With the East Surreys in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy 1942-45
Posted on Wednesday 4th July 2012
By 26 November 1942, less than three weeks since they had landed near Algiers, the Surrey infantry approached Tebourba, a small town only 15 miles from Tunis. Tebourba was about 20 miles north of the strategically placed market town of Medjez el Bab, on the north side of the steep banked Medjerda River. In the midst of a countryside full of olive groves, Tebourba lay in ruins from heavy shelling and bombing. By nightfall after overcoming light defences, the Surreys had captured both Tebourba and the nearby bridge at El Bathan, which crossed the Medjerda River.
The Surreys, now reduced to around 500 men since landing in Algiers, hoped to be reinforced very quickly. General Eveleigh, the 78th Division commander, even had thoughts of entering Tunis on the next day. But there was to be no time. By mid-morning of 27 November the Germans counter-attacked with some 50 Panzers. So the battle for Tebourba and its nearby hill Point 186, began and went on for seven days.
Tebourba lay astride the only route that German tanks could take through the hills from Tunis to attack the Allies’ hold on Medjez. For those next seven days the Surreys, together with troops of the Northants and Hampshire Regiments, fought a series of desperate defensive battles. Eventually Panzers cut the road south back to Medjez el Bab, leaving the Surreys and Hampshires nearly surrounded. Orders to retreat to the south had them slipping away in the night from around Tebourba.
The Germans were building their forces in Tunis, and intended to drive the Allies back from both Tebourba and Medjez. By 5 December when the Surreys regrouped in Medjez, they comprised only 23 officers and 350 other ranks. They had paid dearly in stemming the onslaught by German Panzers, losing more than half their original strength of 796 in casualties.



Further Reading
With The East Surreys in Tunisia and Italy 1942 - 1945
(Hardback - 240 pages)
ISBN: 9781848847620
by Bryn Evans
Only £25.00
The East Surreys were in near continuous action from November 1942, when they landed in North Africa (Operation TORCH) through to the end of hostilities in May 1945. During these three years of bitter fighting they cleared the Germans from Tunisia, took part in Operation HUSKY, (the invasion of Sicily) and fought up through Italy as far as the River Po.
Trained as mountain troops, the East Surreys saw set piece and patrol action in the Atlas Mountains, on the slopes of Mount Etna and Monte Cassino,…
Read more at Pen & Sword Books...
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