Kenneth George Smith

The regiment was heavily involved in the fighting at Point 204 (Alem Hamza, Cyrenica) on 15th December as part of the on going Operation Crusader.

Rommel considered Point 204 a key position and so many of the available neighbouring armoured and infantry units were committed to attack it on 15 December. In fierce and determined fighting, the attacking force, Ariete and 15th Panzer, with 8th Bersaglieri Regiment and 115th Lorried Infantry Regiment, overran the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regt) and it's supporting elements during the afternoon.

The Buffs lost over 1,000 men killed or captured with only 71 men and a battery of field
artillery escaping.

Diary entries of 2nd Lt Owen Walton 31 Field Regt. Royal Artillery;

13th Dec
Moved forward slowly. Raj R (6th Rajputana Rifles, 5th Indian Brigade) captured about 800
prisoners. We fired a few rounds.

14th Dec
Moved forward again. Attacked by tanks. David Turner killed, Wright wounded. Gun position
heavily shelled. Bob wounded. Tanks attacked again. Hit in thigh did not penetrate. 8 casualties. 'A' troop lost their guns. Nearest shell about 2 yards. Leaguered for night.

15th Dec / 16th Dec
Came into action at first light. Discovered enemy 2000 yards away. Shot on them from guns. Replied with mortar and machine guns. Hit in the arm not serious. 2 men killed. Attacked by 30 tanks again in afternoon. D & E troops wiped out. Troop shot up from 3 sides. Managed to get 4 guns on wheels. Doing no3, on gun when shell hit, only one left alive on gun. 3 guns hit by tanks when moving. Drove away in K car punctured wheel I was driving direct hit through back killing 2. Sgt Mansfield dead beside me. Harry Hall hit, car out of action. Lay doggo in scrub while tanks passed by.

Looted camp bed to carry Capt Hall. Set off walking at 4pm; Ridley, BSM Julian, Gnr Whitley. Moore (blind) (illegible - looks like Ferris) carried Capt Hall 5 miles. Arrived 5th IBHQ (Indian Brigade HQ) 2 am, dead beat. Only 1 gun and 200 men of Regt left. Major missing, only May, Kidd, myself left. All 105 battery officers missing. Reorganised remains into one battery. Arm not too bad. Received 6 guns, trying to form two 4 gun troops. Only 30 men of B troop left. 2 letters from Gladys 29/9 and 6/10.