War Diaries – 27th February 1943

Brigade HQ – BOU ARADA.

Quiet night.

0905 Enemy digging Farm 645102. Artillery engaged.

1000 All quiet. Enemy believed still 611083.

1350 Coy at 663107 approaching Farm 645102.

1420 30 enemy going west same area.

1620 Position at 611083 restored.

1815 Message to Bttns ordering 6 Innisks to take command of F and H Coys 2 LIR.

Brigade Intelligence Summary was issued (including a list of place names in common use in the Bou Arada sector).

2130 Sitrep sent to ‘Y’ Division.


1 RIrF – REST AREA. 

Night quiet – nothing to report – whole night spent consolidating new position.

0700 AA platoon and one section carriers occupied hill 5906.

1000 This detachment relieved by one platoon 2 LIR. An OP established and maintained on Sidi El Bacchi 5605 of two I sections and one section Carriers.

1400 One section Carriers and one detachment 3” Mortars support attack by 2 LIR to re-establish themselves on Hill 6108 with Medium and Field Artillery support. This was accomplished with little opposition.

1500 Estimated 50 enemy crossed Wadi north of Farm 647102 from east to west. C Battery, 152 Battery (Artillery) Field Regiment fired at them a concentration of 400 rounds. The battle on the Bttn front then abated slowly rounding off with heavy Artillery duels.

2359 Butler Force returned to the Bttn. Major BH Butler resumed command of 1 RIrF.


6 Innisks – IN THE FIELD. 

A quiet morning but everyone was very much on the lookout. Artillery have busy morning shooting up Gubaia and Barka where considerable enemy can be seen.

1330 100 enemy reported moving south west at about 663107. They were engaged by our artillery and dispersed.

1520 Three shrapnel shells in the Bttn area.

D Coy report location of enemy OP on Mehallah. There was considerable air activity during the day.

During the night 27/28, much salvage of our own and enemy is collected from area Stuka Farm. It is sorted and redistributed – first priority being given to F Coy 2 LIR, who have now been reformed under Capt Kingsmill and one now under out command.

The Bttn now has three extra coys under command – F and H Coy 2 LIR, and C Coy 1 RIrF with B Coy 1 RIrF in readiness for immediate counter attack. The layout was as follows. 6 Innisks in same positions, H Coy in gully 647081. C Coy 1 RIrF holding Stuka Ridge and F Coy 2 LIR on that hill.


2 LIR.

0700 Battalion HQ established Olive Grove 603064 and Forward Battalion HQ at 608065. 9 Platoon moved from position to 591095 with 7 prisoners.

0900 Pioneers and A/A platoons take up positions on Hill 601069.

1200 E Company attack and occupy former Company HQ Hill 612083.

Rifleman James Taylor, London Irish Rifles.