大象传媒

By 12.40 hours enemy tanks (reported as thirty in number) and infantry had worked into positions around the flanks of the gun position. From captured maps it is also clear that self-propelled guns were being moved into positions at close range (about six hundred yards). All this time the Battery was engaging enemy infantry, machine guns, mortars,etc., who were closing in on the 5th Hampshire Company positions.
At 15.00 hours a column of enemy infantry penetrated between Hampshire Farm and the gun position and no more ammunition could pass.
At about 15.20 hours, under covering fire from some thirteen tanks in hull down positions (firing machine guns and guns), further tanks advanced down the road. A panzer Mark V1 was loading. This was holed three times in the turret by Sgt. Henderson's gun. A panzer Mark 1V tried to pass but this in turn was knocked out by No. 1 gun. A further tank was set on fire by No. 1 gun. The enemy held back and shelled and machine-gunned the positions, particularly "F" Troop which was more easily spotted.Both troops were in action against enemy tanks over open sights. The enemy tanks in hull down positions had a great advantage over our guns. They engaged our guns one by one and set on fire ammunition dumps - killed the detachments and smashed up the guns.
At 16.00 hours an attack against "F" Troop's southern flank from the Mateur road again developed. Sgt. Henderson smashed up the leading tank but directly afterwards he and his entire crew were killed by a direct hit. The tanks then came over the ridge and on to "F" Troop position, three guns of which were still in action. These engaged the enemy at ranges of from fifty to ten yards with Lieut. Taylor, the batmen, cooks and all survivors running from gun to gun and servicing each in turn.
"F" Troop was silenced by approximately 17.30 hours. Tanks then moved down the road between "F" Troop and "E" Troop and surrounded "E" Troop.
As it grew dark at about 18.30 hours, Bren guns and at least one gun of "E" Troop were still in action against the enemy at ranges of ten to twenty yards. The tanks smothered the gun position with machine gun and gun fire. Any man who moved was immediately shot, tracer ammunition being used. Some tanks went round the position swivelling round on their tracks and crushing in the slit trenches.
At 17.51 hoursthe last message came over the W/T., "Tanks are on us," followed a few seconds later by the single letter "V" tapped out in morse.
o o o
When the battle began there were nine Officers and 121 O.R.s on the gun positions, Command Posts and O.P.s. Nine survived the action. One Officer and seventy-eight O.R.s, who were at the Wagon lines or detached from the Battery, survived.

o o o

One-Five-Five.

Honour to One-Five-Five!
Immortal Story!
Nine men remain alive

Battered and gory.
"Victory" on their lip
See how the Hun they whip
While they of Honour sip,
Honour and glory!

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