Enemy tanks were reported in the valley at 1030 hours and they manoeuvred there for the remainder of the day. Heavy concentrations of medium artillery were brought to bear on them and they immediately changed position. It is thought that they were acting in a delaying role and hoped that our tanks would go forward towards them.
   I ordered up B Squadron during the middle of the day and they occupied hull down positions on the south side of Oued El Djeb. During the day we were subjected to three dive-bombing and machine-gunning attacks and had a lot of Besa shooting. Before last light the two troops of A Squadron were successfully withdrawn after experiencing anti-tank and high explosive fire on the way back. A squadron harboured on the western slopes of Mergueb Chaouach, and Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron went further back to their original assembly position. At 0730 hours on 9th April the enemy counter-attacked the Buffs on Point 667 and at 0800 hours two troops A Squadron under Lieut. Hern went forward to support our infantry from an area near the white house. Enemy tanks were again seen in they valley and artillery fire was brought on to them. At mid¬day I went forward to make a reconnaissance and sent Major Strickland up towards his two troops near the white house to make another reconnaissance. As a result of my reconnaissance I ordered B Squadron through the defile to take up hull down positions on the far side. Shortly after 1500 hours B Squad¬ron, from their new positions saw an abandoned enemy 85 mm. gun and, after looking carefully for booby traps, managed to tow it in.
   At 1530 hours the enemy again counter-attacked Point 667 but were beaten off by the Buffs. Shortly after 1700 hours Major Strickland returned with information that there were eight Mark VI German tanks in beautiful hull down positions in the valley with other Mark IV's and Mark Ill's put forward as a bait. I decided to have a go at these tanks and arranged for artillery fire to be brought down on them while the two Troops on the high ground manoeuvred to have a quick shoot from a favourable ridge. This was done twice by the two troops and although observation was very difficult one hit on a Mark VI was claimed. Subsequently the regiment withdrew and harboured on the western slopes of Chaouach.
   Throughout the day our positions were subjected to frequent dive-bombing and machine-gunning attacks from the air. On 10th April after sending for all available tanks from Beja and conferring throughout the night I arrived back at the harbour at 0400 hours and immediately issued orders for the regiment to move out at 0530 hours. By first light A and B Squadrons were in position east of the white house on the slopes of Point 667. The plan was as follows: The 38th Irish Brigade, supported by one troop C Squadron, was to advance from Djebel Mahdi and seize Djebel Oum Guerinat and N.I.H., less C Squadron, was to engage any enemy tanks found in the valley. To carry out the latter part of this plan I moved with A and B squadrons to the position given above and left a force under command of Major The Lord O'Neill consisting of spare tanks, two troops anti-tank, one section 17-pounders, and one section R.Es. to form a firm base on the northern side of the defile which crosses the Oued El Djeb.
   Realising that I could help the attack of 38th Brigade if I could reach Djebel Rmel, I wirelessed this proposal to my liaison officer with 38th Brigade and received an answer that this move would be very helpful. Consequently I ordered the advance to continue on a two Squadron front towards Djebel Rmel. Shortly after­wards A Squadron was held up on a minefield and made slow progress but B Squadron was able to move quickly up to some high ground to the west of Djebel Rmel. I followed the B Squadron centre line and quickly directed them on to Djebel Rmel itself which was occupied after engaging retiring enemy infantry with Besa fire. Meantime A Squadron had success­fully negotiated the minefield and moved to a position south east of the Farm Der Rmel. While repairing the track of his tank •which had been broken by a mine, Lieut Gardiner was wounded but managed to complete his task before he was evacuated. Orders were then received that our positions were to be held and that infantry would be sent to relieve us before last light. During the afternoon efforts were made to bring up self-propelled guns and 17-pounders to engage two enemy tanks which were standing broadside on in a farm to the east of Rmel but the self-propelled guns got ditched and the 17-pounders could not be found A great chance was thus missed
   Persistent air attacks also took place and during the course of one of these an Me.110 was shot down by Besa fire and crashed in flames. Subsequently the 30 mm. cannon was rescued from this aircraft.
   At about 1700 hours the enemy brought forward an anti-tank gun into a Wog hut at the northern end of the Rmel. In dealing with this B Squadron had one tank in Lieut. Brown's Troop penetrated by a 50 mm. shell and the forward gunner was killed. The anti-tank gun was knocked out by Major Russell's 3 in. Howitzer and several prisoners were taken. On the right A Squadron worked forward but could not get into position to engage the two enemy tanks which were to their front.
   At last light there was no sign of the Black Watch who were to relieve us and they did not take over our positions until approxi­mately midnight. I determined to hold the positions at all cost and resorted to firing Besa at intervals at likely approaches, and putting up one or two parachute flares. No attack by the enemy was made. Both Squadrons spent the night in small laagers to the rear of their day positions.
   The attack of the 38th Brigade was completely successful and very little opposition was encountered. Many enemy were seen to leave the El Guerinat and nearby features when we occupied Rmel. The C Squadron Troop, commanded by and Lieut. Mann, supported this advance very well but did not get very much shooting.
   Both A and B Squadrons remained out in the area Djebel Rmel until mid-day on 9th April, when it was decided to withdraw except for one Troop of A and one Troop of B, these subsequently returned to harbour at last light. We were now under command of 4th Division.

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