The very fine Second World War Fall of France withdrawal on the River L’Escaut and subsequent defence of Nieuport 31 May 1940 Company Runner’s Military Medal and North Africa Tunisia 13 April 1943 casualty group awarded to Private later Corporal W.H. Massey, M.M., 1/6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, Territorial Army. From Southeast London, he distinguished himself on multiple occasions as a Company Runner in France during May 1940 when continuously under fire carrying messages from his Company to Battalion Headquarters, in addition to bringing up hot foot and providing water to the wounded when occasion arose. At Nieuport on 31 May 1940 throughout the day until his Company was relieved he carried messages from the brickfields to Battalion Headquarters regardless of his own safety although the route was constantly under mortar, machine gun and shell fire. During the period of the operations he salvaged a Bren gun and maintained it in action. As a result of his work he later became so exhausted on the march back to the beaches, that he had to be assisted, his battalion having marched the 12 miles along the sands to Dunkirk. Massey was killed in action during the resumed attack on Sidi ben Touil in Tunisia on 13 April 1943.
Group of 5: Military Medal, GVI 1st type bust; (6144427 PTE. W.H. MASSEY. E. SURR. R.); 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal; War Medal.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
William Howard Massey came from Southeast London, the son of William and Ethel Massey, and enlisted into the British Army on 16 October 1939 owing to the outbreak of the Second World War, and then saw service as a Private later Corporal (No.6144427) with the 1/6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, a unit of the Territorial Army. As a member of the 1/6th Battalion, he initially served in France with the British Expeditionary Force. In all some three battalions of his regiment served there, namely the 1st, 1/6th and 2/6th Battalions. In May 1940, the 1st and 1/66th Battalion’s advanced into Belgium but were driven back by the force of the German Blitzkrieg. The line of the River Escaut was held temporarily, but a fighting withdrawal to the coast became inevitable. On their last night in Belgium, the 1st Battalion was ordered to Nieuport to counter-attack in the 1/6th Surreys area. The counter-attack stabilised the situation, and side by side with the 1/6th, they held the position until ordered to withdraw to the beaches prior to embarkation.
The recommendation reads as follows: ‘Private Massey was employed as a Company Runner throughout the period of his withdrawal on the River L’Escaut. He was continuously under fire carrying messages from his Company to Battalion Headquarters. On each occasion he continued to do so regardless of his own personal safety, returning on one occasion with a bullet hole through his clothing. At Nieuport on 31 May 1940 throughout the day until his Company was relieved he carried messages from the brickfields to Battalion Headquarters regardless of his own safety although the route was constantly under mortar, machine gun and shell fire. During the period of the operations he salvaged a Bren gun and maintained it in action. He carried hot food from Battalion Headquarters to his Company and later obtained water for the wounded. As a result of his work he later became so exhausted on the march back to the beaches, that he had to be assisted. During the whole of this period when his Company were forward in an isolated position his bravery, devotion to duty and unflagging cheerfulness set a very fine example to the remainder of his Company and undoubtedly had much to do with the fact that they held their positions against all attacks.’
On 1 June 1940 the two weary East Surrey Battalions, led by their fine Commanding officers, Lieutenant Colonels Boxshall and Armstrong, marched the 12 miles along the sands to Dunkirk. So ended their 1940 Campaign. One of the lucky ones to be evacuated from Dunkirk, his award of the Military Medal was published in the London Gazette for 20 August 1940 ‘for distinguished service in action in connection with recent operations.’
The 1/6th Battalion returned to active operations with the 4th Division in North Africa and fought with the 1st Army during the advance across Tunisia to Tunis. The 1st Army had fought for six weary months in the mountains of Northern Tunisia against some of the best divisions in Von Arnim’s Army. The 1st Battalion was there as part of the 78th Division and had landed back in November 1942, whilst the 1/6th Battalion, of which Massey, by then a Corporal, was still a part, had arrived at Algiers on 23 March. Casualties would be heavy in the two Surrey battalions, and each lost its Commanding Officer. Lieutenant Colonel H.A.B. Bruno, M.B.E. of the 1/6th would be killed leading his men in an attack on a strongpoint. After seven days spent in the camp at Cap Matifou, getting acclimatised the order came to move. The move was to be by train to the forward area, the journey being timed to take 48 hours but 'just in case' seven days rations were issued. Before leaving the camp the reinforcement company was taken away.
On 13 April the attack on Sidi ben Touil was renewed but this time with artillery support as the guns had been brought forward far enough to give support. The plan was for a two company attack behind a thirty minute barrage. C Company (Major R C Guy) was given as its objective the main feature Sidi ben Touil, some two thousand eight hundred feet high. The objective of B Company, (Major G G Maggs MC) were two features known as Hills 511 and 521 on the right. The distance to the objectives was about two miles over bare ground with little cover except that provided by valleys between the hills.
Lieut G A Rose, commanding 10 Platoon, reached his objective Hill 511 after coming under heavy machine-gun fire without incurring casualties but was now pinned down there. Lieuts A G Frost and D V R Martin, commanding 11 and 12 Platoons respectively, were ordered forward to take the final objective Hill 521. Heavy machine-gun fire was now opened on these platoons from Hill 521 and from Sidi ben Touil, causing a number of casualties before cover could be reached. The two platoon commanders pressed forward with the remainder. Lieut Frost with Corporal E O' Sullivan and about three others were seen moving forward towards the enemy position where some Germans were shouting 'Kamerad' and holding up their hands. Then some more Germans from another position fired some shots and came running forward. They surrounded Lieutenant Frost and his party who could then be seen being led off.as prisoners. Others who had advanced could not be seen and were not heard of again. There was no firing from them or from the right where Lieutenant Martin had advanced with his platoon, so that it seemed that the same fate had befallen them.
The second stage of the advance was down into a deep gully and up a steep slope in which the enemy had a number of well concealed positions. Four weapon slits could be seen close together in front of 12 Platoon's position, so Sergeant A Weston, the platoon sergeant, brought the 2-inch mortar into action against them. At Company Headquarters two signallers had been killed and also the company runner, Private S V Swainson, who had the wireless set. CSM E H Haynes was killed while gallantly leading forward the remainder of B Company Headquarters. The advance was now completely held up owing to over thirty casualties. Major Maggs therefore decided to reorganise and consolidate on the first objective, Hill 511. All this time C Company was moving round the left flank under cover and soon came to the foot of the hill. 15 Platoon under Sergeant Bevan was sent forward to occupy some huts half way up the hill, which they reached successfully. The remainder of the company was then brought up. Here an enemy section post was found containing an NCO and three men, who were taken prisoner together with another two men driven from their position by 13 Platoon's 2-inch mortar fire. Now 14 Platoon led by Lieut H N Marlow moved on up the hill behind the enemy's main positions which were still being engaged by fire from B Company. When 14 Platoon reached the top of the hill they ran into trouble from very accurate machine-gun fire from the other side of the hill. Major Guy now withdrew the platoon to a position on the rear slope and disposed his company for defence.
It was getting dark when a message was received from Lt Col Bruno ordering the companies to withdraw. C Company thinned out and moved back, and B Company was able to recover ten men who had been wounded on the forward slopes and bring them back with them. The companies met at the prearranged rendezvous where the worst of the wounded were placed in carriers for the long cross-country journey. Those wounded who could, walked with the help of others. Amongst the walking wounded were Sergeant G Boreham and L/Corporal A Colley. The former had been shot in the knee and the latter in the hands. The withdrawal was covered by two sections of the Carrier Platoon under the command of Major R O V Thompson, the Battalion second-in-command, and Captain L Brown.'
During this operation, B Company lost Lieut D V R Martin and 3 Other Ranks killed, 10 men wounded, and Lieut A G Frost and 21 Other Ranks missing, some of whom were wounded. C Company brought in the enemy NCO and 5 men previously captured and from whom it was learnt the enemy positions were held by at least two companies of the 1st Barenthin (Parachute) Regiment.
One of those killed in action was Massey, who was initially listed as missing in action, and then confirmed as killed. Having no known grave, is commemorated by name on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial.
