As tanks of 'A' and 'B' Squadrons, together with the infantry of the 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, managed to beat off furious attacks by German Panzers over a period of several days, the danger of a break-through was averted. Consequently, both Squadrons took up defensive positions near Ksar Mezouar railway station. Bangor, crewed by Roy Burns (commander), Dick Hayward (driver), Gordon Young (co-driver), Alan Hughes (gunner) and me(operator) had been ignominiously banished to the rear, because its turret was stuck facing aft. With the approach of enemy tanks, Sergeant Burns ordered me to go on foot to look for the REME people, supposedly located at the station, to ask them to effect repairs to the turret's traversing gear. However, the REME crew was not to be found and coming under machine-gun fire (hitting the station wall, fortunately well above my head) one very frightened trooper made a dash for safety within the confines of an ineffective but well armoured Churchill tank.

It was while in this defensive position that the Squadron suffered a most serious loss on 4th March 1943, the death by mortar fire of our beloved leader, Major "Johnnie" Rew. His "booming" voice silenced forever he, together with nine others of the NIH who gave their days for our tomorrows, is buried in Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery Tunisia. Making a sad day even more so was the news that Lt. Ballantyne, of 'C' Squadron, and his crew were missing and presumed to be Prisoners of War. Command of 'B' Squadron and Ballyrashane (3rd Churchill to carry the name) was now taken up by A/Major Gordon P. Russell.

On a less sad note, but first a few words of explanation. For rations we were issued "Compo Boxes" (of which, more anon) designed to last a crew for three days. Water, even if it was boiled first, could not be drunk without the adding of chlorine tablets. Consequently, it made the brewing of a good cup of tea, from the tea/dried milk/sugar mixture impossible. Salvation came with water from the wells in Beja, so pure that it did not need chlorinating. How grateful we were that the Wehrmacht had failed in their attempt to capture the town! As the news spread, a constant stream of water trucks came to Beja from all over northern Tunisia.

How effective was the defence of the approaches to Beja is emphasised in the records of Schwere Panzer Abteilungen which state that the sPzAbt.501 (Heavy Tank Battalion) lost so many tanks at Hunt's Gap that it ceased to be an effective fighting force.

While in the UK the Regiment had the great good fortune of having Capt Elwyn M.Hughes, from Wales, who joined the N.I.H. in Enniskillen while serving with 53rd. Infantry (Welsh) Division, as Padre. In addition to performing his spiritual duties the Padre freely joined in secular activities with one-and-all. Many a tale he would tell, his favourite being the story of Ferdinand the Bull.

On Sunday, 14th March we nearly lost both the Padre and his driver, when his car was strafed by an enemy aircraft, while on his way to conduct a service with the troops of C Squadron. Later, the same day, he conducted a Memorial Service for Major J.Rew. For more on our beloved Padre see a letter that I received.