Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Sidi Rezegh’ M.M. to Lance-Corporal B. Winterbach, 1st South African Irish Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (89022 L/Cpl., 1 S.A.I.) extremely fine £1200-1400

M.M. London Gazette24 February 1942. Recommendation states: ‘Action -5 S.A. Inf. Bde. -Sidi Rezagh - 23.11.41. After the order had been given to withdraw and their mortar had been destroyed by an enemy tank, L/Cpl. Winterbach with Pte. Burton and Pte. Buys remained in his position firing at the personnel of three enemy tanks with his rifle, forcing the tank crews to keep their heads below the level of the turrets when the crews were trying to attract the attention of other enemy tanks in the vicinity by signals. The detirmined action of these men which was carried out under heavy fire, held up the progess of the tanks for some time, and greatly assisted in allowing their comrades to withdraw safely’.

Basil Winterbach was born in Beaconsfield, Kimberley, South Africa on 23 January 1915. A British National and an accountant by occupation, he attested for the Union Defence Force on 9 July 1940. Serving with the 1st South African Irish Regiment, he landed at Suez in May 1941. Promoted Acting Lance-Corporal in August, he was awarded the Military Medal for his brave action during the desparate fighting at Sidi Rezergh on 23 November 1941.

Sunday, 23 November 1941, saw some of the most bloodiest fighting of Operation ‘Crusader’, the offensive designed to relieve Tobruk. By the end of the day the allies had been defeated by the Afrika Korps. The following article published in the Springbok (November 1957) describes the events of the battle:

‘At 3 o’clock, the storm broke on the south-eastern end of the perimeter, defended by the South African Irish and elements of Regiment Botha. The Germans committed to the attack 110 tanks of the 15th Panzer Division and 40 tanks of Panzer Regiment 5. In a departure from standard ‘Panzer’ doctrine, the German tanks charged in waves, with lorried infantry and support weapons moving at the same speed, interspersed with the panzers. The South African and British forces opened up with a wall of fire to which the German war diaries eloquently paid tribute, enumerating the weight and accuracy of fire which caused great numbers of casualties amongst tanks and infantry, decimating the attacking regiments. The South African gunners stood to their guns, firing at point blank range until either destroyed or out of ammunition, whilst the infantry fought from their rudimentary trenches scaped into the rocky ground and from wrecked vehicles until their positions were overrun by the German tanks and supporting infantry. The weight of the German armour could not be withstood once the guns were gone, and like a giant steamroller the German attack passed through and over the Brigade position. Fighting continued until nightfall, leaving the fires of scores of burning vehicles to provide a fitting funeral pyre for the 5th Brigade, the vast majority (some 3,500 men) of whom were either dead, wounded or now in enemy hands. Indeed, had the formation disintergrated in the fight, losses would have been smaller, given the nature of desert warfare. However in the tradition of Isandlhwana, Ulundi and Blood River inherited by the South African Army, the 5th Brigade stood, fought and died in position. The Germans were stunned by their losses, 70 priceless tanks (together with troop carriers and other vehicles), 5 Regimental or Battalion commanders, as well as most of the leader groups of the attacking units, in addition to large numbers of tank crews and infantry. As a result, they call this day, the fiercest battle of the entire campaign, and referred to it as “Totensonntag”, the “Sunday of the Dead”’.

Confirmed as a Temporary Lance-Corporal on 1 January 1942, Winterbach ‘died on service’ , being admitted to hospital, dead, on 24 April 1942, aged 27 years. He was buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery. Sold with a folder of copied service details and research which shows that his campaign medals were not claimed or issued.