Royal Tank Regiment | Major | Killed In Action | El Alamein 

Discounted to £475 (was £575)

By instruction of the consigner

WW2, Royal Tank Regiment group of medals for sale. The four medals with original ribbons, awarded posthumously to Major John Hotham. The medals consisting of, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 Medal. The medals together with the original killed in action medal entitlement document. The medals and documents mounted in a period frame.

Condition report: The medals in excellent to near mint condition. The citation clean and with typical folds. The frame with old repairs. Two small holes to the top frame bar.

Note: Major John Hotham was born in India in 1913, where his father was serving in the army. Hotham joined the RAF becoming a Flight Officer, but later was assigned to the Royal Tank Regiment and  saw service in Africa. Hotham was killed in action on the last day of the First Battle of El Alamein on 27th July 1942 aged 29. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

Details from the war diaries of the Royal Tank Regiment: "27/7/42 - 10th Hussars tried to push round right flank; they captured some prisoners but came under heavy A/Tk and mortar fire, one tank was damaged and they withdrew slightly. An 88mm or 76mm gun on the far right now opened fire and forced C Sqn to come down from the ridge. A Sqn was detailed to salvage or destroy all the equipment in the area over-run. B Sqn 10th hussars continued to try and push round to the right but were unable to get far forward owing to another minefield and intense A/Tk fire, they however engaged targets of MET and Infantry in that area.

C Sqn moved up on to the ridge to fire but were continually forced to come down again owing to heavy fire from the large A/Tk guns. Two Grants were hit and casualties caused. One tank was able to withdraw to the A Echelon but the other required a transporter.

In the evening under cover of smoke the enemy attacked with a force of tanks and a SP gun (105 or 76.2). The Regt being in a bad position in the valley was forced to withdraw ½ mile through the gap and took up a battle position behind the minefield. During this time 2 Grants of B Sqn were destroyed and the Grant damaged earlier had to be destroyed. Major Hotham, 1st RTR, was missing. 5th RTR came up behind ready to support. When the Regt got into battle line behind the minefield they were able to get a good shoot and destroyed 2 enemy tanks and silenced the SP gun.

At last light the Regt received orders to withdraw, as tomorrow the Bde was to be in Corps reserve outside the ALAMEIN Box. Regt moved in line and picking up A Echelon on the way moved via NS track to ALAMEIN station and thence East to a leaguer area 431898.
Claims -2 Mark III destroyed, 2 Mark III probably hit, 1 75mm knocked out, 1 50mm knocked out, MET and Infantry engaged and some prisoners taken. 2 Carriers and one Russian 76mm A/Tk gun salvaged. 3 A/Tk guns destroyed.

Losses -3 Grants destroyed, several Grants damaged, 1 Stuart damaged, 1 Crusader damaged.

28/7/42 - Regt remained in leaguer area. Spent the day reorganising, damaged tanks evacuated. Bathing parties organised. 10th Hussars Sqn drew 7 more Crusaders. Confirmed that Major Hotham was killed in yesterday’s action. Our 76mm gun was handed over to Bde Recovery section. Slight air activity in the evening, one Macchi 200 shot down in our area. During the night a Ju88 machine-gunned the area but did no damage.
Regt Strength 12 Grants, 17 Crusaders, 11 Stuarts