William Henry Harrison

6th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers War Diary (irishbrigade.co.uk)
18/1/1943 In the Field.
07:30 Enemy started to attack 'C' coy from east and south east of Grandstand Hill. Estimated enemy strength 3 coys.
07:35 'B' coy also engaged
07:45 Two enemy armoured cars seen entering 648101. These were engaged by our artillery.
08:30 Enemy have occupied W Hill, having failed to work south flank of our position. We were later heavily mortared from this position.
08:45 Capt Spencer was killed by mortar shell, Capt Daly is sent to command coy as Capt Wise has also been wounded.
09:10 Coy 1 RIrF is sent to cross our flank and position there appears secure.
10:15 Our north flank reported well held. Enemy who tried to penetrate between 'B' and 'D' coys were engaged by artillery and suffered heavy casualties. Enemy on high ground to the east also killed.
11:00 To enable 6 Innisks to sweep the front positions in front of Grandstand Hill 'A' coy RIrF moved to 649081.
12:00 The situation had quietened down and enemy appears pinned to the ground although they have managed to bring up and put in position several MMG posts and occupied Plough Hill. By 12:25 Plough Hill had been heavily shelled.
12:25 Squadron of 17/21 Lancers were put under command and 'D' coy proceeded to sweep gully to east of Grandstand Hill. It was found necessary to employ 'A' coy however and it was not until 15:50 hrs that the spur and gully were reported clear. 15 POW were taken in this sweep.
15:40 No enemy were apparent to the west but now had established a coy with 4 MGs in front of Grandstand.
15:55 W Hill was heavily shelled by our artillery.
16:50 'A' coy 1 RIrF commended by Major Duffy under command 6 Innisks were 1 troop of Lothians went out to clear W Hill. The tanks returned at 13:00 hrs with prisoners but the coy did not return until 18:30 hrs. Major Murphy was killed and Capt Barstow 2 coy 2.i.c missing.

Dusk found the Bttn still intact on their hill.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy and 28 POW taken. Identification found I and III bttns Hermann Goering Regiment, also II Marsch Bttn. All prisoners willing to talk and all remarked on the weight and accuracy of our artillery which they said was deadly.
Despite the fact one farm was shelled consistantly all day our casualties were fairly light. The exact figure being Capt Spencers and 8 ORs killed, Capt Wise and 21 ORs wounded.
23:50 'C' coy reported green Verey light from W village and they can hear tanks. 'D' coy 1 RIrf is put under command. They take up position behind and to the left of 'A' coy

19/11943 In the Field
00:40 Three enemy tanks heard going south in front of 'C' coy position on Grandstand Hill.
00:57 Enemy shell Bttn area.
01:22 Any immediate danger seems past. 'D' coy change over completed.
05:05 Message sent to all coys that they where not in sight of enemy coys will strengthen and improve wire and generally check up defences.
08:20 Lieu Uppington, Fusilier Fielden and a section of 'B' coy sent out to recce area in front of Grandstand.
09:25 'C' coy patrol is in. No movement in village, there are about9 Germans deads in front of 14 Platoon's position. Lt Duggan is going out to investigate and bring back what he can.
11:50 Resting in Command Post to discuss attsck on Pt 286, a pimple south of Bttn position. Following attended the conference C.O., I.O., 2.i.c, Major Bunch (O.C. 'A' coy) and Colonel Barstow (and RHA)
14:15 Two stretcher bearers of 1 RIrF bring in Capt Barstow who had been missing from yesterday's attack.
14:25 Zero for Royal Artillery attack.
Capt Hogan, who had only arrived from 1st reinforcements the night before and Lieut Hewitt were wounded, 3 ORs killed and 4 wounded.
16:05 Brigadier sees coys in and congratulates them on a perfect attack.
16:06 Bttn attacked by Stukas, but no casuakties reported. Bttn was given warning that raid might take place by Brigade half an hour before raid took place.
16:12 Three tanks return and take up hulled down formation behind position 'C' coy.
The Bttn was again shelled during the day.

The attack plan for the 19th January is not included in the war diary.
Capt Barstow: the stretcher bearers had been given permissionto try and locate the bodies of Major P C Murphy (MC) and Capt J M O Barstow. They were unable to locate Major Murphy but they found Capt Barstow still alive and apparently quite comfortable sunning himself on a rock, having moved himself from where he fell. He was dazed and slightly delerious, and his eyes bunged up with dirt into which he had fallen but refused to travel on the stretcher and walked some of the way back to the lines with the stretcher bearers.