Hi,
I am new to the forum. I just wanted to follow up on a bit of research on the attack by 2nd Batt/Royal Ulster Rifles (RUR) & 1st East Riding Yeomanry (ERY) Sherman's at Cambes-En-Plaine on the afternoon of June 7th, 1944.
Background
i) British Movements
As I understand it, the troops from 2nd Batt/RUR mustered in the woods at Le Mesnil around 14:00 and commenced their probe into Cambes around 15:00 along with 'A' & 'B' squadrons of ERY. With woods surrounding the village and ten foot high walls surrounding them, it was difficult to pinpoint any enemy positions.
Their assembly positions in the woods near Le Mesnil were under observation, and some came under artillery fire from Panzerartillerie Regiment 155/21st Panzer & Batterie 'Graf Waldersee'.
ii) German Movements
Separately Kurt Meyer, had at 14:00 instructed a detachment of 5 Panzer IV's from 8th Kompanie, to include Ko.Chef Obstf Hans Siegel to support an attack by 1st Abteilung/25 Panzer Grenadiers/12 SS (Waldmuller) to secure their flank at Cambes that same afternoon.
iii) Battle Joined
At around 17:00 the fighting erupted as elements of 'D' company 2nd Batt/RUR split in half, with two platoons under the Company Commander Capt J. R. StL. Aldworth, acting as vanguard and attacking the village through the left side of the wood (representing the northern edge of Cambes) and the other platoon and Company HQ, commanded by the company's second in command, Captain J. Montgomery, attacking through the right edge of the wood (also on the northern edge of Cambes - on the opposite side).
http://royal-ulster-rifles-ww2.blogspot.com/2010/11/
iv) 21st Panzer - Movements
They were engaged by elements of 1st Abt/Panzer Grenadier Regt (PGR) 125/21st Panzer. which had just arrived and was also advancing. [Kortenhaus (2014) The Combat History of the 21.Panzer Div pp 146-148].
The only armored element of 21st Panzer in the vicinity appears to have been elements of Panzerregiment (PR) 22 was already at the time heavily engaged in another sector close to Lebisey along the Beunille-Bieville-Lebisey Road, where they heavily counter-attacked elements of the 1st Norfolks (185 brigade) who had stumbled into an ambush of 1st Abt/PGR125/21st Panzer, inflicting heavy casualties on the latter around 17:00 on the same day, but they not to appear to have been in action at Cambes-En-Plaine. On the contrary, a liaision officer from 2nd Abt/25 PGR/12 SS was only able to make contact with elements of I Abt/PZ Regt 100/Panzer Regt 22/ 21st Panzer that night at the neighboring village of La Bijude (250 m to the south of Cambes.
v) 12 SS - Movements
Meanwhile, Obstf Siegel's 8 Komp/12th SS 5 x Pk MK IV's had arrived, and were approaching Cambes from the E/SE. Having observed the 1st ERY tanks approaching Cambes from the north. One of his panzers dropped out due to a mechanical problem. In addition elements of 1st Abt/25th PGR 12/SS were also involved, with 1st Komp/1st Abt/25th PGR 12/SS (Fuchs) to the right, 3rd Komp (Knossel) to its left, and 2nd Komp (Gschaider) with 16 (Pioneer)/25 PGR 12 SS (Werner) in reserve, to its left entering Cambes from the south. Cazenave (2019) Pz Div HJ Vol II (1.2) pp 72-79]
Siegel's own tank was immobilised due to a falling branch landing on his tank following an explosion in the tree top above his tank. Three of the accompanying Panzer MK IV's proceeded without him and engaged the enemy in Cambes. However, as they stopped to fire two of the Panzers were hit, with one losing a track, while the other was still able to return fire. Another is said to have slid sideways into a shell crater and became stuck. (Meyer, H (2005) The History of 12 SS Hitler Jugend Pz Div (Vol 1) pp 147/Cazenave (2014) Pz Regt 12/12 SS pp 170).
vi) 1st ERY - Lt George Jenkin MC
On that same afternoon, Lt George Jenkin, a tank commander from 3 troop, B Squadron, 1st Batt/ERY is credited to have destroyed five enemy vehicles, reported to have been a AA half track vehicle, three lorries and a M/C combo. In addition, Lt Jenkin dismounted his Sherman tank, in an attempt to liaise with some men from the A/T section of 2 Batt/RUR when they came under fire and he found himself unable to get back to his tank during the attack. He is then reported to have spotted 2 Pz Mk IV's approaching at 1,300 yards. He is then reported to have helped man a 6 Pdr gun (2 Batt/RUR) and laid the target, scoring a hit on the leading Pz Mk IV setting it on fire, for which which action he received a Military Cross (MC).
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obitua ... enkin.html
vii) Identity of the destroyed German vehicles in Cambes - June 7th?
According to the 12 SS records, there is an entry for June 7 1944, that a number of soft skin trucks including a Flak Panzer 38, as well as a Sdkfz 9 Famo prime mover were destroyed, but it is not indicated where. Cazenave (2014) Pz Regt 12/12SS pp 155). In addition there is reference to one Pz Mk IV lost, although it doesn't indicate the tank number.
References
(Meyer, H (2005) The History of Hitler Jugend Pz Div (Vol 1) pp 145-149/Cazenave (2014) Pz Regt 12/12SS pp 155,158,166,170 /Cazenave (2019) Pz Div HJ Vol II (1.2) pp 72-79]
Queries
My two questions for the forum are this :-
1) Does any forum member have any evidence (with references) to there being any 21st Pz Division tanks or other vehicles in Cambes on the afternoon of June 7th?
If so, would you be able to identify which zug/komp & Abt as well as any note of losses that day to any enemy action? and/or recovered vehicles ...
2) Does any forum member have any evidence (with references) as to which zug from Siegel's 8th Komp/12 Panzer regt/12 SS had possibly 2 MK IV's knocked out at Cambes on June 7th (albeit temporarily and later - according to Siegel - were recovered presumably?)
Many thanks
N