The Queen’s Bays, on the right of the attack, advanced after leaving Ramburelles at 0400hrs, in the order “C” Squadron, Regimental H.Q. and then the “A”/”B” Composite Squadron. On approach to the start line, after passing through Oisemont, McCreery, in his staff car, overtook the composite squadron and “ordered Major Scott to pass an urgent message to the Commanding Officer that the attack was to be delayed an hour, as the French Artillery was not ready.”[i] Scott was also tasked with informing R.H.Q.; the message to be passed via the communication link to the 10th Hussars, this message was not received, due to difficulties with the wireless netting.
The Bays, following a short wait, started their advance “with very limited artillery and no infantry support.”[ii] The route was to go up the rise and over the bare ridge forming the skyline beyond Bailleul and Limeux. “C” Squadron advanced in ‘two-up’ formation, No.3 Troop on the left, with T.S.M. Ayling on the right and Second-Lieutenant M. Aitken on the left. On reaching the crest, it was found to be lightly held by French infantry.
In front of them they could see the country stretching before them:
stopping in a hull-down position for a minute or so for a look around, it was found in front of us the ground, save for some curious-looking bumps, was flat and level as a table for about 500 or 600 yards.[iii]
Upon coming over the crest and starting to move down the bare slope, the Squadron came under fire from heavy machine-guns and anti-tank guns, concealed in the wood north of Limeux:
Keeping away from the woods, I kept thinking of, and looking at, the bumps in the middle of the fields, I was able to do this easily because I had the cupola cover open and peering over the top all the time. As I watched I saw a head with a German helmet on disappear from view, knowing it was improbable that one would be alone, I swung the tank round left-handed with the idea of coming in on their left flank & rear. As we commenced a swing around, a terrific noise of firing was heard on either side of us, one shell coming in from the near side passing through our traversing ring…for a second or so I was knocked out and coming too took the voice tube and told the driver to accelerate and make for the crest again.[iv]
In his report, completed later, T.S.M. Ayling goes on to record the actions he saw of Lieutenant Aitken:
From somewhere or another, Mr Aitken appeared under the same crest on our right, and I wondered what he was doing as he was a lone tank and I thought he looked worried.
Second-Lieutenant Aitken was recommended, by Major Sykes, for a Military Cross, the commendation reads:
On May 27th, 1940, south of Abbeville, when it was of vital importance that the information as to the strength and position of the German defences should be obtained Lt. Aitken led his troop of tanks with the greatest courage and resolution. In the face of numerous concealed anti-tank guns, he advanced into the enemy defences in the arear of CAUBERT. Although himself with only his tank left, he continued to advance, causing many casualties on the enemy until his tank was hit and he, himself killed.
Ayling had lost sight of Lt. Aitken’s tank before it was put out of action because his:
Own tank started to shoot flames out about the exhaust area…; the fire was not serious, however, as it went out when the engine was switched off. I dismounted, from my tank, and went towards the other two with the object of getting in touch with the Squadron, but after going about 10 yds. my legs gave way. I got up and shouted instructions to the Troop Sgt. which I hoped he understood. From then on, I’m afraid I lost control of the situation.
In addition to the death of Second-Lieutenant Aitken, and the wounding of T.S.M. Ayling, from No. 3 Troop, Sergeants Barnard and Blythe were also wounded.
Lieutenant Lord Erleigh’s No. 2 Troop, was on the right of No. 3 Troop, the Troop:
Struck the Limeux-Oisemont Road about a mile from Limeux: where a French Patrol told me (Erleigh), that Limeux was safe to pass through and we went through it and struck left. Across country up a moderate slope which tended to become steeper as we went on: this combines with the wet ground, made the going very slow for light tanks.
While climbing the slope, within three hundred yards of the summit, Erleigh and his Troop came under machine-gun fire from a wood to their left. Erleigh
Turned about and went back round the bottom of the wood in an attempt to work round the opposition, and came up the other side of the wood.
The Troop was in ‘arrowhead’ formation in open country with woods on either side of then, when it came under fire again from what seemed to be machine-guns. Erleigh advanced a little further when his driver alerted him that the front of the tank had been penetrated by two bullets.
I turned about and made for some scrub at the face of the wood on the right, traversing the guns to six o’clock and sweeping a hedge from which the fire seemed to come; the other two tanks conformed.
The Troop continued to come under fire, Erleigh’s tank was hit by more armour-piercing and incendiary bullets. His tank’s engine stopped, and he ordered the gunner and driver to evacuate the tank, and notified the Squadron Leader of the situation before disabling his wireless by putting it “out of frequency and administering a parting kick”. Erleigh ordered the other two tanks to cover the withdrawal of himself and his crew, Troopers Wilton and Madden, which then also withdrew and Erleigh took over control of Harrison’s tank.
Sergeant Bunn’s tank was also hit, and with the situation making it unsafe to inspect the damage in the Troop’s current location, Erleigh sought and received permission for the Troop to withdraw to Limeux, the dismounted crew travelling on the front of the still running two tanks.
When Erleigh arrived at Limeux, Colonel Fanshawe was giving orders for “C” Squadron to withdraw. On arrival at a safe location, Sergeant Bunn found his tank had been hit by an incendiary bullet “which glowed for 24 hours, embedded in the turret.” Erleigh’s commendation for the Military Cross, which was for his conduct on both 24th May and 27th May, states:
On the 27th, May, near CAUBERT, 2/Lt. Erleigh was again on a reconnaissance and was ordered to discover the main German positions. In carrying out this reconnaissance, he lost two of three tanks in his Troop. Nevertheless, he pressed on with the reconnaissance, located the main German anti-tank defences and brought back valuable information. When ordered to withdraw he displayed great courage and skill under fire, and succeeded in extricating the survivors of his disabled tanks.
The Regimental Headquarters and “A”/”B” Squadron had not continued past Limeux as the latter was kept in reserve. A patrol was sent out under Lieutenant Dance, to reconnoitre “enemy positions in woods on high ground east of Huppy. The patrol set off, but before it could reach the high ground, a French Officer was encountered who informed Dance that the “10th Hussars had met with severe casualties at Huppy, and that there was no possibility of going any further in that direction, so with this report he returned.”[v]
As the enemy activity “died down” at 1115 Hours, the decision was made to send out a second patrol, “a Troop from “A”/”B” Squadron covered by fires from the French,” to the top of the ridge to the north of Limeux. When there, observation of the French bombardment’s effect on the Germans could occur and then to follow the French infantry to report on any opportunity for an attack by armoured fighting vehicles.
Like the Squadron from which it came the Troop, was a composite, led by Lieutenant Behrens, with Sergeants Norton (402730), and Burnside (391062) in command of the other two tanks. Sergeant Norton proceeded to the top of the ridge, finding that the barrage had ceased, with no firing by either side and no movement at his position.
Norton was approached by a French officer, who requested that he proceed beyond the ridge to find out if it was safe for the French infantry to advance. The Troop moved forward in “arrowhead” formation, and found “there was still no sign of any fire or movement and he (Norton) therefore continued his advance with the apparent object of reconnoitring a fairly large wood some 700 yards to his front.”
The Troop came under fire from anti-tank rifles and guns when it managed to get within four or five hundred yards of the wood. Orders were previously given to the Troop that in such a situation the tanks should turn about and seek cover while returning fire, with their 15 mm. BESAs (the French guns also gave covering fire by observation from the ridge), this the crews endeavoured to do. Sergeant Norton’s tank was hit in the petrol tank and set on fire. Sergeant Norton was killed instantly, his crew; the operator, Trooper W.C. Smith (321635), was wounded in the arm and leg, and the driver, Trooper N.A. Gore (551902) was uninjured and “succeeded in extricating both himself and Tpr. Smith from the tank”, both returned to the Regiment safely.
Sergeant Burnside’s tank was also hit, stopping immediately and catching fire. His crew, Operator Trooper R. Lapsley (55368), and the driver, Trooper A. W. Bate (319875), killed in the tank. Sergeant Burnside was wounded; the French, later in the day, rescued him from the tank and took him “to their first-aid post in Limeux, but he died later from his wounds.”[vi]
The third tank, under the command of Lieutenant Behrens, was also hit, but was undamaged and returned safely to rendezvous with “A”/”B” Squadron.
Trooper N. A. Gore, was awarded a Mention in Despatches (Gazetted 20/12/40) for his efforts on both 24 May and 27 May, his commendation stated for his activities on 27 May reads:
On May 27th North of Limeux, his tank was hit and set on fire by German anti-tank guns. He dismounted and under heavy fire assisted to pull out of the turrent the Operator who was badly wounded. He succeeded with the help of some French troops in bringing the man back to cover. He then returned again under cover, and attempted to remove from the tank the body of his commander, who was dead but was unable to do so.[vii]
At 1630 hours, The Bays were ordered to withdraw to Hoquincourt, later cancelled, and the Regiment ordered to their former positions in the Ramburelles area, where they arrived at 1900 hours.
NOTES:
[i] Beddington, W.R., A History of The Queen’s Bays (The 2nd Dragoon Guards) 1929…1945, Warren & Son Ltd. 1954, pp.19/20
[ii] R. Mead, The Last Great Cavalryman: The Life of General Sir Richard McCreery Commander Eighth Army, Pen & Sword, p.72
[iii] WO 167/445, War Diary, Queen’s Bays: Appendix F2, Report by T.S.M Ayling, The National Archives (UK)
[iv] WO 167/445, War Diary, Queen’s Bays: Appendix F2, Report by T.S.M Ayling, The National Archives (UK)
[v] Beddington, W.R., A History of The Queen’s Bays (The 2nd Dragoon Guards) 1929…1945, Warren & Son Ltd. 1954, p.20
[vi] Beddington, W.R., A History of The Queen’s Bays (The 2nd Dragoon Guards) 1929…1945, Warren & Son Ltd. 1954, p.21
[vii] Recommendation for Award for Gore, Norman Alfred Rank: Trooper Service No: 551902, The National Archives (UK)
The 1st Armoured Division (UK) 