3rd Hussars, B Squadron, Major Mike Eveleigh

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by emmaevel, Apr 10, 2011.

  1. emmaevel

    emmaevel Junior Member

    Hi, i am looking for information on my Grandfather Major Michael (Mike) Eveleigh. He served in the 3rd Hussars, B Squadron in the Middle East and in Italy during WWII. Im wondering if anyone knew him or knows anything about the squadron?
     
  2. emmaevel

    emmaevel Junior Member

    Hi, i am looking for information on my Grandfather Michael Eveleigh. He served in the 3rd Hussars, B Squadron in the Middle East and in Italy during WWII. Im wondering if anyone knew him or knows anything about the squadron?
     
  3. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    emmaeval
    The 3rd Hussars were - at one time with 7th Armoured bde in the desert- which went off to Burma- "B" squadron of the Hussars went to Singapore and were promptly captured and stayed in capitivity - the rest of the Regiment stayed in the Desert and finally ended up in the 9th Armoured bde along with the Warwickshire Yeomanry and three other assorted Tank regiments and seemed to have an independent role -with one regiment over on the Ancona side with the Poles and the rest being up with 78th Div- 6th Armoured Div - 4th Div and others at Perugia/Arrezo way
    lost touch with them after the Gothic Line so don't really know what they were up to at the finish- try the 9th Armoured bde Diary though -should be all there ..
    Cheers
     
  4. DavidM

    DavidM Junior Member

    Hi, i am looking for information on my Grandfather Major Michael (Mike) Eveleigh. He served in the 3rd Hussars, B Squadron in the Middle East and in Italy during WWII. Im wondering if anyone knew him or knows anything about the squadron?

    Your Grandfather has 3 mentions in the book The Galloping Third, The story of The 3rd The King's Own Hussars. Page 277. (Battle of El Alamein) Sir Peter Farquhar (Colonel of the Regiment having been briefed of the Regiments role) .... suggested to Montgomery that this was just suicide' for his Regiment, the General answered, "Its got to be done and, if necessary, I am prepared to accept 100 per cent casualties in both personnel and tanks.”
    Sir Peter has said, “I have always admired Montgomery for his frank reply - tough but typical of him. There was, of course, no more to be said.”

    Page 278. Their own loses were grievous, and soon the battle field was thick with black smoke from burning tanks. At one time the Colonel had only seven crews including his own headquarters tanks in action; and as wireless communications had broken down, he and Major Eveleigh - whom he had picked up - had to walk round and give their orders individually to each tank commander. But they held on until the 2nd Armoured Brigade came up half an hour later; and about 10 o'clock the Regiment joined with the Queen's Bays in repelling a counter attack by tanks of the 15th Panzer Division. The 3rd learned afterwards that they had knocked out 15 anti-tank guns, 4 field guns and 5 tanks during this phase of the battle, and they had also taken 300 prisoners.

    Page 279. Next morning, ...... the three surviving tanks of “A” Squadron, commanded by Captain Richard Heseltine, were sent forward to watch the enemy. ...... Soon afterwards, General Freyberg drove up with Sir Peter Farquhar, climbed on the leading tank, and asked to be shown the battlefield. Heseltine recalled, “For a few moments the General stood silent”, ........... Then he suddenly exclaimed to the Colonel “Your regiment is magnificent. The Hun is beaten - it is now the pursuit.”

    Page 279 cont. Their total casualties during the twelve days since October 23, when the battle began, were 21 officers and 98 other ranks killed, wounded and missing: and out of 51 tanks taken into action, 47 had been destroyed.

    (El Alamein was granted as a Battle honour to the 3rd Hussars it was passed to The Queen's Own Hussars (QOH) on amalgamation with the 7th Hussars in 1958. It is now on the Guidon of The Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) owing to the amalgamation in 1993 of The Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. The Third Hussars were the Senior Light Cavalry Regiment of the British Army and this has been passed on to the QOH and the QRH)

    Page 290. (Italy, the Regiment had suffered their first casualties, crew of four killed, Sir Peter Farquhar badly burned tried to drag their bodies from the burning tank) But the 3rd soon had their revenge. ..........each squadron in turn was given the chance of co-operating with the infantry in assaulting limited objectives. Most of the credit went to Major Eveleigh’s “B” Squadron who, with the 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, killed over 100 Germans and took twenty-six prisoners, for the loss of only one infantryman.

    Page 299. (Relates to an action with The Chestnut Troop and a fellow 3rd Hussar Major Heseltine) Major Eveleigh’s “B” Squadron followed at 9.30, but they were heavily shelled while crossing the Soara and again while climbing the hill; and Lieutenant Brian Ward M.C., and his gunner were killed by an anti-tank gun whose crew had run away at the first attack but eventually plucked up courage to return. Five minutes later the gun was destroyed and all its crew killed. The battle raged throughout the afternoon, as each enemy gun in turn was identified and destroyed. ....... the 3rd Hussars and Chestnut Troop had utterly routed the enemy and unlocked the entrance to the great basin of the Tiber valley that opens out beyond Citta di Castello.

    Major Heseltine is possibly still alive, he has written a book on El Alamein, he would have known your Grandfather. You can look further at (click on all 3 links) Home Page
    Home The Queen's Royal Hussars - Regimental Association You may even be able to get in contact with Major Heseltine via the QOH Museum.

    (Major) Richard Heseltine's book is called Pippin's Progress: Memoirs of a Wartime Officer in the 3rd Hussars, this and the book The Galloping Third, The story of The 3rd The King's Own Hussars can both be found to buy on Amazon or book sellers on the internet.

    The following pages refer to your Grandfather in Richard Heseltine's book called Pippin's Progress: Memoirs of a Wartime Officer in the 3rd Hussars.
    Page 122. On the third day a lone tank was seen to come back over the horizon. Someone cocked up their gun to maximum range and by some extraordinary fluke scored a hit, whereat the crew were seen to bale out. A scout car was sent to collect them and was met by a tall German officer purposefully marching towards them with his overcoat over his arm. He was General von Thom, commander of all the German and Italian armour and second only to Rommel.

    On being taken before Montgomery, he saluted and said. “You have won the war” On being asked why he should think so, he replied, “What else can you expect when your commander-in-chief is a madman?. Hitler had ordered Rommel to stand and fight to the last. No General worth his salt did not know that the only chance of continuing the campaign was to pull out as quickly as possible and save what was left to fight another day. The intriguing question is whether von Thom came back to observe or whether he intended to give himself up. Did he fear the consequences of disobeying his Fuhrer?

    Pages 123/124.
    I rode my tank to Alamein
    Prepared to do or die
    I led my few to victory
    Now all I do is cry.

    It goes without saying that to suffer such a loss as 120 personnel, representing about 80 per cent of those who took part, rendered us inoperative for further action. We finished the battle with seven tanks, but three of them had come up in the closing stages. I think there were only nine officers left on their feet, and only two of them with any seniority - the Colonel and Major Eveleigh. ........As can be seen, the 3rd Hussars had been virtually eliminated. However, we had done what had been demanded. We had broken through Rommel’s defence line and turned the key to victory in Africa. What is more, the victory at Alamein, together with Stalingrad, marked the turning point of World War II.

    A few days later the Colonel, Mike Eveleigh, and I took a jeep back up the desert to Tel el Aqqaqir to try and piece together our action at dawn on 2 November. Mercifully the grave diggers had been and removed the corpses, but there lay the grim remains of our wrecked tanks, strewn over the desert. Some were burnt out, others on their sides and even upside down. Whole turrets had been blown off their main body by the terrible force of internal explosions. It was a graveyard awful to behold, even without contemplating the fate of all our friends and companions. ....... After walking around for quite a long time trying to read the names on our tanks ..........., Mike and I converged on Sir Peter who was standing beside the jeep. ........ He was obviously very distressed. As we approached him he said to us, "The Regiment must think me a butcher, I have destroyed the 3rd Hussars." "Oh, no, Sir!" we both replied. "No one, not anyone, has ever thought that."

    Many years later ......... he told me that at that very moment of agony and carnage, he made a vow to himself. He would re-create a regiment that would have no equal. The 3rd Hussars would be trained to such a perfection that it would kill the enemy without being killed itself. All that was to be fulfilled. Out of the ashes of Alamein would rise the phoenix of Italy.

    Page 172. Talks about the Colonel, the author and your Grandfather going duck shooting at Homs and passing the Crusader Templars castle Krak-des-Chevaliers.

    Page 199. The author talks about being promoted to "A" Squadron leader. He describes your Grandfather who was leader of "B" Squadron as being "the complete soldier."

    Page 242. (The Regiment is now in Italy) The author has become the "Senior Squadron Leader." Your Grandfather is now second in command of the Regiment. "Sir Douglas commands, Mike Eveleigh is 2i/c.
     
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  5. Sussex by the Sea

    Sussex by the Sea Senior Member

    Hi, i am looking for information on my Grandfather Major Michael (Mike) Eveleigh. He served in the 3rd Hussars, B Squadron in the Middle East and in Italy during WWII. Im wondering if anyone knew him or knows anything about the squadron?

    Emma,
    Any relation to Mike Eveleigh RAF.
     
  6. emmaevel

    emmaevel Junior Member

    Hi David,

    Thank you very much! Thats great information, im very grateful!
     
  7. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum both Emma and David - enjoy!

    Great first post David!!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  8. DavidM

    DavidM Junior Member

    Hello Emma,
    I have updated and completed what I know about your Grandfather from the various history books that I have on The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars Hussars. My interest is that I am an ex serving member of The Queen’s Own Hussars and a member of The Queen’s Royal Hussars historical society. If you have visited the link I posted above that takes you to The Queen’s Own Hussars museum you will see it has a very good display on the battle of El Alamein. I think you may not live to far away from the museum which is at Warwick! The below link will take you to a youtube short piece on the Lord Leicester Hospital which houses the QOH museum. It is a fascinating place of historical interest in its own right and a visit to the Hospital and the museum is very worth while.
    YouTube - Lord Leycester Hospital

    Your Grandfather belonged to a very small and without question an extremely brave but modest group of men from the 3rd Hussars who would have seen most of the 2nd World War, from the desert to Italy. He was involved in some of its most famous battles. From those 3rd Hussars who started the war very few survived, let alone El Alamein. He would have witnessed some horrific sights. Destroyed tanks especially those that ran on petrol were not something you would have wanted to be in if hit by an enemy shell. Hence the term “Brew Up.” From what I know he was a very professional soldier. The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars were a very understated regiment that had a long and proud history. It has many famous battle honours, but very little has ever been written about the regiment so I highly recommend the two books I have quoted from. This is especially true of Richard Heseltine's book, Pippin's Progress: Memoirs of a Wartime Officer in the 3rd Hussars which covers the war period your Grandfather served with the regiment. As this is a personal account and not an overall narrative of events you get a real feel for what it was like to serve in the 3rd Hussars at that time.

    From its first Colonel (6th Duke of Somerset) to an incident just prior to El Alamein which resulted in the removal of its Colonel, a man with an intriguing past, who your Grandfather would have known. (Owen Tudor's Mysterious Wife) It was a regiment which was not afraid to court controversy. Its history shows it was not a flashy hussar regiment but a regiment that quietly just got on with the business of soldering, its list of battle honours prove it achieved much and record our country’s proud history. This way of doing things was I believe in turn inherited by The Queen’s Own Hussars. There is a quote in Major Heseltine’s book that I believe predates all those who use it today “Once a Third Hussar always a Third Hussar”. Again we would say the same “Once a Queen’s Own Hussar always a Queen’s Own Hussar. Much copied, much used but so very true of this regiment and what it passed on. Regards David
     
  9. emmaevel

    emmaevel Junior Member

    Hello Emma,
    I have updated and completed what I know about your Grandfather from the various history books that I have on The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars Hussars. My interest is that I am an ex serving member of The Queen’s Own Hussars and a member of The Queen’s Royal Hussars historical society. If you have visited the link I posted above that takes you to The Queen’s Own Hussars museum you will see it has a very good display on the battle of El Alamein. I think you may not live to far away from the museum which is at Warwick! The below link will take you to a youtube short piece on the Lord Leicester Hospital which houses the QOH museum. It is a fascinating place of historical interest in its own right and a visit to the Hospital and the museum is very worth while.
    YouTube - Lord Leycester Hospital

    Your Grandfather belonged to a very small and without question an extremely brave but modest group of men from the 3rd Hussars who would have seen most of the 2nd World War, from the desert to Italy. He was involved in some of its most famous battles. From those 3rd Hussars who started the war very few survived, let alone El Alamein. He would have witnessed some horrific sights. Destroyed tanks especially those that ran on petrol were not something you would have wanted to be in if hit by an enemy shell. Hence the term “Brew Up.” From what I know he was a very professional soldier. The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars were a very understated regiment that had a long and proud history. It has many famous battle honours, but very little has ever been written about the regiment so I highly recommend the two books I have quoted from. This is especially true of Richard Heseltine's book, Pippin's Progress: Memoirs of a Wartime Officer in the 3rd Hussars which covers the war period your Grandfather served with the regiment. As this is a personal account and not an overall narrative of events you get a real feel for what it was like to serve in the 3rd Hussars at that time.

    From its first Colonel (6th Duke of Somerset) to an incident just prior to El Alamein which resulted in the removal of its Colonel, a man with an intriguing past, who your Grandfather would have known. (Owen Tudor's Mysterious Wife) It was a regiment which was not afraid to court controversy. Its history shows it was not a flashy hussar regiment but a regiment that quietly just got on with the business of soldering, its list of battle honours prove it achieved much and record our country’s proud history. This way of doing things was I believe in turn inherited by The Queen’s Own Hussars. There is a quote in Major Heseltine’s book that I believe predates all those who use it today “Once a Third Hussar always a Third Hussar”. Again we would say the same “Once a Queen’s Own Hussar always a Queen’s Own Hussar. Much copied, much used but so very true of this regiment and what it passed on. Regards David

    Hi David,

    This is such great information, i cant thank you enough. Referring to the bit you quoted in Major Heseltine's book where they took a jeep back up the desert to Tel el Aqqaqir: My grandfather had a cigarette case which in his words 'got blown up' during El Alamein. He wrote a note which he kept in it which says that he went back a couple of days later and found it, on the ground, battered but still almost intact. We still have it! So its all starting to fall into place.

    My dad and I plan on making a trip to Warwickshire to visit the museum, it looks like a very interesting place. My dad has also asked me to tell you how grateful he is for all the information you have given us. I think it means a lot to him to find out about his father during the war. We really to appreciate it.

    Thanks again
    Emma
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    There's quite a few diaries belonging to the 3 Hussars held at the National Archives that will shed some light on what D Sqn was doing and being the Eveleigh was an officer he should get plenty of mentions too:

    WO 166/1376 ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS: 3 King's Own Hussars.1939 Sept.-Nov.

    WO 169/216 3 King's Own Hussars1940 Sept.- Dec.

    WO 169/1385 3 King's Own Hussars 1941 Jan.- Mar., May-Dec.

    WO 169/4483 3 King's Own Hussars 1942 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 169/9315 3 King's Own Hussars 1943 Jan.-Dec.

    WO 169/15966 3 King's Own Hussars 1944 Feb., Mar.

    WO 169/19921 3 King's Own Hussars 1945 Jan.- June

    WO 169/19922 3 King's Own Hussars 1945 July - Dec.

    WO 169/23148 3 King's Own Hussars 1946 Jan.- June

    WO 170/816 3rd Kings Own Hussars. War Diaries for February and March 1944 reported missing, July 2009 1944 Jan - Dec
     
  11. emmaevel

    emmaevel Junior Member

    Emma,
    Any relation to Mike Eveleigh RAF.

    Hello,

    Not that i know of, he had a brother Geoff in the RAF, but thats all.

    Thanks
    Emma
     
  12. fessey_3rdhussars

    fessey_3rdhussars Junior Member

    G'day Emma
    My father was in b squadron 3rd Hussars 1941-49 and spoke of your grandfather along with others. I have tried to track down members of b squadron but not really had any luck so you can imagine my excitement when I saw your grandfathers name. I would be very interested to hear how you and your dad have got on with your research. regards Mark
     
  13. peveleigh

    peveleigh Junior Member

    Fessy Hi. I am trying to help Emma (niece) research Dad's time commanding B sqn 3 KOH. (He transferred from 17/21L in 1942 when he volunteered for the "African reserve pool and (apparently) played some poker with Lt Col Sir Peter Farquhar {commanding 3KOH) in Cairo: following which Sir Peter scooped him up! - initially to be 2ic B Sqn.) I have so far gathered a mumber of details - principally from Col Dan Read who was a troop leader in B Sqn at that time so will send you details when I have a sensible "bundle"! Have you tried the old Comrades Forum for the Queen's Own Hussars. If its anything like my regiment's "Old mates" forum, you will certainly flush out a few comments - Good luck.
     
  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Pete, Emma,

    There are quite a number of references to your father / grandfather in John Horsfall's very excellent book "Fling your Banner to the Wind" recounting B Squadron, 3 Hussars' support to 2 London Irish Rifles (2 LIR) in their advance from the Liri Valley towards Trasimeno Lake. The 3rd Hussars supported 2 LIR and the rest of 38 (Irish) Brigade from 27th May 1944 to 19th June 1944.

    During the initial part of that advance, Mike Eveleigh is quoted by Lt-Col Horsfall as describing the area from Ceprano to Ripi as the "worst tank country he had ever seen" - and B Squadron had to use their tanks as bulldozers to flatten out banks and water courses. They were then able to join 2 LIR in their attack on the village of San Giovanni.

    Richard
     
  15. peveleigh

    peveleigh Junior Member

    Richard, Thank you very much for this, I have a lot to do with the "lateral" referencing. Dad attributed his "hammer toes" to the fact that despite being "armoured" he walked most of the way up Italy - so I can see where your comments make absolute sense!
     
  16. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    My father similarly "walked" the routes, but I guess he was trained to do so - serving with 2 LIR throughout 1943, 44 and 45.

    John Horsfall describes your father as "our gallant cavalry commander", and further quotes him saying : "I would have you know that we were trained for the desert".

    Richard
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  18. peveleigh

    peveleigh Junior Member

    Andy, many thanks for the above, actually downloaded it from the Medals office last night PM on the way!
    Richard - again many thanks for the tit bit. I must get the 2 regimental histories of 3KOH / QOH and also John Horsfall's book to get a better understanding. but it is fairly clear that 3 KOH seem to have been dispersed in Sqn (or smaller) packets to support other Bn / Regts - in which case it would be the responsibility of the parent Unit to make any award recommendations - at least that was the drill in Northern Ireland!
     
  19. Dee Clark

    Dee Clark Member

    Hi, I have been reading your old posts and wondered if during your enquiries you’d ever come across any information mentioning a Sgt George J. Good? He was in the 3rd Kings Own and was killed on 2nd November 1942. His service number is 553206. I am particularly trying to find a photo as all my Grandmothers effects were destroyed in a fire and we have never seen a photo of him. I had the pleasure of attending a reunion in Norfolk in 2007 and met Major Richard Heseltine. He kindly sent me a copy of his book in which he mentions George Good and there is a photo of 2nd Troop, A squadron but he couldn’t be 100% sure it was George Good. Sadly the other man in the photo had recently passed away. Anything you might have could be a help. Thank you Dee
     
  20. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    He is mentioned in the casualty lists:-
    553206 GOOD Cpl G, 3rd Hussars was reported wounded on 11 Dec 1940. Later he was posted missing on 2 Nov 1942 and subsequently reported KIA.

    Casualty Details | CWGC

    If you are interested in following his service then his official records are the only way to go, unfortunately there will be a long wait of around 12 moths at the last count. Unlikely to contain a photo.

    Get a copy of military service records
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021

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