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51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment

December 02, 2023

The 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment (51 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army that fought in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns during World War II and continued to serve during the 1950s.

51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment
Active1939–1956
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArmoured
SizeRegiment
Garrison/HQLeeds, Yorkshire
AnniversariesCambrai Day (20 November)
EngagementsWorld War II
DecorationsMaple Leaf
Battle honours'North Africa', 'Italy'

Origin edit

In April 1938, the 7th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment converted to the armoured role as the 45th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment. The Leeds Rifles was a long-standing Territorial Army (TA) infantry unit, founded by volunteers from the city of Leeds in 1859. In June 1939, the company based at Morley was split off to form the cadre for a duplicate unit, the 51st (Leeds Rifles) Bn, Royal Tank Regiment.[1][2][3]

World War II edit

On the outbreak of war in September 1939, 51 RTR was part of the 25th Army Tank Brigade, in Northern Command, alongside the Newcastle-based TA regiments 43 RTR and 49 RTR.[4]

Motor Machine Gun Battalion edit

At the end of May 1940, with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) being evacuated from Dunkirk and the imminent threat of German invasion of England, the 25th Army Tank Brigade was redesignated 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade and its regiments reorganised accordingly. Each of 51 RTR's three MMG squadrons consisted of three troops, each with six Humber Snipe or Hillman Utility ('Tilly') two-seat cars, two carrying Vickers medium machine guns, two Bren light machine guns and two Boys anti-tank rifles.[5][6] In July 1940, volunteers from the units of 25th Army Tank Brigade formed No 5 Troop of No. 5 Commando at Bridlington.[7] In August, 51 RTR and the rest of the brigade moved to Northumberland to guard the coastline with machine gun posts along the cliffs and sand dunes.[8]

The 25th Army Tank Brigade was reconstituted at the end of 1940, and its regiments began to receive a trickle of tanks on which to train.[9] By the end of 1942, 51 RTR was fully trained and fully equipped with Churchill tanks.[10] In January 1943, the regiment embarked, with the rest of the 25th Tank Brigade, for North Africa, where it came under the command of V Corps of the British First Army in the Tunisian Campaign.

Tunisia edit

 
A Universal Carrier and a Churchill tank of 51st Royal Tank Regiment during 6th Armoured Division's attack on the town of Pichon, Tunisia, 8 April 1943.

The regiment took part in containing the German offensive of Operation Ochsenkopf in February - March 1943. At a place called Steamroller farm, two Churchill tanks ambushed and shot up an entire German transport column before rejoining the rest of their squadron. The result was the destruction of two 88 mm, two 75 mm, two 50 mm and four smaller calibre anti-tank guns, twenty-five wheeled vehicles, two 3-inch Mortars[dubious – discuss], two Mark III tanks and nearly 200 Axis casualties.[11]

On 7–8 April, 51 RTR supported IX Corps at Fondouk Pass. The 128th (Hampshire) Brigade of 46th Infantry Division crossed the Wadi Marguellil during the night and at 5.30 am on 8 April began its main attack, supported by 'C' Sqn 51 RTR, and by noon was on its objective.[12] The regiment ended the campaign in Army reserve.[13]

The 25th Tank Brigade came under the command of Brigadier James Noel Tetley of the Leeds Rifles at the end of the Tunisia campaign. He was the only Territorial Army officer of the Royal Tank Regiment to command a brigade on active service. The brigade, including 51 RTR, remained training in North Africa for almost a year, before they were required for service on the Italian Front.[4] The regiment celebrated Cambrai Day (20 November, commemorating the tank Battle of Cambrai) in Algeria.[14] 51 RTR embarked on 16 April 1944 and landed at Naples, where it was equipped with Churchill tanks, with a few Shermans and Stuarts.[15]

Italy edit

The brigade distinguished itself in support of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in the assault on the Hitler Line in May 1944. At the request of the Canadians, its regiments adopted the Maple leaf as an additional badge, later worn by 51 RTR's successors, the Leeds Detachment (Leeds Rifles), Imphal (PWO) Company, East and West Riding Regiment.[3][16] Brigadier Tetley, formerly of the Leeds Rifles himself, was the only TA RTR officer to command a brigade on active service.[3] 51 RTR went on to fight in the Gothic Line battles of August–September 1944.[4]

 
Churchill tank crews of HQ Troop, 51 RTR share out rations near their camouflaged vehicles before going into action in support of the 1st Canadian Division, Italy, 17 May 1944.

To deal with the successive enemy lines of defences anticipated in the later stages of the campaign, it was decided in late 1944 to convert the brigade into the 25th Assault Engineer Brigade, equipped with the specialized tanks known as Hobart's Funnies. Organised on 5 January 1945, this was primarily a Royal Engineers formation, but 51 RTR remained in the brigade, although converted to specialised armour.[17] 'B' Squadron received 15 Crab Mark II flail tanks,[18] while 'A' and 'C' sqns had a total of 32 Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tanks. Each squadron in the brigade was self-administering, so that they could be detached where required.[19]

 
Churchill tanks of 51 RTR lined up below a crest near the River Foglia, 30 August 1944. The tanks were supporting infantry of the 139th Brigade attacking across the river.

25 Armoured Assault Brigade first went into action at the crossing of the Senio on 9 April 1945. 51 RTR was attached to the 2nd New Zealand and 8th Indian Divisions. The flamethrowing tanks crept forward during the preliminary bombardment and positioned themselves close to the floodbank as possible. One minute before the infantry assault started, the positions were flamed. Most of the Crocodiles had to be 60 feet behind the bank to be able to direct their flame over the bank.[20] World War II in Europe ended shortly after this operation.

Postwar edit

When the Territorial Army was reformed after the war, it included a combined 45th/51st (Leeds Rifles) RTR.[1][2] The personnel received their tank training from 'A' Sqn of 6 RTR at RAF Worksop.[21][failed verification] Brigadier Noel Tetley was the honorary colonel.

In 1956, the 45th/51st (Leeds Rifles) RTR returned to the infantry role under its old title of 7th (Leeds Rifles) Bn West Yorkshire Regiment. It carried the honorary distinction on its colours and appointments of the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment with the dates '1942-45' and two scrolls inscribed 'North Africa' and 'Italy'.[1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c . 26 December 2005. Archived from the original on 26 December 2005.
  2. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 20 December 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 21 July 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Joslen, p. 203.
  5. ^ Joslen, pp. 203, 211.
  6. ^ 51st RTR War Diary July–August 1940, The National Archives, file WO 166/1424.
  7. ^ 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary July 1940, The National Archives, file WO 166/1135.
  8. ^ 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary August 1940, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 166/1135.
  9. ^ 25th Army Tank Brigade War Diary December 1940–December 1941, The National Archives, file WO 166/1135.
  10. ^ 51st RTR War Diary, February–December 1942, The National Archives, file WO 166/6925.
  11. ^ "War Monthly". No. 34–45. War Monthly Publications. 1976.
  12. ^ Playfair & Molony, pp 379–81.
  13. ^ Playfair & Molony, p 446.
  14. ^ 51 RTR War Diary November 1943, The National Archives, file WO 169/9380.
  15. ^ 51 RTR War Diary April 1944, The National Archives, file WO 170/865.
  16. ^ 25 Tank Brigade War Diary May 1944, The National Archives, file WO 170/591.
  17. ^ Joslen, p. 175.
  18. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  19. ^ Jackson, Appendix 6: pp. 402-3.
  20. ^ Jackson, pp. 219, 224.
  21. ^ "Community Website Builder". chessck.co.uk.

References edit

  • Ronald Addyman, The 51st Royal Tank Regiment : Morley, Tunisia and Italy, 1939-1945, 2004. ISBN 0-9547807-0-1
  • Gen Sir William Jackson, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol VI: Victory in the Mediterranean Part III: November 1944 to May 1945, London: HMSO, 1988.
  • Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
  • Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair and Brig C.J.C. Molony, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series, The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol IV: The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa, London: HMSO, 1966.

External sources edit

  • Yorkshire Volunteers website
  • Merseyside RTR (Brian Gill's website)

December 02, 2023
51st, leeds, rifles, royal, tank, regiment, armoured, regiment, british, territorial, army, that, fought, tunisian, italian, campaigns, during, world, continued, serve, during, 1950s, active1939, 1956country, united, kingdombranch, british, armytypearmouredsiz. The 51st Leeds Rifles Royal Tank Regiment 51 RTR was an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army that fought in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns during World War II and continued to serve during the 1950s 51st Leeds Rifles Royal Tank RegimentActive1939 1956Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeArmouredSizeRegimentGarrison HQLeeds YorkshireAnniversariesCambrai Day 20 November EngagementsWorld War IIDecorationsMaple LeafBattle honours North Africa Italy Contents 1 Origin 2 World War II 2 1 Motor Machine Gun Battalion 2 2 Tunisia 2 3 Italy 3 Postwar 4 Notes 5 References 6 External sourcesOrigin editIn April 1938 the 7th Leeds Rifles Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment converted to the armoured role as the 45th Leeds Rifles Battalion Royal Tank Regiment The Leeds Rifles was a long standing Territorial Army TA infantry unit founded by volunteers from the city of Leeds in 1859 In June 1939 the company based at Morley was split off to form the cadre for a duplicate unit the 51st Leeds Rifles Bn Royal Tank Regiment 1 2 3 World War II editOn the outbreak of war in September 1939 51 RTR was part of the 25th Army Tank Brigade in Northern Command alongside the Newcastle based TA regiments 43 RTR and 49 RTR 4 Motor Machine Gun Battalion edit At the end of May 1940 with the British Expeditionary Force BEF being evacuated from Dunkirk and the imminent threat of German invasion of England the 25th Army Tank Brigade was redesignated 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade and its regiments reorganised accordingly Each of 51 RTR s three MMG squadrons consisted of three troops each with six Humber Snipe or Hillman Utility Tilly two seat cars two carrying Vickers medium machine guns two Bren light machine guns and two Boys anti tank rifles 5 6 In July 1940 volunteers from the units of 25th Army Tank Brigade formed No 5 Troop of No 5 Commando at Bridlington 7 In August 51 RTR and the rest of the brigade moved to Northumberland to guard the coastline with machine gun posts along the cliffs and sand dunes 8 The 25th Army Tank Brigade was reconstituted at the end of 1940 and its regiments began to receive a trickle of tanks on which to train 9 By the end of 1942 51 RTR was fully trained and fully equipped with Churchill tanks 10 In January 1943 the regiment embarked with the rest of the 25th Tank Brigade for North Africa where it came under the command of V Corps of the British First Army in the Tunisian Campaign Tunisia edit nbsp A Universal Carrier and a Churchill tank of 51st Royal Tank Regiment during 6th Armoured Division s attack on the town of Pichon Tunisia 8 April 1943 The regiment took part in containing the German offensive of Operation Ochsenkopf in February March 1943 At a place called Steamroller farm two Churchill tanks ambushed and shot up an entire German transport column before rejoining the rest of their squadron The result was the destruction of two 88 mm two 75 mm two 50 mm and four smaller calibre anti tank guns twenty five wheeled vehicles two 3 inch Mortars dubious discuss two Mark III tanks and nearly 200 Axis casualties 11 On 7 8 April 51 RTR supported IX Corps at Fondouk Pass The 128th Hampshire Brigade of 46th Infantry Division crossed the Wadi Marguellil during the night and at 5 30 am on 8 April began its main attack supported by C Sqn 51 RTR and by noon was on its objective 12 The regiment ended the campaign in Army reserve 13 The 25th Tank Brigade came under the command of Brigadier James Noel Tetley of the Leeds Rifles at the end of the Tunisia campaign He was the only Territorial Army officer of the Royal Tank Regiment to command a brigade on active service The brigade including 51 RTR remained training in North Africa for almost a year before they were required for service on the Italian Front 4 The regiment celebrated Cambrai Day 20 November commemorating the tank Battle of Cambrai in Algeria 14 51 RTR embarked on 16 April 1944 and landed at Naples where it was equipped with Churchill tanks with a few Shermans and Stuarts 15 Italy edit The brigade distinguished itself in support of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in the assault on the Hitler Line in May 1944 At the request of the Canadians its regiments adopted the Maple leaf as an additional badge later worn by 51 RTR s successors the Leeds Detachment Leeds Rifles Imphal PWO Company East and West Riding Regiment 3 16 Brigadier Tetley formerly of the Leeds Rifles himself was the only TA RTR officer to command a brigade on active service 3 51 RTR went on to fight in the Gothic Line battles of August September 1944 4 nbsp Churchill tank crews of HQ Troop 51 RTR share out rations near their camouflaged vehicles before going into action in support of the 1st Canadian Division Italy 17 May 1944 To deal with the successive enemy lines of defences anticipated in the later stages of the campaign it was decided in late 1944 to convert the brigade into the 25th Assault Engineer Brigade equipped with the specialized tanks known as Hobart s Funnies Organised on 5 January 1945 this was primarily a Royal Engineers formation but 51 RTR remained in the brigade although converted to specialised armour 17 B Squadron received 15 Crab Mark II flail tanks 18 while A and C sqns had a total of 32 Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tanks Each squadron in the brigade was self administering so that they could be detached where required 19 nbsp Churchill tanks of 51 RTR lined up below a crest near the River Foglia 30 August 1944 The tanks were supporting infantry of the 139th Brigade attacking across the river 25 Armoured Assault Brigade first went into action at the crossing of the Senio on 9 April 1945 51 RTR was attached to the 2nd New Zealand and 8th Indian Divisions The flamethrowing tanks crept forward during the preliminary bombardment and positioned themselves close to the floodbank as possible One minute before the infantry assault started the positions were flamed Most of the Crocodiles had to be 60 feet behind the bank to be able to direct their flame over the bank 20 World War II in Europe ended shortly after this operation Postwar editWhen the Territorial Army was reformed after the war it included a combined 45th 51st Leeds Rifles RTR 1 2 The personnel received their tank training from A Sqn of 6 RTR at RAF Worksop 21 failed verification Brigadier Noel Tetley was the honorary colonel In 1956 the 45th 51st Leeds Rifles RTR returned to the infantry role under its old title of 7th Leeds Rifles Bn West Yorkshire Regiment It carried the honorary distinction on its colours and appointments of the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment with the dates 1942 45 and two scrolls inscribed North Africa and Italy 1 Notes edit a b c The Leeds Rifles UK 26 December 2005 Archived from the original on 26 December 2005 a b Leeds Rifles Archived from the original on 20 December 2005 Retrieved 24 September 2012 a b c 45th Leeds Rifles Royal Tank Corps TA Archived from the original on 21 July 2006 Retrieved 3 August 2012 a b c Joslen p 203 Joslen pp 203 211 51st RTR War Diary July August 1940 The National Archives file WO 166 1424 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary July 1940 The National Archives file WO 166 1135 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary August 1940 The National Archives Kew file WO 166 1135 25th Army Tank Brigade War Diary December 1940 December 1941 The National Archives file WO 166 1135 51st RTR War Diary February December 1942 The National Archives file WO 166 6925 War Monthly No 34 45 War Monthly Publications 1976 Playfair amp Molony pp 379 81 Playfair amp Molony p 446 51 RTR War Diary November 1943 The National Archives file WO 169 9380 51 RTR War Diary April 1944 The National Archives file WO 170 865 25 Tank Brigade War Diary May 1944 The National Archives file WO 170 591 Joslen p 175 Welcome to the Tank Museum Home of the Tank Virtual Museum Archived from the original on 28 July 2011 Retrieved 24 September 2012 Jackson Appendix 6 pp 402 3 Jackson pp 219 224 Community Website Builder chessck co uk References editRonald Addyman The 51st Royal Tank Regiment Morley Tunisia and Italy 1939 1945 2004 ISBN 0 9547807 0 1 Gen Sir William Jackson History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series The Mediterranean and Middle East Vol VI Victory in the Mediterranean Part III November 1944 to May 1945 London HMSO 1988 Joslen H F 2003 1960 Orders of Battle Second World War 1939 1945 Uckfield East Sussex Naval and Military Press ISBN 978 1 84342 474 1 Maj Gen I S O Playfair and Brig C J C Molony History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series The Mediterranean and Middle East Vol IV The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa London HMSO 1966 External sources editYorkshire Volunteers website Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth Prince of Wales s Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum Merseyside RTR Brian Gill s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 51st Leeds Rifles Royal Tank Regiment amp oldid 1169900536, 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