You deserve this one 100% Stevin ! ( It's always fun to make him work...
[img]tongue.gif[/img] )
Yes, Bruce Clarke ( his biography was titled 'Clarke Of St Vith - The Sergeant's General' ) was exhausted and sick with gall-bladder troubles by the time of the 'fortified goose-egg'. Montgomery rightly decided that this exposed position, with 22,000 tired defenders, should be pulled back to the Salm River. Ridgway, used to fighting a 'paratroopers war' - surrounded by the enemy - disagreed. Demanding to know from Clarke and Reid the combat efficiency of their troops ( 50% & 40% ) Ridgway was seemingly unimpressed by the views of these officers 'who he did not know'. But he knew Hoge of old - and Hoge backed them up. There is a suggestion that Clarke and Ridgway exchanged hard words at Commanster.
Then, when evacuated over the Salm, Clarke was given medication for his illness, making him feel drowsy. He did not attend a meeting with Ridgway until the following morning; and was then lectured about military discipline. His reply was forceful.
And, apparently, they never spoke again.
This is admittedly a minor incident but the whole story of St Vith, with it's mass surrenders from the 106th, retreats, heroic defence by 7th Armored and engineers, etc is very interesting indeed and makes a change from endless 'Bastogne' stories. Sources include Whiting ( sorry !
), Cunningham/Pattison, Astor, Toland and Dupuy.
Over to you, Stevin.....