My Father a Tankie

[iaindh]

Hi all,

I guess this is the right place to post this but I would like to post a brief story of my Father who was a professional soldier from the war years'

From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond;

a tale of SQMS David Peter Hayter’s exploits in the
1st Royal Tank Regiment


Peter Hayter joined up with the 44th Royal Tank Regiment in 1941 at the age of 17, in order to do his bit for the war effort against Nazi Germany.

He didn’t have to enlist as he worked for the Forestry Commission in Hampshire and was therefore exempt.

267206_2177234427454_1144651902_2571252_4680412_n.jpg

His unit landed on the Normandy beaches D day + 1, June 7th 1944, the beachhead was already established and he next saw serious action in the heavy fighting around Caen where his Sherman went over a mine and he lost his crew, fortunately only sustaining an injury to his knee.
From his tank’s turret machine gun, he also brought down a German Stuka.
During the Ardennes offensive, his squadron took a particular hill 3 times and handed it over to the Americans and 3 times they lost it.
A story he told of the Ardennes, was seeing a German officer’s fine leather riding boots sticking out of the snow; when he went to claim them and pulled them off, the foot came also!!!
Then came Operation Market Garden; Trooper Hayter’s squadron formed part of the relief column heading towards the courageous paratroopers at Arnhem but only got as far as Nijmegen because the Americans had abandoned the bridge there! So sad

British tanks at Njimegen.JPG

His next serious action was in the Reichwald, Operation Veritable: The allied forces were now in German territory and the Germans fought like demons to try to repel the invading allied forces.
His squadron had run out of fuel or were bogged in the mud but were stranded waiting for the supply column.
At some stage he had liberated a shotgun and cartridges: Trooper Hayter, using the liberated shotgun, held off repeated attempts by German soldiers to destroy his tank, at one stage, taking out a German soldier with a Panzerfaust who was lining up on his tank. The Tank commander was a quivering jelly in the bottom of the tank, but he got “mentioned in dispatches”!!!!!

I suppose the alternative was to shoot him for cowardice!

The trees in the Reichwald were cut off at +/- one metre due to the heavy gunfire. This is also portrayed in a famous painting of Cromwell tanks moving through the Reichwald.

(On a more serious note he used this shotgun for many years afterwards and when he came to trade it in, the gunsmith said he was so lucky as the barrels were so badly worn; they could have blown up in his face at any time!)

The war was over soon after and he was posted to Berlin. He told that the Allies handed over Ukrainians, who had fought on the side of the liberating Germans, to the Russian Army. The Russians took them away and within earshot the Russians massacred them in a nearby wood. He said for days all you heard was machine gun fire.
He told of Allied “MP” groups involving British, Canadian, US and Russians, who would as teams police the divided German capital. Any drunken Russian soldiers they picked up would be held and handed over to the Russian authorities the next day. The Russians however would come along and shoot the prisoner in his cell and not even take away the body.
Also some Russian soldiers who were obviously so backward in technology, were prepared to swop gold watches for taps that they wanted to take back with them.

After spending time in Detmold, Germany, his regiment was posted back to England in 1948. Now a Sergeant, Peter Hayter was attached to the 40th RTR in Liverpool in a training capacity.

In 1952, the 1st RTR were posted to Korea to serve in the UN forces fighting against the invading North Koreans and subsequently the regular Chinese army. I know little of his exploits in Korea except at one time he rescued an American airman who had baled out and parachuted into a minefield.

Dad in Korea.jpg

He spoke highly of the “glorious Glosters” and their heroic stand at Imjin river.
He also told of South Korean soldiers boarding helicopters; the odd one would be taller than the others and lost his head in the process. Also that the winters were so cold that they had to wear 3 parkas, outer, middle and inner.

Peter Hayter in Korean Winter 53.jpg

After Korea, the 1st RTR was also involved in the Suez crisis in 1956 in which he participated.
In 1957, the regiment was posted to Hong Kong. En route on board the SS Nevassa, via the Cape as the Suez canal was blocked.

1st RTR in HK 1.jpg

The regiment was in Hong Kong for 3 years. An incident I remember was during a family day, a Comet with children riding on it, went into a flooded hole and everyone one was drenched Fortunately no one was hurt.

From there in 1960 it was back to England and then to Germany for 4 years. First Munster, then Hohne, the garrison for Belsen, then Detmold after being made up to SQMS. In 1960 he was part of the guidon escort that went to Buckingham palace for the consecration of the new standards.

Presentation of Standards to RTR 1960.jpg

My father then left the regiment in 1963 after 22 years.
Peter Hayter died in 1997.

[ANGLE IRON]

Great story, enjoyed reading it. Kevin

[engr9266]

A dad to be proud of. Could not open the attaxhments

[Brigade Piron]

Very interesting story!

Is that a US helmet in the photo? I heard Michael Cain "acquired" one when he was there, but I've never seen a photo of this before. Very interesting indeed.

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by Brigade Piron

Very interesting story!

Is that a US helmet in the photo? I heard Michael Cain "acquired" one when he was there, but I've never seen a photo of this before. Very interesting indeed.

Yes its Korea with the UN and as I understand it they were issued with American helmets

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by engr9266

A dad to be proud of. Could not open the attaxhments

I'll try to reload them, I dont know why there was a problem! And thanks for the compliment.

Iain

[NorthStafford]

Originally Posted by engr9266

A dad to be proud of. Could not open the attaxhments

Ditto, ditto

[Graham Stewart]

Lovely bit of family history - but I do have a question, which simply is "was he a regular posted to 44th RTR?".

The reason for this question is simply because 44th RTR was a 1938 conversion unit from the 6th Bn, Gloucestshire Regt(T.A.). From 44th RTR a duplicate unit - 50th RTR was formed. The idea being - should the 44th have gone overseas the 50th would act as a training and draft finding unit - very much like the 2nd & 3rd Line T.F. Battalions of WWI.

Post 1945 all of these T.A. Tank units were placed in 'suspended animation', until the resurrection of the T.A. in 1947, when these Tank units were reformed. for him to be posted to 40th RTR and then 1st RTR, he must have been a 'regular' as opposed to a T.A. 'tanky'. In 1957 all of the survivng T.A. tank units were re-converted back to infantry battalions.

Sorry if it's a pedantic question.

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by Graham Stewart

Lovely bit of family history - but I do have a question, which simply is "was he a regular posted to 44th RTR?".

The reason for this question is simply because 44th RTR was a 1938 conversion unit from the 6th Bn, Gloucestshire Regt(T.A.). From 44th RTR a duplicate unit - 50th RTR was formed. The idea being - should the 44th have gone overseas the 50th would act as a training and draft finding unit - very much like the 2nd & 3rd Line T.F. Battalions of WWI.

Post 1945 all of these T.A. Tank units were placed in 'suspended animation', until the resurrection of the T.A. in 1947, when these Tank units were reformed. for him to be posted to 40th RTR and then 1st RTR, he must have been a 'regular' as opposed to a T.A. 'tanky'. In 1957 all of the survivng T.A. tank units were re-converted back to infantry battalions.

Sorry if it's a pedantic question.

Hi Graham,

I have no idea how he came to be with the 44th, My elder brother told me he joined the 44th and I trust it is correct, but he was from Hampshire and Gloucestershire isnt that far away.
He initially joined for the war period and decided after the war to be permanent.
I'm not sure at what stage he became 1st RTR, I do think before Normandy but they were very tumultuous times and soldiers were transferred where and when necessary.

But thanks for your very informative post.

Iain

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by NorthStafford

Ditto, ditto

I have now reloaded the attachments

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Graham,

I have no idea how he came to be with the 44th, My elder brother told me he joined the 44th and I trust it is correct, but he was from Hampshire and Gloucestershire isnt that far away.
He initially joined for the war period and decided after the war to be permanent.
I'm not sure at what stage he became 1st RTR, I do think before Normandy but they were very tumultuous times and soldiers were transferred where and when necessary.

But thanks for your very informative post.

Iain

From your attachments I would think he was very much a 'regular' hence his long period of service from enlistment to retirement and his posting to the 40th RTR postwar was probably as a 'P.S.I.', (Permanent Staff Instructor).

Have you recovered all of his service documents from MOD? If not you should - as you'd probably find them of great interest.

[iaindh]

I have been meaning to apply for his docs, (I do have his original where he qualified as an instructor,) but as yet havent got around to it.
I did download the forms!

[1stTankie]

Hi Iain

I never thought I would appear on the Forum!

The second picture of the regiment disembarking from SS Nevasa and serving in Sek-Kong in the New Territories shows yours truly in the photograph of C Squadron marching down the airstrip that divided us from the gunners on the other side.
The Sqn Ldr in front is Major Bruce Halford-Walker (an ex FAA pilot, WW2),
next from the left is Lt Trevor Ralph, (sadly killed in the Congo a year or so later leading a company of Nigerian troops on operations, next left and one row behind is SSM Spike Mason, (a wonderful WO2, a truly great soldier) and then, that incredibly fit and alert looking young officer, wondering what on earth he is doing playing soldiers at the extreme edge of the British Empire, is me!! 2/Lt Gray - proud commander of 10Tp, CSqn, 1RTR.
We lived in nissen huts and Romney shelters and shared communal latrines and had a whole regiment of Comets to play with. Most of the time it was fun but a three year posting there could seem like a lfe sentence at times.

Thanks for the memory

Best wishes

Gordon

[iaindh]

Hi Gordon,

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures and the memories.
I remember Spike Mason, he was one of my Father's friends and often visited.
From my side, although young, I had a great time in Hong Kong, wide open spaces, great weather; my father even built a swimming pool in the garden for us to cool off......good times.
I also enjoyed Germany for that matter but returning to England in 1963 was a shock with its depressing weather. That's one reason I'm in SA now.

Best wishes,

Iain

[Frank Kelley]

Iain,
Just found this today, whilst looking for RTR badges, just wanted to let you know I enjoyed the read.
Hope all is well with you down there,
Kind regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi all,

I guess this is the right place to post this but I would like to post a brief story of my Father who was a professional soldier from the war years'

From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond;

a tale of SQMS David Peter Hayter’s exploits in the
1st Royal Tank Regiment


Peter Hayter joined up with the 44th Royal Tank Regiment in 1941 at the age of 17, in order to do his bit for the war effort against Nazi Germany.

He didn’t have to enlist as he worked for the Forestry Commission in Hampshire and was therefore exempt.

Attachment 65741

His unit landed on the Normandy beaches D day + 1, June 7th 1944, the beachhead was already established and he next saw serious action in the heavy fighting around Caen where his Sherman went over a mine and he lost his crew, fortunately only sustaining an injury to his knee.
From his tank’s turret machine gun, he also brought down a German Stuka.
During the Ardennes offensive, his squadron took a particular hill 3 times and handed it over to the Americans and 3 times they lost it.
A story he told of the Ardennes, was seeing a German officer’s fine leather riding boots sticking out of the snow; when he went to claim them and pulled them off, the foot came also!!!
Then came Operation Market Garden; Trooper Hayter’s squadron formed part of the relief column heading towards the courageous paratroopers at Arnhem but only got as far as Nijmegen because the Americans had abandoned the bridge there! So sad

Attachment 65742

His next serious action was in the Reichwald, Operation Veritable: The allied forces were now in German territory and the Germans fought like demons to try to repel the invading allied forces.
His squadron had run out of fuel or were bogged in the mud but were stranded waiting for the supply column.
At some stage he had liberated a shotgun and cartridges: Trooper Hayter, using the liberated shotgun, held off repeated attempts by German soldiers to destroy his tank, at one stage, taking out a German soldier with a Panzerfaust who was lining up on his tank. The Tank commander was a quivering jelly in the bottom of the tank, but he got “mentioned in dispatches”!!!!!

I suppose the alternative was to shoot him for cowardice!

The trees in the Reichwald were cut off at +/- one metre due to the heavy gunfire. This is also portrayed in a famous painting of Cromwell tanks moving through the Reichwald.

(On a more serious note he used this shotgun for many years afterwards and when he came to trade it in, the gunsmith said he was so lucky as the barrels were so badly worn; they could have blown up in his face at any time!)

The war was over soon after and he was posted to Berlin. He told that the Allies handed over Ukrainians, who had fought on the side of the liberating Germans, to the Russian Army. The Russians took them away and within earshot the Russians massacred them in a nearby wood. He said for days all you heard was machine gun fire.
He told of Allied “MP” groups involving British, Canadian, US and Russians, who would as teams police the divided German capital. Any drunken Russian soldiers they picked up would be held and handed over to the Russian authorities the next day. The Russians however would come along and shoot the prisoner in his cell and not even take away the body.
Also some Russian soldiers who were obviously so backward in technology, were prepared to swop gold watches for taps that they wanted to take back with them.

After spending time in Detmold, Germany, his regiment was posted back to England in 1948. Now a Sergeant, Peter Hayter was attached to the 40th RTR in Liverpool in a training capacity.

In 1952, the 1st RTR were posted to Korea to serve in the UN forces fighting against the invading North Koreans and subsequently the regular Chinese army. I know little of his exploits in Korea except at one time he rescued an American airman who had baled out and parachuted into a minefield.

Attachment 65748

He spoke highly of the “glorious Glosters” and their heroic stand at Imjin river.
He also told of South Korean soldiers boarding helicopters; the odd one would be taller than the others and lost his head in the process. Also that the winters were so cold that they had to wear 3 parkas, outer, middle and inner.

Attachment 65678

After Korea, the 1st RTR was also involved in the Suez crisis in 1956 in which he participated.
In 1957, the regiment was posted to Hong Kong. En route on board the SS Nevassa, via the Cape as the Suez canal was blocked.

Attachment 65750

The regiment was in Hong Kong for 3 years. An incident I remember was during a family day, a Comet with children riding on it, went into a flooded hole and everyone one was drenched Fortunately no one was hurt.

From there in 1960 it was back to England and then to Germany for 4 years. First Munster, then Hohne, the garrison for Belsen, then Detmold after being made up to SQMS. In 1960 he was part of the guidon escort that went to Buckingham palace for the consecration of the new standards.

Attachment 65745

My father then left the regiment in 1963 after 22 years.
Peter Hayter died in 1997.