- Contributed byÌý
- jonwilkie
- People in story:Ìý
- Jonathan Wilkinson
- Location of story:Ìý
- Sidi Nsir between Mateur and Beja, Tunisia
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A6227471
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 20 October 2005
The German thrusts towards the village of Sidi Nsir and Hunts Farm, where the Royal Hampshires and Royal Artillery held up the crack German tanks on 26th February 1943. The battleplan was drawn up by Jonathan Wilkinson.
BATTLE OF SIDI NSIR 26TH FEBRUARY 1943
The details of this battle can be found under my account Sidi Nsir, Tunisia to the Great March (A4789434).
The importance of this battle has been rather overlooked. The Hampshires took on the might of the German tanks and held up their advance long enough for re-inforcements to arrive. If the Germans had broken through, the history of the North African campaign could have been re-written.
Quote 'the resistance at Sidi Nsir helped to delay this crack German Corps for some 48 hours, giving time for extra mining of the road and the reinforcement of Hunts Farm. The German attack was successfully repulsed. I am really proud of my Hampshire mates who ‘fought like the Tigers on our regimental badge’, and the courageous RA lads who supported us all the way. Later Newnham wrote to our colonel ‘these lads were tougher than anything I have ever served with, or hope to serve with. There was no suggestion of a waiver — every man stuck to his rifle, his bren, his mortar to the end’. The action described in ‘Last Stand! Famous Battles Against The Odds’ Bryan Perrett 1991.
The map shows the early battle-lines.
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