Highland Division at War - Pt 2

Prime minister Winston Churchill inspects the eighth army infantry and tanks at the victory parade in Tripoli

OPERATION Lightfoot — the Alamein battle in the North African desert — was brilliantly planned by General Montgomery, with much secret help from the Bletchley Park Ultra code-breaking machine which revealed General Rommel’s vital plans.

The objective for the 51st Highland Division was to secure 7000 yards of African desert, across and through minefields, barbed wire, enemy dugouts and slit trenches, against well-armed German and Italian formations in the Northern Corridor.

5th Seaforth had the difficult task of laying white tape along the 2500 yards of the Highland Division start line and from there to tape back nine separate routes so that the other battalions could advance to the line on the night of 19th and 20th October, 1942.

Lieutenant-Colonel K. McKessack was commanding officer (CO) of 2nd Seaforth and Lieutenant-Colonel "Jumbo" Stirling was CO of 5th Seaforth with 5th Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, part of 152nd Highland Brigade under Brigadier G. Murray.

Every one of the 36 objectives was given a Scottish name — Inverness, Aberdeen, Braemar etc. By the night of the 26th, the Highland Division had advanced six miles for a loss of over 2100 casualties. On the night of the 27th, 5th Seaforth moved up to "Sniper Valley" near Tel el Eisa and 2nd Seaforth put in a gallant but unsuccessful attack on "Stirling" through minefields. In 36 hours they suffered 100 casualties.

"The night 1/2nd November . . . we were to fight more skilful actions and achieve more for less cost," Alastair Borthwick wrote in "Sans Peur — 5th Seaforth in World War II".

"We were to learn guile. But never again were we to go in as we did that night with so much verve. Of course it was a wasteful action. It had to be. We were raw troops with more spirit than sense and we chose a bad night to grow up."

The 5th Seaforth’s first attack lost 12 officers and 165 men but reached their objectives, then dug in, right in the midst of a huge complicated armoured battle. Farquhar MacRae, their medical officer, worked in the open, performing amputations under fire. When the battle was eventually won congratulations poured in from all over Scotland including from the council of Inverness. General Wimberley mourned the loss of Hamish Macdonald (5th Camerons) and W. I. Mackintosh (Seaforth).

After the battle, General Montgomery addressed 30 Corps officers.

"I well remember that night on 23rd October when the Highland Division went into battle with its bagpipes for the first time," he told them. I don’t suppose anyone will forget that night . . . I know the HD was anxious to do its stuff well, to wipe out and avenge the debt passed on to them by that other HD that fought at St Valery. There is no doubt that the HD did its first battle right well."

On the long way to Tripoli and Tunis in pursuit of the Afrika Korps, 5th Seaforth suffered 81 casualties in the Corradini/Homs battle.

In the grand victory parade in Tripoli on 28th January, 1943, General Wimberley led 100 kilted pipers and Winston Churchill was moved to tears when "Highland Laddie", "Cock of the North" and "The Campbells are Coming" were played. The Highland Division had travelled 1200 hard fought miles to get to Tripoli.

Then followed the battles at Medenine and Mareth, which was a disaster. In the appalling Wadi Zigzaou on 24th March the Seaforths and Camerons each had about 100 casualties, and again at Wadi Akarit and the Djebel Roumana Hill under nebelwerfer "moaning minnie" mortar fire the Seaforth clambered over the rocky slopes in constant machine-gun and rifle fire. Lieutenant-Colonel Rory Horne and Major Gilmore led three desperate attacks on the highest ridge against the German 90th Leicht Division and the Italian Spezia Division, and the 5th Camerons lost eight officers and 100 other ranks.

Wadi Akarit was a notable battle honour for the Seaforth and Camerons and General Wimberley was given permission to tour all the Reinforcement Camps and lines of communication troops to seek "Scottish" volunteer replacements.

Tunis and Bizerta surrendered on 7th May but after the long march of 1850 miles, the Division had 5400 casualties — 5th Camerons 564, 2nd Seaforth 483 and 5th Seaforth 472. There are very many brave young Highlanders in the North African cemeteries.

Patrick Delaforce’s latest books "The Rhine Endeavour" and "Operation Eclipse" are available from bookshops, Amazon or direct from Amberley Publishing at about £20.