REMARKABLE INCIDENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15236, 29 December 1942, Page 3

REMARKABLE INCIDENT

DARING OF BRITISH BATTERY. United Press Assn. By Electric Telegraoh— Conyright. LONDON, December 27. A daring British battery attached tb the New Zealanders provided a remarkable incident in' the recent advance across tin* desert to Marble Arch, says a wireless commentator. The battery took up a position from which it could shell enemy transport fleeing westward along the road and did not realise at the time that behind this transport there was a strong Panzer rearguard also attempting to break out to the west. Next day. however, when the British were moving along a deep wadi, there suddenly came into view 25 German tanks with guns in their rear, moving light across the path of the advances. The British gunners opened fire at once. The enemy manoeuvred round behind them as if to hem them in. The first of the British troops directed their fire so as to keep the enemy tank crews battened down inside their turrets while a second troop pushed on to the south-west and went into action. The first troops thereupon limbered up and leap-frogged the second and s 0 a running fight went on for 10 miles The tanks came in closer, some as near as 400 yards. The fight moved further and further south-west, drawing ever nearer the main British forces, until at last the 25 German tanks broke off the engagement . The battery rejoined its regiment, having suffered only light casualties