This month we see the 80th anniversary of the final battles to capture Tunis and defeat the Axis forces in Tunisia and specifically of the frequently overlooked battles that took place during Operation SWEEP and then the rather better known Operation VULCAN. Operation SWEEP was a divisional battle conducted by the 78th Infantry Division commencing on the night of the 6/7th April in the hills north of the small village of Oued Zarga which many people have called the Battle of the Peaks. This was the first battle where the whole Battle-Axe division operated as a complete formation under the command of Major General Vvyan Everlegh. Everlegh was a tough, ambitious 45 year old GOC who though only a Major in 1937 rose rapidly with the outbreak of war to command of the 78th by 1942. It was Everlegh who carefully planned the attack into the isolated and difficult area of over 20 1500 to 2,000 foot jebels which occupied an area some 20 miles by 20 miles north of the road from Oued Zarga to Medjez El Bab. Over a 3 week period the 78th Division's 3 brigades and 9 infantry battalion reinforced with other units and helped by mules and Churchill tanks sweated and fought their way from one peak to another. Some jebels feel easily, whereas on other peaks, infantry from Kent, Lancashire, the Highlands of Scotland, Northamptonshire and from both north and south of the border in Ireland had to fight very hard to force the Germans to release their grip. Without this operation and the sacrifice of the officers and men of the division it would not have been possible to launch Operations VULCAN and then STRIKE which led to the surrender of some 250,000 Axis troops. The 78th Division also took part in VULCAN but it is also important to mention the soldiers of the 1st, 4th and 46th Infantry Division and the 1st and 6th Armoured Divisions who played a key part in VULCAN. On the 80th anniversary it is therefore appropriate to remember the men of the division who conducted this complex and difficult operation many of whom now lie in CWGC cemeteries at Beja, Oued Zarga and Medjez El Bab. See photographs
Excellent - yes, it's certainly a good time to pause and reflect. It's amazing (but, on reflection, probably not that surprising) the number of men and women that you can meet or speak to who are 80 years of age this year and who didn't ever meet their fathers.. perhaps those young lads in the 1st Army in Tunisia are buried at Thibar, Medjez, Beja, Oued Zarga or Massicault. I spend some of my spare time at the moment perusing some of the sets of photos on the IWM site - a couple here from this week in April 1943, one of which was taken by a young Lieutenant Whicker on 12th April 1943. ------------------------------------------------------ (@ IWM NA 1939) - Sgt. Weber. "Three miles south of Chaouach the forward H.Q.Coy., of the 5th Northants were digging in at their newly won positions. Here are Bren gunners and riflemen on the alert for any signs of the enemy from the mountains to the North, where Chaouach is seen with its church tower in a most commanding position of the valley." AFTERMATH OF THE FIRST ARMY ATTACK ON TOUKABEUR AND CHAOUACH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (© IWM NA 1945 - Sgt. Weber) "This shows the perilous position of Chaouach on the cliff top overlooking the valley with Medjez-el-Bab in the distance to the left of the picture." AFTERMATH OF THE FIRST ARMY ATTACK ON TOUKABEUR AND CHAOUACH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (© IWM NA 1978 - Lieut. Whicker) "The Lancashire Fusiliers positions forward of Chaouach are in country so mountainous that even a Bren carrier cannot reach them so the ever-improvising Infantry fall back on mules and horses. In this picture two mules are taking a load of water in 'jerricans' to the forward troops. The jerrican is the new type petrol container. In the background is the recently captured village of Chaouach with its Minaret standing out against a backcloth of mountains." WITH THE FIRST ARMY (VARIOUS)
Hi Instructor6, I have volunteered to see what I can find out about a neighbour's family member, lost during WW2. I'm rather confused and wonder if the information I have found is misleading? Are you able to help, or anyone else? 5891531 Private Thomas James Geary B.Jan 1923 d.7th April 1943 I found a reference to him dying in Thessaly, Greece, but this seems to be an error. As he is buried : Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, it seems that he would have been involved and fell as part of Operation Sweep. Any pointers would be welcome, TIA Paul
Paul, If you search using "northamptonshire" + "tunisia" site:ww2talk.com there are a number of threads which on a quick look relate to Tunisia. I checked to confirm Geary and the service number have not appeared here before.
Very interesting thread. Thank you for posting. I will be able to contribute a tad as soon as my reading queue reaches Tunisia, as Battle of the Peaks and Long Stop Hill, by Ian Mitchell, is included in it.
78 Division Operation Order for Sweep can be found here, courtesy of Recce_Mitch: resized_P1990628.jpg | WW2Talk
Paul Well if I get this right Private Thomas Geary served in the 5th Northants and was from Devon according to the CWGC records. The records indicate that he was killed on the 7th April so it is very likely that this would have been during the battalions attack to seize Jebel Dourat and Point 343 on starting on the night of the 6/7th April and continuing during the 7th. Jebel DOURAT and Pt 343 were part of the first line of German defences just north of the Oued Zarga - Medjez road. I have attached the war diary of the 5th Northants for the 6-7th April that indicates that the battalion lost 1 officer and 8 other ranks during that period. I am afraid I cant say which part of the battalion he was in within any certainty but if I had to guess I would say he was either a) part of the Medium Machine gun platoon of the Battalion or possibly the Carrier Platoon. b) Part of B Company or c) part of C Company. All of these suffered casualties and 3 medals were awarded to those evacuating casualties. If pushed I would say he was part of the MMG platoon. Hope this all helps Instructor 6
