John Henry Gregory

After Sirte had been taken in December 1942 there had been a halt for Christmas
and the New Year. Now there was to be an advance on Tripoli where the Germans had dug
themselves in firmly about 40 miles east of the city at Beurat on the coast road.

The Sherwood Rangers along with the rest of 8th Armoured Brigade and infantry units of the 2nd New Zealand Division were tasked with attacking the German positions south-east of Tripoli through an area known as Wadi Zem Zem, a 3 mile wide, 100 mile long valley with steep mountains and cliffs on either side. As the sun rose on Friday 15th January A Squadron led the way in but soon came under heavy anti-tank fire which seemed impossible to pinpoint and knock out.

C Squadron were then ordered forward and pushed through to the middle of the wadi where the Germans had let them in and were waiting. The enemy then let loose at C Squadron from positions on the high ground on both sides of the wadi. During the course of the day, half the squadrons tanks were knocked out, but, by nightfall the Regiment had reached the other side of the wadi and taken key German positions. Still under shell fire, they were forced to pull back and leaguer for the night. The next day the Germans had withdrawn but the Sherwood Rangers pursued them for the next three days to the outskirts of Tripoli. Concentrated from the same field grave to Tripoli 3/6/1944 as Cpl George Leedham and Trp Joseph Turner.

A very bad day for the Sherwood Rangers, the worst of the war so far in terms of losses, losing 18 men killed with many more wounded.

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