| March 1943 | CO: Lt Col D Dawnay |
| Mar 43 | North Irish Horse |
| 1/3/43 | BEJA Lt CM Thomas granted acting rank of Capt pending re-grant of Temp rank wef 31 Dec 42. T/Capt JAG Biggs relinquishes Temp rank wef 19 Feb 42. Major the Lord O'Neill arrives from BONE with 10 tanks (4 RHQ and 6 B Sqn). RHQ remains in harbour but B Sqn tanks move up under Major J Rew. 0615 – Approx 30 German tanks reported on road leading NE of BEJA. 0645 – Enemy infantry attack our positions. 0930 – German Mark III comes out and is knocked out by Lt JA Ballantyne of A Sqn. Our tanks acting as A/Tk gun pillboxes, but unable to cross ridge without meeting 88mm fire. Capt RJ Griffith makes dismounted recce and reports one Tiger, three Mark IIIs and two Mark IVs – these are later blown up by REs. 1535 – Enemy attack again against both flanks. 1600 – Tanks move up to support both localities, (GEESSA FARM & MONTAGNE FARM). Very heavy arty fire put down – POWs state heaviest they have ever experienced and some of them fought in Russia, having been sent to TUNISIA for a 'rest'. 1630 – BEJA bombed by 17 Stukas and Lt JFD Miles wounded with A Echelon when moving up. Tanks remain on ridge all night. Enemy identification on this front:- 501st Heavy Btn Experimental Tigers Barenthin Div 7th Panzer Regt (part of 10th Panzer Div) 754 Mountain Regt. 2Lt GE Gardiner ceases to be attached to 142 Regt RAC. Casualties for the day – Lt JFD Miles (result of air attack). |
| 2/3/43 | Major P Welch arrived with 17 C Sqn tanks, 15 of which were runners. Unable to relieve A & B Sqns as C Sqn ordered to be ready for immediate move North to SEDJENANE. 2000 – C Sqn depart for SEDJENANE. Five C Sqn tanks under Capt RD Morton ordered to SIDI AMEUR. By the evening all tanks, except two A Sqn, have been recovered. |
| 3/3/43 | Our infantry (Argylls) attacked but failed on right flank. One troop of tanks sent along road to junc 315503 to help our inf on to objective at 320500. Lt JA Ballentyne's troop was sent out on this task and Capt RJ Griffith put down smoke to cover passage through minefield. Enemy had gap covered by mortar, LMG and HMG fire. Two tanks of the troop were knocked out by mines and Lt Ballantyne proceeded to objective, although wounded in the head. He reported "no enemy to be seen" and was ordered back. No further communication received from him and his tank failed to return. At first light at SEDJENANE, C Sqn took up position on high ground SW of SEDJENANE to give covering fire to infantry and succeeded in extricating some of our infantry from an awkward position. When retiring at dusk Lt JE Williams lost two tanks of his troop over a cliff. One member of a crew missing believed POW. |
| 4/3/43 | Our tanks remain in defence positions as A/Tk pillboxes. 1500 – Major J Rew, OC B Sqn, killed instantaneously by enemy mortar fire. Location of grave – BEJA Military Cemetery, Row 11, Grave No. 1. C Sqn enter SEDJENANE at first light, two troops up and one in reserve. Leading tank knocked out and set on fire by A/Tk gun. Extricated our infantry from precarious position after remaining in SEDJENANE for over 10 hours. Days casualties – 4 ORs killed, 5 ORs wounded. |
| 5/3/43 | Major EV Strickland MM posted to this unit from 25th Tank Bde HQ Sqn. Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn tanks carry out patrols with infantry. Capt GP Russell promoted A/Major and appointed OC B Sqn. Lt RSH Sidebottom promoted A/Capt. |
| 6/3/43 | Lt J Ball posted in from 142 Regt RAC and assumes appointment of Tech Adjt vice Capt RH Bowering who is posted to 1st Reinforcements. Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn carry out patrols with infantry. |
| 7/3/43 | Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn carry out patrols with infantry. |
| 8/3/43 | Lt JAG Briggs addmitted to hospital as a result of an accident. Tanks remain in defensive position. 1200 – One troop of C Sqn under Lt JE Williams with Capt RSH Sidebottom in C.S. moved up DJEBEL ABIOD – SEDJENANE road to support 1st Para Bde and to overcome enemy infiltration at SIDI MOH BELKARSEN. Infantry, with tank support, succeeded in driving enemy out and 157 POW taken. C Sqn had good shoot but enemy casualties could not be counted. |
| 9/3/43 | Tanks remain in defensive positions. 1415 – 5 tanks of C Sqn with two platoons of Para made recce in force under orders of Corps Commander. Tanks were road-bound on left of advance. Lt JE Williams blown up on minefield. Our Inf retired and were covered by tanks. Lt Williams and crew picked up on way back. 27 POW taken and useful info obtained. Heavy mortar fire during whole operation. Days casualties – 5 ORs missing and 2 tanks knocked out. |
| 10/3/43 | Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn carry out patrols with infantry. |
| 11/3/43 | Tanks remain in defensive position. 1100 – One C Sqn troop under 2Lt RE Perioli support Para Btn in attack in area 123772. 1400 – in same sector Lt JE Williams tank with Capt RD Morton in CS assisted 2nd Para Btn in attack. No results of enemy casualties could be obtained. |
| 12/3/43 | Lt P Francis posted to 25 Tk Bde HQ as LO.Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn carry out patrols with infantry. |
| 13 – 20 | Tanks remain in defensive position. C Sqn carry out patrols with infantry. |
| 19/3/43 | Capt RS Churchill, 4th Hussars attached to this unit. |
| 20/3/43 | Lt WR Hern re-joins from hospital. |
| 21/3/43 | One C Sqn 3-ton lorry when proceeding along BEJA – DJEBEL ABIOD road was mortared. Two ORs killed and two ORs wounded. |
| 21 – 26 | Positions remain unchanged in both sectors. |
| 27 – 28 | Our infantry attack at DJEBEL ABIOD and our tanks assist in putting them on to first objective. Able to withdraw from SIDI AMEUR. |
| 29/3/43 | Attack successful and our inf are able to consolidate positions. One C Sqn 3-tonner went over cliff. No casualties. |
| 30/3/43 | Able to reduce force at KSAR MEZOUAR to one troop. Infantry entered SEDJENANE with support from C Sqn tanks. Lt JE Williams's tank received direct hit from Stuka bomb. No casualties, although crew later machine gunned by three Messerschmidts when evacuating tank. 2Lt Perioli's tank blown up on mine in SEDJENANE. Two members of crew, one a Canadian officer, Lt Dickens – suffering from shock. |
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