Lee Robert 1912 – Blencowe Family in World War Two

Robert Lee

1912-1944

Father Nm:

Mother Nm:

Marriage Dt: April 1942 Southend

K comments: Emily’s father Henry Alexander Blencowe served in WW1 Sapper, 323008, WR/277954, Royal Engineers.
Spouse comments: Emily Lilian Blencowe was born on 4 Jul 1912 in Rochford, Essex, died Mar 1995 Southend.

Children. Maureen A Lee born April Qtr 1942

Born 1912

11 Dec 1912, 76 Ronald Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland

1928

Robert age 16 attested in Scotland in the Royal Artillery. For this reason its expected that he served in at least two units of the RA and that when the 61st Anti Tank Regiment formed in 1939 he joined then or later in the war.

1939 CENSUS

Emily Lilian Blencowe found with parents in Southend, occupation Wireless Operator later on this record could be her Emily Lilian Lee 2812132 1949 Royal Air Force

WW2

Robert Lee Sergeant, 781140, 61st Anti Tank Regt Royal Artillery

Note from WW2Talk website: The regiment served under 9th (Scottish) Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from the outbreak of war until 6 August 1940. It then transferred to the reforming 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on 7 August and remained with it for the rest of the war.

1940

Robert likely volunteered before the war as this was a territorial unit that he was with.
During these two years, the 61st Anti-tank Regiment was based at Rothesay Scotland, but attended gun training from time to time at Foulness near Southend and so must have met Emily Blencowe on one of these training sessions in Essex.

Note: North Africa with 242 Battery from August 1942 till May 1943. He fought at El Alamein, Mersa

Brega, El Agheila, Homs, Sirte, Buerat, Tripoli, Medenine, Mareth, Wadi Akarit and Enfidaville. After having been

promoted major, he commanded 193 Battery and trained in Algeria before the Sicily landing in July 1943. In

Sicily he fought at Vizzini, Ramacca, Gerbini and Sferro hills. Jarmain returned to the UK in November 1943.

After further training, he took part in the D Day landing and was killed at St Honorine la Chardonnerette, by a mortar bomb on 26 June 1944.

1941

Probably in Scotland training

1942

Note: The 61st Anti-tank sailed on 16 June 1942 and on 11 August 1942 arrived in Egypt. The 61st Anti-tank served there until 21 November 1942, when it crossed into Libya.

North Africa with 242 Battery from August 1942 till May 1943. He fought at El Alamein, Mersa

Brega, El Agheila, Homs, Sirte, Buerat, Tripoli, Medenine, Mareth, Wadi Akarit and Enfidaville.

North Africa

23 October. El Alamein
The division’s first action was the Second Battle of El Alamein, for which the regiment was equipped with 16 x 2-pdrs and 48 of the new Ordnance QF 6-pounder gun.[31][35][59] It moved up during the preceding nights, occupying gun positions and dumping ammunition, and remaining concealed during daylight. The bombardment began at 21.40 on 23 October and the advance began 20 minutes later. 51st (H) Division ran into several centres of resistance and only on the extreme left did it reach its final objective; however, the ‘break-in’ phase of the battle had started well.[60] Over the following days 51st (H) Division made progress towards its own objective as the ‘dogfight’ phase continued. The ‘break-out’ phase began on the night of 1/2 November with Operation Supercharge, preceded by another powerful barrage. In the early hours of 4 November 51st (H) Division broke through to the Rahman Track, and the Axis forces began to retreat.[61]

Map showing 51st Div position in the battle

51st (H) Division then took part in the pursuit to El Agheila and Tripoli in January 1943. By 25 February it was past Medenine in Tunisia and facing the Mareth Line. The Axis force made a spoiling attack on 6 March (the Battle of Medenine) but there was plenty of warning. 51st (H) Division was positioned along the Wadi Zassar, a natural anti-tank ditch, and the A/T guns had been positioned to ‘kill tanks’ rather than protect the infantry from them. The Axis advance was easily repulsed.[35][62][63]

The Battle of the Mareth Line began on the night of 16/17 March when 51st (H) Division took the outpost line against negligible opposition. The main attack followed on 20/21 March with another massive night barrage, but little progress was made over the Wadi Zigzaou for the first two days and the line held until it was outflanked by other forces in the south. The Axis defence collapsed on 28 March and the following day 51st (H) Division was on its way to Gabès.[35][64][65]

The next Axis defence line was along Wadi Akarit. The barrage for the 51st (H) Division’s assault began at 04.15 on 6 April, and the division’s attack, in the words of the Official History, ‘went like clockwork’. 61st (WH) Anti-Tank Rgt went into action with its 6-pdrs towed by tanks while the gun crews rode on the back of the tanks with their ammunition. The tanks then formed a protective screen while the A/T gunners dug in under shellfire. For the first time the regiment encountered Tiger tanks, but these remained out of range of the 6-pdrs using their long range guns to shell the Highlanders. Axis troops then began counter-attacks and the Highlanders had to fight hard to hold their gains. Some A/T guns got through to support 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH), but not to 7th Bn Black Watch, who were isolated 1,500 yards (1,400 m) away. However, the positions were held.[35][66][67] The pursuit was resumed the following day, through Sfax. From 22 April the division was in action in the hills around Enfidaville, until the end of the campaign on 15 May.[35][68]

1943

Note From Libya the 61st Anti-tank crossed into Tunisia on 17 February 1943 and served there until 8 July 1943. It embarked by sea on that date and landed on 10 July 1943 in Sicily. It remained in Sicily until 7 November 1943, when it moved by sea to the United Kingdom. It arrived there on 26 November 1943.

Sicily
51st (H) Division then went into training for the Allied landings in Sicily (Operation Husky). Together with its 6-pdrs the regiment was issued with a few of the new 17-pounder A/T guns on the stop-gap Pheasant carriage (adapted from the 25-pounder field gun).[69] 51st (H) Division sailed in the invasion convoy from Sfax on 8 July

10 July Sicily Landing.The assault brigade (154 Bde) landed near Pachino at 03.00 on 10 July. There was little opposition and 241 A/T Bty’s guns were got ashore and deployed at pre-arranged sites in the morning. The larger Landing Ships, Tank, arrived about 12.00 and the rest of the regiment went ashore that night. 242 A/T Battery was assigned to 153 Bde and 243 Bty to 152 Bde, while 193 A/T Bty remained with RHQ as the divisional reserve.
51st Div Postion shown in green circle
13 July. The division then moved forward to Vizzini and Francofonte, where it met its first opposition on 13 July. 243 A/T Bty fired the first rounds of the campaign at a pillbox with great effect, and thereafter the divisional policy was to have A/T guns well up with the infantry as close assault guns for use against pillboxes and machine gun posts in houses.[35][69][70]

The division continued with scarcely a pause towards the Dittaino river, where it sent a composite force of infantry and armour (‘Arrow Force’) accompanied by 243 AT Bty to cross the Dittaino and attempt to capture Paternò.

17 July. It achieved a bridgehead on 17 July but further advance was checked.
20 July. On the night of 20/21 July the division made an attack against the main enemy defences at Gerbini Airfield. 7th A&SH made the attack supported by A Trp and half of B Trp (Pheasants) and some tanks. Although the attack succeeded, fierce counter-attacks by the Hermann Goring Division drove the Highlanders out the following morning, after which 51st (H) Division was put onto the defensive. Further counter-attacks and heavy shelling on 23/24 July led to more casualties. Because of casualties in men and guns 193 A/T Bty made use of three captured German 75 mm A/T guns and H Trp was immobilised to keep the others up to strength.[69][71]
30 July. The division was relieved on 30 July and redeployed for operations against Adrano (the battles round Etna). The A/T guns were assembled at Sferro under fire, so that they could be quickly deployed as soon as the infantry were on their objectives. 51st (H) Division took its new bridgeheads over the Dittaino on the night of 31 July/1 August and the A/T guns were in action by daylight. Enemy armour put in a counter-attack at 14.00 and a few tanks got close enough to be destroyed by the A/T guns.[35][69][72]
4 August. Paternò fell on 4 August,
6 August. Biancavilla fell on 6 August, and the division began a 50 miles (80 km) ‘sidestep’ north of Zafferana on 12 August.

By now the Axis forces were evacuating Sicily, which was completed on 17 August. During the Sicily campaign the regiment lost 1 officer and 5 ORs killed, 1 officer and 40 ORs wounded, and 2 ORs missing.[69][73]

Note: Alternate history from https://51hd.co.uk/

July 8th.

The Div convoy sailed from SFAX and it was not until after sailing that the destination was made known to all ranks – it was SICILY.

July 10th.

After a stormy passage which caused considerable dispersion and delays in the various convoys the Assault Brigade touched down on the PACHINO PENINSULAR at about 0300 hours.

The assault appeared to take the enemy by surprised with the result that the bridgehead was gained with very slight opposition. 241 Bty’s Guns got ashore without much difficulty and were placed in action at the prearranged sites.

The L.S.T. Convoy appeared off the peninsular at about noon and although considerable air opposition had been expected, none was uncounted until dusk when there was a considerable amount of flare dropping and bombing of the beaches and invasion craft.

The remainder of the Regt disembarked that night and during the morning of the next day and concentrated in an area near the beach where we de-waterproofed before moving on further.

Bty’s were immediately allotted to their affiliated Bdes as follows: 241 Bty already with 154 Bde; 242 to 153 Bde and 243 to 152 Bde – 193 remained with R.H.Q. as div Reserve.

Still meeting only slight opposition the div moved up the road NOTO – PALAZZOLA – BUSCEHI – BUCCHERI until, on 13 July considerable opposition was met by 231 (MALTA) brigade who were temporarily under command at VIZZINI the heights above which they managed to secure on this day but were pushed off by a counter- attack during the night. The flanking movement of 152 brigade round to the right via FRANCOFONTE was also held up by German parachutists. At this spot 243 Bty under comd of Capt.W.Lyon fired the first A Tk rounds of the campaign ata pill box with great effect and from this day the employment of A Tk guns in the Division underwent a great change – the policy being always to have some well up with the leading Inf for use as close support or assault guns. A.P. shot was found to be most effective against pill boxes or M.G. Posts in houses.

July 14th.

An attack with full arty support was put in on VIZZINI during the night by 154 Bde which was successful and 152 were also able to push on through FRANCOFONTE.

July 15th.

The div pushed on on a two brigade front. 152 Right and 153 left to SCORDIA & MILITELLO and by the end of the day our fwd troops held the rough line Road Junc N.E. of SCORDIA to PALAGONIA on the high ground overlooking the CATANIA Plain which stretched away to the North.

It was clear at this time that the enemy had withdrawn and was holding a line behind the numerous river beds in the plain.

July 16th.

Various small bridgeheads were made across the River GORNALUNGA notably the FANNY crossing on the right. Two Pheasants were deployed here by ‘L’ Troop (Lt.J.Bell) and to the next crossing to the left ‘LOVATT’. Considerable alarm was caused by a report that FANNY had been retaken by the enemy and that a Pheasant had been captured. However it tuned out that it was only a raid and that the Pheasant had been able to withdraw after having had the enemy all around it.

243 Bty were put under comd 23 Armd Bde for a period and had a hand in making the LOVATT and ARGYLL crossings. ‘J’ Troop had some shooting against enemy in houses and successfully flushed several enemy from houses and enabled the machine ginners to knock them out.

During this period the infantry Bdes were pushing round to the left via PALAGONIA and RAMACCA.

154 Bde pushed on from RAMACCA to the east and made a bridgehead over the R.DITTAINO at LION CROSSING on the RAMACCA -CATANIA road while 153 Bde pushed North and made a bridgehead over the same river at SFERRO.

On 154’s left flank however, there was a strongly defended area at GIRBINI aerodrome and it was decided that this must be cleared up before any further advance to the East could be made.

During 154’s advance to the bridgehead a sharp engagement had taken place at this spot but our tps had withdrawn from it. ‘C’ Tp of 241 Bty had some good shooting at M.G. post in the houses and with particular success at one house which also, from the resultant explosion, was deduced to be an Amn Dump.

July 20th.

An attack by 154 Bde on GERBINI was decided upon for this night. The attack was to be done by 7th A & S.H. supported by ‘B’ Tp and 1/2 ‘A’ Tp (Pheasants) of 241b Bty and a squadron of 40 R.T.R. All did not go too well and the situation on first light on 21st was most confused. Two guns of ‘B’ Tp were sent round to the right via the Aerodrome with orders to deploy in the area of the x rds firing North and N.E. Capt.W.H.Matthews went to recce posns for these guns and was not seen alive again. The two pheasants were deployed on the start line at the A Tk Ditch.

An enemy counter attack was successful and it was decided to withdraw to the line of the A Tk ditch. This was eventually done and the two 6 pdrs in GERBINI and the Pheasant of ‘L’ Troop which had been put in action North of the A Tk Ditch were over run by the enemy.

The two 6 pdrs of ‘B’ Troop which were sent to GERBINI were later found at the cross roads as had been ordered with many expended cartridge cases around them.

It was decided that GERBINI was too much of a thorn in the flesh to be so close to 154’s left flank and accordingly 154 was withdrawn to hold the bridgehead only at LION crossing without pushing out far to the East.

A Battalion of Royal Marines came under comd at this time with the role of pushing out to the North West from 153 Bde Area and obtain a bridgehead called JAGUAR near MASS PARLATO supported by ‘E’ Tp of 242 Bty and ‘H’ Tp of 193 Bty. The crossing was made assisted by ‘H’ Tp who did some effective shooting against M.Gs but later the Marines withdrew under heavy mortar and shell fire without informing the A Tk Gunners – however the guns were recovered.

During all this time we had been suffering considerable casualties to guns and vehicles from both enemy action and the nature of the terrain. In order to keep up our strength of weapons, three German 75mm PAIC were incorporated in 193 Bty and ‘H’ Tp was rendered immobile to make other Btys up.

July 31st.

The right flank of the Div had now been taken over by 13 Brigade of 5 Div and the Div was now disposed on the high ground from SFERRO to MASSA PALATO overlooking the valley of the R.DITTAINO with the enemy holding the high ground on the other side.

153 Bde with 242 Bty under comd had been having a sticky time in the SFERRO Bridgehead but they were relived by 13 Bde on 30 July

It was decided to attack the enemy to the North of the Div in order to gain the use of the CATENANUOVA – SFERRO Road as a lateral and also obtain gun areas for the Div Arty in the DITTAINO Valley.

The objectives were:-

152 Bde Right -.224 (LOGGIO DISA) and the spur running East towards SFERRO

154 Bde Left – .193 West of .224

It was felt that with good arty support there would be little difficulty in gaining these objectives in the first instance but it was most important that the supporting Tanks and A Tk Guns should be in action on the objectives.

Accordingly it was decided not to tag them on behind Brigades transport (except 241 who could reasonably cover their objectives from their present posns) but bring them in from the right via SFERRO. This was done and although casualties to men and vehicles were caused in the assembly area at SFERRO when the enemy D.F. came down, all guns were in action by daylight as near to the prearranged spots as the infantry successes would allow.

Many guns did useful shoots after they came into action during the first light and assisted the infantry on to their final objectives.

At about noon it was reported that enemy tanks were assembling for a counter-attack which eventually came in at about 1400 hrs. The attack was beaten up by Div Arty concentrations and DF but four tanks reached .224 and were engaged by all Shermans and A Tk Guns that could bear. Three tanks were destroyed and many claims to the destroyers were heard. It is sufficient to say that our guns definitely hit two tanks and these did not move again.

With the failure of this counter-attack, the enemy realised that his posn South of the River SEMIETO was hopeless so he withdrew to the general line of the road PATERNO – BIANCAVILLE – ADERNO.

78 Div by getting ADERNO made this untenable so the enemy started to evacuate the island leaving only small rearguards behind. He was chased round the East of ETNA by 50 Div and 51(H) Div and by the U.S. 7th Army and 78 Div to the West. The country was very rough and would only allow of pack transport off the few and narrow roads so the Regt (less 242 Bty under comd 153 Bde) was concentrated in the area STE.MARIA DI LICORDIA to await events.

(Signed)
Lieutenant Colonel, RA
Commanding, 61st (H) Anti Tank Regiment R.A.

CAUSALITIES:-

KILLED
Capt.W.H.Matthews
5 O.Rs.

WOUNDED
Lieutenant J. Craig
40 O.Rs.

MISSING
2 O.Rs.

KILLINGS:
14 July. ‘K’ Tp fired 12rds 17 pr on town of FRANCOFONTE – Good results.

16 July. ‘G’ Tp captured enemy patrol of 1 German Officer, 6 German paratroopers and 6 Italians. ‘D’ Tp destroyed M.G.Post.

18 July. ‘C’ Tp destroyed M.G. Nests and Amn dump. 22 Germans killed, 2 x 3 ton trucks and 1 M/C destroyed. Sgt. W.Kirkwood awarded MM for part played in action.

19 July. ‘I’ Tp knock out Armd Car and clear Farm buildings of M.Gs. near Pt 91. ‘H’ Tp destroy M.G. Post of 2 Guns.

1 Aug. ‘L’ Tp ‘brew up’ a Mark IV Special – ‘I’ Tp destroy 4 houses on NE slopes of Pt.193 and clear them of M.Gs. ‘C’ Tp destroy one enemy tank. ‘A’ & ‘C’ Tp clear 3 M.G. Posts, destroy enemy O.P. and cause 2 x 20mm guns to be abandoned by enemy.

Read more: https://51hd.co.uk/accounts/61_anti_tank_sicily#ixzz7ZqZrMdzY

51st (H) Division did not take part in the subsequent Italian Campaign, having been earmarked for Operation Overlord.

1944

Note The 61st Anti-tank embarked for France on 2 June 1944. It landed in France on 7 June 1944 and then served in Northwest Europe.

January – February the 61st AT was based at Penn Woods, Amersham. During the months spent several gun practices at Foulness Essex.
30 March. 241 and 243 Bty. leave Penn Wood Camp, Amersham and move to a new location at Pampisford Hall Pampisford, Cambs.
April-May. Based in Newmarket WD mentions spells of firing practice at Holme
6 June D-Day Landing. War diary entry just says R.H.Q 24 1 243, 193 in T2 . I take T2 to suggest Transport 2 and therefore at sea awaiting landing
7 June. “51st (Highland) Division was in the first follow-up wave of formations in Overlord. On 2 June 1944 it embarked at East India Docks, London, bound for Normandy and began landing on 7 June (D + 1).[35][74] The first troops ashore on D + 1 included 242 A/T Bty with 153 Bde Gp and the 17-pdr Trp of 193 A/T Bty with Divisional troops.[75]2 June. Note. 7 June. The 51st Highland Division landed in Normandy on Gold Beach.
source Brittanica The division then got bogged down for several weeks in operations round ‘The Triangle’ north-east of Caen.map ref 132725

18 Pounder Anti Tank Gun of the 61st Regiment in Normandy 1944 IWM
12 – 17 June The 241 Bty at Basly north-east of Caen
18 June. 241 Bty move to map reference 134726
20 June 241 Bty moved
20 June. Killed in Action Location seems to be northeast of Caen. The war diary for this day does not spell out details of casualties but two dead and one wounded of the 241 Battery. Comrade Lance Sergeant James Duncan Stewart 1458703. also died alongside Robert. It’s very likely Roberts’s gun was hit by enemy mortars as these attacks recorded on several days.
War diary for 20 June 1944
WD says Canefour de madeleine map ref 132725 but history of regiment suggests location is Douvres-le-Delivrande

location of 51st Div in brown on this map

History Notes

61st Anti Tank part of 51st Highland Division. The men were at the front line in the city of Douvres-la-Délivrande in Normandy and later on the east of the Orne River in a sector held by the 6th British Airborne. The Division took part in the operations Goodwood and Totalize. They also fought for the liberation of Le Havre. The men first came into contact with the enemy at the German radar station in Douvres-la-Délivrande. From 9 June they fought in the woods of Bavent to the east of the Orne River, where the Division had come to reinforce the bridgehead of the 6th British Airborne, led by General Bullen-Smith. The Scottish Division was exhausted by a long battle against the firmly entrenched Germans. I Corps was delayed moving into position because the state of the Channel slowed the arrival of follow-up divisions and its attack was delayed until 12 June. The 51st Highland Division attacked the 21st Panzer Division but its defence was determined, and on 13 June the offensive east of Caen was called off.^[49]

61st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Rgt mobilised at Rothesay in 9th (Highland) Infantry Division, the 2nd Line duplicate of 51st (H) Division. It remained training in Scottish Command until 7 August 1940 when 9th (H) Division was redesignated as 51st (H) Division to replace the original formation lost at St Valery.[29][35][57] 244 A/T Battery left the regiment on 22 September and was replaced by 296 A/T Bty on 15 December 1941. The regiment added the ‘West Highland’ subtitle on 17 February 1942. 296 A/T Battery left on 10 May 1942 and was replaced by 193 A/T/ Bty. After completing training in Scotland, the division sailed for Egypt on 16 June 1942, landing on 12 August.[35][58]

. [76] It then supported 3rd Division’s attack on the flank of Operation Goodwood on 18 July.[35][77]
The men were at the front line in the city of Douvres-la-Délivrande in Normandy and later on the east of the Orne River in a sector held by the 6th British Airborne.

Note

Ten men killed in June 1944

Page 1 of 1
001 BLAND W 1493635 61 ANTI TANK REGT 18/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY I. A. 21.
002 COOPER WE 965848 61 ANTI TANK REGT 25/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY IX. C. 19.
003 FORSTER FCH 5837039 61 ANTI TANK REGT 14/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY 1. N. 12.
004 JARMAIN WJF 137983 193 BTY, 61 ANTI TANK REGT 26/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY IIIA. L. 9.
005 KIRKBY HA 1122489 61 ANTI TANK REGT 29/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY V. K. 6.
006 LEE R 781140 61 ANTI TANK REGT 20/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY IIA. G. 2.
007 MCDOUGALL J 1477015 61 ANTI TANK REGT 16/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY X. B. 9.
008 PLANK AW 799234 61 ANTI TANK REGT 13/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY IX. A. 9.
009 STEWART JD 1458703 61 ANTI TANK REGT 20/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY VIII. A. 14.
010 WALKER B 10574233 61 ANTI TANK REGT 25/06/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY IA. D. 2.