‘A’ Squadron 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars.

1230hrs – Maj Harbord and SSM Kirkham leave, arriving at JANUARY minefield at about 1400hrs, and informed that the enemy was showing a flag of truce with a view to obtaining permission to bury their dead. Whilst the enemy party were being interrogated by members of the Royal West Kents patrol, Maj Harbord and SSM Kirkham go forward on foot, to the other side of FEBRUARY minefield, and are able to get a good view of the three tanks knocked out on the morning of 25 Oct. Positions of the tanks were noted to assist in their recovery but, as shelling began, it was impossible to stay to note the damage.

2 Nov 42. – At 1430hrs Maj Harbord and LCpl Winch leave again for FEBRUARY and at 1530hrs a party, consisting of Capt Harari, with his tank and crew, and SSM Kirkham and Sgt Fry in the jeep, follow, collecting an RAOC recovery party with four tank-carrying lorries on the way. The whole party arrive at the JANUARY minefield as it was getting dark (see SSM Kirkham’s report).

SSM Kirkham’s Report

Report by No 555486 SSM G R Kirkham, a member of the tank recovery party of 2 Nov 42.

On 1 Nov Maj J D Harbord and myself visited the area just West of the FEBRUARY minefield, to see whether it would be possible to salvage any of the three tanks we had lost on the morning of 25 Oct. We arrived at 1400hrs and were informed that a party of enemy was walking over to our lines under cover of a white flag; they wanted permission for a two-hour truce the following day, to bury their dead.

Whilst waiting for this to be investigated, Maj Harbord and I walked through FEBRUARY to within 100yds of the tanks and saw that it may be possible to recover them. We had not time to take full particulars of the damage but noted that all tanks had lost one track, as shelling began from both sides immediately the truce party reached their own lines. On return, Maj Harbord arranged for a listening patrol to be supplied by the forward company of the Royal West Kents, and a recovery party of the RAOC to go out with us the following day.

At about 1830hrs on 2 Nov, the whole party was in position behind JANUARY minefield (about two miles from the tanks), with the exception of the listening patrol. Maj Harbord contacted the forward company and was given information that made it necessary to alter our plans. It appeared that the Royal West Kents were going to attack Pt94 at 2200hrs and that they did not expect to be finished until about midnight. As the tanks were between bridgehead and Pt94, we could not work in that area during these times, so the plan was altered as follows:-

It was decided that, before taking the Scammells forward, the remaining track on each tank would have to be removed and that the towing hooks would have to be cleared.

As soon as it was dark, Sgt L Fry and I were to walk through the two minefields to the tanks, do whatever we could to ensure a quick tow out by the Scammells, and at 2145hrs the listening post would be recalled to their HQ at the bridgehead. Sgt Fry and I would then take cover and wait until the party at Pt94 was over, we could then carry on getting the tanks ready.

Maj Harbord would come out to us at 0100hrs, bringing with him the first of the Scammells (which had to be directed backwards through FEBRUARY) and tow the first tank away. Maj Harbord would take the Scammell and tank back to just West of JANUARY, and collect the second Scammell, which would have been brought to this point by Capt Harari. During this time Sgt Fry and I would remain with the second tank and the procedure would be repeated.

Sgt Fry and I went out to the tanks at 1930hrs and the first Scammell arrived at 0130hrs. We had prepared one tank before the action and remained in a shell hole until it was over. The first tank was taken away by 0145hrs and the OC of the RAOC recovery section decided that it would not be possible to recover the other two without winch gear and trailers, so the whole party returned to behind JANUARY at about 0300hrs, where we spent the remainder of the night.

(Signed) G R Kirkham SSM ‘A’ Sqn 8th Hussars 3 Nov 42.

Related topics

  1. A short history of 3rd The King’s Own Hussars
  2. A short history of The 4th Queen’s Own Hussars
  3. A short history of The 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars
  4. Middle East (Egypt and Libya) timeline
  5. Vickers-Armstrong Mk VIB light tank
  6. A10 Cruiser tank
  7. A13 Cruiser tank
  8. A15 Crusader tank
  9. M3 Stuart ‘Honey’ tank
  10. M3 General Grant tank
  11. M4 Sherman tank
  12. Object: 2pdr Armour piercing round