British 151st Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II
British Army
formation. Part of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
.
, it was involved in the only counter attack against the German forces in 1940, the attack at Arras.
A serious situation had developed to the South where the German spearheads had had pierced the Péronne
– Cambrai
gap and were threatening Boulogne
and Calais
, cutting the B. E. F.s lines of Communication and separating it from the main French Armies. A plan by General Weygand to close this gap included Frank Force consisting of the 5th and 50th Divisions and the 1st Army Tank Brigade. The British 5th Infantry Division
was to hold the line of the river Scarpe to the East of Arras, while the other two formations attacked to the South of that city. During the afternoon of 21 May, the attack by the 50th Division and the 1st Tank Brigade was seen progressing South from Arras. This was to be the only large scale attack mounted by the B. E. F. during the campaign. The attack was supposed to be manned by two infantry divisions, comprising about 15,000 men. It was ultimately executed by just two infantry battalions, the 6th & 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry
supporting the 4th & 7th Royal Tank Regiment
, totalling around 2,000 men, and reinforced by 74 tanks. The infantry battalions were split into two columns for the attack, which took place on 21 May. The right column initially made rapid progress, taking a number of German prisoners, but they soon ran into German infantry and SS, backed by air support, and took heavy losses.
The left column also enjoyed early success before running into opposition from the infantry units of Erwin Rommel
's 7th Panzer Division. French cover enabled British troops to withdraw to their former positions that night. Frankforce was over, and the next day the Germans regrouped and continued their advance. Frankforce took around 400 German prisoners and inflicted a similar number of casualties, as well as destroying a number of tanks. The operation had punched far beyond its weight - the attack was so fierce that 7th Panzer Division believed it had been attacked by five infantry divisions. The attack also made the German commanders nervous, and it may have been one of the factors for the surprise German halt on 24 May, that gave the BEF the slimmest of opportunities to begin evacuation from Dunkirk. Luckily most of the Brigade and Division were fortunate enough to get out at Dunkirk, but had to leave all its equipment behind. On returning home it 151st Infantry Brigade and the 150th Infantry Brigade
were joined by the 69th Infantry Brigade
, from the now disbanded 23rd (Northumbrian) Division, to complete 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and become part of IIX Corps, British Home Forces. It remained in Britain until 22 April 1941, when it was sent to North Africa
. British home forces.
The "Gazala Line" was a series of occupied "boxes" each of brigade strength set out across the desert with minefields and wire watched by regular patrols between the boxes. The Free French were to the south at the Bir Hakeim box. The line was not equally staffed with a greater number of troops covering the coast leaving the south less protected.
By late May Rommel was ready. Facing him on the Gazala defences were 1st South African Division, nearest the coast, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (on their left) and 1st Free French Brigade
furthest left at Bir Hakeim. The British 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions waited behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force while 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and Indian 5th Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve Indian 4th Infantry Division) were held in reserve.
The Brigade position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map (right), it was during this battle that their sister brigade the 150th Infantry Brigade was destroyed in The Cauldron by the Afrika Korps
and never reformed. The 151st Brigade and the remaining units of 50th Northumbrian Division had to escape by attacking west througth the enemy lines then sweeping back east to the south of the enemy forces, eventually they reached the El Alamein
line by the 1 July.
, 28 years old private
in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valiant actons in the face of the enemy on 27 June 1942 south of Mersa Matruh, Egypt
.
The Battle of El Alamein is usually divided into five phases, consisting of the break-in (23–24 October), the crumbling (24– 25 October), the counter (26–28 October), Operation Supercharge (1–2 November) and the breakout (3–7 November). No name is given to the period from 29 to 30 October when the battle was at a standstill.
In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
, 69th Infantry Brigade and 50th (Northumbrian) Division were initially deployed in the south (see map), where it was to attack the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore, supported by elements of the British 7th Armoured Division. Since the Division was understrength, owing to the loss of the 150th infantry Brigade, the 1st Free French Brigade
and 1st Greek Infantry Brigade were attached to it for the battle. It was then transferred north to take part in Operation Supercharge.
On 19 March 1943 XXX Corps of the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery now part of 18th Army Group, assaulted the Mareth Line
. The 69th Infantry Brigade part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, with difficulty, penetrated the Italian held line near Zarat
. The terrain and heavy rain, however, prevented deployment of tanks and anti-tank guns and the 15th Panzer Division's counter-attack on 22 March recaptured much of the bridgehead.
Soon after, XXX Corps prepared a new attack towards Tallouf. The 4th Indian Infantry Division was detailed to make a night attack on 23 March around the left-hand end of the Line. This would coincide with the wide "left hook" manoeuver Montgomery was planning.
The division fought in Tunisia
, where Montgomery launched his major attack, Operation Pugilist
, against the Mareth Line
in the night of 19/20 March 1943. Elements of the British 50th Infantry Division penetrated the line and established a bridgehead west of Zarat on 20/21 March, but a determined counterattack by 15th Panzer Division destroyed the pocket and established the line once again during 22 March.
, was destroyed.
"When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors," recalled British infantryman Bill Cheall, who had just seen his section leader shot down by a San Marco Marine. "It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal."
German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim later said of the San Marco Marines fighting abilities in Tunisia in 1943, that they were "the best soldiers I ever commanded".
Eighth Army's attack along the eastern coast of Tunisia,lead eventually to the surrender of Axis forces in Africa. 250,000 men were taken prisoner, a number equal to that at Stalingrad.
After Tunisia
the Brigade still part of 50th Northumbrian Division was involved in the Sicily
landings of 1943,Eighth Army, The latter was to operate in the eastern sector, and had as its objectives the port of Syracuse
and the airfield at Pachino
. Its XIII Corps
, (which included 50th (Northumbrian) Division), was to land south of Cap Murro Di Porco with 5th Division on a two-brigade front, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on a one-brigade front. XXX Corps, would operate on three sides of Passero, where the British 231st Infantry Brigade
, who had joind the Division to replace the destroyed 150th Infantry Brigadewould advance on a one brigade front. When it landed at Avola their objective was the hills above the landing beaches.
After Sicily the Brigade and Division was then recalled from the 8th Army
in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe
On 19 October 1943 the Brigade as part of 50 Northumbrian Division was withdrawn to Britain for reforming and training before landing on Gold Beach
on D-Day
, 6 June 1944, together with the 151st Infantry Brigade
,the 231st Infantry Brigade
(previously an independent unit formed from regular troops stationed on Malta
) permanently attached to the Division, and the 56th Infantry Brigade temporarily attached.
and Ver-sur-Mer
and then head south towards Route Nationale 13 linking Caen
with Bayeux
.
The first wave is made of the 231st Infantry and 69th Infantry Brigades. Once the initial assault is over and the beachhead established, the follow-up brigades the 56th and 151st will push inland to the south-west towards RN 13 supported by the tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade
.
To the west, the 47 Royal Marine Commando's mission is to capture Port-en-Bessin and link-up with U.S. forces landed on Omaha Beach
.
The 50th Infantry Division was also meet up with Canadian troops coming from Juno Beach
.
codename for the centre invasion beach during the World War II
Allied
invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944. It lay between Omaha Beach
and Juno Beach
, was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors. From West to East they were How, Item, Jig, and King.
The beach was assaulted in multiple brigades of the 50th Northumbrian Division, on the West was the 231st Brigade
, followed by the 56th Brigade
, attached to this was a regiment of DD tank
s from The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the West were; the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment
. On the East 69th Brigade
, followed by 151st Brigade
, again a regiment of DD tanks was attached, they were from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the East were; the 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
, and the 6th Battalion The Green Howards
. Their primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux
, the Caen
-Bayeux
road, and the port of Arromanches
with the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach
to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach
to the East. The 716th Static Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant
Wilhelm Richter, and elements of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division
commanded by Generalleutnant
Dietrich Kraiss
, defended the Channel coast for the Germans.H-Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours,
military operation in World War II
in the Netherlands and Germany.
17 September 1944 at 13.30hrs: the 50th Division watched as one of the largest air armadas of the war pass overhead. The division's field artillery 74th, 90th and 124th Fd Regts RA and the Mortars of Cheshire Regiment took part in the opening barrage. At 14:35hrs the Sherman’s of the Irish Guards crossed the start line and despite heavy fighting reached Valkenswaard five miles (8 km) south of Eindhoven by dusk.
22 September, 69th Brigade was in trouble when two battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden
, eight miles (13 km) south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with East Yorkshires in the north while the Green Howards where in the south.
23 September: 151st and 231st Brigades were ordered to move north and east of Eindhoven to guard the right flank while 69th Brigade, with 124th Fd Regt RA continued onward towards Nijmegen. On arrival there they came under command of the Guards Armoured Division with the task of capturing Bemmel
, a village north of the river. This the 5th East Yorks achieved on the 25 September, but the Germans were not happy at losing this village, and kept them under heavy artillery fire for days.
26 September: the 6th Green Howards were ordered to occupy Halderen, but ran in to opposition, and failed to capture their objective. The 69th Brigade now attacked in the direction of Halderen continued throughout the 27 September. During the day the East Yorks gained some ground as they were supported by a quick barrage.
The airborne troops farther north at Arnhem had by now been withdrawn. The attempt to reach them by land had clearly failed, and attempts to supply them by air had been only partially successful. Thus the final objective of Operation "Market Garden" Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine defences had not been achieved.
30 September: All of 50th Division was tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and the 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division across the Nederijn.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
formation. Part of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
The 50th Infantry Division was a 1st Line Territorial Army division during the Second World War. The two Ts in its insignia represent the two boundaries to its recruitment area, the rivers Tyne and Tees...
.
Commanders
- Brig. Viscount DowneViscount DowneViscount Downe is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation came in 1675 for William Ducie. However, the title became extinct on his death in 1679. The second creation came in 1680 for John Dawnay. He had earlier represented Yorkshire and Pontefract in the...
- Brig. J. A. BarstowJohn Anderson BarstowJohn Anderson Barstow MC was a British Army officer, the brother of Major General Arthur Edward Barstow and son of Lieut.Col. Thomas Adam Anderson Barstow of the Seaforth Highlanders and Jane Cape Barstow....
- Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine (later C. O. British 7th Armoured DivisionBritish 7th Armoured DivisionThe 7th Armoured Division was a British armoured division which saw service during the Second World War where its exploits made it famous as the Desert Rats....
) - Brig. L. L. Hassall
- Brig. E. C. Cooke-Collis
- Brig. A. G. B. Stanier
Component Units
- 6th Bn, Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
- 8th Bn, The Durham Light Infantry
- 9th Bn, The Durham Light Infantry
- 1st/7th Bn, Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment
History
This brigade was a 1st Line Territorial Army unit. During the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, it was involved in the only counter attack against the German forces in 1940, the attack at Arras.
Attack at Arras
Péronne, Somme
Péronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
– Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
gap and were threatening Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
and Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, cutting the B. E. F.s lines of Communication and separating it from the main French Armies. A plan by General Weygand to close this gap included Frank Force consisting of the 5th and 50th Divisions and the 1st Army Tank Brigade. The British 5th Infantry Division
British 5th Infantry Division
The 5th Infantry Division is a regular army division of the British Army. It was established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, and has been active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the...
was to hold the line of the river Scarpe to the East of Arras, while the other two formations attacked to the South of that city. During the afternoon of 21 May, the attack by the 50th Division and the 1st Tank Brigade was seen progressing South from Arras. This was to be the only large scale attack mounted by the B. E. F. during the campaign. The attack was supposed to be manned by two infantry divisions, comprising about 15,000 men. It was ultimately executed by just two infantry battalions, the 6th & 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
supporting the 4th & 7th Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
, totalling around 2,000 men, and reinforced by 74 tanks. The infantry battalions were split into two columns for the attack, which took place on 21 May. The right column initially made rapid progress, taking a number of German prisoners, but they soon ran into German infantry and SS, backed by air support, and took heavy losses.
The left column also enjoyed early success before running into opposition from the infantry units of Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
's 7th Panzer Division. French cover enabled British troops to withdraw to their former positions that night. Frankforce was over, and the next day the Germans regrouped and continued their advance. Frankforce took around 400 German prisoners and inflicted a similar number of casualties, as well as destroying a number of tanks. The operation had punched far beyond its weight - the attack was so fierce that 7th Panzer Division believed it had been attacked by five infantry divisions. The attack also made the German commanders nervous, and it may have been one of the factors for the surprise German halt on 24 May, that gave the BEF the slimmest of opportunities to begin evacuation from Dunkirk. Luckily most of the Brigade and Division were fortunate enough to get out at Dunkirk, but had to leave all its equipment behind. On returning home it 151st Infantry Brigade and the 150th Infantry Brigade
British 150th Infantry Brigade
This World War II British Army formation was part of the Territorial Army unit the British 50th Infantry Division. It was overrun and forced to surrender during the Battle of Gazala in the North African campaign. For almost 72 hours during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank...
were joined by the 69th Infantry Brigade
British 69th Infantry Brigade
.The 69th Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France served with the British 23rd Division a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded...
, from the now disbanded 23rd (Northumbrian) Division, to complete 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and become part of IIX Corps, British Home Forces. It remained in Britain until 22 April 1941, when it was sent to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. British home forces.
North africa
In April 1941 the Brigade as part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was dispatched to the Middle East first via Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and then into Libya as part of XIII Corps in the British Eighth Army which was one of the best-known formations in World War II.Battle of Gazala
By late May Rommel was ready. Facing him on the Gazala defences were 1st South African Division, nearest the coast, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (on their left) and 1st Free French Brigade
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
furthest left at Bir Hakeim. The British 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions waited behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force while 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and Indian 5th Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve Indian 4th Infantry Division) were held in reserve.
The Brigade position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map (right), it was during this battle that their sister brigade the 150th Infantry Brigade was destroyed in The Cauldron by the Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
and never reformed. The 151st Brigade and the remaining units of 50th Northumbrian Division had to escape by attacking west througth the enemy lines then sweeping back east to the south of the enemy forces, eventually they reached the El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
line by the 1 July.
Adam Wakenshaw VC
Adam Herbert WakenshawAdam Herbert Wakenshaw
Adam Herbert Wakenshaw VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, 28 years old private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valiant actons in the face of the enemy on 27 June 1942 south of Mersa Matruh, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
El Alamein
In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, 69th Infantry Brigade and 50th (Northumbrian) Division were initially deployed in the south (see map), where it was to attack the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore, supported by elements of the British 7th Armoured Division. Since the Division was understrength, owing to the loss of the 150th infantry Brigade, the 1st Free French Brigade
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
and 1st Greek Infantry Brigade were attached to it for the battle. It was then transferred north to take part in Operation Supercharge.
First assault on the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
. The 69th Infantry Brigade part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, with difficulty, penetrated the Italian held line near Zarat
Zarat
Zarat may refer to:*Zarat Xeytəri, Azerbaijan*Zarat, Davachi, Azerbaijan*Zarat, Ismailli, Azerbaijan*Zarat, Shamakhi, Azerbaijan*Zarat, Siazan, Azerbaijan*Zarat, Tunisia...
. The terrain and heavy rain, however, prevented deployment of tanks and anti-tank guns and the 15th Panzer Division's counter-attack on 22 March recaptured much of the bridgehead.
Soon after, XXX Corps prepared a new attack towards Tallouf. The 4th Indian Infantry Division was detailed to make a night attack on 23 March around the left-hand end of the Line. This would coincide with the wide "left hook" manoeuver Montgomery was planning.
The division fought in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, where Montgomery launched his major attack, Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist was an Allied operation in Tunisia during the Second World War. In his General Plan, General Bernard Montgomery stated "...the object of operation Pugilist is to destroy the enemy now opposing Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture Sfax." Pugilist itself...
, against the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
in the night of 19/20 March 1943. Elements of the British 50th Infantry Division penetrated the line and established a bridgehead west of Zarat on 20/21 March, but a determined counterattack by 15th Panzer Division destroyed the pocket and established the line once again during 22 March.
Gabes
Both the Eighth Army and the U.S. II Corps continued their attacks over the next week, and eventually the 8th broke the lines and the DAK was forced to abandon Gabes and retreat to join the other Axis forces far to the north. On the night of 5 April, Wadi Akarit, was attacked and the "Tobruk" Battalion of the Italian San Marco MarinesSan Marco Regiment
The San Marco Regiment , located in Brindisi, are the marines of the Italian Navy. Until the middle of the 1990s the unit was known as the “San Marco Battalion” , until it was expanded beyond battalion size because of the new geopolitical situation after the end of the Cold War and an increasing...
, was destroyed.
"When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors," recalled British infantryman Bill Cheall, who had just seen his section leader shot down by a San Marco Marine. "It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal."
German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim later said of the San Marco Marines fighting abilities in Tunisia in 1943, that they were "the best soldiers I ever commanded".
Eighth Army's attack along the eastern coast of Tunisia,lead eventually to the surrender of Axis forces in Africa. 250,000 men were taken prisoner, a number equal to that at Stalingrad.
Operation Husky, Sicily Invasion
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
the Brigade still part of 50th Northumbrian Division was involved in the Sicily
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
landings of 1943,Eighth Army, The latter was to operate in the eastern sector, and had as its objectives the port of Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
and the airfield at Pachino
Pachino
Pachino is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . The name derives from the Phoenician word pachum which means guardia in Italian ; an alternative origin is the Greek word paxum translating into fertile...
. Its XIII Corps
XIII Corps
XIII Corps can refer to:*XIII Corps *XIII Russian Corps*XIII Corps *XIII Corps , America Civil War Corps*XIII Corps, Imperial German Army Corps...
, (which included 50th (Northumbrian) Division), was to land south of Cap Murro Di Porco with 5th Division on a two-brigade front, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on a one-brigade front. XXX Corps, would operate on three sides of Passero, where the British 231st Infantry Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
, who had joind the Division to replace the destroyed 150th Infantry Brigadewould advance on a one brigade front. When it landed at Avola their objective was the hills above the landing beaches.
After Sicily the Brigade and Division was then recalled from the 8th Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe
Operation Overlord, D-Day
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, 6 June 1944, together with the 151st Infantry Brigade
British 151st Infantry Brigade
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. Part of the British 50th Infantry Division.-Commanders:* Brig. Viscount Downe* Brig. J. A. Barstow* Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine...
,the 231st Infantry Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
(previously an independent unit formed from regular troops stationed on Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
) permanently attached to the Division, and the 56th Infantry Brigade temporarily attached.
Objectives
The 50th (Northumbrian)Infantry Division was to establish a beachhead between ArromanchesArromanches-les-Bains
Arromanches-les-Bains is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France....
and Ver-sur-Mer
Ver-sur-Mer
-References:*...
and then head south towards Route Nationale 13 linking Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
with Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
.
The first wave is made of the 231st Infantry and 69th Infantry Brigades. Once the initial assault is over and the beachhead established, the follow-up brigades the 56th and 151st will push inland to the south-west towards RN 13 supported by the tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade
British 8th Armoured Brigade
The 8 Armoured Brigade was a British Army brigade, formed in August 1941 during the Second World War and active until 1956. The brigade was formed by the re-designation of 6th Cavalry Brigade when the 1st Cavalry Division based in Palestine , converted from a motorised formation to an armoured...
.
To the west, the 47 Royal Marine Commando's mission is to capture Port-en-Bessin and link-up with U.S. forces landed on Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
.
The 50th Infantry Division was also meet up with Canadian troops coming from Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
.
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the AlliedAllies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
codename for the centre invasion beach during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944. It lay between Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
and Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
, was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors. From West to East they were How, Item, Jig, and King.
The beach was assaulted in multiple brigades of the 50th Northumbrian Division, on the West was the 231st Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
, followed by the 56th Brigade
British 56th Infantry Brigade
The British Army's 56th Infantry Brigade was originally a Kitchener's Army brigade within 19th Division during the First World War.Later during the Second World War it was reformed on 15 February 1944 in the United Kingdom....
, attached to this was a regiment of DD tank
DD tank
DD tanks , were a type of amphibious swimming tank developed by the British during the Second World War...
s from The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry
The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry is one of the five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry , an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army. Designated as 'S' Squadron, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry's current role is to support the Formation Reconnaissance Regiments and the Joint Chemical Biological Nuclear...
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the West were; the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment
Dorset Regiment
The Dorset Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1958, the county regiment of Dorset. Until 1951 it was formally called The Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as "The Dorsets".-History:...
. On the East 69th Brigade
British 69th Infantry Brigade
.The 69th Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France served with the British 23rd Division a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded...
, followed by 151st Brigade
British 151st Infantry Brigade
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. Part of the British 50th Infantry Division.-Commanders:* Brig. Viscount Downe* Brig. J. A. Barstow* Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine...
, again a regiment of DD tanks was attached, they were from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the East were; the 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
, and the 6th Battalion The Green Howards
The Green Howards
The Green Howards was an infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division...
. Their primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
, the Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
-Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
road, and the port of Arromanches
Arromanches-les-Bains
Arromanches-les-Bains is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France....
with the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
to the East. The 716th Static Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Wilhelm Richter, and elements of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division
German 352nd Infantry Division
The 352nd Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. A western front unit, the 352nd became notable for its tenacious defense of Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944.-Formation and strengths:...
commanded by Generalleutnant
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Dietrich Kraiss
Dietrich Kraiss
Dietrich Kraiss was a German Generalleutnant during World War II, awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.Kraiss was born in Stuttgart...
, defended the Channel coast for the Germans.H-Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours,
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden (17 September 1944 – 25 September 1944) was an AlliedAllies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
military operation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Netherlands and Germany.
Garden
Garden consisted primarily of XXX Corps and was spearheaded by the Guards Armoured Division, with the 43rd Wessex and 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division including 69th Infantry Brigade, in reserve.17 September 1944 at 13.30hrs: the 50th Division watched as one of the largest air armadas of the war pass overhead. The division's field artillery 74th, 90th and 124th Fd Regts RA and the Mortars of Cheshire Regiment took part in the opening barrage. At 14:35hrs the Sherman’s of the Irish Guards crossed the start line and despite heavy fighting reached Valkenswaard five miles (8 km) south of Eindhoven by dusk.
22 September, 69th Brigade was in trouble when two battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden
Uden
Uden is a municipality and a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.- History :Uden was first recorded around 1190 as “Uthen”. However, earlier settlements have been found in the areas of the modern day Moleneind, Vorstenburg and Bitswijk and evidence of ice-age settlements has been...
, eight miles (13 km) south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with East Yorkshires in the north while the Green Howards where in the south.
23 September: 151st and 231st Brigades were ordered to move north and east of Eindhoven to guard the right flank while 69th Brigade, with 124th Fd Regt RA continued onward towards Nijmegen. On arrival there they came under command of the Guards Armoured Division with the task of capturing Bemmel
Bemmel
Bemmel is a village in Gelderland in the municipality of Lingewaard. It was previously a municipality of its own, but in 2001 it merged with Huissen and Gendt. Bemmel lies between two major cities; Arnhem and Nijmegen, and is thus bordered by the rivers Rhine and Waal. It has a population of...
, a village north of the river. This the 5th East Yorks achieved on the 25 September, but the Germans were not happy at losing this village, and kept them under heavy artillery fire for days.
26 September: the 6th Green Howards were ordered to occupy Halderen, but ran in to opposition, and failed to capture their objective. The 69th Brigade now attacked in the direction of Halderen continued throughout the 27 September. During the day the East Yorks gained some ground as they were supported by a quick barrage.
The airborne troops farther north at Arnhem had by now been withdrawn. The attempt to reach them by land had clearly failed, and attempts to supply them by air had been only partially successful. Thus the final objective of Operation "Market Garden" Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine defences had not been achieved.
30 September: All of 50th Division was tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and the 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division across the Nederijn.
External links
- http://www.fightingthrough.co.uk/#/wadi-akarit-ww2-diary/4556892486
- http://www.routetovictory.info/50history.php
- http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/50InfDiv.html