32
GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
Description
‘Billie Armstrong and his Brigade put on a magnificent show and fought like wildcats. Everybody including the British Generals speak in the highest terms of Billie’s splendid behaviour ... I am very sorry he has been captured, very sorry indeed.’
Lieutenant-General G. E. Brink, C.O. of 1st S.A. Division, on learning of Armstrong’s capture at Sidi Rezegh.
A rare Second World War North Abyssinia 1941 operations D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Major-General B. F. Armstrong, late South African Mounted Rifles and Artillery, who was taken P.O.W. at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 while serving as C.O. of the 5th S.A. Infantry Brigade - such was the slaughter inflicted on 5th Brigade that the Germans called it Totensonntag or ‘Death Sunday’: notwithstanding a game leg, the Brigadier - ‘a jolly soul’ - made a successful bid for freedom from the Castello Vincigliata in September 1943 and rose to be acting Quarter-Master General and Chief of General Staff, South African Army
Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; 1914-15 Star (Rfm. B. F. Armstrong, 3rd S.A.M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Captain B. F. Armstrong); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘P172826 B. F. Armstrong’; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Arty.’; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Staff C.’, very fine and better (10) £4000-5000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 30 December 1941.
The original recommendation states:
‘During the period 1 February to 9 March 1941, covering the operations involving the invasion of Abyssinia, Brigadier Armstrong displayed initiative of a high order. He displayed exceptional ability in crashing his way with his Brigade Group through dense bush after crossing the Abyssinian border north of Dukana and drive the enemy out of El Gumu. The following morning he advanced against Hobok which he attacked with determination and drove the enemy out. Subsequently he displayed outstanding leadership in the attack on Mega, when throughout three days of the attack, during which heavy rains fell and the countryside was sodden and the temperature almost at freezing point, he acted with great determination in carrying out the attack against the enemy in strongly entrenched and heavily wired positions. He co-ordinated the attack of two Brigades and his calm and determined leadership contributed largely to the surrender of the garrison, which was the first big reverse suffered by the enemy in Abyssinia.’
Bertram Frank Armstrong was born in Cape Town in January 1893 and enlisted in the Natal Police as a Trooper in March 1910. The latter unit having been incorporated into the South African Mounted Regiment, he saw action in German South-West Africa in September-October 1914, and again in July-August 1915, and was advanced to Sergeant in December of the latter year.
Commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1916, he was granted leave to join the Imperial Forces, and served in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery on attachment to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from May 1917 until October 1918.
Returning to duty with the Union Defence Force in April 1919, and having relinquished his commission and been appointed Sergeant in March 1920, he was given a permanent commission as a Lieutenant in November 1922, when he joined the strength of the Cape Garrison Artillery.
And it was in this capacity that he gained steady advancement in the period leading up to the renewal of hostilities, serving as C.O. of the S.A. Permanent Garrison Artillery and 1st S.A. Divisional Garrison Artillery in the period February 1933 to April 1937, and as O.C. Cape Command from the latter month until July 1939. He was also awarded the Jubilee and Coronation Medals (G.O. 8412 of 25 May 1935 and G.O. 1344 of 14 June 1937 refer).
Shortly afterwards he was advanced to substantive Colonel and served as Adjutant-General of G.H.Q. Pretoria and, as a war substantive Brigadier, O.C. Natal Command in April-June 1940.
C.O. 5th S.A. Brigade - Sidi Rezegh
The summer of 1940 witnessed Armstrong’s appointment to the command of 5th S.A. Brigade, in which capacity, as cited above, he served with distinction in Abyssinia before the Brigade’s deployment to the Western Desert for the “Crusader” offensive.
By way of summary in terms of Armstrong’s 5th S.A. Brigade’s part in the coming battle, the following extracts have been taken from The Sid Rezeg Battles 1941, by Agar-Hamilton and Turner.
Coming under attack by enemy aircraft on 19 November - in somewhat unusual circumstances:
‘5th Brigade received the attentions of two enemy aircraft but suffered no casualties, though the Brigade Commander [Armstrong] and his staff, toasting the success of the campaign in three bottles of South African produce supplied by colleagues of 1st Brigade, were the victims of a low-level flying attack by the enemy fighter escort. No harm was done, though a junior officer running for shelter with a bottle in either hand complained that he had been singled out for vicious personal attack.’
Shortly after this incident, Armstrong received orders for his brigade to move on Sidi Rezegh, in the early part of which journey enemy aircraft returned to the scene, inflicting a number of casualties. Then on the 21st, General Gott, the G.O.C., arrived in the 5th Brigade area, where Armstrong later recalled:
‘Major-General Gott in his tank contacted me as my Brigade was travelling north in the direction of my advance. He drew up beside my vehicle and informed me that he was General Gott; I replied that I knew him. He then asked me what my orders were. I informed him that I was now under his command. He stated to me that the position was very obscure and that he was out of touch with his armoured units and instructed me to form a laager on the spot. He said he would remain there until the position clarified.’
Static the remainder of the day may have been, but elements of 5th Brigade’s infantry were in close touch with the enemy throughout. Agar Hamilton and Turner continue:
‘The South Africans found the night 21-22 November bitterly cold: the sky was overcast and there were spells of light drizzling rain. The night sky was lit by incessant flashes, bursts of tracer, and signal lights, while the rumbling of tanks and vehicles was heard at intervals away to the north. Brigadier Armstrong was told that a German tank force had leaguered on his eastern flank and says in his report, ‘I decided to investigate and if correct to attack at dawn'. General Gott (who spent the night within the South African perimeter) was concerned in case they proved to be British tanks - which they may well have been. In any case, when daylight came, ‘this formation had disappeared’.
A day and a half had passed since it set out from Bir Duedar and 5th Brigade was still only halfway on its 20-mile journey, and the Army Commander was not alone in thinking that it was high time to link up with Tobruk. General Gott warned Brigadier Armstrong to be ready to move at 0930, ‘by which time he expected to have a clear pi...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Lieutenant-General G. E. Brink, C.O. of 1st S.A. Division, on learning of Armstrong’s capture at Sidi Rezegh.
A rare Second World War North Abyssinia 1941 operations D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Major-General B. F. Armstrong, late South African Mounted Rifles and Artillery, who was taken P.O.W. at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 while serving as C.O. of the 5th S.A. Infantry Brigade - such was the slaughter inflicted on 5th Brigade that the Germans called it Totensonntag or ‘Death Sunday’: notwithstanding a game leg, the Brigadier - ‘a jolly soul’ - made a successful bid for freedom from the Castello Vincigliata in September 1943 and rose to be acting Quarter-Master General and Chief of General Staff, South African Army
Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; 1914-15 Star (Rfm. B. F. Armstrong, 3rd S.A.M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Captain B. F. Armstrong); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘P172826 B. F. Armstrong’; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Arty.’; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Staff C.’, very fine and better (10) £4000-5000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 30 December 1941.
The original recommendation states:
‘During the period 1 February to 9 March 1941, covering the operations involving the invasion of Abyssinia, Brigadier Armstrong displayed initiative of a high order. He displayed exceptional ability in crashing his way with his Brigade Group through dense bush after crossing the Abyssinian border north of Dukana and drive the enemy out of El Gumu. The following morning he advanced against Hobok which he attacked with determination and drove the enemy out. Subsequently he displayed outstanding leadership in the attack on Mega, when throughout three days of the attack, during which heavy rains fell and the countryside was sodden and the temperature almost at freezing point, he acted with great determination in carrying out the attack against the enemy in strongly entrenched and heavily wired positions. He co-ordinated the attack of two Brigades and his calm and determined leadership contributed largely to the surrender of the garrison, which was the first big reverse suffered by the enemy in Abyssinia.’
Bertram Frank Armstrong was born in Cape Town in January 1893 and enlisted in the Natal Police as a Trooper in March 1910. The latter unit having been incorporated into the South African Mounted Regiment, he saw action in German South-West Africa in September-October 1914, and again in July-August 1915, and was advanced to Sergeant in December of the latter year.
Commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1916, he was granted leave to join the Imperial Forces, and served in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery on attachment to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from May 1917 until October 1918.
Returning to duty with the Union Defence Force in April 1919, and having relinquished his commission and been appointed Sergeant in March 1920, he was given a permanent commission as a Lieutenant in November 1922, when he joined the strength of the Cape Garrison Artillery.
And it was in this capacity that he gained steady advancement in the period leading up to the renewal of hostilities, serving as C.O. of the S.A. Permanent Garrison Artillery and 1st S.A. Divisional Garrison Artillery in the period February 1933 to April 1937, and as O.C. Cape Command from the latter month until July 1939. He was also awarded the Jubilee and Coronation Medals (G.O. 8412 of 25 May 1935 and G.O. 1344 of 14 June 1937 refer).
Shortly afterwards he was advanced to substantive Colonel and served as Adjutant-General of G.H.Q. Pretoria and, as a war substantive Brigadier, O.C. Natal Command in April-June 1940.
C.O. 5th S.A. Brigade - Sidi Rezegh
The summer of 1940 witnessed Armstrong’s appointment to the command of 5th S.A. Brigade, in which capacity, as cited above, he served with distinction in Abyssinia before the Brigade’s deployment to the Western Desert for the “Crusader” offensive.
By way of summary in terms of Armstrong’s 5th S.A. Brigade’s part in the coming battle, the following extracts have been taken from The Sid Rezeg Battles 1941, by Agar-Hamilton and Turner.
Coming under attack by enemy aircraft on 19 November - in somewhat unusual circumstances:
‘5th Brigade received the attentions of two enemy aircraft but suffered no casualties, though the Brigade Commander [Armstrong] and his staff, toasting the success of the campaign in three bottles of South African produce supplied by colleagues of 1st Brigade, were the victims of a low-level flying attack by the enemy fighter escort. No harm was done, though a junior officer running for shelter with a bottle in either hand complained that he had been singled out for vicious personal attack.’
Shortly after this incident, Armstrong received orders for his brigade to move on Sidi Rezegh, in the early part of which journey enemy aircraft returned to the scene, inflicting a number of casualties. Then on the 21st, General Gott, the G.O.C., arrived in the 5th Brigade area, where Armstrong later recalled:
‘Major-General Gott in his tank contacted me as my Brigade was travelling north in the direction of my advance. He drew up beside my vehicle and informed me that he was General Gott; I replied that I knew him. He then asked me what my orders were. I informed him that I was now under his command. He stated to me that the position was very obscure and that he was out of touch with his armoured units and instructed me to form a laager on the spot. He said he would remain there until the position clarified.’
Static the remainder of the day may have been, but elements of 5th Brigade’s infantry were in close touch with the enemy throughout. Agar Hamilton and Turner continue:
‘The South Africans found the night 21-22 November bitterly cold: the sky was overcast and there were spells of light drizzling rain. The night sky was lit by incessant flashes, bursts of tracer, and signal lights, while the rumbling of tanks and vehicles was heard at intervals away to the north. Brigadier Armstrong was told that a German tank force had leaguered on his eastern flank and says in his report, ‘I decided to investigate and if correct to attack at dawn'. General Gott (who spent the night within the South African perimeter) was concerned in case they proved to be British tanks - which they may well have been. In any case, when daylight came, ‘this formation had disappeared’.
A day and a half had passed since it set out from Bir Duedar and 5th Brigade was still only halfway on its 20-mile journey, and the Army Commander was not alone in thinking that it was high time to link up with Tobruk. General Gott warned Brigadier Armstrong to be ready to move at 0930, ‘by which time he expected to have a clear pi...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
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‘Billie Armstrong and his Brigade put on a magnificent show and fought like wildcats. Everybody including the British Generals speak in the highest terms of Billie’s splendid behaviour ... I am very sorry he has been captured, very sorry indeed.’
Lieutenant-General G. E. Brink, C.O. of 1st S.A. Division, on learning of Armstrong’s capture at Sidi Rezegh.
A rare Second World War North Abyssinia 1941 operations D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Major-General B. F. Armstrong, late South African Mounted Rifles and Artillery, who was taken P.O.W. at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 while serving as C.O. of the 5th S.A. Infantry Brigade - such was the slaughter inflicted on 5th Brigade that the Germans called it Totensonntag or ‘Death Sunday’: notwithstanding a game leg, the Brigadier - ‘a jolly soul’ - made a successful bid for freedom from the Castello Vincigliata in September 1943 and rose to be acting Quarter-Master General and Chief of General Staff, South African Army
Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; 1914-15 Star (Rfm. B. F. Armstrong, 3rd S.A.M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Captain B. F. Armstrong); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘P172826 B. F. Armstrong’; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Arty.’; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Staff C.’, very fine and better (10) £4000-5000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 30 December 1941.
The original recommendation states:
‘During the period 1 February to 9 March 1941, covering the operations involving the invasion of Abyssinia, Brigadier Armstrong displayed initiative of a high order. He displayed exceptional ability in crashing his way with his Brigade Group through dense bush after crossing the Abyssinian border north of Dukana and drive the enemy out of El Gumu. The following morning he advanced against Hobok which he attacked with determination and drove the enemy out. Subsequently he displayed outstanding leadership in the attack on Mega, when throughout three days of the attack, during which heavy rains fell and the countryside was sodden and the temperature almost at freezing point, he acted with great determination in carrying out the attack against the enemy in strongly entrenched and heavily wired positions. He co-ordinated the attack of two Brigades and his calm and determined leadership contributed largely to the surrender of the garrison, which was the first big reverse suffered by the enemy in Abyssinia.’
Bertram Frank Armstrong was born in Cape Town in January 1893 and enlisted in the Natal Police as a Trooper in March 1910. The latter unit having been incorporated into the South African Mounted Regiment, he saw action in German South-West Africa in September-October 1914, and again in July-August 1915, and was advanced to Sergeant in December of the latter year.
Commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1916, he was granted leave to join the Imperial Forces, and served in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery on attachment to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from May 1917 until October 1918.
Returning to duty with the Union Defence Force in April 1919, and having relinquished his commission and been appointed Sergeant in March 1920, he was given a permanent commission as a Lieutenant in November 1922, when he joined the strength of the Cape Garrison Artillery.
And it was in this capacity that he gained steady advancement in the period leading up to the renewal of hostilities, serving as C.O. of the S.A. Permanent Garrison Artillery and 1st S.A. Divisional Garrison Artillery in the period February 1933 to April 1937, and as O.C. Cape Command from the latter month until July 1939. He was also awarded the Jubilee and Coronation Medals (G.O. 8412 of 25 May 1935 and G.O. 1344 of 14 June 1937 refer).
Shortly afterwards he was advanced to substantive Colonel and served as Adjutant-General of G.H.Q. Pretoria and, as a war substantive Brigadier, O.C. Natal Command in April-June 1940.
C.O. 5th S.A. Brigade - Sidi Rezegh
The summer of 1940 witnessed Armstrong’s appointment to the command of 5th S.A. Brigade, in which capacity, as cited above, he served with distinction in Abyssinia before the Brigade’s deployment to the Western Desert for the “Crusader” offensive.
By way of summary in terms of Armstrong’s 5th S.A. Brigade’s part in the coming battle, the following extracts have been taken from The Sid Rezeg Battles 1941, by Agar-Hamilton and Turner.
Coming under attack by enemy aircraft on 19 November - in somewhat unusual circumstances:
‘5th Brigade received the attentions of two enemy aircraft but suffered no casualties, though the Brigade Commander [Armstrong] and his staff, toasting the success of the campaign in three bottles of South African produce supplied by colleagues of 1st Brigade, were the victims of a low-level flying attack by the enemy fighter escort. No harm was done, though a junior officer running for shelter with a bottle in either hand complained that he had been singled out for vicious personal attack.’
Shortly after this incident, Armstrong received orders for his brigade to move on Sidi Rezegh, in the early part of which journey enemy aircraft returned to the scene, inflicting a number of casualties. Then on the 21st, General Gott, the G.O.C., arrived in the 5th Brigade area, where Armstrong later recalled:
‘Major-General Gott in his tank contacted me as my Brigade was travelling north in the direction of my advance. He drew up beside my vehicle and informed me that he was General Gott; I replied that I knew him. He then asked me what my orders were. I informed him that I was now under his command. He stated to me that the position was very obscure and that he was out of touch with his armoured units and instructed me to form a laager on the spot. He said he would remain there until the position clarified.’
Static the remainder of the day may have been, but elements of 5th Brigade’s infantry were in close touch with the enemy throughout. Agar Hamilton and Turner continue:
‘The South Africans found the night 21-22 November bitterly cold: the sky was overcast and there were spells of light drizzling rain. The night sky was lit by incessant flashes, bursts of tracer, and signal lights, while the rumbling of tanks and vehicles was heard at intervals away to the north. Brigadier Armstrong was told that a German tank force had leaguered on his eastern flank and says in his report, ‘I decided to investigate and if correct to attack at dawn'. General Gott (who spent the night within the South African perimeter) was concerned in case they proved to be British tanks - which they may well have been. In any case, when daylight came, ‘this formation had disappeared’.
A day and a half had passed since it set out from Bir Duedar and 5th Brigade was still only halfway on its 20-mile journey, and the Army Commander was not alone in thinking that it was high time to link up with Tobruk. General Gott warned Brigadier Armstrong to be ready to move at 0930, ‘by which time he expected to have a clear pi...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Lieutenant-General G. E. Brink, C.O. of 1st S.A. Division, on learning of Armstrong’s capture at Sidi Rezegh.
A rare Second World War North Abyssinia 1941 operations D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Major-General B. F. Armstrong, late South African Mounted Rifles and Artillery, who was taken P.O.W. at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 while serving as C.O. of the 5th S.A. Infantry Brigade - such was the slaughter inflicted on 5th Brigade that the Germans called it Totensonntag or ‘Death Sunday’: notwithstanding a game leg, the Brigadier - ‘a jolly soul’ - made a successful bid for freedom from the Castello Vincigliata in September 1943 and rose to be acting Quarter-Master General and Chief of General Staff, South African Army
Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; 1914-15 Star (Rfm. B. F. Armstrong, 3rd S.A.M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Captain B. F. Armstrong); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘P172826 B. F. Armstrong’; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Arty.’; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. B. F. Armstrong, S.A. Staff C.’, very fine and better (10) £4000-5000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 30 December 1941.
The original recommendation states:
‘During the period 1 February to 9 March 1941, covering the operations involving the invasion of Abyssinia, Brigadier Armstrong displayed initiative of a high order. He displayed exceptional ability in crashing his way with his Brigade Group through dense bush after crossing the Abyssinian border north of Dukana and drive the enemy out of El Gumu. The following morning he advanced against Hobok which he attacked with determination and drove the enemy out. Subsequently he displayed outstanding leadership in the attack on Mega, when throughout three days of the attack, during which heavy rains fell and the countryside was sodden and the temperature almost at freezing point, he acted with great determination in carrying out the attack against the enemy in strongly entrenched and heavily wired positions. He co-ordinated the attack of two Brigades and his calm and determined leadership contributed largely to the surrender of the garrison, which was the first big reverse suffered by the enemy in Abyssinia.’
Bertram Frank Armstrong was born in Cape Town in January 1893 and enlisted in the Natal Police as a Trooper in March 1910. The latter unit having been incorporated into the South African Mounted Regiment, he saw action in German South-West Africa in September-October 1914, and again in July-August 1915, and was advanced to Sergeant in December of the latter year.
Commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1916, he was granted leave to join the Imperial Forces, and served in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery on attachment to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from May 1917 until October 1918.
Returning to duty with the Union Defence Force in April 1919, and having relinquished his commission and been appointed Sergeant in March 1920, he was given a permanent commission as a Lieutenant in November 1922, when he joined the strength of the Cape Garrison Artillery.
And it was in this capacity that he gained steady advancement in the period leading up to the renewal of hostilities, serving as C.O. of the S.A. Permanent Garrison Artillery and 1st S.A. Divisional Garrison Artillery in the period February 1933 to April 1937, and as O.C. Cape Command from the latter month until July 1939. He was also awarded the Jubilee and Coronation Medals (G.O. 8412 of 25 May 1935 and G.O. 1344 of 14 June 1937 refer).
Shortly afterwards he was advanced to substantive Colonel and served as Adjutant-General of G.H.Q. Pretoria and, as a war substantive Brigadier, O.C. Natal Command in April-June 1940.
C.O. 5th S.A. Brigade - Sidi Rezegh
The summer of 1940 witnessed Armstrong’s appointment to the command of 5th S.A. Brigade, in which capacity, as cited above, he served with distinction in Abyssinia before the Brigade’s deployment to the Western Desert for the “Crusader” offensive.
By way of summary in terms of Armstrong’s 5th S.A. Brigade’s part in the coming battle, the following extracts have been taken from The Sid Rezeg Battles 1941, by Agar-Hamilton and Turner.
Coming under attack by enemy aircraft on 19 November - in somewhat unusual circumstances:
‘5th Brigade received the attentions of two enemy aircraft but suffered no casualties, though the Brigade Commander [Armstrong] and his staff, toasting the success of the campaign in three bottles of South African produce supplied by colleagues of 1st Brigade, were the victims of a low-level flying attack by the enemy fighter escort. No harm was done, though a junior officer running for shelter with a bottle in either hand complained that he had been singled out for vicious personal attack.’
Shortly after this incident, Armstrong received orders for his brigade to move on Sidi Rezegh, in the early part of which journey enemy aircraft returned to the scene, inflicting a number of casualties. Then on the 21st, General Gott, the G.O.C., arrived in the 5th Brigade area, where Armstrong later recalled:
‘Major-General Gott in his tank contacted me as my Brigade was travelling north in the direction of my advance. He drew up beside my vehicle and informed me that he was General Gott; I replied that I knew him. He then asked me what my orders were. I informed him that I was now under his command. He stated to me that the position was very obscure and that he was out of touch with his armoured units and instructed me to form a laager on the spot. He said he would remain there until the position clarified.’
Static the remainder of the day may have been, but elements of 5th Brigade’s infantry were in close touch with the enemy throughout. Agar Hamilton and Turner continue:
‘The South Africans found the night 21-22 November bitterly cold: the sky was overcast and there were spells of light drizzling rain. The night sky was lit by incessant flashes, bursts of tracer, and signal lights, while the rumbling of tanks and vehicles was heard at intervals away to the north. Brigadier Armstrong was told that a German tank force had leaguered on his eastern flank and says in his report, ‘I decided to investigate and if correct to attack at dawn'. General Gott (who spent the night within the South African perimeter) was concerned in case they proved to be British tanks - which they may well have been. In any case, when daylight came, ‘this formation had disappeared’.
A day and a half had passed since it set out from Bir Duedar and 5th Brigade was still only halfway on its 20-mile journey, and the Army Commander was not alone in thinking that it was high time to link up with Tobruk. General Gott warned Brigadier Armstrong to be ready to move at 0930, ‘by which time he expected to have a clear pi...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
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