2658835 Guardsman Thomas Benjamin EDGE, 2 Coldstream Guards: 27/12/1942

Thomas was born in Walsall on Thursday 21 September 1916 to Thomas and Emma Elizabeth (née Lunt) Edge of 69, Holtshill Lane, Walsall and 60, Tantarra Street, Walsall, his father being an electrical cable jointer.

He was educated at the Chuckery School.

At the time of his enlistment in the Army prior to the war he was employed as a polisher by Sidney Russell and Sons Limited of Wednesbury Road, Walsall.

Drafted to France with the British Expeditionary Force, Thomas was one of the last soldiers to be evacuated from Dunkirk. He was drafted to North Africa in November 1942.

On Tuesday 22 December 1942 Thomas’s battalion attacked Longstop Hill, which dominated the road from Medjez to Tebourba, seizing it from the enemy. The hill was taken on Christmas Eve however the battalion was then subjected to an accurate and heavy mortar fire, this causing several casualties.

On Christmas Day the Germans counter attacked the hill with armoured cars forcing the survivors of the battalion to retire to Medjez. Thomas was wounded in the attack and was captured by the Germans. Removed to a hospital in Tunis he succumbed to his injuries.

The War Diary records,

“23 December 1942 - The day was spent in making plans for a night attack that night by the battalion on Longstop Hill the imposing and important feature7 miles north of our positions and guarding the important Tebourba Road.

At dusk, companies moved to their positions. The objective of 4 Company was a saddle at the front of the hill. No 1 Company was to pass through 4 and capture the ridge, meanwhile 2 Company was to capture the railway station and area of the road on the right of the hill. Battalion H.Q. and 3 Company were to advance to a white house at the base of the ridge between 4 and 2 Companies.

4 Company captured the col without opposition. 1 Company passed through and were met by machine gun and mortar fire at the ridge. They fought magnificently and captured the ridge. Unfortunately their Company Commander, Major Chichester, was severely wounded in the neck, from which he subsequently died.

During the night a battalion of the American combat team took over our positions under very difficult circumstances. This was accomplished before first light and then the battalion withdrew some 12 miles into a so-called rest area. This proved to be a ravine, it rained the whole day.

At 2000hrs battalion ordered to move out in preparation for another attack on Longstop night 24/25 December.

Battalion moved to basin at foot of Longstop without interruption from enemy. Day spent resting in basin. At 1645 artillery barrage opened on hill. At 1700 hrs 4 Company attacked ridge followed by 3 Company and 1 Company. 2 Company formed work parties - amenities, food, water etc. Met by intense machine gun fire. 4 Company got to their objective but were unable to hold it. 3 and 1 Companies then held the front line with 4 behind. A German counter attack was repulsed and the companies began digging in.

Night comparatively quiet.

At 0700hrs the enemy counter attacked: very heavy mortar fire and machine gun on our exposed position on the ridge. Large armoured cars were also used on the flanks at the bottom of the ridge. Our position became untenable - withdrawal was ordered on to Chassard Teffaha. Meanwhile the 3 Grenadier Guards came up prepared to counter attack. The enemy however did not do more than consolidate on the ridge.

The attack has been magnificently carried out by the 3 rifle companies but our losses in officers, C.O.s, N.C.O.s being heavy. During the night the first line reinforcements were brought up to the front line.

No 2 and reinforcements were formed on a lower ridge to cover the withdrawal of the other company and the American Battalion from the higher ridges. This they did well - 3 inch mortars also assisted admirably with H.E. and smoke.

The battalion were finally withdrawn and reformed in a gulley ¾ to the rear of Chassard Teffaha. At dusk they were moved by motor transport to farm some 8-10 miles to the rear and south west of Medjex.

26 December 1942 - Considerable number of stragglers returned to the farm. Day spent “sorting ourselves out”.

27 December 1942 - Service by Hampshire Padre at 1200hrs. No 3 Company under Captain Windsor Clive moved out to neighbouring farm. Battalion ordered to move at 1800 to farm 4 miles west. Move completed without incident.”

Thomas is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery in Grave IV.F.16 and is commemorated on the Walsall Roll of Honour. He was 26 years of age.

A service of remembrance was held in the Guard’s Chapel in his honour on Wednesday 26 May 1943.

His brother George served in the military during the war.

Regards,

Graeme