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During the early hours of 27th February Lt. Col. Dawnay worked out his orders and arranged for his two reconnaissance officers to be taken forward by two divisional liaison officers to do a reconnaissance at first light. He then sent the Brigade L.O. back to bring forward Majors Rew and Ketchell to receive orders at the level crossing at Beja before the arrival of the tanks. Orders were given out to Major Rew and Major Ketchell at about 0630 hours and the tanks, which arrived at approximately 0700 hours, were immediately refuelled. In a very short space of time, despite the fact that the lorries with the petrol had been diverted by the military police and had to be found, the two Squadrons were on their way to their localities. By 0900 hours they were both in position.
B Squadron on the right occupied a locality to the West of Djebel Munchar and A Squadron took up a position in "The Loop" just to the north-east of Ksar Mezouar station. This latter position proved to be the key to the defence of Beja, it blocked the defile which was formed by an anti-task obstacle and mines extending to the south as far as Djebel Munchar and by hilly and mined country to the north. If the enemy had succeeded in forcing a way through this gap, their armour would have debouched into the rolling country to the north-east of Beja and nothing would have saved that town. If Beja had fallen it would probably have meant a withdrawal of the allied line to a distance of over fifty miles.
During the afternoon of 27th February both the Squadrons took stock of their positions and liaised with the infantry. A Squadron was mortared a little bit and in moving a Troop at the infantry request so as to have a Besa shoot, Sjt. Allen's tank was hit in the engine by a shell from an anti-tank gun or tank and was knocked out: another tank was hit on the track, which was broken. There were no casualties. After last light the Squadron withdrew to harbour near Sidi Mimech. B Squadron harboured in their own locality.
Before first light on 28th February A Squadron returned to take up their position in "The Loop" and while doing this Major Ketchell's tank was hit by an anti-tank gun, Sjt. Walters and Tpr. Nursey being instantly killed and Major Ketchell badly wounded. The Squadron 2nd in Command, and Reconnaissance officer Captains R. J. Griffith and P.CM. Sinclair, were not present owing to broken-down tanks and the command of the Squadron devolved for the time being upon Lieut. W. R. Hern. It was not long before reports began to come in to Lt. Col. Dawnay, whose Headquarters was situated at Headquarters, the 128th Infantry Brigade, at Sidi Mimech, of enemy armour manoeuvring in the area. Orders were immediately given to Captain Sinclair that on no account were his tanks to go forward to engage the enemy but he was to wait for them to come on to him. Major Rew was then ordered to leave one Troop in his locality by the Munchar and to lead the remainder of his Squadron to take up a position around Ksar Mezouar Station. This was successfully accomplished without loss and Major Rew took over local command of the area comprising " The Loop," Ksar Mezouar Farm, "T" Road west of Djebel Munchar and Ksar Mezouar Station, Capt. Griffith, who arrived at about 1100 hours, being in command of A Squadron in "The Loop." Major Rew immediately made a reconnaissance, liaised with the infantry and organised his defensive positions quickly and effectively. After mid-day enemy activity increased, and their armour continued to manoeuvre around probing for a weak spot. About this time Lieut. Hern had a shot at a Mark VI and holed it through the turret. At the same time he was hit by a ricochet and wounded in the back of the neck. He was immediately evacuated. At 1400 hours the enemy put in his real attack and advanced along the more easterly road of the "Antlers" with the object of forcing his way through the defile. This attack was met by our tanks, the anti-tank guns in the area and heavy artillery fire and was decisively defeated, several enemy tanks being set on fire and knocked out. Shortly after this Capt. Griffith proceeded to Headquarters, and 4th Hampshires, and on his return reported a number of German tanks in the valley out of range of our 6-pounders. The location of these tanks was given to the medium artillery who put down a concentration for about 30 minutes and, when darkness fell, Capt. Evans, R.E., went forward and found one disabled German tank which he blew up.
In the evening of this day the German armour formed up again with the obvious intention of putting in another attack. Our reconnaissance Troop, commanded by and Lieut. H. E. Irwin, which had done invaluable work in providing extra observation posts throughout the day reported this concentration of tanks and the medium artillery was immediately brought to bear on this splendid target with disastrous results to the enemy who, after one tank had been hit, were thrown into a state of confusion. Next morning their tanks were found abandoned.
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