12 hours. The 151st Infantry Brigade column alone took over 150 prisoners back with them to the 8th Army lines. Best, Steve.
Note to readers of this thread: I am not yet content that the Norcol orbat at Message No. 7, which was lifted from a book '150th Infantry Brigade (50th (Northumbrian) Division) in the Middle East June 1941 - June 1942', (WE Bush and others), is accurate. For example, this book stated that the Machine Gun support was from the 4th Bn Cheshire Regiment, which I know is wrong. First, the 4th Bn Cheshire Regiment did not serve in the Wetern Desert. Second, the 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment was 50 Div's Machine Gun Battalion. Third, there is reference in the Regimental history that confirms that the 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment was involved in the 151st Infantry Brigade's attack on Timimi airfield. Hence, why I have made the assumption that it was the 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment that was present in Norcol. Although the 95th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA, was present in the Western Desert at this time, it was the 65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment that served with 50 Div. The latter had served with 50 Div during its time with the BEF in Belgium and France in 1939/1940 and in the UK thereafter. It again came under the command of 50 Div on 23 February 1942. However, there is no mention of Operation Full-size in its Regimental history. I cannot confirm which anti-aircraft regiment was included in Norcol. There is no mention of Operation Full-size in the 25th LAA's regimental history. All three 'inclusions' require confirmation and I hope to provide this in the fullness of time.
Hi I can confirm that 95 AT Rgt. RA participated in the operation against Martuba aerodrome. All the best Andreas
* Many thanks for the confirmation, Andreas. For completeness, could you please provide your source?! Have you any information about which LAA regiment was involved? Best, Steve.
Hi 95 AT Rgt. participated in a three column ops, including the one on Martha 20-23 March. Source is their WD. Losses in this op were 1 Off KIA, 1 OR WIA, 1x 18pdr 1x 2pdr, 2x portees, 2x 3 tonner, 1x 15 cwt. I have the losses for the Germans for 21 March, 90th Light Division as follows, based on a report made to Panzerarmee on the evening of : 5./S.R.155 and motor cycle platoon: Personnel losses (presume KIA/MIA): 3 Officers 17 NCOs 103 OR WIA: 1 NCO 3 OR Vehicles: 3 prime movers 7 trucks 1 car 1 motorcycle Weapons: 5x Russian 7.62cm guns 2x heavy ATR 41 2x 81mm mortar 11 light machine guns The report is not dated but time-stamped 19.25 hours, but the following document is dated and time-stamped 22.55 hours 21 March and updates the 19.25 report with more detail. A whole strongpoint was taken by the British column, Aleima. All the best Andreas
From 21. Panzer WD (unfortunately I only have it to mid-afternoon 21 March): 14.30 hours orientation from D.A.K. that strongpoint Kaethe has fallen to tank attack. Company holding strongpoint was captured. Aerodrome Martuba under enemy artillery fire. Air force reports tanks approaching. At 14.45 hours readiness to depart ordered for division except AA Btl. 606. At 15.15 hours report to AdC: Tank company ready to depart. 90th Light estimated enemy later in the afternoon/early evening as 2-300 men and 4-5 batteries of guns (a German battery had 4 guns). Attached the report of 95 AT Rgt. R.A. No ID of the LAA Rgt. and the typed earlier report by 90th Light. The later report is handwritten, and has slightly increased casualty figures. All the best Andreas
Many thanks for the excellent information, Andreas. It is much appreciated. The attack at Gabre El Aleima was carried out by 'A' Company, 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry supported by tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade; and it was part of the Timimi column. The DAK held a feature there called 'the Pimple'. 'A' Company overran the Pimple, taking 90 prisoners in the process. Source: 'The Gateshead Gurkhas' (Moses).
Hello Andreas, I believe that the LAA regiment may well have been the 57th LAA Regiment, RA. It is the only LAA regiment present in the Western Desert that has deaths covering the duration of Operation Full-size and I have a couple of online glimpses/snippets from the book "A Short History of the 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt., Royal Artillery" that suggest it was involved in the attack on the Martuba airfield. You have commented on this regiment, on this forum, in respect of Crusader. Do you have the WDs for the 57th LAA Regiment or other sources about it, that covers March 1942? If so, please could you confirm matters? NB. I will PM this note to you too! Best, Steve.
Hi Sorry Steve, long time to answer this, but I am afraid I do not have the 57 LAA Rgt WD for the period. All the best Andreas
Ah look what I have here. 90th Light files dated 18 Feb but no reason to presume that this doesn't show the location. All the best Andreas
