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The Anti - Tanks in Aragon

By M. D.

At Quinto, the XV Brigade Anti—Tank Battery, in co—operation with a similar Battery from the XI Brigade made short work of the enemy entrenchments outside the town and machine-gun and snipers’ nests in the Church Tower. In the attack on Purburell Hill, we helped in laying down the effective barrage under cover of which the Hill was finally captured. During this engagement Jeff Mildwater had No. 3 Gun about two hundred yards out in “No-Man’s-Land”. His crew took six prison- ers. When they were being taken to the rear their solitary es-cort re- membered that his rifle was unloaded, and his ammunition pouches behind at the Battery! Fortunately the prisoners had a genuine desire to be in -captivity.

By mischance, the Battery arrived at Bel-chite before the infantry. We were “guided” by two squadrons of Fascist bombers, who, quite un- derstandably, concluded that our infantry were ahead and in occupation of the outer Fascist defence line. So they bombed the lines. We were ‘ grateful for this help in locating the enemy, and ourselves.

Battery Commander Slater and Commissar Alexander had been hard at Work organising since Brunete. Therefore, and as a result of the good Work of Bill Cranston who was in charge of the new arrivals to the Battery, ammunition supplies were well—organised. An instance: in the first two days at Bevlchite three guns laid down barrages totalling 2700 shells.

There was also excellent co—operation between our Battery and the infantry. Chief of Staff Merriman and Commissar Nelson were coming and going between us and them, giving us new objectives. Firing “by the map” We did not favour; We preferred to get within good vision of our target. But, once, Major Merriman showed us on a map the locat- ion of an enemy artillery—piece, which had a few minutes before, lobbed a shell (luckily a dud) between two of our guns. V7 e ranged, and fired a few shells. We never heard from that artillery-‘piece again. Later we reached it, and found its shield, breech and one of its wheeils smashed! Major Merriman is inordinately proud of that feat. So are We.

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