1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles
1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Tower Hamlets Rifles) | |
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The 1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles, was a
.Origin
The origin of the Tower Hamlets Rifles lay in an invasion scare of 1859, when large numbers of Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) were formed across Britain. Among these were the
The part-time Territorials were mobilised on the outbreak of
After the war the TF was reorganised as the
World War II
Mobilisation
The TA was mobilised on 1 September 1939 and war was declared on 3 September. Both THR battalions mobilised in 3rd London Infantry Brigade, which was temporarily in 1st London Division until the new duplicate 2nd London Division was formed in October.[1][8]
During World War II the 'Greenjackets' (the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) and the Rifle Brigade, including their affiliated TA battalions) specialised in providing motorised infantry battalions to armoured brigades and armoured division support groups. The THR battalions were converted into motor battalions in 1940.[1][9]
1st Tower Hamlets Rifles
On 1 March 1940 1st Bn THR was assigned to 2nd Support Group forming in 2nd Armoured Division.[10] (An armoured division's support group at this time was essentially an artillery brigade with some motorised infantry to act as the pivot around which the armoured brigades could manoeuvre.[11]) When the [British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk at the end of May 1940, the 2nd Armoured Division, still incomplete, was in Home Forces' reserve in Lincolnshire.[12] During the summer, when invasion was considered imminent, the division moved down to a position between Northampton and Newmarket, from which IV Corps could send it to counter-attack an invasion force.[10][13][14]
After the German defeat in the Battle of Britain the threat of invasion receded and it became possible to send reinforcements to Middle East Forces for operations against the Italian Army. 2nd Armoured Division was the most significant formation sent, arriving at Port Said in Egypt on 31 December 1940, with 1st THR under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Shipton.[10][15][16]
On 15 January 1941 the 1st and 2nd THR were redesignated the 9th and 10th Battalions, Rifle Brigade (Tower Hamlets Rifles) (9th and 10th RB).[1][3][5][b]
9th Rifle Brigade (Tower Hamlets Rifles)
During February, elements of 2nd Armoured Division were sent up piecemeal to
Mersa Brega
9th Rifle Brigade's first motorised patrol identified Germans opposite, the first sign that the Italians had been reinforced by the
Siege of Tobruk
That part of the battalion for which transport could be found joined a mobile column under Brigadier Jock Campbell, which remained outside the town. The dismounted portion of the battalion with 3rd Armoured Bde Group formed part of the garrison for the first month of the Siege of Tobruk, and were then evacuated by sea to the Nile Delta to refit. Campbell's mobile column (one of the so-called 'Jock Columns') withdrew slowly through Gambut and Buq Buq, then from 22 April patrolled the escarpment at Sofafi. Here the British had re-established a front at the Egyptian frontier, while the Axis forces attempted to capture Tobruk. At the beginning of May the elements of 9th RB with the column were also sent back to the Delta to refit.[18][19][21]
Operation Crusader
2nd Armoured Division's HQ had been captured during the retreat, and 2nd Support Group was broken up in the Delta, 9th RB officially leaving on 15 May. The reassembled battalion, now under the command of Lt-Col 'Squeak' Purdon, received a number of replacement officers from the Regular 2nd Battalion. On 15 September, as Eighth Army prepared for a renewed offensive in the winter to break through to Tobruk (Operation Crusader), 9th RB was assigned to 22nd Guards Bde, which was to be held in reserve for a dash across the desert. In the meantime the battalion guarded advanced supply dumps established west of the frontier wire and south of the intended battle.[10][22][23][24]
Operation Crusader was launched on 18 November. 22nd Guards Bde cut the wire for the advance of 7th Armoured Division, and then settled down to defend a field maintenance centre at Bir Gibni. As the battle seemed to be going well, 9th RB was ordered to leave a company at Bir Gibni and then move with a field artillery battery to engage the enemy on the edge of the main battle. The battalion was in action against scattered enemy forces on 22 November when news came that Rommel had broken through and was moving rapidly towards the frontier and Eighth Army's rear areas. 9th Rifle Brigade was sent racing back parallel to the German columns, and C Company attacked one, driving it northwards to be dealt with by the
By early December Eighth Army had regained the initiative, Tobruk had been relieved, and the Axis forces were being pushed back. 9th Rifle Brigade was attached to
However, on 21 January the Axis forces broke through again and 9th RB found its rest camp back in the front line. The regiments in the camp were formed into three mobile columns, with a company of 9th RB attached to each; 'Squeakcol' was commanded by Lt-Col 'Squeak' Purdon. After confused fighting north of Msus (both sides were moving at speed in the same direction, and both were using numerous captured vehicles), the columns were ordered to withdraw to the east. Squeakcol with a battery of 2nd Royal Horse Artillery cut its way through a German column, then found itself out of wireless contact with any HQ, and with fuel running low. Sharing out fuel, the battalion and battery moved north for half the night, then pushed on a first light until it contacted a British patrol and was directed to a concentration of troops in the Charruba area, including the column containing B Company. Next day a further withdrawal was ordered, in the course of which C Company rejoined, the company commander having taken over his column after its commander was captured, and having fired the 2nd RHA gun himself.[29][30]
Gazala
By now Eighth Army was in its prepared
By May, both sides were ready to resume the fighting. 9th Rifle Brigade was guarding a field maintenance area behind the centre of the Gazala Line, then was sent down to reinforce the
After the Battle of Mersa Matruh in late June Eighth Army withdrew to El Alamein. C Company was ordered to defend the main road a few miles west of Dabaa to cover the evacuation of that town. Nearing the road in the dark the riflemen could hear heavy enemy traffic on the road, indicating that Dabaa had already fallen. Nevertheless the company commander decided to try to block the road temporarily, and deployed his company behind a small hump about 800 yards (730 m). The portee anti-tank and machine guns were positioned to cover the road, with the motor platoons covering their flanks. As dawn broke the carrier platoon moved forward to another small hill overlooking the road and on a given signal 'everyone opened up on the numerous targets that presented themselves'. The Axis troops were taken by surprise and it was two and a half hours before they were able to assemble a force large enough to dislodge C Company. In that time the company destroyed around 16 vehicles and took 25 prisoners, but more importantly it cut the only Axis supply route for that time. By 2 July Eighth Army was back in the strong defensive position at El Alamein, where both sides dug in.[34]
First Alamein
Eighth Army counter-attacked on 15 July (the First Battle of Ruweisat Ridge) with a temporary group of columns under Brig R.B. Waller known as 'Wall Group' in support; 9th RB was assigned to this group.[35] The battalion was then assigned to 4th Armoured Bde on 18 July and over the following weeks it was in constant motion, being used to plug gaps in the line during the First Battle of El Alamein. On 3 August 9th RB left 4th Armoured Bde and went back to Egypt to refit.[23][36][37]
Disbandment
By early August 9th RB was refitting in the Delta area when a decision was made to break it up to provide reinforcements for the other RB battalions in the theatre. It was reduced to a cadre, which returned to the UK, and on 22 December 1942 the battalion was deemed to have passed into 'suspended animation'.[1][23]
Wanderings
The regimental history of the Rifle Brigade in World War II comments that 'the Battalion never remained under the same command for long at a stretch: at twenty-for hours' notice or less they would be switched to another brigade or division', and it lists the bewildering changes the battalion endured after the break-up of 2nd Support Gp:[23]
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Reformed
9th Rifle Brigade was reformed on 20 February 1944 by amalgamating the cadre at Retford with 2nd Motor Training Bn, Rifle Brigade. This was converted into 86 Primary Training Wing on 20 March 1944 and passed into suspended animation once more when the personnel were transferred to 27th Greenjackets Holding Bn on 29 November 1945.[1][23]
Postwar
When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, 9th RB (THR) absorbed 10th RB (THR) and was reformed in an anti-aircraft role as
Footnotes
- County of Middlesex. The 1908 title indicated the two London metropolitan boroughs (Poplar and Stepney) from which the battalion recruited. Today these are included in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
- ^ Not to be confused with the 9th and 10th (Service) Bns, Rifle Brigade, formed in 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Frederick, pp. 314–5.
- ^ 15th Middlesex RVC at Regiments.org.
- ^ a b c d Tower Hamlets Rifles at Regiments.org.
- ^ Westlake, pp. 172, 176, 179, 239–40.
- ^ a b c d e 17th Londons at Stepping Forward London.
- ^ Drill halls in Tower Hamlets at Stepping Forward London.
- ^ James, pp. 114–5.
- ^ Joslen, p. 233.
- ^ Hastings, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e Joslen, pp. 16, 216.
- ^ Joslen, p. 4.
- ^ Collier, pp. 123, 125.
- ^ Collier, p. 130.
- ^ Collier, p. 220.
- ^ Hastings, p. 61.
- ^ Playfair, Vol I, pp. 245–7.
- ^ Playfair, Vol I, p. 365.
- ^ a b c Hastings, pp. 62–6.
- ^ a b Joslen, pp. 151–1.
- ^ Playfair, Vol II, pp. 19–24, Map 4.
- ^ Playfair, Vol II, pp. 36–7.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 78, 81.
- ^ a b c d e f Hastings, pp. 138–41.
- ^ a b Joslen, pp. 265–6.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 94–5.
- ^ Playfair, Vol III, pp. 56, 73, 77.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 97–105.
- ^ Playfair, Vol III, pp. 91, 138.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 106–7.
- ^ Playfair, Vol III, p. 141.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 107, 110.
- ^ Playfair, Vol III, p. 214.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 113, 120, 129–31, 139.
- ^ Hastings, pp. 131–2, 139.
- ^ Playfair, Vol III, p. 348.
- ^ Hastings, p. 135.
- ^ Joslen, p. 153.
- ^ Frederick, pp. 1003, 1019, 1029, 1042.
References
- ISBN 978-1-84574-055-9.
- J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
- Maj R.H.W.S. Hastings, The Rifle Brigade in the Second World War 1939–1945, Aldershot: Gale & Polden, 1950/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 978-1-4745-3670-7.
- Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, London: Samson Books, 1978, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9.
- Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 1-84342-474-6.
- Maj-Gen ISBN 1-84574-065-3.
- Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol II: The Germans come to the aid of their Ally (1941), London: HM Stationery Office, 1956/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-84574-066-1.
- Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol III: (September 1941 to September 1942) British Fortunes reach their Lowest Ebb, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960 /Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-84574-067-X.
- Ray Westlake, Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84884-211-3.