In Tunisia the Germans were well dug in on the Mareth Line. The
rocky terrain and the mountainous ridges provided natural
defensive positions. These had been fortified with concrete pill
boxes and gun emplacements by the French Army before the war.
Ever since Rommel had decided to make a stand here the Germans
had been adding their own defences, including extensive
minefields and barbed wire. The 8th Army attack sought to soften
up these positions with artillery and bombing. At the end of the
day it became the job of the infantry to go forward, overcome
the defences and face the enemy: The KING has been graciously
pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS
to: Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Derek Anthony Seagrim:
(26914) The Green Howards (Alexandra Pnncess of Wales Own
Yorkshire Regiment) (Westward Ho Devon) On the night of the
20th/21st March 1943 the task of a Battalion of the Green
Howards was to attack and capture an important feature on the
left flank of the main attack on the M