Semken, John Douglas (Oral history)

British officer served with Sherwood Rangers in Middle East, GB and North West Europe, 1940-1944

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1921-1939: family; education at St Alban's; membership of OTC. Period of training with Inns of Court Regt in GB, 1939-1940: joining unit; officer training on mobilisation with Royal Scots Greys in Edinburgh; posting to Army School of Equitation at Weedon, 12/1939; background to posting to Palestine, 9/1940; commissioning into Sherwood Rangers, 4/1940; reasons for joining cavalry and Sherwood Rangers. Aspects of period as officer with Sherwood Rangers in Middle East, 1940-1942: voyage from GB to Middle East, 9/1940; arrival in Port Tewfik; change of role from artillery to armour; arrival of Stuart 'Honey' Tanks and US instructors; move to Western Desert; training with Grant Tanks; courses attended; desert navigation skills; lack of tactical training; use of hull down position; handing over vehicles to County of London Yeomanry; withdrawal to El Alamein line. Recollections of operations as assistant adjutant with Sherwood Rangers with 8th Armoured Bde in North Africa, 1942-1943: initial experience of action, 8/1942. REEL 2 Continues: first unit casualty; counter attacking Germans at Battle of Alam Halfa; character of first action; limits of command and control measures; change in signals practice; problems with tanks closed down in action; changes in operational practices after battle; tank evacuation procedures; question of lessons learnt and tactics; contrast in British and German armour; effectiveness of Grant Tank's firepower; risk of fire in US tanks; lack of combined arms tactics; training prior to El Alamein battle; leave in Cairo; question of premonitions of death; tactical preparations for El Alamein; penetration of minefields during Battle of El Alamein; degree of knowledge of battle; German Air Force attack on B Echelon vehicles; weather conditions during Operation Supercharge, 11/1942; move on transport from Mersa Matruh to Benghazi; loss of tank at Battle of Wadi Zem Zem; method of clearing main armament. REEL 3 Continues: capture of Tripoli; question of personal morale; course and leave in Cairo and Palestine; return to unit, 5/1943; increase in unit sickness levels; appointment to role as technical adjutant. Aspects of period as officer with Sherwood Rangers, 8th Armoured Bde in GB, 1943-1944: return to GB and improvement in unit health; move to Newmarket, 12/1943; special training with Duplex Drive tanks; unit opinion of Duplex Drive tanks; logistical problems encountered; role as technical adjutant; opinion of new commanding officer; embarkation and reaction of regimental wives to impending invasion. Recollections of operations as officer with Sherwood Rangers in Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: question of role after beach landing; performance of Duplex Drive tanks, 6/6/1944 including losses; landing on Gold Beach, 6/6/1944; arrival in Bayeux nightfall, 6/6/1944; problems of operating in Normandy; losses to battalion headquarters from German shelling; taking command of A Sqdn during action against Panzer Lehr Div; withdrawal into reserve; character of Panzer Lehr Div's attack; opinion of German troops; treatment of German POWs; role as squadron commander; problems of working with infantry. REEL 4 Continues: squadron deployment; encounter with Tiger tank at Fontenay le Pesnel; advancing against German positions at Fontenay le Pesnel; destruction of German tanks and capture of POWs; examination of Tiger Tank in captured German workshop; opinion of Sherman Firefly; effectiveness of Sherman Tank's main armament; fire control methods against German tanks; British tank losses in Normandy; problems of finding new tank commanders; comments on unit morale and campaigning; questions of nature of courage and tank fighting; daily routine; role of subalterns; importance of regimental system and gradual loss of Nottinghamshire identity. REEL 5 Continues: development of working relationships in squadron; absence of regimental mess; weather conditions; role of Padre; night time battle procedure; role of humour; opinion of commanding officer; contrast between infantry and cavalry O groups; difficulties of infantry/tank co-operation; co-operation with Royal Artillery; close air support from Hawker Typhoon. Recollections of operations commanding A Sqdn, Sherwood Rangers in North West Europe, 1944: operating with US paratroopers at Grave, 9/1944; operating with US troops at Geilenkirchen; opinion US operating procedures and command structure; story of General Horrock's visit to US Division; experiences with US Brigade Headquarters during German counter attack; action at Rauray and move to Caumont, 8/1944; role of Forward Observation Officers; degree of map/air photographs of battle area. REEL 6 Continues: importance of map reading; deployment of tank squadron; question of infantry/tank co-operation including role of infantry; effectiveness of German Panzer Grenadier system; lack of contact with civilians; advance from Normandy; opinion of General Ivo Thomas of 43rd Div; actions in Belgium and Netherlands, 9/1944-10/1944; character of operations after River Seine; role on return to GB as result of illness, 12/1944. Award of Military Cross for destroyer Tiger Tank in Normandy. Question of decorations and policy of recommendation. Memories of receiving of Military Cross from Montgomery. Attitude to having served with Sherwood Rangers.