The Baxter Brothers 1st Parachute Battalion

The Baxter Brothers – 1st Parachute Battalion.

6205673. Sergeant. Edwin George Baxter.

Enlisted into The Middlesex Regiment on the 11 April 1939. [1]

Killed In Action 11 December 1942. [2]

6205676. Sergeant. Christopher Baxter.

Enlisted into The Middlesex Regiment on the 11 April 1939. [1]

Killed In Action 28 March 1943. [2]

Edwin and Christopher Baxter both volunteered, at the same time, at Cambrai Barracks, Perham Down, near Tidworth in Hampshire, in June 1940, having reacted to the call for volunteers to form a brand new parachute unit.

Being amongst the first 60 Officers and men to volunteer they helped to form ‘C’ and ‘D’ Troops, No 2 Commando.

They were amongst the first trained parachutists, having started their parachute training on the 21 July 1940 at RAF Ringway, and remained with the unit, when it was renamed the II Battalion Special Air Service (Parachute Wing) on the 21 November 1940. Note that the unit soon became known as the 11th Special Air Service Battalion.

In August and September 1941 the unit was reorganised again, to become the 1st Parachute Battalion, and would form part of the 1st Parachute Brigade.

They were both now Lance Corporal’s and placed in No 1 Section, 6 Platoon, ‘S’ (Rifle) Company, which was commanded by Lt RC Manning. [3]

However, by October 1942, when the battalion was being sent to North Africa to take part in Operation ‘Torch’, Edwin was the Sergeant in charge of No 3 Section, 5 Platoon, ‘S’ Company, which was commanded by Lt RH Kellas. [4]

Christopher, meantime, had also been promoted to Sergeant, and taken over No 9 Section, 7 Platoon, ‘S’ Company, which was commanded by Lt S Wandless. [4]

They both took part in the battalion parachute drop on the 16 November 1942. They had taken off from Maison Blanche airfield in Algeria and dropped at Souk-el-Arba in Tunisia, at approx. 1300 hours. The battalion was to be in fairly continuous action against the German and Italian Forces for the next few weeks, as the Allied 1st Army attempted to advance as far East as they could, in the bid to capture Tunis.

In early December 1942 the battalion was operating alongside infantry and armour of ‘Blade’ Forces, a few miles south of the town of Mateur. The battalion were ordered to withdraw on the night of the 11 December, but before this could be carried out the enemy launched an attack. The 1st Parachute Battalion War Diary for this day:

11 December 1942.

At first light the enemy commenced to attack the left fwd Coy of the 2/XX. [2nd Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, the old 20th Regiment Of Foot]

09.30 hrs. XXth reported enemy infiltration round the flank to the right of the Bn sector. Maj. Cleasby-Thompson (2 i/c), ordered Lt. Gammon’s Pln into this area, the C.O. at that time being at Blade Force HQ.

10.30 hrs. The enemy, strength about 1 Coy, commenced a general attack. ‘S’ Coy was moved up to the high ground in front of Bn HQ and the attack was held. 4 tanks from the 17/21st Lancers were brought up, which silenced the enemy MG’s.

11.00 hrs. Maj. Pearson arrived, in the fwd area and launched an immediate counter-attack in conjunction with the left fwd Coy of the LF’s. The 2 i/c and the I.O. had some quiet sniping to themselves, each adding another entry in the vermin column of their respective ‘Game Books’. There was little or no enemy opposition; they lost a few killed and several wounded who were tended to on the battle-field; they had to be left behind as the Bn was then without transport. 1 Officer and 15 O.R’s were taken prisoner. Our casualties were 1 killed and 1 wounded.

18.00 hrs. We took our leave, rather sadly of M. Thurville, our farmer host, when the Bn withdrew to Sidi N’Sir. ‘R’ Coy was left rear-guard to cover the Bn’s and LF’s withdrawal and re-joined the Bn later. One of our Italian trucks was ambushed on the road, but the driver, Cpl. Whittingham was unhurt. Cpl. Whittingham rushed the hill in which the enemy MG was firing with his revolver, the enemy withdrew. Lt. Wandless with his Pln was dispatched to deal with this party, but did not make contact.

23.50 hrs. Bn reached Sidi N’Sir and embussed in TCV’s for the Bde rest area at Souk El Khemis.

The one man reported as killed in this action was Sergeant Edwin George Baxter. Aged 21 years old, and the son of Christopher and Nellie Gertrude Baxter, of South Tottenham, Middlesex, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial, Face 34, Tunisia.

The 1st Parachute Battalion would remain ‘in-the-line’, along with the other units of the 1st Parachute Brigade almost continuously through the winter of 1942 into 1943, but by the end of March 1943 the end was in sight for the Axis Forces in North Africa as the Allied 1st Army from the West and the 8th Army from the South linked up and began their final attacks.

This included the 1st Parachute Brigade in the northern part of Tunisia around the area of Tamera. Extract from the War Diary of the 1st Parachute Battalion:

26 March 1943.

News came through that there was to be a big push, the object being the recapture of the Tamera position; nine infantry Bn’s were to attack down the right flank, 1st Parachute Brigade and 1 Thabour of Goums on the left flank; Para Brigade was to attack in three bounds: 1st bound a line running East & West through the feature 062705: 2nd phase – line running East & West through track junction 059727: 3rd objective being the line Northing 76. The attack of 1 Para Brigade was to be on a two battalion front with 1st Bn on the left, 2nd Bn on the right and 3rd Bn in reserve. The attack is scheduled for tomorrow.

27 March 1943.

0900 hrs. With the aid of air photographs the CO made his plan and briefed Coy Commanders:- The start line for the Bn was to be the track running East & West through square 0569: Zero hour was to be 23.00 hrs. The river had to be crossed, therefore Capt. Anderson was detailed to recce a route to the ford at 055690 and if necessary lay a tape from the railway cutting at 056674. The Bn was to be supported by 70th & 71st Field Regiments, R.A., who were shelling on a timed programme commencing with 20 mins intense fire on the high ground 057703. The Bn would then move forward, destroy the enemy in the area of Maison Forestiere, then swing right onto its first objective. Permission had to be obtained from Brigade before moving onto Phase 2. Col. Pearson gave no further orders, but said he would issue orders for Phase 2 on completion of Phase 1. The 3rd Bn were to assist consolidation as required.

1200 hrs. Recce Party under Capt. Anderson left to recce route.

1815 hrs. Bn paraded preparatory to moving off.

1845 hrs. Bn embussed and moved off, debussing at the level crossing.

2130 hrs. Bn arrived at cutting, where they were met by Capt. Anderson, who had found an Arab who knew the way. This Arab said he would lead us to the ford. Bn moved off in single file in order, ‘R’, ‘S’ HQ & ‘T’ Company’s, Mortars, Bde W/S and Medicals.

2300 hrs. Bn arrived at ford just as artillery barrage began and crossed through knee deep water.

2320 hrs. Barrage lifted and the Bn went forward from Start Line to Maison Forestiere. This was empty and ‘R’ Coy were dispatched to recce the high ground of the 1st objective.

28 March 1943.

0001 hrs. Bn HQ was assembled in the area of the house itself, ‘S’ Coy were in reserve and ‘T’ Coy slightly forward and left.

0030 hrs. 2 Sections of the A/Tk Pln were sent to search the small feature at 052708, they immediately came under fire from the feature itself, also mortar fire came down on Maison Forestiere. The firing from this feature sounded like ‘Bren’ fire and when the A/Tk Pln moved forward to the accompaniment of ‘Waho Mohamed’ an answering ‘Waho Mohamed’ came back from the feature . We thought perhaps it was a patrol from the 3rd Bn and so shouted, “Is that 3rd Bn”,  the answer came back “yes”, but as the Sections moved forward they were again fired upon.

0100 hrs. A Pln of ‘S’ Coy was called up and ordered to assault the feature.

0200 hrs. The feature was in our hands and some 20 Italian prisoners had been taken. Capt. Stark asked permission to exploit this success and pursued the enemy down the valley. Meanwhile ‘R’ Coy had got possession of their feature so the Colonel decided to move HQ up and consolidate Phase 1.

0400 hrs. ‘R’ Coy patrolling forward.

0500 hrs. 3rd Bn seen moving across plain towards us. Maj. Bush appeared with his Coy and moved forward to assist consolidation.

0600 hrs. The CO went forward to make a recce.

0830 hrs. The CO returned and Bn HQ moved forward to the peak of the feature, the FOO was with Bn HQ. ‘S’ Coy returned.

0900 hrs. Some mortar fire was brought to bear on the Bn but the mortar was spotted by Lt. Goss who captured its complete crew and 20 prisoners. In his recce the CO appreciated the situation as being:- the enemy were in strength on the high wooded feature at 062795 and Point 247 at 067712. The Bn could reach its second objective almost unopposed by going via Maison Forestiere. This however would be by-passing the enemy. The 2nd Bn were known to be moving along on our right, therefore it was more important to destroy the enemy than obtain our objective at the cost of some little time. Therefore the Colonel decided to swing down the high ground, destroy the enemy and consolidate our 2nd objective.

1000 hrs. Brigade gave permission to proceed and informed us that the Goums on our left were moving fairly fast: they had been ordered to contact us at our 2nd objective.

1015 hrs. ‘T’ Coy were sent off to the North to clear the enemy from the area of the track junction 058728. ‘S’ & ‘R’ Coys were moved toward the feature Point 247. ‘S’ Coy went on ahead and made contact near this point, where they became heavily engaged with Witzig’s troops. After heavy fighting they made contact with the left Coy of the 2nd Bn. ‘R’ Coy were held up in the area of track junction 065702 and the battle raged to and fro.

1600 hrs. Maj. Bull reported the capture of one complete Coy of Bersaglieri.

1630 hrs. Enemy resistance gradually weakened and we were able to push on. Some 300 prisoners taken.

1730 hrs. The CO decided to push forward and a sweep was made by ‘R’, ‘S’ & HQ Coys round the ridge to the right.

2130 hrs. Bn arrived at its 2nd objective. ‘T’ Coy in position holding Point 202 at 056745 and in contact with the Goums. ‘R’ Coy in the Woggeries at 062767. ‘S’ Coy on the left of the track in same area.

2230 hrs. Capt. Anderson sent to recce the road below the old Bde HQ position with a view to the Bn attacking at first light towards the Mines at 090736.

29 March 1943.

0230 hrs. Bde informed the CO that an alteration in the plan had occurred, the Bn was ordered to attack the old 2nd Bn positions at Tamera.

0400 hrs. A Pln from ‘R’ Coy was sent to hold the Bridge at 082728 as we were unaware of the disposition of the enemy North of the road.

0430 hrs. The Bn moved off, as the CO wanted to be in the woods when dawn broke.

0730 hrs. The entire road has been secured and a patrol sent forward to recce the objective. Also 2nd Bn has sent a patrol up Djebel Diss, 1170.

0900 hrs. Bn had moved forward behind recce patrol and occupied the objective. Arrangements made to patrol Djebel Bel Harch.

1100 hrs. Bde Maj arrived, and ordered us to move forward to the area of the Mines 092744, as the 2nd Bn were coming forward to take over their old position from us. The CO went off with Maj. Coxen to make a recce and gave orders to 2 i/c to bring the Bn up to this area.

1200 hrs. All patrols having been called in, the Bn moved up to the Mines, the position originally held by the 3rd Bn.

1600 hrs. Bn disposed as:- ‘R’ Coy area track junction 094748. ‘S’ Coy area 096742. ‘T’ Coy area 099739. The remainder of the day spent clearing the area of British and German equipment and stores. During our advance we had taken over 500 prisoners and 8 guns, together with so much equipment it was impossible to assess it. Rations were brought up and life became quiet once again.

However, the cost to the battalion had been considerable, amongst the ?? officers and men that had been killed was Sgt. Christopher Baxter. At one stage in the battle, on the 28th March, he had been advancing under the command of Sgt. Eric Seal, of ‘S’ Coy: ‘We now moved forward to attack the high wooded area which was one of our main objectives; the 2nd Battalion in the meantime had been having a rough time and some of our troops were sent over there to assist. It was a very bad area to attack - high rocky ground and very heavily wooded. A number of our men were killed on the approach but we gradually pushed the enemy back and managed to establish ourselves on the outer perimeter of the wood. A lot of the troops here were German and well dug in. We were moving from tree to tree. Sammy Steadman was shot through the arm and one officer was killed. ‘Ted’ [Christopher] Baxter poked his head out from behind his tree and shouted, ‘Be careful Eric, there’s a sniper over there!” and bang he fell dead. Ted had been shot through the eye. Ted had had a brother ‘Tony’ [Edwin] in the Battalion and he had been killed a few [months] earlier. It was all very sad.’ [5]

The son of Christopher and Nellie Gertrude Baxter, of South Tottenham, Middlesex; husband of Edith Victoria Baxter, of Tonypandy, Glamorgan, he was 23 years old when he was killed and also has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Medjez-eld-Bab Memorial, Face 34, Tunisia.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, transfer & Enlistment Book 02, page 15.

[2] The Parachute Regiment, transfer & Enlistment Book 15, page 55.

[3] Conversion of 11th S.A.S. Battalion to 1st Parachute Battalion. August/September 1941.

[4] Order Of battle. 1st Parachute Battalion. October 1942.

[5] ‘Tunisian Tales’, by Niall Cherry. 2011.