AN ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK ON GROIN BY 5TH SEAFORTH
And then several things began to happen.
As the dust cleared away, Jock looked over the front of his tank and found himself face to face with five Para-boys, two with bazookas on their shoulders and the others with spandaus. They stood staring at each other, less than ten yards apart; and as they stood, there was a tremendous explosion and the tank burst into flames. The second tank, knowing that another bazooka must be due at any moment, began to turn and run; but Jock ran after it and, failing to find its external telephone, pounded on the hatch with a shovel until the commander opened up and talked business. He was told we still had fifteen wounded to get out not to mention his own mates in the burning tank, and that he would stay until the Company had brought them back, bazookas or no bazookas.
Lance-Corporal Green says: 'It was terrific. The tank turned its gun, and began blazing away over my head. I saw Captain Gardiner running back up the road to the fire. Hall, the wireless operator, heaved his 38 set into the ditch, and climbed up on top of the burning tank, and began hauling the crew out through the hatch. He was standing right up on top, and the tank was burning from end to end. Corporal Stevenson was there too. One of the tankies had a foot off, but they all got clear. Then the tank behind me got excited, and put a shell through the telegraph pole I was lying against, and damned nearly crowned me.'
Evans had been ordered to withdraw. He retired behind the first house; and, when all the wounded had been evacuated, the Company pulled right back to Groin. They had lost four men killed and twenty-three wounded a tremendous sacrifice for so small a body of men but one which, as events proved, had not been made in vain: when "A" Company went to Hollands Hof after dark they found it deserted. The Para-boys had run, and the whole objective was in our hands.
For his work that day, Jock Gardiner was awarded the Military Cross.
The next day, the 26th, was spent in patrolling outwards from the Battalion area and in mopping up, A threatened counter-attack was broken up by our artillery. The bridge over the anti-tank ditch was found intact, so "A" Company went forward to hold it.
Next day we were relieved, and on the 28th prepared for yet another attack.
History Section Reference :
Rhine Crossing
Museum Reference :
Documents - Rhine Crossing