Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘Eustace was No. 1 of the gun. Nothing ruffled him. Just how many tanks he accounted for is impossible to say. But when one of them passed him at a few yards’ range he swung his gun through almost a complete circle, engaged it and knocked it out. With his gun spattered with bullet holes, with an A.P. round lodged in the carriage and assisted only by a gunner from a disabled Bofors, he fought his gun until the remaining enemy had withdrawn. Then he reverted to a field role in answer to calls from the O.P. and laid and fired the gun himself.’
The Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-45, refers.

The outstanding Second World War North Africa operations D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant J. Eustace, Royal Artillery, who displayed magnificent courage at the defence of Tebourba in late November 1942 - ‘the knocked out tanks were in a ring around the battery, one of them only three yards from the muzzle of the gun that destroyed it’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (814011 Sjt. J. Eustace, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22542787 Sgt. J. Eustace, D.C.M., R.A.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, contact marks, very fine or better (8) £4000-5000

D.C.M. London Gazette 11 February 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘At Tebourba on 27 November 1942, Sergeant Eustace was in charge of a gun when the Battery was attacked by tanks. During the action Sergeant Eustace was left as the only survivor of his detachment. Although under heavy machine-gun fire and surrounded by enemy tanks he loaded, layed and fired his gun alone. He fired in all 22 rounds, destroying for certain 2 tanks and hitting others. His gun remained in action until the enemy withdrew and was the only gun saved from the day’s action.’

The following account of the defence of Tebourba on 27 November 1942, which was written by Major-General E. O. Herbert, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., who commanded 132nd Field Regiment and the guns of 11 Infantry Brigade Group, appears in The Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-45:

‘The group of guns with 11 Infantry Brigade of 78th Division, which advanced on the southern axis towards Tunis, was formed around 132nd (Welsh) Field Regiment. It had a strenuous four days advancing from Oud Zarga to Medjez el Bab, driving back the German 1st Parachute Regiment and meeting constant attacks by fighters and dive-bombers; and on more than one occasion the bulk of the guns were in front of their own infantry.

During the night of 25-26 November 1942, the Germans blew up the bridge at Medjez el Bab and evacuated the town. The next evening 1st East Surreys, with some guns including 322nd Field Battery (Major Dixon), advanced up the west bank of the Medjerda. The battery took up a position in the olive groves north of Tebourba. There was at that time no contact with the enemy.

A few minutes before eleven the following morning the O.P. reported enemy tanks approaching, and within a couple of minutes the action had begun. The olive trees generally gave very short fields of fire and a grim, short-range, tank-versus-gun battle developed and lasted for a couple of hours. Because of the cover afforded by the trees, the wagon lines were close to the guns. Many of the vehicles were soon burning and ammunition kept ‘going up’ to add to the confusion. Time and time again small groups of tanks tried to attack the guns from a fresh angle, but sooner or later were themselves hit.
When the Germans eventually withdrew, 14 tanks had been knocked out, though some were later recovered. Only one gun remained in action in the battery and that was classed as unserviceable. Very few of the men in the gun position were alive and unwounded.

Gunner Dean and Sergeant Eustace particularly distinguished themselves. Dean was a command post signaller, manning his set in a truck - where it assuredly should not have been. Throughout the battle information on the movement of the tanks came in from the O.P., and was faithfully recorded by Dean while the truck around him became more and more sieve-like with bullet-holes.

Eustace was No 1 of a gun. Nothing ruffled him. Just how many tanks he accounted for is impossible to say. But when one of them passed him at a few yards’ range he swung his gun through almost a complete circle, engaged it and knocked it out. With his gun spattered with bullet-holes, with an A.P. round lodged in the carriage and assisted only by a gunner from a disabled Bofors, he fought his gun until the remaining enemy had withdrawn. Then he reverted to a field role in answer to calls from the OP and laid and fired the gun himself.

Meanwhile the remainder of the Brigade Group came up to Tebourba, leaving a troop of anti-tank guns to guard its rear and name the hill above them “Longstop Hill”, to become famous some months later. Then began the battle of Tebourba proper, a scrambling, long-drawn-out, hard-fought engagement in which both sides fought themselves almost to a standstill.’

Eustace saw further action in Sicily and Italy, later served in Korea, and subsequently became a Captain in the 132 Welsh Field Regiment R.A.; sold with copied recommendation, war diary extracts and other research.