Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Private J. D. Caves: The Long Journey Home

The battle:

The battle:

From a starting point immediately south of the blockhouse 24 and 25 Battalions moved off at 11 p.m., accompanied by their fighting transport only. While going forward the leading companies of the 24th (A and B) encountered several pockets of resistance manned by Italian troops. Some of them fought to the last, while others fired a few token rounds and then surrendered. The Italians taken prisoner were a source of some embarrassment as it was not possible at that time to escort them to the rear.

Passing to the north of Sidi Rezegh aerodrome, the battalion advanced about three miles and, having gained the objective, formed a perimeter with B Company, reinforced by a platoon of machine-gunners, facing west; A and C looked north over the escarpment, and D Company was at the perimeter's eastern end. The southern side was occupied by 25 Battalion. The 24th Battalion's headquarters took up a position inside the perimeter.

The perimeter, however, did not last long. At dawn [on 25 November] A and C Companies came under withering fire and were forced back south-eastwards.

21 Battalion "vanished" overnight. It transpired later that 21 Battalion, having moved up from the southernmost escarpment, as directed, to join forces with those of Colonel Page and come under that officer's command, had failed to make contact because of the darkness, whereupon Colonel Allen had decided to go forward alone to the mosque of Sidi Rezegh. Crossing the escarpment from south to north, with the mosque on his right hand, he had passed, by a disastrous miscalculation, right through the enemy forces confronting 24 Battalion and had arrived on the Trigh Capuzzo. Dawn found his men surrounded, with retreat up the escarpment presenting the only chance of safety. One entire company succeeded in reaching the 24th's lines. A remnant under the Commanding Officer held out in a wadi for the rest of the day. Many men were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, and a few made their way back to Brigade Headquarters.

Sidi Rezegh was taken but there were pockets still held by the enemy.

Around Sidi Rezegh mosque a strip of the escarpment, here and there indented with wadis, was still held by the enemy, who kept up a harassing fire. At first light [on the 26 November] the strongest resistance had come from the direction of Ed Duda. A and C Companies had been forced back, and later in the morning enemy forces began to gather in the west in obvious preparation for a counter-attack, which soon developed. Supported by artillery fire, infantry and a few tanks assaulted the western face of our position and succeeded in overrunning some of our infantry and a platoon of machine-gunners, who were obliged to surrender, but the rest of the line held firmly.

Nests of opposition maintained themselves as constant sources of annoyance in the numerous wadis that gashed its northern face, making all movement dangerous for the New Zealanders and taking a steady toll of casualties. At a unit commanders' conference late that afternoon, the attending officers lay flat on open ground under shell and mortar fire, with maps spread before them, while any movement such as a raising of the head drew rifle and machine-gun fire upon them as well.

The decision was to eliminate all enemy pockets from the escarpment despite the exhaustion of the troops.

Once again the New Zealand soldier's peculiar aptitude for fighting by night with the bayonet was to be used to advantage.

At 11 p.m. on 26 November B and D Companies of 24 Battalion swept westward across the perimeter page 27and beyond the line formerly occupied by the machine-gun platoon. The remaining companies followed, A coming up in rear of B, and C moving to the southern end of the battalion's front. The advance was resolutely opposed by German and Italian troops, especially those of 9 Bersaglieri Regiment. On the right 26 Battalion crossed the summit of the escarpment and dug in facing north, with its left flank almost opposite the mosque. Mopping up parties were now sent forward to clear up pockets of resistance still holding out in the wadis. 'I just got there in time to take my platoon out on a mopping up patrol', writes Corporal Simpson, of B Company. 'We went forward for some considerable distance, investigating all the little gullies etc on the side of the escarpment, and landed back with about 30 prisoners, nearly twice as many as there was left in the platoon by this time.'

Before dawn reports had been received that 4 Brigade had taken Ed Duda and had relieved the garrison of Tobruk. This was glad news, but around Sidi Rezegh daylight revealed a battlefield strewn with dead. Our men lay at the very muzzles of enemy machine and anti-tank guns, the bodies of those hit by the latter being horribly mangled. Nevertheless, sadly depleted though it was, 6 Brigade now held the field as unchallenged victors.

Guarding the position's western approaches, 24 Battalion formed the segment of a circle with its companies facing outwards-B on the right close by Sidi Rezegh mosque, then A, D, and C on the left of the line, turning its front towards the south-west. This was the position most liable to counter-attack

The rest of the day (27 November) was relatively peaceful, and that night the exhausted troops were able to enjoy the sleep they needed so badly. Though weary, they were not discouraged by the sufficiently obvious trend of events, and a few bold spirits still regarded the whole proceeding as an adventure likely to provide both interest and amusement for those taking part in it. With the enemy driven from the escarpment, prisoners were sent to the rear and their captors turned to other pursuits. Corporal Simpson [of B Company] describes his own personal experience:

After getting rid of this cargo [prisoners] we settled down to a bit of good solid scrounging. There were about 30 motor bikes in one clump so needless to say this interested yours truly-I wasn't the only one either. Well, that day passed and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly; we also had a peaceful night, the first since the show began. Next morning we got plenty of fresh water and were able to get a real good wash, and later had breakfast, then set out for our amusements again. We had a lot of fun this morning [28 November] but unfortunately it was too good to last, for just as we were having lunch old Jerry opened up with his mortar and artillery
War scene from Sidi Rezegh, November 1941.

War scene from Sidi Rezegh, November 1941.

page 28
Operations, 29 November: attacks on Ed Duda and Point 175..

Operations, 29 November: attacks on Ed Duda and Point 175..

fire. Well we just took our lunch and made for our trenches and tin hats, knowing by the amount he was plastering us with that it was only a start of something.

During this attack, a ruse by the enemy, pretending to be South African prisoners returning to Allied lines, successfully tricked 24 Battalion and 100 men of A and D companies were taken prisoner. The battle continued all day and the New Zealanders were hard pressed to hold Sidi Rezegh.

Smoke of battle, Libya, as seen from a slit trench.

Smoke of battle, Libya, as seen from a slit trench.

The enemy withdrew as darkness fell, leaving 6 Brigade still in possession of the ridge but in a situation that had been growing hourly less secure, with forces diminished by the loss of two entire companies, besides other casualties.

Counter-attack on Sidi Rezegh, 30 November.

Counter-attack on Sidi Rezegh, 30 November.

page 29
Sidi Rezegh lost, duck 30 November.

Sidi Rezegh lost, duck 30 November.

Sixth Brigade was now threatened from the east, west, and south; its vehicle park on the airfield was overlooked and in danger of coming under gunfire at dawn. The 1st South African Brigade was expected to arrive from the south next day, but unforeseen chance might delay its coming. Under these circumstances Brigadier Barrowclough suggested that his transport be moved within the Tobruk perimeter, but the Divisional Commander demurred, consenting, however, to allow 6 Brigade Headquarters and all B Echelon vehicles to be shifted on to low ground north of the escarpment. Still intent on advancing further west towards El Adem and widening the Tobruk corridor, the commander of XIII Corps insisted that present positions at Sidi Rezegh and Belhamed must be maintained at all costs. No course remained, therefore, but for Barrowclough to distribute his depleted forces to the best possible advantage.

Night of 28-29 November:

The 24th and 26th Battalions, under Colonel Shuttleworth, were to hold their present positions, the high ground adjacent to Sidi Rezegh mosque, and dispose their weapon pits to face south and west. The strength of the 24th's rifle companies had been reduced to little more than a hundred men. For these troops, wearied by five days and nights of constant fighting, all chance of respite seemed almost infinitely remote. As far as could be foreseen, the immediate future held nothing but heavy fighting in store.

Lee Enfield 303 rifle, standard issue to New Zealand infantry.

Lee Enfield 303 rifle, standard issue to New Zealand infantry.

In the morning, when Colonel Shuttleworth made a tour of inspection, he found his men still in good heart and ready for whatever might befall. There was sporadic shelling later in the day, and Padre Watson of 24 Battalion, aroused the admiration of an observant corporal who watched him carefully while he was reading the burial service under fire to see whether he hurried unduly or missed out any of the prayers.

The day of 29 November was relatively uneventful for 24 Battalion. General von Ravenstein, commander of 21 Panzer Division, had been captured with complete plans for Rommel's returning armour for the counter-attack on the NZ positions. The South Africans were really coming at last and all units had been warned to expect their appearance. A South African officer arrived by armoured car at Brigadier Barrowclough's headquarters, informing him that 1 South African Brigade (beginning, by this time, to be regarded as a mythical formation) was actually advancing on Point 175. For a while it seemed that the situation was improving. The impression was illusory.

At 5.10 p.m., with startling suddenness, the voice of Major Fitzpatrick, commanding 21 Battalion, came over the brigade telephone, saying, 'They are into my lines with three tanks and are taking prisoners. Artillery support at once for God's sake. Brigade at once called upon 6 Field Regiment, but it was already too late. Fitzpatrick's voice was heard once again, but his sentence broke off unfinished-'Everyone has left, what shall I do? They are right on top of me….'

The mystery enveloping this disaster was explained when stragglers began to make their way down the escarpment into the brigade transport lines. Expectantly awaiting the South Africans, the men of 21 Battalion had seen tanks approaching with open turrets and crews waving a friendly greeting. All unawares, they had allowed the tanks to come right in amongst them. The crews then slammed down their turrets and opened fire.

page 30

The morning of 30 November dawned gloriously fine, but the tactical situation promised conditions of storm and stress. Sixth Brigade was now virtually surrounded. Some faint hope was at first entertained that Point 175 might be in South African hands, but patrols sent out by 25 Battalion soon proved the contrary. The enemy's way along the escarpment from the east now lay open. The 15th Panzer Division was concentrating south-west of Sidi Rezegh. In the absence of 1 South African Brigade the New Zealanders' southern flank was exposed. Eighth Army's hold on the Tobruk corridor could only be described as precarious.

Not least disquieting of all adverse circumstances was the fact of 6 Brigade's diminished strength. The 24th Battalion consisted of four officers and 159 other ranks. The 25th and 26th Battalions had been less severely mauled, but the 21st was reduced below company strength.

The enemy attacked about 2:30pm on 30 November with tanks and infantry. The defenders had insufficient firepower to withstand the armoured attack and the positions were overrun. The 24th Battalion now ceased to exist as such for the time being. Only those who were fortunate enough to remain concealed had any chance of escape.

The Adjutant, Intelligence Officer, and all four commanders of the rifle companies of 24 Battalion were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Having rounded up what survivors could be found, the tanks pulled out at dusk, and only then did the German infantry come on in mass, 'kicking up a hell of a row'. This was the moment when a number of our men who had been lying low seized the opportunity of making their escape.

Of 24 Battalion, just three officers and 60 other ranks succeeded in reaching Brigade Headquarters on the night of 30 November. They then moved back with 6 Brigade across the Libyan frontier and eventually arrived at Baggush on 5 December.

Denis was one of these few 24 Battalion survivors of the Battle of Sidi Rezegh. In his escape he lost his watch, his photos from home and his all-important army paybook.