2nd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles

The 2nd 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 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]

10th Rifle Brigade (Tower Hamlets Rifles)

The 2nd Bn THR was assigned to

26th Armoured Bde joined 6th Armoured Division on 9 November, and the battalion remained with this formation for the rest of its service. At the time, the division was training in Southern Command, moving to Eastern Command in February 1941, and did not form part of the field force. Then in April 1942 it came under direct War Office control as it prepared to proceed on overseas service. It was assigned to V Corps as part of First Army for the planned Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch).^[10]

Tunisia

Operation Torch

The bulk of 26th Armoured Bde sailed from the UK on 9 November, the day after the initial landings began, but an armoured regimental group called 'Blade Force' had been sent on ahead in one of the first follow-up convoys, and this arrived at

Fondouk Pass

On 17 March 26th Armoured Bde was withdrawn to re-equip and train. On 4 April it returned to the front to support First Army's attempt to penetrate the Fondouk Pass. While the fighting at Fondouk continued on 8 April First Army had the opportunity to attack 10th Panzer Division in the flank as it withdrew from in front of

Plans were now being made for an advance up the Liri Valley (Operation Diadem) in association with attacks on Monte Cassino. 26th Armoured Bde formed an armoured reconnaissance group consisting of 10th RB and the tanks of the Derbyshire Yeomanry. XIII Corp established a small bridgehead over the Rapido on 11 May, and 10th RB began to cross on 13 May. By 15 May only the scout platoons had been able to get across, but they with the Derbyshire Yeomanry were able to make some progress. As the Allies slowly pushed forward a gap opened up between 78th Division and I Canadian Corps: on 16 May 10th RB was put in to fill this gap. This entailed capturing Point 83, which commanded the road to Aquino. The approaches to the river crossing were still choked with traffic and under shellfire and it was not until nightfall that the motor companies were able to cross. A and B Companies then put in a night attack over difficult unreconnoitred ground and their first attempt failed. They attacked again at dawn, with extra artillery support, which caught the Germans just as they pulled out. They had also evacuated the monastery of Monte Cassino, and 10th RB was able to press on up the Liri Valley, collecting prisoners. On 18 May the leading vehicles of the battalion's reconnaissance group came up against the Hitler Line. At dawn next day B Company's carrier platoon went forward to reconnoitre Aquino, running into a roadblock that was covered by machine guns, but destroying a towed anti-tank gun. All the platoon's carriers were knocked out by the retaliatory fire, but the platoon commander, Lieutenant Ralph Stewart-Wilson, reconnoitred on foot for 6 hours, bringing back a complete picture of the defences. This was too big a job for a motor battalion, so 10th RB was relieved by a brigade of 78th Division and went back for a rest. On 25 May it was back on the road, passing through a gap in the Hitler Line made by the Canadians, until it reached the Melfa, where the bridge was blocked by a knocked-out tank and B Company suffered casualties. The battalion scouted the riverbank for an alternative crossing, and next morning waded across where the only remaining enemy were a few deserters. 1st Guards Bde then passed through this bridgehead and continued the advance. On 29 May the enemy fell back again, allowing the Lothians and Border Horse to follow up Route 6 to Arce, where 10th RB was ordered to cross the river and capture Fontana Liri. This time the bridge was blown and the river was too deep to wade: by the time the battalion found a way round the town had been evacuated, but they suffered numerous casualties from booby-traps. The battalion was relieved that night, having suffered casualties of two officers killed and four wounded, 18 riflemen killed and 68 wounded.^[25][26]

In view of the mountainous country it was clear that the armour needed additional infantry support. 6th Armoured Division was therefore reorganised with a second infantry brigade, and 10th RB left 26th Armoured Bde to join 'M Brigade', soon designated 61st Infantry Bde. This comprised the 2nd, 7th (London Rifle Brigade) and 10th (THR) Bns of the Rifle Brigade, under Brig Adrian Gore. All three were motor battalions detached from armoured brigades, but while 10th RB remained as such, the other two battalions were reorganised as lorried infantry, still mobile, but with fewer vehicles of their own. On 29 May the rest of the brigade caught up with 10th RB in the Liri Valley.^{[10][27][28][29]}

Perugia

On 2 June 61st Bde moved up Route 6 to begin mopping up behind the advancing armour. 10th Rifle Brigade was called to take the lead on 4 June, and it had to struggle through traffic and blocked roads to catch up with the armour, who were held up at a blown bridge. That night it took Monte Morrone (overlooking the bridge) without opposition. The division now advanced up the Tiber Valley along Route 4, meeting a rearguard at Mentana, which 10th RB and B Sqn Derbyshire Yeomanry were ordered to outflank. The main problems were minefields covered by mortars and machine guns. Next day 61st Bde was given a rest and left behind the advance. It was brought forward again so that 7th Armoured Division could put in an infantry attack to clear Perugia. This involved four successive night attacks, beginning on 18/19 June. In the first attack 10th RB was tasked with seizing Monte Lacugnano: A and B Companies succeeded in reaching this, but in the dark they had bypassed many German parties, and after daybreak they came under fire from all directions. However, the seizure decided the Germans to evacuate Perugia, and the rest of the brigade pressed on over the following nights to clear the hills dominating the town. On 20/21 June 10th RB relieved 2nd RB, which had been pinned down in front of Corciano, and on Monte Rentella. Next morning the battalion came under heavy attack on both positions, and casualties were heavy on both sides in hand-to-hand fighting. D Company was cut off and many captured, while C Company had to be withdrawn from Monte Rentella, but German attacks with armour failed to drive A Company out of Corcianao Church, which dominated the positions. Next night the battalion's patrols found the enemy withdrawing to the Gothic Line positions. 61st Brigade was withdrawn to rest and recover from its heavy casualties.^[30][31][32]

Gothic Line

The pursuit to the Gothic Line now began, with 6th Armoured Division driving up Route 71 towards Arezzo. A regimental group comprising 10th RB and 16th/5th Lancers set out on 3 July, with a motor platoon out in front to try to find the enemy. It made 3 miles (4.8 km) before dark, and another 11 miles (18 km) next day, with road demolitions the main problems. 10th Rifle Bde then made contact some 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Arezzo. Here it was held up by demolitions covered by anti-tank guns, with the road overlooked by the hills of Monte Lignano to the right. On 5 July the battalion attempted to clear these hills, but the enemy were dug in on reverse slopes. Confused fighting continued until 9/10 July, when the brigade was relieved. Later the 2nd New Zealand Division and 1st Guards Bde cleared the hill features and on 15 July 10th RB entered Arezzo with 26th Armoured Bde. Without pausing they raced to the bridges over the Arno 5–6 miles (8.0–9.7 km) further on. A Company with 2nd Lothians captured the bridge at Buriano intact, but the more important road bridge was blown up when B Company and 16th/5th Lancers were within 100 yards (91 m).^[33][34]

6th Armoured Division's axis of advance was now switched to the west, following the Arno and directed on Pontassieve. It started from Arezzo on 16 July, but it took until 30 August to reached its objective. The three battalions of 61st Bde were almost continuously engaged and daily casualties mounted steadily. By 26 August the motor companies were down to 50 men each. Lieutenant-Col Southby had been evacuated sick, and after a short period under Maj N.C. 'Bobby' Selway, Lt-Col Fyffe returned to command the battalion on 30 August.^[35]

In early September 10 and 7 RB alternated in supporting 17th/21st Lancers' advance up the Sieve Valley. The brigade was rested from 10 to 16 September, and then returned to the front among the defences of the Gothic Line that had been abandoned by the enemy. However, the enemy were still in the hills beyond (the 'Green I' line) and 10th RB carried out patrols to find routes into the hills for the armour. The battalion was now operating as pure infantry, supplied by pack mules. On the dark night of 20/21 September 2nd and 10th RB captured Monte Erbolini , then D Company passed through and established itself at the top of the Muraglione Pass between the Sieve Valley and the Po Valley. The Royal Engineers followed up to repair the demolitions in the road over the pass, while the rest of 61st Bde pushed on by foot. On 27 September 26th Armoured Bde attempted to advance from the pass, with 10th RB in support, but the vehicles remained stuck on the road in appalling weather for three days before the operation was called off. Better progress was made on 6 October when the weather improved, 10th RB taking over the ground won by 17th/21st Lancers. By 15 October the battalion's patrols had pushed forward into Portico.^[36][37]

Tossignano

6th Armoured Division was now switched to the Santerno Valley, a short distance away but entailing two long marches. 10th Rifle Brigade was established on Monte Capello, dominating the valley below, and began a series of aggressive patrols in the direction of Monteloro. Although winter weather slowed all operations, Eighth Army opened an offensive against the line of the River Lamone in December. 61st Brigade was tasked with capturing Tossignano on the night of 12/13 December. 2nd Rifle Brigade got up into the town but were heavily counter-attacked all next day. 10th Rifle Brigade reinforced 2nd RB the following night, but the route up was difficult, D Company was unable to attack until 03.00 and C Company was pinned down just below the town. Communications with 2nd RB broke down on 14 December, and the battalion was overrun, despite three relief attempts by 10th RB. Afterwards the town was heavily bombed and shelled, and the ruins were frequently patrolled by 10th RB, but the town remained in enemy hands until the following April.^[38][39]

Disbandment

By Spring 1945 the Allied forces in Italy were suffering a manpower crisis and a number of units were broken up to provide reinforcements for others. 10th Rifle Brigade passed into 'suspended animation' on 20 March 1945, when the remaining personnel were used to recreate the 2nd RB (almost destroyed at Tossignano), reinforce the 7th RB, and to form 2nd Heavy Support Company (two platoons of Vickers machine guns and two of 4.2-inch mortars) and a reinforcement company for the brigade. Lieutenant-Col Fyffe took over command of 2nd Bn at the same time.^{[1][3][28][40][41][42]}

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