May 1940 Britain faces the Germans

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Western Front Arras: 0900 Hours 5/1/40

We have been ordered to find and engage the enemy. I have been given a rag tag group to say the least. It is made up of three companys of different nationalities. The first company is British troops from the north of England with Irish and men from south Wales. The second company is from Canada called the Halifax Rifles. The third is from India including men from the Royal Gurka Rifles. These are all good men hand picked by Monty himself.

Each company has a sec of ATR one assigned to each plattoon. Also every company has two sections of HMG Vickers type. There is a plattoon of sappers assigned to each company. A troop of infantry tanks Matilda II and section of Cruiser IIA for close support.

Artty is supplied by a section of 25MM ATG and a troop of 6 pounder infantry guns. British have the Bofors AA where the Indian and Canadians have the 303 Lewis HMG. Section of each for every company.

HQ will supply us with 6 mortars 3 inch type and 4 18 MM howitzers.
We also have on call 3 batterys each of 8 inch and 4.5 inch howitzers. An FO will work with each company for fire control missions.

Our tank force consists of 3 sections MK VIb light tanks and 3 troops Cruisers II A 10s. We also have 3 sections Bren AT carriers plus 3 sections Bren LMG which have been assigned to the Engineers. I wish our tank force was larger and stronger but that was all the home office could manage for us.

Going to be tough up against what i have heard the Germans will throw at us. But we are loyal British subjects and will give it a go what say. Hip Hip Hooray for the Queen and country.

The weather is clear and you can see for near 2600 yards. Pretty but very dangerous for us. I know the Germans can out distance us with there big guns. We have to get close to hurt there tanks where they can sit off and take pot shots at us. Going to have to be sneaky in this one old boy.

Commander VII Queens Royal Rifles: Col Thomas Helmsly







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Western Front Arras: 0920 Hours 5/1/1940

We jumped off at 0900 hours and moved west with all 3 companys. The men from India in Charlie company have been assigned the southern objectives. There is a woods that runs almost up to a low hill they are moving thru. They have found some paths thru this and are progressing well. Still have at least 1000 yards to get to the VH flags. No sight of the enemy from there quarter as yet.

Able company has the center comprised of all British troops. They are moving up a road that runs east and west near the center of the map. Have sighted some APC in the distance and recieved some fire from them. One 251/10 was knocked out by our 4.5 fire no losses on our side.

The Canadians in Baker company are on a road that parellels the center road about 200 yards north. They have sighted about 8 tanks off in the distance. Have not identified what type so far. Have called for the 8 inchers to lay in some fire there. I have also called for lots of smoke to cut down on the German range.

North of Baker my tanks are moving thru woods to conceal there movement. This force is made up of three troops light tanks and three troops medium cruisers. Plus they have 3 sections ATG carriers. No sighting of the enemy from them as yet.

No mans land was unusually wide to start this battle. Both sides had a long way to go to reach any VH flags. Where our troops have no transport they seem to have plenty for theres in APC.

As with all battles i start i always seem to have a feeling that says to me there is no way we will win today. Then my men just seem to take the ball and run for home with it. There seems to come a point where the whole complexion of the battle changes. I can then see our way clear and the tide changes. Then at this time is when the adrenalin kicks in and you throw that big punch and you knock that ugly big opponent on his ass. This is the high point of any fight that I love in every battle I have ever had.

Commander VII Queens Royal Rifles: Col Thomas Helmsly

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Western Front Arras: 0945 Hours 5/1/1940

I am not going to win this battle. I will be very lucky if i get a draw. Even if i get a draw there will not be enough points for all the repairs. The Germans have way too many tanks for us to handle. We are knocking off four to one our favor. But they still keep coming at us.

One PZK IIc had a fight with a plattoon of our Cruisers. He was able to knock out four of the plattoon before the fifth tank got him. This was each of our tanks takin pot shots at him. Every tank had fired at least three times and that is taking turns after each shot. They had seven hits on him four to the turret and three to the body. He also fired back after each and every round we fired that is some where near fifteen shots. This was a light tank taking out four crusiers. What a soldier a real fighting man. Wish i had twenty like him or better still 10 of those super light tanks.

This has gone on all during the fight all over the map. Our tanks are no match for the German steel. Our men are fairing no better. The third company in the north is down to only 30 men left. The enemy has spared there lifes and are moving south east towards the center objective. Some where near ten tanks i believe have been seen moving.

I do not have enough tanks left to stop them i dont think. The first and second companys are about half strength and moving to stop this onslaught if possible.

If it wasnt for the 8 inchers being right on target we would have been over run by there troops on all fronts.

The battle is still in doubt hell our lifes are still in doubt.

Commander VII Queens Royal Rifles: Col Thomas Helmsly

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Western Front Arras: 1010 Hours 5/1/1940

The battle is over and what a battle it was. We managed to take all objectives and to rout the enemy. But it is with heavy hearts I sit here and write this. We got a marginal victory but had heavy losses. We lost 591 good men while taking 1228 of theres with us. We also lost 29 pieces of armor mostly Cruiser type while sending 73 of theres to hades. Our artty losses were minimum only 2 while getting 15 of theres.

Charley company was almost wiped out. The people from India put up a heck of a fight tho. They are great and ferocious fighters. The squads fought to the last man and took a lot of the Germans with them.

The Canadians were also great fighters. They too stood toe to toe with a lot of Germans today. They lost near half of there company.

And the British were no slouch today. We faced and defeated an overwhelming force . Even tho it was classed as a marginal victory there performance was any thing but. I am proud to have all these men under my command.

Commander Queens Royal Rifles: Col Thomas Helmsly