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February we were busily engaged in unloading our vehicles at Phillipville, Boujie and Algiers. Matters were further complicated by the fact that one ship in the vehicle convoy had been forced to return to England with twenty-two tanks and seventeen 3-ton lorries on board. This ship arrived in Bone in a later convoy on February. On 19th February the Regiment left Phillipville for Le Kef by road while our tanks were going forward by transporter and by rail. During the next few days we had tanks and vehicles scattered over a very wide area of North Africa, all on their way to, or waiting to leave for, Le Kef. A large proportion of the Regiment reached our harbour near Le Kef on the evening of 20th February.

Early next day news came in that the Germans had made a determined push, had succeeded in forcing the Kasserine Gap and were advancing rapidly on Thala. The 6th Armoured Division was mmediately switched to meet this threat, and Brigadier R. H. Maxwell was put in command of the defence of Le Kef. For this he had a small mixed force of tanks from N.I.H. and 51st Battn. Royal Tank Regt., all the tanks available of 142nd R.A.C. with one Troop of ours in addition, having been sent off to Sbeitla the day before we reached Le Kef. This mixed force of tanks was put under command of Lt. Col. Timmis, commanding 51st Battn. Royal Tank Regiment and a force consisting of five companies of infantry (two of which were the headquarters personnel of N.I.H. and 142nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps), two Troops anti-­tank guns, a detachment of Royal Engineers, were placed under command of Lt. Col. Dawnay In addition, several tanks from 6th Armoured Division workshops in Le Kef were to be used as pillboxes under the command of Major E. V. Strickland. The organisation of this defence went on from 21st to 24th February, during which time Le Kef was dive-bombed three times, very little damage being done. By 24th February the Germans were retiring back again towards the Kasserine Gap and we returned to our harbour outside Le Kef.

On 26th February Lt. Col. Dawnay was ordered to go to head­quarters, 78th Division, to report to Major-General V. Evelegh, with the object of receiving preliminary instructions for the em­ployment of the N.I.H. in the area Medjez El Bab-Sloughia.

Lt. Col. Dawnay met Major-General Evelegh as he was leaving his headquarters and was immediately taken out to see a battle which had suddenly developed in the area. The Germans had made an attack at first light and had succeeded in making a con­siderable advance. The 9th Infantry Brigade, however, threw the enemy back and took a good number of prisoners. As there had been much enemy activity along the whole front Lt. Col. Dawney, on returning to headquarters 78th Division took the precaution of having Advanced 5th Corps rung up to find out if there had been any alteration of plan. He was informed that the Regiment would not be going under command of the 78th Division immediately but that there were no plans as yet for its employment. Lt. Col. Dawnay then drove quietly back to the Regiment's harbour area near Le Kef where, on arrival, he at once saw that something was on. He was told that he was wanted urgently at headquarters, 25th Army Tank Brigade, and when he arrived there found that orders had already been given to Major Rew, Major The Lord O'Neill still being in Bone marshalling the last boat load of tanks and vehicles.  

Our destination was Beja. A strong German attack with tanks had been launched against Sidi Nsir and a very grave threat was developing against our positions at Hunt's Gap. We were to move at top speed all through the night. Lt. Col. Dawnay issued orders and left for Beja at 1930 hours with his Intelligence Officer, Lt. P. Francis, and A and B Squadron Reconnaissance Officers, Captains P. C. M. Sinclair and A. K. E. Finch Noyes. He arrived at Beja at about 0100 hours and went immediately to headquarters 46th Division, where he met Brigadier Maxwell who took him in at once to see Major-General H. A. Freeman-Attwood. Lt. Col. Dawnay was told that the situation was rather grave, that Sidi Nsir had fallen and that it was essential for our tanks to be in position by first light. He was then given instructions as to the two localities which our tanks were to occupy and was informed that he came under command of Brigadier James, V.C., M.C., commanding 128th Infantry Brigade. Meanwhile the Regiment consisting of A Squadron less one Troop and B Squadron less two Troops, had left harbour at 2000 hours and was proceeding along the winding, hilly road to Souk El Arba. It was a pitch black night and rain was falling heavily. The road surface was treacherous and to make matters worse the route was choked with transport. By 0300 hours it was obvious from reports coming in from the military police that the tanks could not possibly reach Beja by first light.

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