Operation Torch's First Casualty - Lieutenant Villis

Yesterday was the 80th anniversary of the start of Operation TORCH and the British landings at Algiers that morning by 11th Infantry Brigade of the 78th Infantry Division.

This operation and the Tunisian Campaign are often almost completely forgotten so it is worthwhile recalling that soldiers, sailors and air force personnel from several Allied nations ended their days between November 8th and May 1943.

The first Allied serviceman to die in this campaign was Lieutenant T J Villis of the 5th Northamptonshire Regiment on beach Apples White near Algiers. Villis was very keen to claim the title of the first Allied soldier ashore that day so keen that he jumped off his landing craft before it had properly grounded was struck by the landing craft and disappeared under it then drowned. He thus claimed his place in history though not the one he might have wanted.

This piece of tragic history was recorded in the war diary of the 5th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment for that day which I have attached.

Over the next 7 months I plan to try and raise awareness of the operations of the First Army in Tunisia which perhaps by design or perhaps by accident has sadly been neglected by the media and historians.

It will be important to recall that the First Army was made up not only of British, American but also French troops and supported by Air and Naval forces. Among them were officers and men from Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

We shall remember them.

 

Instructor 6

Thanks for the post.

Often thought of as the forgotten army, but I assure you that they are not forgotten on this forum.

Quite a few members have relatives who were in the 78th Division, a few whose relatives were in 56th Reconnaissance regiment and landed on the beaches in Algiers.

Never forgotten and always in our thoughts.

Lesley

 

Lt. T.P.L. VILLIS (3rd Row 1st Left)


Tatler 7th January 1942

 

Guy

Very many thanks for posting this photograph as I have never seen one of Villis before or of the Battalions officers in 1942.
It helps bring the history that I have written about alive and that is always a special thing.


Best Regards

Instructor 6

 

DBF

My thanks for your kind post it is useful to know where he is buried it was not something I learned at the time I was writing about him originally. Sad that the many graves at the cemetery are now quite difficult to visit.


Instructor 6.

 

I'm on board... let's do it.
Operation Torch - IWM photos

 

Hello, My Grandfather was in 134 Coy Pioneers. Joined in April 1941. He landed as part of Operation Torch at Oran 8 Nov 1942, went on to Philipville 27 Nov 42, before going on to Gibraltar on Feb 43. He was then recalled Nov 43 to UK, as my Grandmother was dying. My mother was 8. I have his personal pocket diary from 1942/43, which records his movements (many redacted) but am able to see feintly, some of his words. Many of the words are abbreviations, shorthand etc which I am desperately keen to understand along with his role in Operation Torch. Are there any War diaries from this period?? So little about Operation Torch from the UK perspective. Would love to learn more ...Thank you, Elizabeth

 

Hi

Thanks for your message I only look at the forum every 3-4 weeks so it is lucky that I did today. The National Archives (NA) reference for the war diary for 134 Pioneer Company according to the records I have (do check with the NA) is WO (which stands for War Office) 175/1155.

In terms of learning about the British landings during Torch which took place at Algiers 2 books come to mind - David Rolf The Bloody Road to Tunis and of course Geoffrey Blaxland The Plain Cook and the Showman. However according to your message your grandfather landed at Oran which was the landing area of CENTER Task Force made up primarily of units from the US 1st Armoured and 1st Infantry Division who landed at Mersa bou Zedjar and Les Andoulses west of Oran and Arzew east of Oran.

These details are from the official US history by G Howe called North west Africa - Seizing the initiative in the west. If you put that title into google you should access the excellent US Army Center of Military History site and then download the book free. The book will provide details of the US landings.

I am not clear why a British Pioneer unit would land at Oran with a US army task force but the war diary may explain its role. It is probable that the company was there to unload supplies after Oran harbour had been captured.

Hope this helps

Instructor 6

 

Thank you so much. I will look at the book you recommend. Yes, the details have been taken from my Grandads service record and backed up by the diary. I am very grateful to you for this information, Kind regards Elizabeth

 

Ashford