2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment at TEBOURBA 1-3 December 1942

Since it is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Tebourba I thought I would upload a six-page report written by the Adjutant of that battalion about those events which I discovered in the National Archives in a file containing the war diary for the G Branch of the 78th Division.

There is also a map I found probably in 2nd Hampshires war diary that may be of value.

I am aware that the 2nd Battalion was not the only unit at Tebourba the East Surreys had their own battle along with 132nd Regiment RA and of course the Americans from 13 Armoured Regiment were there but I thought this report would be useful way of commemorating the battle. Hope people find it useful.

 

As usual German intel summary.



All the best

Andreas

 

Here's one of my recent photos. More to follow! #Tunisia80

 

here's the google translate:
December 1, 1942. Night without special events. Landing of 2 x 15 men at Rass al Koran. In the evening the situation is still unclear. In general, however, not a closed set, but only troop-wise passing of the parts that have landed. Several squads captured, others savaged. Bigener comprehensive attack against Teb-urba almost reached the place, enemy put up very strong resistance. Heavy artillery fire, Binsat's strong air force forces. Enemy parts reported in the southern sector at height 302 not confirmed by reconnaissance activities. Own backups again i Line Zaghuan Depienne. enemy assessment; Since landing near the fra. Coastal occupation has taken place, it can be assumed that the enemy, assuming that their position is not completely safe, will try to get hold of them as soon as possible and draw them to their side. In the case of further landings there is a possibility of defending Bizerte in the rear. Hpta, Kirsten was sent to La Marsa to ascertain the shore crew present there and in the evening to the Tunis-804 sector to ascertain the use of Flak 8, guns at La Mohanmedia and ascertainment of the Kledia Muniti camp. Reconnaissance reports can be sent from the Rause Cheylus-Djebel by deployed Arabs, which confirm the situation already communicated there. Further testimonies from the Arabs gave Souk el Aras again as a leaning target to the Flifu. By evening 127 prisoners. Annex 18: Air reconnaissance registration from 1.12.1942. 19; Daily report from December 1st, 1942. December 2, 1942. Night without particular surprises, the enemy who had landed in the north-west was pushed back without any major resistance. Prisoners were taken. With scattered parts in the coastal area is still to be expected, The fight in Tebourba can't be over yet because the enemy under strong rushes of his Air Force, Art., and Pz. very har resisted and also tried to get through from the south-west to relieve Tebourba's tank attacks. The Relief Attack but was rejected. Again, the heavy anti-tank gun on SfL was used by the enemy. The enemy who had landed south of Tunis was killed in daring reconnaissance raids. Prisoners were paraded through Tunis in a column. This intended propaganda measure had the desired success with the population, because this train of the English prisoners were accompanied with lively Hitler and Duce rugs.
Own and enemy reconnaissance breaches in the southwest area of Tunis, New enemy parachute landings 10 kn southwest of Massicault. The German backup Batte shifted at Sidi Faid, first contact with reconnaissance forces (American Pz. armored personnel carriers?) leaving from the direction of Sbeitla. The attack and an attempted evasion were dismissed. The prisoner interrogations showed that the paratroopers sum II.8t1. "Red Cap" belonged to the airborne division, which had landed in the area south of Tunis with about Son Mann and had the task of fighting against the Tunis airfield. The transport of these paratroopers was about 4-5 americ, second-tier airplanes (Douglas ?) takes place. Many of the prisoners had serious puss injuries. Particularly noteworthy are the strong enemy air forces that appeared, so that the own air force could only intervene less to support the ground battles, but first all forces had to be used to achieve air superiority, Successes Prisoners 12 offs., 309 teams - 30 hp. 6 armored personnel carriers shot down, numerous grenade launchers destroyed, 13 trucks captured or destroyed. Leaflet on the treatment of prisoners was issued. distributor up to the Ep. Ambassador Rahn was asked to gene to put a short notice in the daily newspaper. Attachment 201 Air reconnaissance report from December 2nd, 1942. 21 daily report from 2.12.1942. 22 leaflet on treatment of prisoners, 23; German-Italian report, spah department to Zaghruan. December 3, 1942. West and northwest of the Garnet Achkel enemy in line 523- 371 and in the bridge area at Mon,cantre. In Kampf un Tebourba, their own troops fought their way towards the town from the east and north-west. Enemy in Tebourba but stubbornly fought back. The enemy attempted to relieve Tebourba su by counter-attacks from the south-west on both sides of the river. The counter-attacks were repelled. In the Goubellat-Zaghuan area, new enemy forces were found, 40-5 HP, apparently French. Own reconnaissance violations in the southern section. Enemy touch in the Pont du Fahs Zaghouan room. Battle sector Sfax, combat operations of our own advanced Backup at Sidi Faid. For reports of captured paratroopers, see Annex, Bach Va News, confirmed by a booty order were, parts of the 6. Panzer-Div. with in fight us Tebourba. (Attachment)

Consequences: prisoners; 1 offs., 102 men, 8 pa. and 2 Pa reconnaissance vehicles shot down. In the afternoon, Eptm, Kirsten in Pretville sur Btl, San Marco was in positions for a bridgehead Pretville, because on the basis of an English, booty map, the road direction over Pretville su one recognize was. Appendix 24; Air reconnaissance report from December 3, 1942. 25; Daily report from December 3, 1942. 26: plan break from a best card, 27; Investigations into an English paratroopers. 28; Prey order for the 6.Panzer-Div. December 4, 1942. night without special knowledge. 9 o'clock instruction of all offs, of the staff and 1, clerk of the departments on secrecy regulations and on the penal provisions applicable in the event of non-compliance. course of the day whereabouts of the north-west Djebel Achkel landed enemy not detected. Apparently dodged west. According to Arab reports in the afternoon enemy accumulation 4 ka west of Mon.cantre. about 100 English and Americans, including tanks. South of Mateur, enemy had been routed along the way via Djebel el Akmas to Nerden and occupied height 304, which changed hands several times. At noon Tebourba was taken and later E1 Bathan. The narrow 6 km north-west of Tebourba and the high ground 5 km south-west of Tebourba, north of the river (height 145) still heavily occupied by the enemy, including Pa. Un Esar Tyr and Pent du Fahs Ps. Collections. In the Sfax section, own defenses against strong American pressure up to Sidi Faid. Pa, sun dodged the Kreches section. According to Vh. report, a detachment of the 4th Tunes, Spahia-Rgt, and the I.Btl. of the 4th Sniper Regiment (both Div. Barré) in Gafsa. Furthermore, parts of the 3rd Chasseur d'Afrique are to be deployed in Gafea be meet 2 American motorized companies are said to have arrived in Tozeur, through America offs. the possibility of using the Teseur - Kebili slope via the Djerid bulkhead is to be checked. The American crew in Sbeitla sells other parts that are out Feriana came to have been strengthened. The Luftwaffe saw accumulations of vehicles in Raume un Sbeitla and Sadaguia. The booty order gave information about the purpose and goal of the parachute operation, and about the troop structure, but V. Corps with 34th USA Division, 78, English. and 6th Ps.Div., Bowie a Guards Brigade. Numerous booty papers are sighted and sent to 0.8.5. passed on, Ala indicator of the 6th Panzer Div, the clenched fist was found as an imprint on an official document and as a cloth seal with prisoners, I have a further booty order that the 36th Ps. div. appear likely.

 

Thanks for the information. I have attached an extract from the London Gazette with Le Patourel's VC citation