The Battle of Sbiba and The Meftah Ridge In February 1943, Rommels Deutsche Afrika Korps (DAK) attacked the U.S. II Corps in Southern Tunisia: the offensive being wildly popularised as the battle for the Kasserine Pass. Whilst the German victories during this time are well known, what is not common knowledge is that part of this offensive, the drive by the 21st Panzer Division towards Le Kef, was halted at Sbiba on the 19th of February by the 1st (Guards) Brigade: then containing the 3rd Bn grenadier Guards and the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, supported by the tanks of the 16th/5th Lancers and the guns of the U.S. 18th RCT. During this action, of which the Grenadier Guards and Americans played no physical part other than as Artillery Observers, the 21st Panzer Division’s Panzergruppe Stenkhoff (Pz.Reg.5) was turned back by the Coldstream who were dug in along the road, forcing the enemy back and to try alternate means of penetrating the line. The subsequent German attack on the 20th (predominantly against the positions of the US 18th RCT further east, but also against the Coldstream and Grenadiers) also failing. It arguably remains the only time during the Kasserine Offensive that one of Rommel’s divisions was actually defeated by Military power. The Victory at Sbiba was however mired by subsequent events. On the 21st of Feburary the Guards brigade was ordered to exert “maximum pressure” on the enemy; an order which seemed to have come from beyond divisional level. A combat patrol of No.3 Company CG (Lieutenant Hyde and Sergeant Winters Commanding) on the back of recently Arrived (brand new) Churchill Tanks from the 51st Tank Brigade was ordered to take a small ridge in front of the Guards Positions. This disastrous Affair (pitching one squadron of tanks and a single company against an entire Panzer Division) was known as the Battle of the Meftah Ridge and is a Battle Honour of the Coldstream Guards. It remains a miracle how, during the battle (which resulted in the small force eventually being withdrawn), only one Coldstreamer was killed, despite the losses of a number of Churchills. As part of the book I have been collecting letters to and from members of the Battalion during the Tunisian Campaign. The following is an Extract from a Letter from Major Hill (2 i/c 2CG) to CG RHQ sent 28th Feb 1943 detailing the battle. ...Then Rommel got driven back our way, and began to make himself felt on the right and southern flank of the 1st Army. The 1st Guards Brigade then began a series of moves south. This started on the very day our Battalion was due to come out of the line to bathe and rest. However, our new position was not attacked though we had to do some difficult patrolling, had both flanks a bit in the air, and were always shelled moving between Brigade and Battalion Headquarters. Then the French took a knock further south, and we hurried down to their area. This position we were really behind the French, except for two platoons in front of them of two mountain tops. Our role was to take over if they left, or to counter attack. Luckily again, nothing happened, and the poor military outlook was made up for the beauty of the mountain scenery in which we lived, and in the interest to be derived from some Moroccan irregulars, called Les Goums, who were there too and did all the patrolling on the French front. They were really good, and seldom came back empty handed. Then the knock came on the American front even further south and we rushed off there to fill a gap with the same U.S. Battalion on our left as had been with us on Christmas Day. They seemed to be delighted to be with us again. Our position was very strong with artillery both field and anti-tank, and we had the Grenadiers in the hill on our right. Two days after our arrival, Rommel’s armour carried out a recce in force with 30/40 tanks on our front, and that of the American Battalion next to us. These included at least one of his new Mark VI, which landed one of its 88mm shells into Battalion Headquarters killing L/Cpl Hall of the intelligence section. All that day the German tanks milled about on our front, but did not risk a break in. Our field artillery knocked out some indirectly, (and we had some 17 pdrs as well as 6 pdrs), and the only Anti-Tank gun on our side which had to disclose itself was on of out 2 Pdrs. It knocked out a Mark IV tank with Jamie Leveson firing the gun. He is our Anti-tank officer, and happened to be with that gun. We have our own 6 pdrs now. That night the tanks withdrew, and next day he put in an infantry attack with the mixed lorried infantry from both Rommel’s Armoured Divisions. About one Company came up to our No.1 on the right, but did not press it, another Company came right up to No.2 on our left, but was unable to do any good, thanks to our Artillery and 3” mortars. Meanwhile, the rest went past on our left for the Americans, and our artillery fairly beat them up. The survivors of that sniped us for the rest of the day, but luckily withdrew after dark without hitting anyone. The German infantry were very brave that day, and lost heavily. Our losses were very light, Bobby Philips was wounded and may have lost a thumb. Sergeant Moores was badly wounded at the same time. Poor No.1 got an unlucky direct hit on their headquarters, killing C.S.M Wilmhurst, Watkins (Bill Harris’s servant) and Fairburn, a stretcher bearer and soccer captain. There were also some wounded. The next day I must say I expected trouble, but it didn’t come and instead we were ordered to carry out a recce in force to a feature about 2000 yards ahead. This finally took the form of 7 Churchills with a Coldstream Platoon and a few sappers riding in them. It was Bobby Hyde’s platoon from 3 Company (Sergeant Briggs and Winters went too). I feared (I said) that the place was strongly held by infantry and anti-tank guns on the reverse slope, and 3 Churchills were lost. By merciful providence all the Coldstream came back except one, though - watching the thing - I never expected to see more than a remnant return. They did very well, and I think the Brigadier was pleased too.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 11:52:25 +0000
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