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  M3 General Stuart Tank Hull Number 2565  
Australian Army
2/6th Armoured Regiment
B Squadron

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Australian Army 1943

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Dale McCarthy 2005
Commander  Sgt Kenneth A. MacGregor, NX56166 (KIA, BR) Newcastle, England / Wollstonecraft, NSW
Turret Gunner  Tpr Ernest Edward "Jack" Crofts, NX39980 (KIA, BR) Bathurst, NSW
W.Op/Loader Tpr John Frederick Mullins, NX48931 (KIA, BR) Elwood, VIC
Driver  Tpr Warren Robert James Parle, NX43584 (KIA, BR) Mosman, NSW
Hull Gunner  Tpr Reginald George Collier, NX83905 (KIA, BR) Bendigo, VIC
Disabled  January 12, 1943

Tank History
Built in the United States as M3 General Stuart Tank hull number 2565. Shipped across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Australian Army, 2/6th Armoured Regiment, B Squadron. No known nickname or markings. Shipped to Milne Bay then transported by barge to Oro Bay then towed by barges to Hariko. Overnight, the tanks were driven up the north coast with one track in the sea to their jump off position for use in the Buna-Sanananda area.

Mission History

On January 12, 1943 at 8:00am M3 Stuart 2561 commanded by Lt Heap, M3 Stuart (hull unknown) commanded by Cpl Boughton and this tank commanded by Sgt Kenneth A. MacGregor advanced from a replenishment area along the Sanananda Track towards Sanananda.

After moving roughly 60 yards (180' / 54.8m) a concealed Japanese Army 37mm Anti-Tank Gun / Type 94 (1936) "Rapid Fire Gun" opened fire on the lead tank. M3 Stuart 2561 was hit by a shell that struck the driver's front flap that caused the visor to spring open. The second round hit the gunner's visor also causing it to spring open. Next, two more shells hit the tank. Damaged, Lt Heap ordered his driver to move off the track allowing M3 Stuart (hull unknown) commanded by Cpl Boughton to advance.

Immediately, the same Japanese gun opened fire on M3 Stuart (hull unknown) with one round penetrating the driver's visor injuring four of the crew including Boughton and Lynn. Although wounded in the face, driver Lynn managed to turn the tank around and limp back to the replenishment area. Although Boughton received medical attention, later that day he died of his wounds.

Meanwhile, this tank continued to move forward unseen to charge towards the Japanese positions. Out of view of Australian Army troops, this taken apparently swerved suddenly into an enemy position and was possibly targeted or hit by a Japanese pole mine. Afterwards, the Japanese managed to throw a fire bomb "Molotov cocktail" onto the tank that caused a fire that burned out the tank. The crew members who were not killed in the explosion or fire were shot as they attempted to bail out from the disabled tank.

The entire action lasted 45 minutes and was the last time Allied tanks encountered enemy fire during the Sanananda campaign.

Recovery of Remains
After the battle, the remains of the crew were recovered. Later, their remains were transported to Port Moresby for permanent burial.

Memorials
The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All five are buried at Bomana War Cemetery. MacGregor at A6. B. 20. Crofts at A6. B. 21. Collier at A6. B. 22. Parle at A6. B. 23. Mullins at A6. B. 24.

Wreckage
After this tank was burned out, it was deliberately targeted by Australian Army 2 pounder anti-tank guns to further destroy it and deprive it from any Japanese attempts to recover any weapons or use as a pillbox.

After the battle, the tank was recovered from the battlefield and towed to a dump area near Buna. The main gun and machine guns and other usable parts were removed including both treads leaving only the stripped hull. Abandoned nearby is a sedan car. Today, this tank remains in the dump area near Buna.

Dale McCarthy adds:
"This tank was on the other side of Buna and the car was more or less two feet away from it."

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Kenneth A. MacGregor, NX56166
WW2 Nominal Roll - Ernest Edward Crofts, NX39980
WW2 Nominal Roll - John Frederick Mullins, NX48931
WW2 Nominal Roll - Robert James Parle, NX43584
WW2 Nominal Roll - Reginald George Collier, NX83905
CWGC - Kenneth A. MacGregor
FindAGrave - Sergeant Kenneth Alexander MacGregor (photo)
Crows Nest Uniting Church - Book of Remembrance (MacGregor photo)
Virtual War Memorial Australia - Kenneth Alexander MacGregor (photo)
CWGC - Ernest Edward Crofts
FindAGrave - Trooper Ernest Edward Crofts

CWGC - John Frederick Mullins
FindAGrave - Trooper John Frederick Mullins

CWGC - Warren Robert James Parle
FindAGrave - Trooper Warren Robert Parle
CWGC - Reginald George Collier
FindAGrave - Trooper Reginald George Collier

The Vital Factor: A History Of 2/6th Australian Armoured Regiment 1941-1946 (1999) by Paul Handel as details on the crew and wartime history of this tank
Hell's Battlefield (2012) by Phil Bradley pages 175 (January 12, 1943), 439 (Appendix 1: Casualties 2/6 Armd Regt), 452 (Chapter 9, Footnote 43) 483 (index 2/6 Armd Regt)
Thanks to Dale McCarthy and Daniel Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
February 3, 2022

 

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