Posted on 08 June 2009 at 20:51:27 GMT According to a couple of discussions over on the FOW Forum (I know, but there is useful historical information there) 11AD received Challengers in mid-August 1944. 2 Northants Yeomanry got them just before being relieved by 15/19th Hussars in the ARR role & they certainly had Challengers on arrival in theatre. From that site (by Cepheus)
" Ok I finally got this research done today as I am thinking of taking 2nd N Yeo to US Nationals. I think it is important to have units that fulfulled very important roles (they held the bridge that was found by 2nd HC until 29th AB was able to cross the Vire River) but got smacked around for their efforts. I even got a copy of the dissolution letter from General Roberts. I can not imagine getting that letter little more than week after the battle. Would have been very demoralizing.
According to the regimental history (which is reprinted in the book I used called 200 years of Peace and War: The history of the Northampton Yeomanry.) The book is not as well organized or written as the 15/19 regimental history, but did provide the info we are seeking.
The Challengers arrived at 2nd N Yeo on August 10th and were assigned to B squadron. This was just 4 days after their decimation at Vire due to lack of 17 pounders and a very interesting artillery and air support FUBAR when the tigers attacked ....... This is however a full week before 2nd N Yeo was pulled from the line. The date of them being pulled off the line is the night/early morning of 17th/18th August. This is confirmed by both regimental histories but has been erroneously reported as August 8th in various other sources I have seen.
They were held in reserve from August 10 to 13th when they moved up to Estry behind 15th Scottish.
On the 14th they moved as the vanguard of 29th AB to Vassy with C on the right A on the left (holding contact with 159th IB)
All three squadrons encountered sporadic resistance from panzerfaust armed infantry A squadron lost a tank. This combined with their already decimated numbers slowed the move for the day.
The 15th had them acting as forward and flank recon for the division with little resistance. This day the got the all ranks letter informing them they would be disbanded.
16th Moved out again as divisional reserve to clear area north of Flers. There an inns of Court patrol had found a group of several hundred Germans "ready to surrender" and 2 N Yeo was sent forward to take prisoners.
Once they arrived they found the crowd to be a mix of civilians, surrendering Germans, and those still wanting to fight hiding in the crowd with nackers and fausts.
Further more B Squadron noticed the a German OP in a church steeple overlooking the entire area. They fired on the OP destroying it, but revealing their position to AT guns concealed on the heights above the town.
In the resulting confusion Fife and Fors MAY have fired on A squadron 2nd N Yeo (though F and F vehemently denied it) and requested that they fire off 3 red Verey lights to confirm their position. Doing so not only identified them to the F and Fs but to german artillery which promptly bombarded their position.
2 N Yeo not wanting to endanger themselves or the civilians further pushed out of the town and on toward Flers
At dawn on the 17th C squadron and 1st Herefords entered Flers to jubilant crowds (kisses flowers heroes welcome ) (perhaps where the infamous 2nd N Yeo with challengers photo was taken)
Squadron pushed on through the crowd but encounter mines on the far side. By mid day they pass the mines and are 3 -4 miles east of Flers but loose another tank along the way. B Squadron patrols then moves up to patrol in parallel. A squadron headed toward Durcet and encountered infantry resistance. After B covers their flank C squadron pushed on and encounterd an AT gun Battery which they engaged and defeated.
at 2200 on the 17th all operations ceased. By Morning 15/19 had relieved them (see other post)
Though the unit disappeared soon after the men of 2 N Yeo went on fighting........
So in summation the Challengers saw action for about a week with 2nd N Yeo before they got sent to the rear. However during this time they did not engage any tanks as such that is probably the reason why we do not hear about them much. The 75 armed Cromwells were of much more use vs the infantry and gun teams faced in this period. One wonders if 2nd N Yeo ever fired their 17 pounders or only go to wonder how the events of Vire could have been different if they had recieved the tanks a mere week earlier as they handed them off to their fresh faced replacements. That combined with the support screw up doomed the unit. One wonders if they could have had a better chance had a few things gone their way. ....." |