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| Australian
Army 2/6th Armoured Regiment B Squadron, 5 Troop  Norman Wilford 1943  via Phil Bradley 1970  Phil Bradley 1998  Justin Taylan 2007 |
Commander Sgt Jack Lattimore, NX42380 (WIA, survived) Fairfield, NSW Turret Gunner Cpl Reginald "Reg" G. Leggatt, NX48821 (WIA, DOW December 25, 1942) Nyngan, NSW WOp/Loader Trooper Frank E. Jeavons, NX39427 (WIA, survived) West Bromwich, England Driver Trooper Norman "Ted" T. Nye, NX43844 (survived) Wagga Wagga, NSW Hull Gunner Trooper Frank F. Forster, NX96113 (KIA, BR) Holbrook, NSW Disabled December 24, 1942 Tank History Built as M3 General Stuart Tank hull number 2017. Shipped across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the Australian Army to the 2/6th Armoured Regiment, B Squadron, 5 Troop. No known nickname or markings. During December 1942 eight M3 Stuart tanks were shipped to Milne Bay then transported by barge to Oro Bay then towed 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. By the middle of the month, the tanks moved into a jump off position on southern Duropa Plantation at the eastern end of Buna New Strip (New Strip). On December 18, 1942 on the Warren Front at 6:00am an Allied artillery bombardment begin for 30 minutes concluding with ten minutes of heavy fire, followed by Vickers machine gun fire and mortar fire. At 7:00am the tanks started their engine and moved into position for the assault. The tanks would support the advance of Australian Army 2/9th Infantry Battalion advanced northward towards Cape Endaiadere from the east to west: D Coy, A Coy, B Coy and C Coy on the western edge on the eastern end of New Strip. This tank was the third led by Lt. Vic McCrohon. On December 24, 1942 under the command of Sgt Jack Lattimore as one of four tanks led by Lt. Vic McCrohon with M3 Stuart commander Barnet, M3 Stuart commander Church and this tank. At 9:35am after a short artillery barrage, the four tanks crossed the Simemi Creek Bridge and advanced to support the Australian Army 2/10th Infantry Battalion advancing towards the eastern end of Buna Airfield (Old Strip). At the start of the attack, McCrohon's tank was hit low in the hull knocking out the radio and slid into a bomb crater filled with water and became bogged. Barnet's tank was hit in the turret killing the gunner. Next, infantry fired two Very flares to mark a gun position for the tanks to eliminate. At 10:30am, this tank and M3 Stuart commander Church moved into position to open fire on the area. Meanwhile, this tank was targeted by a pair of Japanese 76.2mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 3 (1914) emplaced southwest of Buna Airfield (Old Strip). At 11:27am after turning to the right, this tank was hit in the driver flap by a 76.2mm shell fired horizontally with a direct line of sight shot across kunai grass and the runway. Inside the tank, Trooper Forster was killed instantly. Commander Sgt Lattimore was injured in both his legs and his wrist watch stopped at 11:27am when hit, Cpl Leggatt was mortally wounded and Trooper Jeavons was wounded. The three wounded men managed to exit the tank as burning fuel caught fire and the ammunition began to cook off and explode. Trooper Nye who was the only member of the crew unhurt attempted to warn the other tanks of the threat from the guns but was too late. Moments later M3 tank commanded by Church was hit in the turret. In only two hours, all four tanks were disabled or destroyed. Afterwards, the guns commenced fire on the infantry in the kunai grass. For the next two days, the guns continued to fire on the Australians until silenced. Afterwards, this tank was abandoned on the battlefield. Wreckage After the battle, the tank was stripped for usable parts including the machine guns and main gun. Until the middle of the 1973, this tank remained in situ at Buna Airfield (Old Strip). Recovery During the middle of 1973, this tank and 76.2mm Anti-Aircraft Gun (Buna No. 2) were removed then transported by barge to Port Moresby. Afterwards, shipped across the Pacific to the United States. Display Since the middle 1970s, this tank is displayed outdoors at the Nimitz Museum (National Museum of the Pacific War). A gun barrel was added to the turret and some of the missing panels replaced. Memorials Forster died December 24, 1942. He is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at B6. E. 25. Leggatt died of wounds December 25, 1942. He is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at B7. B. 26. References WW2 Nominal Roll - Jack Lattimore, NX42380 WW2 Nominal Roll - Reginald George Leggatt, NX48821 WW2 Nominal Roll - Frank Ellis Jeavons, NX39427 WW2 Nominal Roll - Norman Ted Nye, NX43844 WW2 Nominal Roll - Frank Floyd Forster, NX96113 CWGC - Frank Floyd Forster CWGC - Reginald George Edward Leggatt FindAGrave - Corporal Reginald George Leggatt 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 134 (tanks arrive Oro Bay to Hariko) 135 (map), 136-137 (December 18, 1942), 145, 147 (December 24, 1942) 146 (map), 439 (Appendix 1: Casualties 2/6 Armd Regt), 452 (Chapter 9, Footnote 43) 483 (index 2/6 Armd Regt) Thanks to Phil Bradley and Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute
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