Finished my M10 Tank Destroyers, hope you guys like them!?:
Showing posts with label flames of war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flames of war. Show all posts
Monday, 29 April 2013
Thursday, 25 April 2013
WIP : M10 Tank Destroyers
Just a quick teaser of some work in progress I'm
doing for the upcoming Tank Aces event. Some British M10 tank
destroyers. Although as far as I'm aware they weren't at the Battle of
Lingevres they were part of the 50th Tyne Tees division:
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Flames of War 4/7th Dragoon Guards
I've never been much of a gamer in the past, collecting and painting
models was where I got my enjoyment, but since starting out with FOW
I've loved the research and history and trying to accurately reconstruct
my force. I've played a couple of games and really enjoyed it.
Obviously I'm not a competitive gamer I just like to have fun. 
@SEC: The list I use is the Tyne Tees list from the Turning Tides Book. It's absolutely tailor-made for recreating my DLI force.
Anyway, enough waffle from me, I'm sure you just want my next update so here it is:
'A' Squadron 4/7th Dragoon Guards part of the 8th Armoured Brigade supporting 9th Battalion DLI at the Battle of Lingevres:
Tank 1: Sherman V, Commanded by 'A' Sqn commander Major Jackie D'Avigdor-Goldsmid :
Tank 2: Sherman V, 'A' Sqn. 2nd.In Command. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Nixon From Northumberland aged around 35.
Co.Dvr. Vallance. ' ' Ex Policeman
Loader/Wireless Op. Tarran. Geordie
Gunner. Murphy. From Glasgow, Ex Miner
Commander Capt. John Stirling.
Tank 3: Sherman V, 4th Troop Commander. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Cpl. Gardner.
Co.Dvr. L/Cpl. Carter.
Loader/Wireless Op. Cpl. Arnold.
Gunner. Tpr. Hillard.
Commander. Lt. Alastair Morrison.
Tank 4: Sherman 'FIREFLY'. 4th.Troop 17 Pounder Gun.
Dvr. ?
Co.Dvr. ?
Loader/Wireless Op. Richard Charles Eagles
Gunner. Tpr. Mackillop.
Commander. Sgt. Harris.
(Incredibly this tank knocked out 5 Panthers with 5 shots!!! For this incredible feat Sgt. Harris was awarded the DMC and Trooper Mackillop was mentioned in Dispatches!)
Tank 5: Sherman V. 4th.Troop. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Tpr. Dagley.
Co.Dvr. ?
Loader/Wireless Op. L/Cpl. Draper.
Gunner. ?
Commander. Cpl. Johnson.
Unfortunately this Tank was destroyed by enemy fire and despite heroic efforts to save them, 2 of the crew died:
14344367 Trooper Reginald Dagley, 'A' Sqn., 4/7 RDG.
Killed in action on 14th.June 1944, Aged 33
Son of Arthur and Annie Sofia Dagley; husband of Ellen Kate Dagley, of
Watford, Hertfordshire.
He is buried in Plot Row C. 1. Jerusalem War Cemetery, Chouain.
3910476 Corporal Clifford Johnson, 'A' Sqn., 4/7 RDG.
Died on 15th.June 1944, from wounds received on the 14th.June 1944 at Lingevres. Aged 26
Son of George and Jane Johnson, of Cwmllynfell, Glamorgan.
He is buried in Plot XIV.H.2. Bayeux War Cemetery
The whole of 'A' Squadron 4/7th Dragoon guards:
@SEC: The list I use is the Tyne Tees list from the Turning Tides Book. It's absolutely tailor-made for recreating my DLI force.
Anyway, enough waffle from me, I'm sure you just want my next update so here it is:
'A' Squadron 4/7th Dragoon Guards part of the 8th Armoured Brigade supporting 9th Battalion DLI at the Battle of Lingevres:
Tank 1: Sherman V, Commanded by 'A' Sqn commander Major Jackie D'Avigdor-Goldsmid :
Tank 2: Sherman V, 'A' Sqn. 2nd.In Command. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Nixon From Northumberland aged around 35.
Co.Dvr. Vallance. ' ' Ex Policeman
Loader/Wireless Op. Tarran. Geordie
Gunner. Murphy. From Glasgow, Ex Miner
Commander Capt. John Stirling.
Tank 3: Sherman V, 4th Troop Commander. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Cpl. Gardner.
Co.Dvr. L/Cpl. Carter.
Loader/Wireless Op. Cpl. Arnold.
Gunner. Tpr. Hillard.
Commander. Lt. Alastair Morrison.
Tank 4: Sherman 'FIREFLY'. 4th.Troop 17 Pounder Gun.
Dvr. ?
Co.Dvr. ?
Loader/Wireless Op. Richard Charles Eagles
Gunner. Tpr. Mackillop.
Commander. Sgt. Harris.
(Incredibly this tank knocked out 5 Panthers with 5 shots!!! For this incredible feat Sgt. Harris was awarded the DMC and Trooper Mackillop was mentioned in Dispatches!)
Tank 5: Sherman V. 4th.Troop. 75mm Gun.
Dvr. Tpr. Dagley.
Co.Dvr. ?
Loader/Wireless Op. L/Cpl. Draper.
Gunner. ?
Commander. Cpl. Johnson.
Unfortunately this Tank was destroyed by enemy fire and despite heroic efforts to save them, 2 of the crew died:
14344367 Trooper Reginald Dagley, 'A' Sqn., 4/7 RDG.
Killed in action on 14th.June 1944, Aged 33
Son of Arthur and Annie Sofia Dagley; husband of Ellen Kate Dagley, of
Watford, Hertfordshire.
He is buried in Plot Row C. 1. Jerusalem War Cemetery, Chouain.
3910476 Corporal Clifford Johnson, 'A' Sqn., 4/7 RDG.
Died on 15th.June 1944, from wounds received on the 14th.June 1944 at Lingevres. Aged 26
Son of George and Jane Johnson, of Cwmllynfell, Glamorgan.
He is buried in Plot XIV.H.2. Bayeux War Cemetery
The whole of 'A' Squadron 4/7th Dragoon guards:
Monday, 22 April 2013
Durham Light Infantry part 2
Some more pics :
'A' Company:
Some Durhams of 'A'Coy:
'A' Company's commander and PIAT and light mortar sections:
'B' Company:
'B' Company's commander and PIAT and light mortar sections:
'A' Company:
Some Durhams of 'A'Coy:
'A' Company's commander and PIAT and light mortar sections:
'B' Company:
'B' Company's commander and PIAT and light mortar sections:
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Durham Light Infantry part 1
The research and trying to recreate the actual units is proving to be
very enjoyable! Never painted any Flames of War stuff before and
definitely nothing in this scale! After years of painting only in 28mm painting in 15mm is proving to be a novel challenge!!
Next update:
67184 Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey Reginald Woods, D.S.O, M.C & Bar.
The King's Royal Rifle Corps
Commanding Officer of the 9th.Bn. Durham L.I
Killed in action on 14th.June 1944, aged 28.
Son of Colonel Reginald Herbert Woods, O.B.E.,M.C., and Ivy Oswald Woods, of
Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
He is buried in Plot XV.F.26 Bayeux War Cemetery.
Sgt.Charles Eagles, who was feet away from him when he was wounded by mortar fire,
remembers his last words being, "surely they haven't hit me?"
Major John Mogg 9th Durham Light Infantry
Major John Mogg was the second in command of the 9th.DLI. He had joined the Battalion in a sealed camp, one week before D-Day.
The following is his account of the action, which was written in the 1970's for the Staff College.
The Battle
' We crossed the Start Line at 10:15 on the morning of the 14th. behind an immense fire plan from the Corps Artillery and the Air. The wood literally appeared to be devastated immediately to our front some three hundred yards away.
Typhoons with rockets and bombs straddled and plastered the wood. We crossed the SL with infantry leading two platoons up and one in reserve trying to keep up with the timings of the Artillery and Air support. In the Bocage the normal form was for infantry to lead but supported very closely by tanks from the flanks and in certain cases with individual tanks travelling with the infantry. This helped communication and was greatly different to the battles in the desert and in the open country of the Goodwood operation and the NW German plain later on.
As we crossed the standing corn, and supported by 4/7th.RDG, the barrage gradually lifted and we thought we should reach the wood with little difficulty. Gradually the enemy came to life. Two tanks opened up from the wood and withering fire from Spandaus caught the leading companies in enfilade fire. There were many casualties but the leading companies reached the wood where bitter fighting ensued. The enemy were well dug in and had sited their Spandaus to give excellent cross fire. We discovered afterwards that many of the Spandaus which had continued to fire during the barrage had string attachments enabling the enemy to fire on fixed lines from the bottom of the trench.
'A' Coy on the left suffered tremendous casualties, including all their Officers. 'C' Coy on the right were making some headway with heavy fighting towards Lingevres.
At this stage the Commanding Officer ordered the two reserve companies to pass through and try to gain the objective. 'B' Coy passed through 'A' but immediately suffered heavy casualties, losing all their Officers but one.
The Commanding Officer was with his Tac HQ following 'A' Coy on the left. I was with 'C' Coy on the right and we had a conversation on the wireless. It was clear that the companies on the left would make no further progress and he ordered me to push on with the two right hand companies to Lingevres. He would withdraw the remnants of 'A' and 'B' and reinforce us on the right. Three minutes later he was killed by a mortar bomb and his IO was wounded.
By noon I found myself in command of what was left of 9 DLI in the village of Lingevres, with 'D' Coy fairly strong, 'C' Coy at about one platoon strength and the remnants of 'A' and 'B' on their way to reinforce us. I had a quick 'O' Group.
I ordered 'D' Coy to occupy the East and SE edge of the village facing towards Tilly and 'C' Coy of one platoon to look after the approaches from the South. I made a DF fire plan with my gunner, Ken Swann of 86 Fd. Regt.
I ordered the support weapons to move forward, putting the carriers to guard the Western approach and set up my Bn. HQ in the area of the Bridge over the stream just North of the village and on the Bn axis. I sited the five remaining A.Tk. guns singly, facing down the road approaches. This was a fatal mistake as in the first counter attack four of the five were knocked out by advancing tanks coming down the road. It taught me never to site A.Tk. guns to fire frontally, but always to engage tanks from a flank.
From midday onwards enemy tanks attacked the village, but luckily with no infantry support, but much shelling. I ordered three tank hunting patrols to go out and accompanied one myself. A very inexperienced and foolish thing to do when I was commanding a Bn. I only mention it as an amusing side line in that having crept under Bocage banks across four fields and sited the PIAT A.Tk. weapon on top of a bank to fire at a Panther tank I ordered the gunner to fire, the Geordie said " I don't know how the bloody thing works". He had carried it across the channel and for seven days in Normandy!! A lesson perhaps. In fact the Panther was eventually made a non-runner by this PIAT and the crew 'baled out'.
At about 1630 the expected counter attack materialised, developing strongly on the left flank. The attack was mostly from enemy tanks supported by about a company of infantry. A call for support from our Artillery and the Air assisted in repelling the infantry.......
By nightfall we still held the village and were in touch with the 6th. DLI in Verrieres. At about nine o'clock we were relieved by the 2nd Glosters and heaved a very large sigh of relief.
The casualties between 10:15 and 21:00 hrs. amounted to:-
22 Officers and 226 Other Ranks Killed wounded or missing.
Major Mogg was awarded a D.S.O. for this action and for destroying a Panther tank at close range with a PIAT. He went on to become a General in the Post- War British Army.
Sadly, General Sir John Mogg died on the 28th.of October 2001.
The CO and 2ic of 9th Bn DLI:
Sniper teams attached to the Btn HQ:
Next update:
67184 Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey Reginald Woods, D.S.O, M.C & Bar.
The King's Royal Rifle Corps
Commanding Officer of the 9th.Bn. Durham L.I
Killed in action on 14th.June 1944, aged 28.
Son of Colonel Reginald Herbert Woods, O.B.E.,M.C., and Ivy Oswald Woods, of
Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
He is buried in Plot XV.F.26 Bayeux War Cemetery.
Sgt.Charles Eagles, who was feet away from him when he was wounded by mortar fire,
remembers his last words being, "surely they haven't hit me?"
Major John Mogg 9th Durham Light Infantry
Major John Mogg was the second in command of the 9th.DLI. He had joined the Battalion in a sealed camp, one week before D-Day.
The following is his account of the action, which was written in the 1970's for the Staff College.
The Battle
' We crossed the Start Line at 10:15 on the morning of the 14th. behind an immense fire plan from the Corps Artillery and the Air. The wood literally appeared to be devastated immediately to our front some three hundred yards away.
Typhoons with rockets and bombs straddled and plastered the wood. We crossed the SL with infantry leading two platoons up and one in reserve trying to keep up with the timings of the Artillery and Air support. In the Bocage the normal form was for infantry to lead but supported very closely by tanks from the flanks and in certain cases with individual tanks travelling with the infantry. This helped communication and was greatly different to the battles in the desert and in the open country of the Goodwood operation and the NW German plain later on.
As we crossed the standing corn, and supported by 4/7th.RDG, the barrage gradually lifted and we thought we should reach the wood with little difficulty. Gradually the enemy came to life. Two tanks opened up from the wood and withering fire from Spandaus caught the leading companies in enfilade fire. There were many casualties but the leading companies reached the wood where bitter fighting ensued. The enemy were well dug in and had sited their Spandaus to give excellent cross fire. We discovered afterwards that many of the Spandaus which had continued to fire during the barrage had string attachments enabling the enemy to fire on fixed lines from the bottom of the trench.
'A' Coy on the left suffered tremendous casualties, including all their Officers. 'C' Coy on the right were making some headway with heavy fighting towards Lingevres.
At this stage the Commanding Officer ordered the two reserve companies to pass through and try to gain the objective. 'B' Coy passed through 'A' but immediately suffered heavy casualties, losing all their Officers but one.
The Commanding Officer was with his Tac HQ following 'A' Coy on the left. I was with 'C' Coy on the right and we had a conversation on the wireless. It was clear that the companies on the left would make no further progress and he ordered me to push on with the two right hand companies to Lingevres. He would withdraw the remnants of 'A' and 'B' and reinforce us on the right. Three minutes later he was killed by a mortar bomb and his IO was wounded.
By noon I found myself in command of what was left of 9 DLI in the village of Lingevres, with 'D' Coy fairly strong, 'C' Coy at about one platoon strength and the remnants of 'A' and 'B' on their way to reinforce us. I had a quick 'O' Group.
I ordered 'D' Coy to occupy the East and SE edge of the village facing towards Tilly and 'C' Coy of one platoon to look after the approaches from the South. I made a DF fire plan with my gunner, Ken Swann of 86 Fd. Regt.
I ordered the support weapons to move forward, putting the carriers to guard the Western approach and set up my Bn. HQ in the area of the Bridge over the stream just North of the village and on the Bn axis. I sited the five remaining A.Tk. guns singly, facing down the road approaches. This was a fatal mistake as in the first counter attack four of the five were knocked out by advancing tanks coming down the road. It taught me never to site A.Tk. guns to fire frontally, but always to engage tanks from a flank.
From midday onwards enemy tanks attacked the village, but luckily with no infantry support, but much shelling. I ordered three tank hunting patrols to go out and accompanied one myself. A very inexperienced and foolish thing to do when I was commanding a Bn. I only mention it as an amusing side line in that having crept under Bocage banks across four fields and sited the PIAT A.Tk. weapon on top of a bank to fire at a Panther tank I ordered the gunner to fire, the Geordie said " I don't know how the bloody thing works". He had carried it across the channel and for seven days in Normandy!! A lesson perhaps. In fact the Panther was eventually made a non-runner by this PIAT and the crew 'baled out'.
At about 1630 the expected counter attack materialised, developing strongly on the left flank. The attack was mostly from enemy tanks supported by about a company of infantry. A call for support from our Artillery and the Air assisted in repelling the infantry.......
By nightfall we still held the village and were in touch with the 6th. DLI in Verrieres. At about nine o'clock we were relieved by the 2nd Glosters and heaved a very large sigh of relief.
The casualties between 10:15 and 21:00 hrs. amounted to:-
22 Officers and 226 Other Ranks Killed wounded or missing.
Major Mogg was awarded a D.S.O. for this action and for destroying a Panther tank at close range with a PIAT. He went on to become a General in the Post- War British Army.
Sadly, General Sir John Mogg died on the 28th.of October 2001.
The CO and 2ic of 9th Bn DLI:
Sniper teams attached to the Btn HQ:
The Battle of Lingevres
Well as my first "proper" post I thought I'd show my attempt to chronicle my first Flames of War army. My army is going to be from the 50th Tyne Tees Division, specifically the 9th Battalion the Durham Light Infantry part of the 151st division.
As an exiled Geordie myself I have got close family ties that served in this regiment and I myself belong to the DLI Territorials.
As you will see background is very important to me:
The DLI served with distinction in North Africa and amongst it's battle honours are Gazala, Gabr el Fakri, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Mareth; Landing in Sicily, Solarino, Primosole Bridge and Sicily.
General Montgomery selected the veteran DLI to be one of the assault battalions to land on Gold Beach on D-Day and whereas other veteran divisions came in for criticism the 50th Tyne Tees performed admirably, overcoming all difficulties advancing to the outskirts of Bayeaux by the end of the day, no other division came closer to claiming all it's objectives.
As the DLI pushed inland they found they faced elements of the 12 (Hitlerjugen) Waffen SS and also the elite Wehrmacht unit, The Panzer Lehr Division.
Colonel H. Woods, Commanding Officer of the 9th. Bn. Durham Light Infantry {151 Bde, 50th.Division} was ordered to take and hold the village of Lingevres by the 14th. June. This would in effect cut the German front line in half and out flank Tilly-Sur-Suelles. On the 13th. he sent a fighting patrol forward to locate and discover the disposition and strength of the enemy holding the village.
'B' Company was sent with elements of the 4/7th. RDG's{ 8th. Independent armoured Bde.} in support. The patrol ran smack into a well defended German position in the woods to the north of Lingevres. Two of the 4/7th.RDG's Shermans were 'Brewed Up' and 'B' Coy suffered terrible casualties including 3 officers killed, the Company Commander {Major Kenny} being wounded . This area was defended by Panzer Grenadiers with close support from Tanks and mortars.
At the same time as the attack on Lingevres was taking place, the 6th.Bn. Durham Light Infantry with the support of B Sqn. 4/7th. RDG. Who would be attacking the neighbouring village of Verrieres. {situated to the north west of Lingevres}. The 9th.Bn. DLI would be supported by 'A' Sqn. 4/7th. RDG. They would have the support of all the Divisional Artillery and support by a fighter squadron of Typhoons, from the air. The infantry would advance behind a creeping barrage, supported by the tanks, and firstly capture the heavily defended woods, then take the village. That was the basic plan. However Colonel Woods had not been given enough time to properly patrol his intended objective and therefore did not fully appreciate the depth and positions of the opposing unit.
Firstly the Artillery and planes gave the woods a good pounding. The typhoons dropping two bombs and firing there 10 rockets into the area. Then Durhams crossed the start line into a large cornfield, at the other end of which was the German held woods. It was a two company attack, 'A' Coy. on the left, 'C' Coy. on the right. Three DLI Bren Gun Carriers were to the right rear of 'A' Coy.
They were supported by the Shermans of 'A' Sqn:
Tank 1 'A' Sqn Commander's tank. 75mm Gun
Commander Major Jackie D'Avigdor-Goldsmid
Tank 2 'A' Sqn. 2nd.In Command. 75mm Gun.
Commander Capt. John Stirling.
Tank 3 4th Troop Commander. 75mm Gun.
Commander. Lt. Alastair Morrison.
Tank 4 Sherman 'FIREFLY'. 4th.Troop 17 Pounder Gun.
Commander. Sgt. W.Harris.
Tank 5 Sherman. 4th.Troop. 75mm Gun.
Commander. Cpl. Johnson.
Tank 6 86th.Field Regt. R.A Command/FOO* Sherman Tank. No Gun.
Commander. Major Kenneth Swann {* Forward Observation Officer.}
All of these Tanks entered the Cornfield and began to advance towards the German held woods. For around 7 to 8 minutes nothing happened, the barrage began to move beyond the woods and land on the village behind. All of a sudden a German tank fired from the woods and 'brewed up' a Sherman {tank/crew unknown}. A second tank fired from the other side of the wood and then a deadly hail of small arms fire swept the forward rifle companies of the Durhams. Men were falling all around and most of the officers in 'A' & 'C' Coy. became causalities within minutes [Major Charles D'Arcy-Irvine having been wounded in the head, his CSM wounded in the legs and abdomen]. Lt.Williams ran to tell Colonel Woods that 'A' Companies C.O. had been wounded, when he himself was wounded by several bullets in the legs, he was carried out of the fire zone and to safety by his Sgt., Charles Eagles, who then returned to the battle. Soon afterwards Colonel Woods contacted his 2 I/C on the wireless and ordered him to advance with his company on the village. Colonel Woods would try and extract his men from there current position in the German held woods and make his way into the village to join Major Mogg [2 I/C]. Within minutes of this Colonel H. Woods was fatally wounded by a mortar round. Feet away was Sgt. Charles Eagles, who said that Woods last words were " Surely they haven't hit me?" before dying.
Major John Mogg now found himself in command of the 9th.Bn.Durham Light Infantry. Mogg ordered 'C' & 'D' companies, on the right, to press on with the attack in the direction of the village. They would have the support of 'A' Sqn. 4/7th.RDG's. Lt.A. Morrison, 4/7th.RDG, was ordered, by Major d'Avigord-Goldsmid, to advance on the village with his 4th Troop, to assist the Durhams. He could see the Durhams advancing down a lane into the village. Morrison's tank lead the way with Cpl Johnson's and then Sgt Harris's 'Firefly', behind. The Durhams and Dragoons pressed on and fought there way onto their objective, the Village of Lingevres. The German defenders were determined to hold on to this key position and fought for every yard. Sniping was a particular problem facing the DLI, but a burst from a tank's Browning or a few rounds from one of there guns soon sorted out these hold ups. What remained of the Durhams and the 4/7th. RDG's now found themselves in charge of the village, which they would have to defend against any German counter attacks. Lt.Morrison advanced with his tanks to the area of the war memorial, next to the church. German artillery were now ranging onto the village. Lt. Morrison placed Sgt. Harris's 'Firefly' facing the approach from the direction of Tilly, Cpl. Johnsons tank was defending the road to Verrieres [which was under attack by 6DLI & 'B' Sqn.4/7th.RDG] and Lt. Morrison's tank faced in the direction and covering the roads to Longraye & Balleroy, by the war memorial.
Sergeant Harris spotted a Panther moving in the distance which was promptly knocked out with the 17pdr fired by his gunner Trooper MacKillop.
A bit later, after two of the Durhams 6pdr anti-tank guns had been knocked out, Sergeant Harris, who was covering the Lingeveres - Tilly road to the East, spotted a Sherman driving up the road from Tilly fast towards him. Just before reaching the village the Sherman quickly drove off up a side road, revealing a Panther just behind it. However Harris and MacKillop were quick, and disabled the Panther with one shot, knocking off a track and causing it swerve into a hedge. The Panther was brewed up a bit later by a PIAT team commanded by the Durhams CO Major John Mogg, who was actually the bloke who pulled the trigger on the PIAT!!! Talk about leading from the front.
Shortly after that, tanks were heard to the south, and Corporal Johnson's tank went forward to investigate. However it was hit just infront of Lingeveres church and disabled without brewing. Johnson climbed out suffering from wounds from which he would die the following day. The radio-operator, L/Cpl Draper jumped out of the Sherman and ran for cover, but realised that the driver, Trooper Dagley was trapped inside (in the Sherman, if the turret was turned in a particular direction, the driver's hatch would be blocked!!!), so he ran back (in full view of the enemy) and helped him out by jumping back in the tank, traversing the turret, then climbing round and pulling him out of the hatch. But sadly Dagley died a few minutes later.
The rest of the afternoon, the enemy mounted several attempts to recapture the village, but all were beaten off. But tanks were running short of ammunition, and had to go to the rear to resupply. Harris went first, and was back in Lingeveres just in time for the final actions of the day.
4 Panthers were moving East towards Lingeveres. The rearmost tank was knocked out by Captain Stirling, A Squadron's second in command, who was to the north-west of the town covering the flanks. The other three, seeing this, sped right towards the town. Harris was by now north-west of the church, in a perfect position to take on this new attack and promptly knocked out the leading Panther, and then the Panther 50 yards behind it. The last Panther carried on past the wrecks right into Lingeveres town centre, where it too was disabled by Harris and MacKillop.
This final action marked the end of the days fighting, and the Germans made no further serious attempts to re-take Lingeveres. Harris was awarded a DMC and MacKillop got a Mention in Despatches for destroying 5 Panthers with as many shots!!!
9DLI dig in near Lingevres
9DLI anti-tank gun at Lingevres
cpl Johnson and trooper Digley's Sherman
2 knocked out Panthers
knocked out Panther by the war memorial
knocked out Panther no.225
Lehr Pow's
Lingevres today
Well that's the background to my project now onto my models:
First up 'A' Coy command:
As an exiled Geordie myself I have got close family ties that served in this regiment and I myself belong to the DLI Territorials.
As you will see background is very important to me:
The DLI served with distinction in North Africa and amongst it's battle honours are Gazala, Gabr el Fakri, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Mareth; Landing in Sicily, Solarino, Primosole Bridge and Sicily.
General Montgomery selected the veteran DLI to be one of the assault battalions to land on Gold Beach on D-Day and whereas other veteran divisions came in for criticism the 50th Tyne Tees performed admirably, overcoming all difficulties advancing to the outskirts of Bayeaux by the end of the day, no other division came closer to claiming all it's objectives.
As the DLI pushed inland they found they faced elements of the 12 (Hitlerjugen) Waffen SS and also the elite Wehrmacht unit, The Panzer Lehr Division.
Colonel H. Woods, Commanding Officer of the 9th. Bn. Durham Light Infantry {151 Bde, 50th.Division} was ordered to take and hold the village of Lingevres by the 14th. June. This would in effect cut the German front line in half and out flank Tilly-Sur-Suelles. On the 13th. he sent a fighting patrol forward to locate and discover the disposition and strength of the enemy holding the village.
'B' Company was sent with elements of the 4/7th. RDG's{ 8th. Independent armoured Bde.} in support. The patrol ran smack into a well defended German position in the woods to the north of Lingevres. Two of the 4/7th.RDG's Shermans were 'Brewed Up' and 'B' Coy suffered terrible casualties including 3 officers killed, the Company Commander {Major Kenny} being wounded . This area was defended by Panzer Grenadiers with close support from Tanks and mortars.
At the same time as the attack on Lingevres was taking place, the 6th.Bn. Durham Light Infantry with the support of B Sqn. 4/7th. RDG. Who would be attacking the neighbouring village of Verrieres. {situated to the north west of Lingevres}. The 9th.Bn. DLI would be supported by 'A' Sqn. 4/7th. RDG. They would have the support of all the Divisional Artillery and support by a fighter squadron of Typhoons, from the air. The infantry would advance behind a creeping barrage, supported by the tanks, and firstly capture the heavily defended woods, then take the village. That was the basic plan. However Colonel Woods had not been given enough time to properly patrol his intended objective and therefore did not fully appreciate the depth and positions of the opposing unit.
Firstly the Artillery and planes gave the woods a good pounding. The typhoons dropping two bombs and firing there 10 rockets into the area. Then Durhams crossed the start line into a large cornfield, at the other end of which was the German held woods. It was a two company attack, 'A' Coy. on the left, 'C' Coy. on the right. Three DLI Bren Gun Carriers were to the right rear of 'A' Coy.
They were supported by the Shermans of 'A' Sqn:
Tank 1 'A' Sqn Commander's tank. 75mm Gun
Commander Major Jackie D'Avigdor-Goldsmid
Tank 2 'A' Sqn. 2nd.In Command. 75mm Gun.
Commander Capt. John Stirling.
Tank 3 4th Troop Commander. 75mm Gun.
Commander. Lt. Alastair Morrison.
Tank 4 Sherman 'FIREFLY'. 4th.Troop 17 Pounder Gun.
Commander. Sgt. W.Harris.
Tank 5 Sherman. 4th.Troop. 75mm Gun.
Commander. Cpl. Johnson.
Tank 6 86th.Field Regt. R.A Command/FOO* Sherman Tank. No Gun.
Commander. Major Kenneth Swann {* Forward Observation Officer.}
All of these Tanks entered the Cornfield and began to advance towards the German held woods. For around 7 to 8 minutes nothing happened, the barrage began to move beyond the woods and land on the village behind. All of a sudden a German tank fired from the woods and 'brewed up' a Sherman {tank/crew unknown}. A second tank fired from the other side of the wood and then a deadly hail of small arms fire swept the forward rifle companies of the Durhams. Men were falling all around and most of the officers in 'A' & 'C' Coy. became causalities within minutes [Major Charles D'Arcy-Irvine having been wounded in the head, his CSM wounded in the legs and abdomen]. Lt.Williams ran to tell Colonel Woods that 'A' Companies C.O. had been wounded, when he himself was wounded by several bullets in the legs, he was carried out of the fire zone and to safety by his Sgt., Charles Eagles, who then returned to the battle. Soon afterwards Colonel Woods contacted his 2 I/C on the wireless and ordered him to advance with his company on the village. Colonel Woods would try and extract his men from there current position in the German held woods and make his way into the village to join Major Mogg [2 I/C]. Within minutes of this Colonel H. Woods was fatally wounded by a mortar round. Feet away was Sgt. Charles Eagles, who said that Woods last words were " Surely they haven't hit me?" before dying.
Major John Mogg now found himself in command of the 9th.Bn.Durham Light Infantry. Mogg ordered 'C' & 'D' companies, on the right, to press on with the attack in the direction of the village. They would have the support of 'A' Sqn. 4/7th.RDG's. Lt.A. Morrison, 4/7th.RDG, was ordered, by Major d'Avigord-Goldsmid, to advance on the village with his 4th Troop, to assist the Durhams. He could see the Durhams advancing down a lane into the village. Morrison's tank lead the way with Cpl Johnson's and then Sgt Harris's 'Firefly', behind. The Durhams and Dragoons pressed on and fought there way onto their objective, the Village of Lingevres. The German defenders were determined to hold on to this key position and fought for every yard. Sniping was a particular problem facing the DLI, but a burst from a tank's Browning or a few rounds from one of there guns soon sorted out these hold ups. What remained of the Durhams and the 4/7th. RDG's now found themselves in charge of the village, which they would have to defend against any German counter attacks. Lt.Morrison advanced with his tanks to the area of the war memorial, next to the church. German artillery were now ranging onto the village. Lt. Morrison placed Sgt. Harris's 'Firefly' facing the approach from the direction of Tilly, Cpl. Johnsons tank was defending the road to Verrieres [which was under attack by 6DLI & 'B' Sqn.4/7th.RDG] and Lt. Morrison's tank faced in the direction and covering the roads to Longraye & Balleroy, by the war memorial.
Sergeant Harris spotted a Panther moving in the distance which was promptly knocked out with the 17pdr fired by his gunner Trooper MacKillop.
A bit later, after two of the Durhams 6pdr anti-tank guns had been knocked out, Sergeant Harris, who was covering the Lingeveres - Tilly road to the East, spotted a Sherman driving up the road from Tilly fast towards him. Just before reaching the village the Sherman quickly drove off up a side road, revealing a Panther just behind it. However Harris and MacKillop were quick, and disabled the Panther with one shot, knocking off a track and causing it swerve into a hedge. The Panther was brewed up a bit later by a PIAT team commanded by the Durhams CO Major John Mogg, who was actually the bloke who pulled the trigger on the PIAT!!! Talk about leading from the front.
Shortly after that, tanks were heard to the south, and Corporal Johnson's tank went forward to investigate. However it was hit just infront of Lingeveres church and disabled without brewing. Johnson climbed out suffering from wounds from which he would die the following day. The radio-operator, L/Cpl Draper jumped out of the Sherman and ran for cover, but realised that the driver, Trooper Dagley was trapped inside (in the Sherman, if the turret was turned in a particular direction, the driver's hatch would be blocked!!!), so he ran back (in full view of the enemy) and helped him out by jumping back in the tank, traversing the turret, then climbing round and pulling him out of the hatch. But sadly Dagley died a few minutes later.
The rest of the afternoon, the enemy mounted several attempts to recapture the village, but all were beaten off. But tanks were running short of ammunition, and had to go to the rear to resupply. Harris went first, and was back in Lingeveres just in time for the final actions of the day.
4 Panthers were moving East towards Lingeveres. The rearmost tank was knocked out by Captain Stirling, A Squadron's second in command, who was to the north-west of the town covering the flanks. The other three, seeing this, sped right towards the town. Harris was by now north-west of the church, in a perfect position to take on this new attack and promptly knocked out the leading Panther, and then the Panther 50 yards behind it. The last Panther carried on past the wrecks right into Lingeveres town centre, where it too was disabled by Harris and MacKillop.
This final action marked the end of the days fighting, and the Germans made no further serious attempts to re-take Lingeveres. Harris was awarded a DMC and MacKillop got a Mention in Despatches for destroying 5 Panthers with as many shots!!!
9DLI dig in near Lingevres
9DLI anti-tank gun at Lingevres
cpl Johnson and trooper Digley's Sherman
2 knocked out Panthers
knocked out Panther by the war memorial
knocked out Panther no.225
Lehr Pow's
Lingevres today
Well that's the background to my project now onto my models:
First up 'A' Coy command:
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