Australian Captain in British 7th RTR RAC killed 21/5/1940 St Omer

Geoff,

The role of the 7RTR and 4RTR was to support an attack by the 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division (and other supporting arms) in what became known as the Arras Counter-Attack, west and south of Arras, on the 21 May 1940.

151st Infantry Brigade was made up of three battalions, 6th, 8th and 9th Durham Light Infantry. The 9DLI was in reserve, with the attack being made in two columns; 6DLI on the left and 8DLI on the right. 7RTR was in the van of 8DLI in the right hand column.

Neither the 7RTR or 4RTR tanks kept in very good contact with the DLI (which is what would have been expected of a supporting arm) and this was not helped by problems with their radio communications. That said, they shot up a significant amount of soft targets causing very heavy casualties amongst the German Infantry.

As Andy mentions at Message #9, the attack failed to meet its ‘hard’ objectives. This is not surprising given that the French, who were to simultaneously attack south towards Amiens and north towards the Somme, did not turn up; albeit the 3ieme Division Legere Mecanique who were protecting the 8DLI flank with their Samua tanks did show and gave a good account of themselves.

Whereas the left hand column moved furthest and captured circa 400 German prisoners, the right hand column caused the Germans most concern; as it cut across Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division’s lines of communication.

Rommel personally intervened in the action in order to restore matters and in so doing his aide, Lieutenant Most, was shot and killed; he had been standing only a few yards from the General at the time.

The action shook the German High Command, a lot of whom thought the lead Panzers were over-extended and is often quoted as a significant factor in the German ‘halt’ order, which enabled so many British and Allied troops to evacuate back to the UK.

Most of my reading material concentrates on 50 Div, but: DUNKIRK Fight To The Last Man, Hugh Sebag- Montefiore, Penguin 2007, Chapter 12, devotes 14 pages to the Counter-Attack and 6 of those to the 7RTR action. No mention of Capt. Kauter though.


Steve.

 

Thanks Steve and Andy - Great Info!

 

Interesting to see confirmation that 1 Army Tk Bde had its own services: the RASC Coy, the Fd Amb and RAOC workshops as mentioned in the orders.

 

I am researching my local War Memorial (Brompton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire) and noted that Sidney J Temple looks like he died in the 21st May action.
http://img683.imageshack.us/i/memorial30082bromptonon.jpg

TEMPLE SYDNEY JAMES
United Kingdom Serjeant Royal Tank Regiment R.A.C. 7th Age: 30 Date of Death: 21/05/1940 Service No: 7560229 A.1.
beaurainscom

The info in this thread is fantastic. Just wanted to say thanks to all !!

 

Deleted

 

Thanks for the detailed info Londonnik.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Deleted

 

Great report Nick - Thank you.

Cheers

Geoff

 

I stumbled upon this thread whilst researching my Grandfather Captain Herman Joseph Kauter. This has made incredibly interesting reading for our family, as so little was known regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Thank you all so much! Isn't the internet a great tool....

 

Just found this thread, interesting guy, I see he was a graduate from Duntroon, so has anyone found out why he transfered to the British Army? I would suggest he probably went over to train on tanks & decided to stay.

There are a number of Kauters listed with WW2 service in the ANA but I also found a reference to him on the WW1 service file of "MIENI (William Joseph) : Service Number - 1248 : Place of Birth - Gilgandra NSW : Place of Enlistment - Liverpool NSW : Next of Kin - (Friend) KAUTER Herman Joseph".

Just looked up his BDM & see he was born in Paddington (Sydney). Looks like a brother/cousin got a DFC with the RAAF.


Regards

Simon

 

Not much to add, except that for a country boy from NSW; he certainly married well:

cheers


Dave

PS - Simon, I would hazard a guess that the friend listed on the WW1 service file was this fellow's father - also Herman Kauter

 

I stumbled upon this thread whilst researching my Grandfather Captain Herman Joseph Kauter. This has made incredibly interesting reading for our family, as so little was known regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Thank you all so much! Isn't the internet a great tool....

Hi Cecelia,

Glad to see that you found this thread of your Grandfather and just before Remembrance Day.

Happy to see that it has provided you with some long awaited detail on how he gave his life.

The posters will be as pleased as you and your family that the information found its way home.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Deleted

 

I stumbled upon this thread whilst researching my Grandfather Captain Herman Joseph Kauter. This has made incredibly interesting reading for our family, as so little was known regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Thank you all so much! Isn't the internet a great tool....

Hello and welcome to the forum. Do you have any other info on your garndfather that you could add? Any pics of him in uniform etc?

Regards
Andy

 

Great Post Simon, I have an idea that could explain his transfer:

If H J Kauter was at Duntroon in 1931 he may have been influenced by the then Commandant of the College - Lieutenant Colonel D.H Pratt DSO, MC (1931)who was was a British officer serving on exchange with the Australian Army. He is the only non-Australian officer to serve in the role as commandant of Duntroon (quote from the dreaded Wikipedia).
Pratt went on to command 1st Army Tank Brigade in France 1940 - it would be interesting to think the two men had met before...
1931 could be too early, when was H J born?

best regards,

Londonnik

I tracked him (presuming it is him) to this from the NSW BDM Index:

(father) (Mother) (Hospital)

17626/1909 KAUTER HERMAN J HERMAN IDA PADDINGTON

I think you have hit it there, if born in 1909, then just the right age.




Regards

Simon

 

deleted

 

... bringing this one back to the surface as part of updating research on the Hailsham War Memorial, LondonNik made reference to Kauter probably having met Lt Col DH Pratt DSO, MC during 1931 when Pratt was Commandant of Duntroon

There is currently an ongoing project to produce a Memorial to the players of Hailsham Town FC in WW1 and WW2.
Obviously it's unlikely that Kauter played English football, I simply chose an unusual Name to start with and found this wealth of information.

From spidge's enquiry, this seems to sum up what has been found:
Through my research into Australians who died in allied Air Forces I came across this lad however he was a Captain in the 7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment RAC.

Would anyone have any idea what his Battalion would have been doing on that day. I read of the British counter attack on the 21st of May 1940 (his DoD) near Arras however that is 80-90kms from St Omer where he is buried.

A British counter attack is launched near Arras with armoured and infantry support against Rommel's 7th Panzer Division, throwing it off balance. A similar attack in the south by a French armoured brigade under General de Gaulle fails after initial success. The French Ninth Army is surrounded and destroyed, its commander, General Giraud, taken prisoner.

The role of 7 RTR and 4 RTR was to support an attack by the 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division (and other supporting arms) in what became known as the Arras Counter-Attack, west and south of Arras, on the 21 May 1940. 151st Infantry Brigade was made up of three battalions, 6th, 8th and 9th Durham Light Infantry. The 9DLI was in reserve, with the attack being made in two columns; 6 DLI on the left and 8 DLI on the right. 7 RTR was in the van of 8 DLI in the right hand column. Neither 7 RTR nor 4 RTR tanks kept in very good contact with the DLI (which is what would have been expected of a supporting arm) and this was not helped by problems with their radio communications. That said, they shot up a significant amount of soft targets causing very heavy casualties amongst the German Infantry.

The attack failed to meet its ‘hard’ objectives. This is not surprising given that the French, who were to simultaneously attack south towards Amiens and north towards the Somme, did not turn up; albeit the 3ieme Division Legere Mecanique who were protecting the 8 DLI flank with their Samua tanks did show and gave a good account of themselves. Whereas the left hand column moved furthest and captured circa 400 German prisoners, the right hand column caused the Germans most concern; as it cut across Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division’s lines of communication. Rommel personally intervened in the action in order to restore matters and in so doing his aide, Lieutenant Most, was shot and killed; he had been standing only a few yards from the General at the time. The action shook the German High Command, a lot of whom thought the lead Panzers were over-extended and is often quoted as a significant factor in the German ‘halt’ order, which enabled so many British and Allied troops to evacuate back to the UK.

There is a whole section in "After the Battle - Blitzkreig in the West" on Arras around the 21st May and a few pictures of destroyed Matilda II tanks belonging to 7 RTR called 'Good Luck' T6751 and two burning burning Matilda tanks called 'Granton' and 'Gloucester'. They were part of Frankforce at this time. The German operation was called 'Sichelschnitt' which was a push South of Arras to reach the coast which they did at Noyelles. Frankforce was attacking the right flank of this operation attacking 15 Armee Korps. The attack failed and achieved more of a psychological success than a physical one and Guderian later said it made, 'A considerable impression on the staff at Gruppe von Kleist'. Meanwhile, 7 RTR continued to press their attack. At about 15.00 hours the RHQ tanks ran on to an anti-tank and field gun position, and both Col Heyland and his Adjutant, Captain Kauter, were killed. There was a RAMC unit at St. Omer and St. Omer was definitely used by the Germans for PoW casualties after the area was taken by the Germans.

Interestingly there is also a picture of Major Gerald Hedderwick (Grave stone), 7 RTR. He was reported missing in action and has 'Believed To Be' engraved on top of the headstone.

HQ 7RTR lead the 7th battalion (less A Coy Mk II tanks who were detailed to support 4RTR).
H J Kauter was probably mounted in an Infantry Tank Mk II 'Matilda' tank - the HQ Company had 2 of these - 1 for the CO (Lt Col Hector Heyland) and one for the Adjutant. The Arras action was dogged by radio problems, mostly with the older Infantry Tanks Mk I - of which 7RTR had 27 at the start of the campaign - either because the tanks had not had time to net their sets correctly, or the sets had drifted off-net, or perhaps the atmospheric conditions were unsuitable, and sometimes enemy action removed or damaged radio equipment - the upshot was that much of the business of command was undertaken by some of the HQ Company's 4 light tanks.
The COs tank was disabled and Lt Col Heyland was killed whilst evacuating the tank, the Adjutant was also killed outside his tank - possibly whilst directing the attack in person. Where the tanks were knocked out is not clear, but is almost certainly in the open country West of Arras, possibly towards Wailly, Ficheux or Mercatel.

The 7th Bn suffered more casualties amongst its senior officers than the 4th Bn, losing the CO killed, Adjutant killed, Commander A Coy killed, Commander B Coy captured. Additionally the Commander D Coy was wounded and several other officers were killed or captured. Despite these losses, 7th Bn continued to give a good account of itself and fought again on the 23rd May at Souchez and Carency. Interestingly, although an Infantry Tank Battalion equipped with Infantry Tanks, the 7th never fought in the way that it had been trained or in the way Infantry Tanks had been designed to fight - i.e. alongside infantry.

There is a personal account of the battle in the book from Sergeant T. Hepple of B Company, 7 RTR. Both Captain Kauter and Trooper McGillivray were killed on the extreme west flank of the British part of the Arras Counter-attack on 21st May 1940, in open country to the west of Belloy Farm (which is on the high ground between Wailly and Warlus), possibly by anti tank Artillery of the 7.Panzer division who were emplaced around the farm and woods. Their tank bore witness to the heavy fighting that had taken place, with numerous hits of various calibres. Both bodies were found outside the tank, and it is possible that the rest of the crew escaped - however they may also have perished inside their tank. The local people buried them where they fell shortly after the battle. The bodies were later moved and reburied in the cemetery at the village of RIVIERE in 1941, and, later still reburied at the Commonwealth Cemetery of Longuenesse, St Omer.

Herman Joseph Kauter. Service number: 50227. Rank: Captain
Unit: 7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
Date of death: 21 May 1940. Place of death: France. Cause of death: Killed in action
Cemetery or memorial details: LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.
Plot 8. Row B. Grave 6.
Notes: Served with the UK Forces. Son of Herman and Ida Kauter; husband of Elizabeth Audrey Kauter, of Eastbourne, Sussex.
Of Australia.

Capt.H.J Kauter - listed as "missing" at Ecurie/Vimy on 22nd May.
London Gazette: Military Secretary to HE the Governor of Bihar Lt HJ Kauter RTC 16th Feb 1938

Royal Tank Corps. 2nd Lt H J Kauter to be Lieutenant effective 31st July with seniority as from 9th June 1932.
Lt. H. J. Kauter is seconded, whilst holding the appointment of A.D.C. to the Governor., Bihar and Orissa. States effective 24th Nov. 1935.

WORLD WAR 1939-45.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF GRADUATES OF THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, DUNTROON, NSW WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
.................................
KAUTER. CAPT. H.J.

His widow joined the ATS, date of her commission to 2nd Sub. 18th Dec 1941. Elizabeth Audrey KAUTER (221955)

There are a number of Kauters listed with WW2 service in the ANA but I also found a reference to him on the WW1 service file of "MIENI (William Joseph) : Service Number - 1248 : Place of Birth - Gilgandra NSW : Place of Enlistment - Liverpool NSW : Next of Kin - (Friend) KAUTER Herman Joseph". He was born in Paddington (Sydney). Looks like a relation got a DFC with the RAAF in WW2. (There are 9 WW2 Army references to Kauter, all in NSW region, nonewith same parents - ties in with Engagement announcement as an only son)

The engagement is announced between Herman Joseph Kauter, the Royal Tank Corps, only son of Mr & Mrs H J Kauter of Bathurst NSW and Elizabeth Audrey, younger daughter of Sir James Sifton KCSI, KCSE, ICS and Lady Sifton of Governement House, Ranchi, India.

H J Kauter was at Duntroon in 1931 he may have been influenced by the then Commandant of the College - Lieutenant Colonel D.H Pratt DSO, MC (1931) who was was a British officer serving on exchange with the Australian Army. He is the only non-Australian officer to serve in the role as commandant of Duntroon
Pratt went on to command 1st Army Tank Brigade in France 1940 - it would be interesting to think the two men had met before in 1931. Kauter being born in 1909 that makes it more than likely.

In the 7 RTR War Diary entries for 21 May 1940, there is the following passage "Bn moved started during afternoon - Route - AUCHY - GARVIN - LENS - VIMY. General Martel wanted dawn attack on 21/22 but owing to dilatory appearance of Brigadier Pratt (he arrived VIMY about 1600 hrs) this had to be abandoned".... not very flattering about a senior officer during a time of intense German activity in a fluid, constantly changing situation.

Brigadier Douglas H Pratt was the unit commander of 7 RTR which landed in France only 2 days before the German Blitzkreig commenced on 10 May. 7 RTR had 23 Matilda II's; 27 Matilda I's and 7 light tanks. (Source: Armoured Warfare and the Fall of France: Rare photographs from Wartime Archives by Anthony Tucker-Jones e-book p40).

I hope no one minds this summation of all the earlier posts.

I don't understand the remarks in LondonNik's final post that "Kauter's driver hit the bus bar, the tail dipped and that was the last we saw of Joe Kauter."

 

Very good sleuthing Kevin.- Thank you.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Kevin and Spidge,

I don't normally research WW2 Australians but Kauter's story is interesting.

There is a story available on Trove from the National Advocate (Bathurst) of 26th August 1940 reporting him as missing (months after the event).

Unfortunately it is very difficult to read and looks like the transcriber has had some problems deciphering it. Regardless it mentions that he was schooled in Bathurst and that he was selected in 1929(?) for a position with the British army. It mentions that he was in India in Quetta during an earthquake, which would be 1935. It would be nice to get a clearer version of this story.

Link is here-

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160644617?searchTerm=kauter&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom=1940-01-01|||dateTo=1940-12-30|||l-advcategory=Article|||l-advcategory=Family+Notices|||l-word=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||l-illustrated=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||sortby

There is also an image of him here with Tank Regiment collar badges -

http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/longuenessestomer.htm

An interesting man. Would he have been one of Australia's first casualties of WW2?

Scott

 

How odd is the internet? I've been looking at this chap today in my books etc and log on here and someone has posted on his thread.