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The exercise ended and the London Irish began to receive new equipment of all kinds: guns, carriers, mortars, and the rest. Embarkation leave followed and then came a hectic period of cleaning and packing. On November 10 the battalion embarked at Glasgow in HMT Duchess of York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the troopship was out in the Clyde and among a vast convoy, news was received of the Allied landings in North Africa. Everyone knew then whither they were bound, and that it was likely that the 2nd Battalion would be in battle first, although the 1st Battalion had already gone overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The senior officers were given an outline of the progress of the landings, and maps of Algeria and of Tunisia were studied. Eleven days after embarking the lights of Tangiers were seen in the moonlight. Coming from a blacked-out Britain the lights seemed strange and almost unreal to the troops. The short voyage was without incident, and on November 22 Algiers came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall, white buildings stood out sharply in the great bowl of the Algerian capital, rising steeply one thousand feet above the sea. As the convoy entered the harbour an air-raid warning was sounded. A smoke screen was swiftly laid by ships of the Royal Navy, and anti-aircraft guns went into action. Fortunately, no bombs were dropped and the raiders flew away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the bagpipes leading, the 2nd Battalion went ashore in full marching order. The staging area was fifteen miles from Algiers, near Maison Carree, and the march through the streets of Algiers, up the steep, tortuous hills to Kouba, was one of the most tiring the battalion had up to then endured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Algiers was raided that night by German and Italian bombers, and the defensive fire was an awe-inspiring sight. From every degree of the compass a riot of tracers sped towards the raiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A very dry summer had passed, and the arrival of the London Irish in North Africa coincided with the start of the rainy season. Two days after landing a downpour began which lasted three days. The bivouac area in a vineyard rapidly became waterlogged, and no one could keep dry. Better quarters were found in a factory, and being out of the rain no one complained of the large brown rats which scampered about all night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The journey towards the front was made in cattle-trucks, and for two days the battalion clattered through the snow-capped mountains of North Africa to Bougie. In that tiny but attractive port the battalion received all its transport, which had been sent separately from the United Kingdom. Trucks, carriers, staff cars, all had come through unscathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next move was by road to Teboursouk. The battalion crossed the mountain range to Setif, three thousand five hundred feet up in the Atlas Range, and as it grew dark, they reached Constantine, the great Byzantine city. The journey was resumed to Souk Aras and finally to Teboursouk, near the ancient ruins of Dougga, which once had a prosperous population of eighty thousand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The London Irish were now in the battle area, and their first task was to hold the heights overlooking the main road from the west to Teboursouk and Tunis. Intelligence reports showed that the Germans were building up their forces rapidly on the Tunis side of Medjez-el-Bab, while Allied troops were up against stiff opposition at Tebourba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gradually the battalion got ready for its first battle in the Second World War. As the Commander of the Irish Brigade, Brigadier Nelson Russell, DSO, MC, recorded, the only real training for battle is real fighting, and the brigade, newly out from Britain, were short of that training and had much to learn. They began to learn in a hard school, for from the first they were opposed by crack German troops, all seasoned fighters, and young volunteers of the Hermann Goering Division of Paratroopers. It was pleasant subsequently to recall that after the mauling they received from the Irish Brigade, one of their foremost formations, the Koch Brigade, went into involuntary liquidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tunisia proved to be a country of strange contrasts. There were many miles of fertile plainlands, such as the Mejerda, the Goubellat, and the Bou Arada Plains, which were interspersed by vineyards and olive-groves, and in places thick with cork trees. The plains were separated by rocky and precipitous hills, either bare rock or covered with thorny brushwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The landings in North Africa by a light mobile force had gone well. The spearhead, a small, gallant force consisting of only two infantry brigades, a Recce Regiment, the 17\/21st Lancers, a company of the Rifle Brigade, and a squadron of the Derbyshire Yeomanry, had raced on towards Tunis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Tebourba, less than twenty miles from Tunis, they met stubborn resistance, and so they sat back to hold what they had won and to wait for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while they waited the enemy, too, were building up. The spearhead was very glad to see the arrival of the 6th Armoured Division. By the first week in December, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were in a supporting position on the Medjez-Teboursouk road, west of Tunis. The London Irish were in a back-stop position on the Le Krib-Bou Arada road to the south about twelve miles away. The Royal Irish Fusiliers, the third member of the Irish Brigade, had not yet arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The war in Tunisia had become fluid. There were several well-defined areas, notably on the direct lines of approach to Tunis and Bizerta in the north, where the Germans were in strong force and were well dug in. In between there were large gaps, practically uninhabited by either army, or which were lightly patrolled by both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
F Company, under Captain Ekin, went off to an area of the Robaa-Pont du Fahs road with a general order to dominate it by offensive action. They did well and had one or two cracks at the enemy, learning more thereby in a week than they could have done in a year\u2019s training in Scotland. Their trip lasted a week, and one morning they laid a trap for two German armoured cars that were known regularly to go up and down the road near El Aroussa. Unfortunately, local natives gave the show away, and the Germans reversed a few yards from the mines laid by the London Irish party, who were waiting in ambush nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the rest it was a digging-in time, with Bren bursts now and then at ME 109s which tried to interfere with things. In such a bout the Inniskilling Fusiliers lost their Commanding Officer, who was wounded. When a new Commanding Officer, Lieut-Colonel CHB Allen (Royal Ulster Rifles) arrived, Major J McCann, of the London Irish, joined him as his Second-in-Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preparations by the enemy continued and more of the empty spaces in the Goubellat Plain were filled. To meet this potential threat the London Irish and the Inniskillings went forward from what had been considered to be reserve positions. In the words of the Brigadier, everything now was \u201cin the front window.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By December 20 the Irish Brigade was complete with the arrival of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and plans were made for an attack on Tunis just before Christmas. Heavy rain came churning the ground into thick mud and slowing down movement, so the operation was postponed. For two or three weeks the Irish Brigade remained in the vicinity of the Mahmoud Gap, an opening between the hills leading to the Plains of Goubellat and the main road to Tunis. Battalion frontages were large, and it was not unusual in those days for one battalion to have to look after a front of five to six miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Goubellat proved to be the brigade\u2019s war nursery. It was there that most of them heard the first zip of an enemy bullet, the quick cracks of a Schmeisser, and the whine of a German shell. They realised in that quiet way so typical of the British soldier that someone else meant business and that they were shooting to kill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strong fighting patrols from the three battalions went out at night in search of the enemy. There was a belt of \u201cno man s land\u201d about three or four miles wide between the trenches dug by the Irish Brigade to the west and those of the enemy to the east. To the north was the village of Goubellat and in between were small French farms and several deep wadis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every week saw an improvement in the technique of fighting, and several spirited encounters took place. During this initial patrol period Captain I Grant took a party of London Irishmen ten miles behind the Bosche lines and convincingly disturbed the equanimity of an enemy headquarters. The patrol was out for thirty-six hours, and in a brief but sharp action they inflicted casualties on the enemy. Unfortunately, Captain Grant and a few of his men were wounded and taken prisoners. The others got back safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to long patrols there were several minor skirmishes on a company level, one by the London Irish and two by the Royal Irish Fusiliers. These battles disposed of small bodies of the enemy who were getting too inquisitive about the brigade\u2019s affairs, notably about its strength and positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three weeks of excellent war experience passed very quickly. Patrols proved themselves very business-like; they knew what to do, the best way to do it, and the weapons to use for the job. The machinery, from a brigade to a company level, was oiled and running well and everyone was waiting for the strenuous days which they knew were ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During this Goubellat Plain period, from December 15, 1942, to January 12, 1943, the weather was extremely bad, and the employment of armour was out of the question. Three out of five days saw heavy rain. The troops in their slit trenches were often up to their knees in water, and the roads were nothing but mud-tracks and quite unfit for men or machines. There was no alternative, they had to be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rations, water, and ammunition managed after very hard work to reach most battalion headquarters on wheels, but thereafter it was a two- or three-mile carry to company areas in the hills, with no tracks at all. It was a strenuous time for the quartermasters and all the transport drivers. Usually it meant a fifteen- to twenty-mile drive in the darkness with no lights from a supply-point to battalion headquarters. Vehicles slid, skidded, and bumped over tracks which were only recognisable by their ruts two feet deep. This went on night in, night out, all through the North African winter. It was one of those things that had to be done to be realised, and in fact was accomplished only because high authority in its wisdom changed an issue of sand tyres to ordinary tyres plus chains!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The heavy reinforcements which the enemy had obviously received made the Bou Arada and the Goubellat Plain danger areas, particularly with the battalions of the Irish Brigade stretched to fantastic lengths. The Bou Arada Plain was about twenty-five miles long, varying in width from five to ten miles. In the middle was the El Aroussa-Bou Arada-Pont du Fahs road, one of the main routes to Tunis. In the north it was bounded by salt lakes and marshy country near Pont du Fahs. North of Bou Arada there was hilly country, later to become famous as Hen House, One, Two and Three Tree Hills, and \u2013 most famous of them all \u2013 Grandstand. Between Bou Arada and El Aroussa was a great mass of precipitous wooded mountains called the Djebel Rihane. To the south was an irregular line of hills between Pont du Fahs and El Aroussa, the most notable probably being the Djebel Mansour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The valley of Bou Arada and its hills were destined to be the home of the London Irish and the rest of the Irish Brigade for eight weeks. It saw two attacks on the enemy, two vicious counterattacks, and was the scene of many local encounters, with exploits of great gallantry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On January 11 H Company of the London Irish watched the Lothian and Border Horse pass through their lines and go down the Roman road towards Goubellat to sweep the plain where it was reported a Hermann Goering Regiment had started filtering down from the hills. It soon became apparent that the tanks had got into difficulties, and artillery support was called for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About noon H Company was ordered to attack two distant farms in order to form a screen to prevent the damaged armour from falling into enemy hands, to rescue the crews, and also to hold the position until the tanks could be withdrawn. The approach was a long one, of nearly four miles across country almost without cover and under plough, which made the going very heavy. Orders were to attack the first farm at 1510 hours after a ten minutes\u2019 bombardment by the twenty-five pounders of the Ayrshire Yeomanry. Good time was made over the rough ground and all went well until a flight of German aircraft passed overhead. They were a mixture of ME 109\u2019s and Stukas, and as they spiralled down the riflemen extended out. The enemy flew off without dropping any bombs or firing machine-guns, apparently mistaking the London Irish for their own troops!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile the gunners got on with their task and the London Irish advanced steadily. H Company were still about five hundred yards away when heavy automatic and rifle fire was directed on them from Sidi Nasseur on the right. Major JD Lofting detailed a platoon to cover that flank with fire, but unfortunately the Platoon Commander, Sergeant J Wilson, became a casualty before he could give out his orders, and the flank remained unprotected for about fifteen minutes. Then the riflemen advanced, singing \u201cYou are my Sunshine\u201d at the tops of their voices, and the attack went in. Their determination apparently broke the nerve of the Hermann Goering defenders, and they retired at the double, leaving everything behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
18 Platoon was then ordered forward to take the second farm, followed by 16 Platoon, leaving 17 Platoon to cover the weak flank and keep down the fire which had reasserted itself from Sidi Nasseur. Lieutenant PJ Gibbons led two sections round the left of the farm, while Major Lofting took the right-hand section. By doubling and crawling they got well up and engaged the enemy with rifles, grenades, and bayonets. German resistance was heartened by the presence of three close-support guns firing over open sights down the road about three thousand yards away. A gallant attempt to cross the road under the heavy enemy fire was made by 18 Platoon, and some managed to do so. But several men fell, including Sergeant R Hogan, who had displayed great leadership and courage. The platoon kept up the pressure and, assisted by their own machine-gunners, the Besa fire from the tanks, and concentrations by the gunners, they succeeded in forcing the Germans to evacuate the second farm. As a result the recovery of the tanks was carried out without molestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H Company held on until relieved about three hours after dark by G Company, when they returned to their old positions, bringing back a quantity of enemy weapons as booty. Thus ended the first London Irish attack of the war. It was successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next phase of activity was on the part of the enemy. It became known that they had concentrated strong forces on Two Tree Hill, a feature north-east of the Goubellat-Bou Arada road and from which they might sweep down in a drive south of the latter village, which was held by two companies of French Colonial troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orders were given for a combined infantry and tank attack to drive the Germans off the hill and thus relieve the threat. The Inniskilling Fusiliers were given this task, their first major battle. The effort was handicapped by heavy ground caused by a night of rain, and they met a more powerful enemy than might have been expected. Their gallantry and resolute fighting were of no avail and the plan was shown to require a much heavier onslaught. The whole brigade, therefore, were directed to destroy the German position on Two Tree Hill, and the help of the gunners of the division was given. The stage was set for a dawn attack. Whether or not the enemy knew that something was afoot is not known, but the brigade plan was forestalled by one day, the Germans themselves launching an attack at 6am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The guns had been concentrated stealthily for the Irish Brigade\u2019s operation, and the infantry had been brought up without the enemy\u2019s knowledge. The result was that when the Bosche advanced they found infantry where no infantry was thought to be and got a most unexpected blast from seventy-two guns! The Germans were blown and shot to bits, and in addition they lost a large number of tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They took several days to recover from that shock, while at brigade headquarters great satisfaction was felt that the three battalions and supporting arms had passed through their first big ordeal with such coolness and steadiness. For about five days there were small off shoots of this battle. There were frequent raids on enemy positions, several small attacks, sometimes with tank assistance. They were all more or less indeterminate affairs, staged really to probe the Bosche lines and to worry them. The enemy also were often on the prowl and gun and mortar fire was fairly consistent. Stuka attacks were frequent and the brigade suffered a few casualties almost daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then another Battle of Bou Arada approached, a bloody affair in which the London Irish distinguished themselves, but with grievous losses. The night of January 16 had been spent just outside El Aroussa, and the next night the battalion moved into the plains to the west of Bou Arada. Another move was ordered, but no sooner had the battalion finished digging in than they had to move once more. In fact the London Irish moved four times in four nights, and everyone became tired. On the morning of the 19th, they marched in extended line across the open plain via Bou Arada. Their job was to guard the brigade\u2019s one line of communication, the lateral road from Bou Arada to Grandstand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The enemy had been quick to see this weakness in the brigade\u2019s dispositions, and they occupied a hill, Point 286, only one thousand yards from the road. From there they could observe, shell, mortar, and machine-gun the brigade\u2019s lifeline. It was an unpleasant situation, and the London Irish were ordered to remedy it by driving the Germans off the hill and prevent its re-occupation. Instructions came at midnight and there was no time for a reconnaissance beforehand. The plan was for the battalion to form up on the lateral road at about 0330 hours on the 20th. G Company were to lead and occupy Point 279, a lesser hill adjacent to Point 286, and F Company were to follow and establish themselves on the reverse slopes of Point 279, while H Company were to make a detour on the left and attack Point 286 from that flank. Support from the gunners, mortars, machine-guns, and anti-tank guns was arranged, though the attack was to be made without any preliminary bombardment as it was thought the hill was not held in strength by the enemy, who would thus not be warned of the impending attack and send up reinforcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 0440 hours G Company advanced on to Point 279 and, meeting no opposition, continued towards Point 286. F Company moved on as well but started to attack Point 351 to the left instead of Point 286. Here the Germans were strongly entrenched, and 10 and 12 Platoons were held up, while ix Platoon managed to get forward and took six prisoners, although they themselves were forced later to withdraw. Major BA Tebbitt, commanding G Company, realised as he led his men up the slopes of Point 286 that he had over-shot his objective, and he returned to Point 279. It was now 0730 hours, and daylight. F Company also returned to Point 279, where they re-formed to attack their proper target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They moved towards Point 286 round the back of Point 279, with the object this time of attacking the hill from the right. There was a hail of machine-gun and rifle fire as the company approached Point 286. The two leading platoons went forward, covered by G Company firing from the forward slopes of Point 279. The enemy were seen running from Point 286, and F Company went in at the point of the bayonet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No sooner had they reached the summit of the hill and found that the enemy infantry had abandoned it, than German tanks and armoured cars were seen ascending the eastern slopes in a counterattack. German mortars bombarded the hill, but the men of F Company stood firm and the enemy cars and tanks were held off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continued enemy fire took its toll and the gallant company suffered heavy losses, including Captain Ekin<\/a>, their commander, and Lieutenant Vic Pottinger<\/a>, both of whom were killed. Lieutenant A Cowdy was left in charge of the company, which was so reduced in strength that they were withdrawn. E Company were warned to take over the positions on Point 286, and while the company \u201cO\u201d group were receiving orders, a mortar bomb dropped in one of the trenches, fatally wounding Captain JP Carrigan<\/a> and two signallers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The enemy by this time had occupied Point 286, and a further effort to drive them off had to be made. Led by Captain JV Lillie-Costello, E Company bravely stormed the slopes. Some managed to reach the crest, but others were forced down to folds in the ground to gain cover from cunningly laid automatic and mortar fire. Lieutenant Josephs and his platoon held on, but the officer and most of his men were wounded. Several were killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Germans had given up some ground, but they had not been driven off the hill. They bombarded the forward slopes of Point 279 where G Company were in the open, valiantly trying to help their comrades with supporting fire. Their losses impelled G Company back to cover in a wadi behind the hill, where they were joined by the staff of battalion headquarters, and the men of E Company who had survived the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n