38 (Irish) Brigade beat off German attack, Tunisia.

In mid-January 1943, as the Germans were building up their strength in the Bou Arada Plain area of Tunisia, 38 (Irish) Infantry Brigade was ordered to prepare for an attack on four features on the 19 January. However, the Germans upset the plans at 0730 hours on the 18 January by attacking the centre of the Brigade position, with a force that included 20 to 30 tanks, where the 6th Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was deployed. The Brigade made good use of its supporting artillery which inflicted severe damage on the German armour and infantry. The 6 INNISKS took A Company of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers under command and drove the Germans out of a position to their front.

Fighting went on for most of the day, but the German attack was beaten off and the enemy suffered many casualties. The Irish Brigade casualties included the Faughs' A Company Commander. Major P C Murphy MC, who was shot and killed at point-blank range leading his men into the attack. However, a document of significant intelligence value, revealing the order of battle of the German forces in Tunisia, was removed by 6 INNISKS from a captured German.

Below, a German Panzer IV tank with the gun turret blown away; Bou Arada, 18-19 January 1943.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE TUNISIA CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1942-MAY 1943© IWM (NA 528)