Operation Epsom by Tim Saunders

Author:Tim Saunders
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473816954
Publisher: Leo Cooper

At 0930 hours, the Panthers advanced from Rauray north east to Cheux. Some were engaged by 7 RTR, supporting the stalled 10 HLI, who claimed two kills. 10 HII’s war diary record that, on their western flank, at:

‘1000 hrs tanks [a part of I/3 Pz Regt] broke through into battalion area and were engaged by own anti-tank guns. Five enemy tanks were knocked out. Remainder withdrew and the position was restored by 1100 hrs. One signal truck burnt out after receiving direct hit.’

However, most of the Panthers bypassed the HLI and pressed on, with a reinforced platoon, advancing via a sunken road into le Haut du Bosq, while the main body continued towards Cheux. The six panzers heading for 5 DCLI drove past B Company’s position without being engaged. Captain Jobson continued his account:

‘The leading tank went on for fifty yards, and knocked out a whole troop of 17-pounder anti-tank guns just coming up.

‘Cpl Rohan and myself found ourselves in Sergeant Hicks’s mortar pit. After a brief pow-wow, it was decided that Sergeant Hicks, with his PIAT, should start shooting up the tanks from the back. I went off and organised the three PIAT teams from the three platoons. On returning, I had the pleasure of watching Major Fry and Ptes Jeffries and Parrish being chased all around the orchard. Each time a tank moved it was necessary for them to move also. Funny to watch but not for them. The rest of the Company Headquarters were in their slits, with the tanks actually on top or around them. Next, two German dispatch riders came down the road and Major Fry and I had the honour and pleasure of killing the first Germans in the battalion area. The German tanks then started to edge forward and knocked out the two 6-pounder guns in D Company’s area, wounding most of the crew. Battalion HQ was their next objective. It was a nice hull down shoot for them at about fifty yards range. Very soon there were soft vehicles and carriers brewing up and much activity was near the Battalion HQ ditch. Our 6-pounders replied despite the fact that they were under direct fire. Lieutenant Colonel Atherton was killed in a gallant attempt to keep one gun firing. He was acting as loader, as the rest of the crew was knocked out. At this time, I met the IO.

‘We lay in a shallow ditch in an orchard under the barrel of a 75mm gun with the tracks of the tank not two feet from us. Prayers were said amongst other things! Four PIATs were hitting the tanks up their backside and the Germans did not like it. One fled, hit three times by a 17 Platoon PIAT. …he got away badly hit and the crew well shaken. Sergeant Hicks knocked out another one at short range. Two more went round the corner and were worried by Captain Blackwell of C Company who led a PIAT party. He knocked one out and the other turned itself over in its excitement to escape.

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