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Those known to have fought in Operation Crusader during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Brown Maurice Weston. Pte.
- Gibb Lionel Simpson.
- Hancock Denys Hallen. 2nd Lt. (d.20th November 1941)
- O'Neill John Alfred. Maj. (d.29th Nov 1941)
- Paxton Arthur Sydney. L/Bmdr.
- Stainthorpe MM.. William John. Bdr.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
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Want to know more about Operation Crusader? There are:33 items tagged Operation Crusader available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. Maurice Weston Brown 903 Company Royal Army Service Corps My father Maurice Brown served in WW2 with 903rd Company, RASC having joined the Royal West Kents early in 1940.
He was sent out to France in May 1940 as they went to reinforce the attempt to stop German forces invading France through Belgium.
He narrowly evaded capture around Rouen and was then evacuated near Cherbourg having abandoned all their equipment.
After re-equipping back in the UK, mostly around Dorking and Salisbury, they were sent out via Cape Town and Cairo to reinforce 1st Armoured Division. in the Western Desert in November 1941.
They arrived in time to be involved with Operation Crusader. When Rommel counter-attacked in May 1942 my father's company withdrew to Tobruk where he was captured on 20th of June 1942.
After a time in camps behind the lines he was sent to Italy, eventually to CC53 near Macerata above Ancona. Here they were not required to work, but when Italy surrendered they had about 48 hours to escape, but were advised not to attempt this by the Army.
German paratroops then took over the camp and my father was then transported by train over the Brenner Pass into Eastern Germany, firstly to a holding camp and then to a working-party on the Deutsche Reichsbahn based at Klostermansfeld, South of Leipzig near the Harz mountains.
Here between October 1943 and April 1945 he was forced to work maintaining lines, initially light work but later repairing bomb damage as far away as Leipzig. He experienced frequent near-misses from air-raids and saw much suffering.
He was eventually liberated by Patton's forces pushing eastwards over the delineated post-war frontier and flown back via Brussels.
My father maintained a diary through nearly all of his time in the Army, at great risk to himself whilst a POW. This diary although edited later for personal reasons, contains numerous references to events in 903 Coy. and the personnel with whom he served.
He tried to have it published later but not being an officer, and containing mostly routine details about food parcels etc. in camp, they told him it was not eventful enough.
Sadly on his death in September 1991 most of his possessions were disposed of, and I only have one of the draft copies he circulated.
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Maj. John Alfred O'Neill 8th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment (d.29th Nov 1941) He was killed in action whilst commanding a Valentine tank near Sidi Rezegh during Operation Crusader.
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L/Bmdr. Arthur Sydney Paxton 282 Bty. 88th HAA Regiment Royal Artillery      My late father, Arthur Paxton, signed up in the Territorial Army in March 1939. He was called up for service in August 1939 with the Royal Artillery, 88th HAA Regiment, 282nd Battery. He was initially stationed at White City. From the regiment’s diaries I know he was stationed around London including Enfield, Epping Forest, and Mill Hill.
In July 1941, Batteries 281, 282, and 283 were deployed to the Middle East. They arrived at Port Tewfik in Egypt on 23rd of July 1941. The 282nd Battery consisted of 11 officers and 346 ordinary ranks. Batteries 281 and 283 were a similar size. They were deployed in the Suez area, tasked with defending the Port of Alexandria and the Suez Canal. In October 1941 they were moved to defend the desert landing grounds in preparation for Operation Crusader in the Western Desert. This operation lasted until January 1942, when Rommel counter-attacked. In May 1942, my dad’s regiment was moved to Tobruk, where the 282nd Battery suffered major losses in June.
My father was listed as missing at Tobruk on 20th of June 1942 and is then listed as a POW captured in Cyrenaica. From Tobruk he was taken to Italy, and there is a WO telegram dated September 1942 confirming he was a POW in Italian hands. He is listed as a POW but with no camp allocated, which leads me to believe that he was in a work camp.
We have a family story that when Italy surrendered, my dad was being taken from Italy to Germany and the train he was being transported on was bombed by allied aircraft and he and many others escaped. This could be the Bridge at Allerona, but I can find no corroborating evidence for this. He then hid in the mountains, begging and stealing food from the local farmers. He was recaptured as he was trying to make his way back to Allied lines.
I know that he next turned up at the main prisoner transit camp at Mantova, before being transported by train through the Brenner Pass to Germany. He was initially held during August 1944 at POW camp VII-A before being transferred to Stalag XI-A at Altengrabow in Saxony. Stalag XI-A was liberated by the Americans, and my father was repatriated in May 1945. His POW number was 135310.
I have my father's military service record and the ICRC POW record, but neither gives me any detail as to where my father was held during the 2 years he was a prisoner in Italy. I would love to find out more about my father's time in Italy if anyone can help me.
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2nd Lt. Denys Hallen Hancock 6th Royal Tank Regiment Royal Tank Corps (d.20th November 1941) Second Lieutenant Denys Hancock, lost his life on 20th of November 1941 at the battle of Sidi Rezegh in North Africa, His father and brother were also in the military.
His brother, Clarence Henry Bramley Hancock, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (USA). He was a captain in the RFA. As a FOO he was awarded his medal for gallantry during the battle for Suggerath, Germany.
His father, Ralph Hancock was a successful and famous landscape architect.
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Bdr. William John Stainthorpe MM. Royal Artillery My grandfather, Bombardier William John Stainthorpe of the Royal Artillery was captured at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh.
For his actions in that battle, he received the Military Medal.
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