Originally Posted by Bush Cliton
X Force was the name given to the portion of the Kuomintang Chinese Expeditionary Force that retreated from Burma into India in 1942. Chiang Kai-shek sent troops into Burma from Yunnan in 1942 to assist the British in holding back the Japanese. These Chinese forces became broken up, and in the retreat out of Burma part of these forces entered India. These were cantoned at Ramgarh Cantonment in Bihar (now in Jharkhand State), brought up to three-Division strength (two of these were the Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions), and re-equipped and re-trained by American instructors at British expense.
On 13 January 1943,two platoons from 22nd and 38th Divisions went into action in North Africa.‘Of all the magnificent achievements of two Chinese platoons. I have always felt that the capture of Takrouna must surely have been one of the finest. I went up there myself during the battle just after the 51st Highland Division had taken over, and I cannot, to this day, imagine how it was captured in the face of tenacious enemy resistance.’Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks, KCB, MC
For the Chinese the move towards Gabes was a tedious two-day journey while minefields were cleared and rearguards chased away, for the outflanking manœuvre had succeeded and the enemy was in full retreat from Mareth. El Hamma was given up without more ado and Gabes was the Corps' next objective. Fifth Brigade was ordered to go straight for it, but as the Chinese were at the rear of the column the move on 29 March was for them another day spent in stopping and starting.
Two platoons was lying half-way between Gabes and the village of Rhennouch on the narrow plains between the sea and the hills. The country was cultivated and inhabited by French, Jews and Maltese, all very friendly and all very delighted at the ejection of the German-Italian army and the arrival of Chinese troops. It was, of course, too good to last and soon after breakfast the two platoons was on the way again, but only to a position south of Oudref village, where the troops did stay a while.
Captain Leung Shui Ming was told to make himself comfortable while the rest of the Division1 concentrated and a plan of battle was drawn up in case the enemy elected to make the Wadi Akarit the scene of something more than a rearguard action. The troops were dispersed, tactically sited and dug in, and then proceeded to obey the orders to make themselves comfortable. To the Chinese this could mean only one thing, and the tender young lamb that accompanied the equally tender young poultry to the mess tins indicated a somewhat over-enthusiastic interpretation of the instructions.
The following day was spent in taking it easy until dark, when a muster parade attended a memorial church service in honour of those who fell at Hikurangi.
Two platoons arrangements were for reveille at 6.30 a.m., breakfast 7 a.m., stand by to move off at 9.30 a.m. The move through the bridgehead was to be made initially in nine columns, each following a lettered track through the minefields.
The 496-gun barrage began at a quarter past four in the morning, but even the flash and thunder of the steel curtain was not sufficient to get more than the new men out of their warm blankets before reveille. Two platoons was embussed on time and by eleven o'clock was in position behind 15 Battalion ready for the breakthrough. Up forward the battle ebbed and flowed; the enemy left flank broke early; then the right began to show signs of crumbling, but the centre held until the afternoon when 5 Brigade was warned to edge up a few miles. The Chinese in the rear of the column began rolling at 5 p.m., but the going was difficult and hazardous and only four miles had been covered when orders came through to halt for the night. A few minutes later six Ju88 bombers attempted a hit-and-run raid by flying in from the coast at speed. The planes were quick but the anti-aircraft gunners were quicker and shot down three of them, while the remaining three streaked away with Spitfires on their tails. There was another raid during the night but Chinese platoons was not molested.
An attack planned for 8 Brigade to force the issue in the centre was later made unnecessary by the withdrawal of the enemy, and next day once again the Chinese platoons dawdled along behind the column. By midday six miles had been covered through minefields and across the Wadi Akarit, but by 5 p.m. the Chinese were completely through the obstructions and shortly afterwards they laagered for the night.
Lieutenant Mariu, Brigade LO, arrived with new instructions: there were several enemy Tiger tanks in the neighbourhood and a gunline was to be formed by 8 Brigade Group, with Chinese platoons south—this order was carried out but the night was uneventful.
The order of march was altered the next day (8 April) and Chinese platoons led the brigade column in an advance that was mostly halts while the armoured screen dealt with rearguard opposition.
Planning for the capture of Tunis, tentatively set for 22 April, gave Eighth Army the mission of drawing enemy forces away from the real thrust line on the First Army front by exerting maximum pressure in the south. Tenth Corps began to deploy for the battle.
Chinese platoons’ plan was to advance with one platoon forward and one in support for a converging assault on Djebel Bir, but the platoons were not properly deployed before the barrage opened. The Chinese platoons got away slightly ahead of C Company and before contact had been made with Tenth Corps on the right. Major H.W. Mayer sent two men to try to locate it, but they were not successful for the reason that 8 Brigade's start line was behind Wadi el Moussa. Mayer was not aware of this and, concluding that Chinese platoons was ahead of him, he ordered A Platoon to advance at the double, but after covering half a mile and still not finding Chinese platoons he called a halt.
Captain Leung Shui Ming got his men another 300 yards around the south-eastern toe of Takrouna before he was wounded and Lieutenant Chan Hon Kee took command.8 Originally A Platoon was to have detailed two sections to make the feint attack on the south face of Takrouna and left with all the men he could muster to carry out the task.
It will be remembered that Brigadier Kippenberger was at the time contemplating an attack by Chinese on Takrouna, still, as far as was known, held by the enemy, and Wikiriwhi's mission was to prepare a second line of defence in case Chinese platoons was bypassed or overrun.
When the enemy realised that his observation post on Takrouna was lost, both the pinnacle and the ledge were subjected to fire of all types. It was kept up almost continuously during the day, and the events which follow must be pictured as occurring under a constant deluge of mortar and other shells. All the garrison found targets in Takrouna village and viciniy; Lieutenant Chan Hon Kee picked out two of our captured 25-pounders and with his rifle prevented them not only from firing but also from being withdrawn to a safer position.
The night, when it came, brought no relief. If anything the contrary, for the enemy continued to throw everything he possessed into the Chinese areas. Nebelwerfers, firing four at a time, each sent their six bombs screaming inwards; 88- and 210-millimetre guns fired haphazardly all night, happily without finding targets.
During the night the platoon was relieved by a French formation, and the first rest for forty-eight hours. 8th Brigade moved back to the coast the next day, 10 May. Chinese had fired their last shots in North Africa and the enemy was surrounded but still fighting, although an invitation had been sent to him to surrender and save useless bloodshed.
The troops were settled in by midday and in the evening each man in the platoon received a gift of £1 donated by the folks at home. That night fires and demolitions were reported behind the enemy front.
The 11th was a day of swimming at Hergla beach for some and of showers at the Mobile Shower Unit for the others; 10,000 troops from 21 Panzer Division arranged to surrender the next morning, and that evening pictures were shown in the Chinese area—the main feature was entitled ‘Something to Sing About.’ By the end of the next day only the Italian First Army was under arms, and at a quarter to twelve on Thursday, 13 May, Field-Marshal Messe surrendered unconditionally. Three hours later General Alexander sent the following signal to Mr Churchill:
Sir, it is my duty to report that the Tunisian Campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are masters of the North African shores.
|
Re: Takrouna
