Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘North West Europe 1945’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private T. A. Jarvis, 5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, for gallantry during the fighting in Waldfeucht in January 1945; he was killed in action on 8 April 1945, east of the River Ems, near Bremen

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (14420487 Pte. T. A. Jarvis. K.O.S.B.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

M.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945.

The recommendation states: ‘During the fighting in Waldfeucht on 21 January 1945, the platoon to which this soldier belongs was holding a small block of houses when the enemy attacked strongly and appeared to be making good headway. Private Jarvis, on two separate occasions ran out into the streets, in the face of considerable small arms fire, and threw grenades into the party of advancing enemy. On both occasions his action completely disorganised the enemy’s advance and allowed his platoon to maintain its position intact throughout a day during which its defended area was surrounded for several hours. Private Jarvis, by his complete disregard for personal safety, was an inspiration to the whole of his platoon and he contributed largely to the successful outcome of the action fought all day by his company which was completely cut off from the rest of the Battalion.’

Four days before he was gazetted for the award of the Military Medal he was killed in action on 8 April 1945, engaged with retreating German Paratroopers, East of the river Ems, near Bremen.

Thomas Adam Jarvis was born in Liverpool circa 1926, the son of Thomas Jarvis Esq. He was buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg.

The 4th and 5th battalions KOSB found themselves in the Low Countries in the autumn of 1944, taking part in the strongly contested assault landings on Walcheren Island, at the mouth of the Scheldt. They then fought through into Germany taking a notable part in operation Blackcock and also taking part in the capture of Bremen.

Battle of Forrest Damp
At Roermond two rivers join, the Maas and the Roer. In 1945 this was the tip of an area called the Roer Triangle, where the two rivers formed the left and right sides of the triangle. On 14 January the British launched operation Blackcock to clear this area on the Holland-German border; by the time the operation was completed some two weeks later, it would have seen some truly fierce fighting.

At around 0300, on 21 January 1945, the 5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers moved out. Their objective was the German town of Waldfeucht. This was winter in central Europe so it was bitterly cold, with three inches of snow on the ground. The 5th KOSB had a company of men leading the way, while the rest of the force moved either in Kangaroo's or carriers. There were some Shermans from the 13/18th Hussars along for the operation as well. The lead company found a few mines, which it removed, however little other resistance was encountered. Soon the force had seized the town, which was deserted, with no German forces in place. The population would emerge from their cellars briefly and kept asking about what time it was, or were glancing nervously at time pieces. From this behaviour the British concluded that a German attack was imminent, and they thought first light was the most likely time for this. In a rush the battalion began to get ready for action. Two six pounders were brought forward to cover the north and west sides of the town. After they had been unlimbered and roughly sited, work began to dig the guns in. This was severely hampered by the frozen ground. No real progress had been made on these fighting pits when the first rays of sunlight appeared at dawn, filtering through the mist.

The spreading light revealed several large box shapes lurching through the mist, towards the town. It was a full-blown German counter attack, fifteen assault guns led by two Tigers from Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 301, with infantry from either the 175th or 183rd infantry.

The British asked for their Shermans to engage the Tigers, who were sitting targets out in the open. The British tanks refused to show themselves, knowing what the outcome would be, while the two 6-pounders, still exposed in the open began to fire. A blazing fire-fight soon ensued and, slowly, one by one, the crews of the guns were killed or wounded. At one gun Private Archibald Moore, who was acting as a loader, stepped forward and took over when the gun commander was wounded. With small arms rounds sparkling off the gun shield Private Moore directed his gun against one of the Tigers. The anti-tank battery's commanding officer, Captain Robert Hunter, took control of the other gun. Hunter's first shot stopped the Tiger by wrecking its tracks and he continued to pour fire into the tank until it burned.

By now the Germans were about 100 yards away from the two 6-pounders pouring small arms fire and grenades at them. Captain Hunter was wounded by this storm of fire. By now there were only five men serving both guns, one of which was the wounded Captain Hunter. Together, both guns turned their attention on the last remaining Tiger and began to fire as fast as they could. Soon it too began to burn.

Private Moore then grabbed a Bren gun from beside a dead soldier and opened fire upon the nearby infantry and the fleeing Tiger crew.

On the east side, at the same time, another Tiger had launched an attack with supporting infantry. Here there were no plucky 6-pounders to stop the beast. Four Shermans were destroyed trying to stop it, which might account for the reluctance of the tank commanders to engage the pair of Tigers. Bitter fighting ensued as the Germans reached the outskirts of the town and began to push through. The Tiger, as it ground down the street, blasting into buildings at point blank range, ran into two men, a platoon commander named Gideon Scott and his PIAT gunner Private Kirkpatrick. The first round failed to detonate and bounced off the Tiger’s armour. Scott began to reload the PIAT. Another round was fired at the Tiger but missed. The shots had alerted the Tiger crew to the danger, and a hail of gunfire was directed towards the British defenders position. Scott was wounded in the hand.

Scott had been born with deformities in both hands which had nearly prevented him from enlisting in 1939, until he challenged the recruiters to allow him to fire a rifle, which they were concerned he would have been unable to handle. Scott had shot in competitions for his college at Bisley and was quite a proficient shot. Having proven himself able to shoot he was enlisted.

As they reloaded for a third shot, Scott saw a wounded soldier lying directly in the path of the giant Tiger, and who would soon be crushed by the 70 tons of tank. Scott leapt up from his position and raced out into the street, despite having already gained the Tiger’s complete attention and his position being the focus of its full firepower. He reached the wounded soldier, and with the ground shaking from the Tiger’s roar he dragged the wounded man into cover with bullets whistling about him.

The Tiger led the advance through the town with infantry storming into its wake. As it approached the building chosen as the HQ, Captain Ravenscroft and his batman began to lob grenades out of the windows onto the Germans below, until they were captured. By now it was late afternoon. The Germans had reached the town square which had become no-man’s land between the two forces. The Tiger claimed a Sherman, and four more were knocked out by Panzerfausts in the fighting around the square. The situation was looking bleak, with the Germans now in control of 75% of the town. However, 4th KOSB had arrived and were pushing into the Germans flank. This began to relieve the pressure on the 5th KOSB. It still took until midnight to fully evict the Germans. The final Tiger was found stuck in an arch over the road and was destroyed in place.

The battle had raged for eighteen hours. Captain Hunter was awarded a Military Cross, while Private Moore was awarded a well-deserved Distinguished Conduct Medal and survived the war. Gallant 19 year-old Tommy Jarvis, who had twice leapt out in the open street throwing fistfuls of hand grenades into the midst of the German infantry, thus keeping back advancing German troops, was awarded a well-earned Military Medal but, regretfully, the young warrior did not manage to survive the war and never saw his medal.