OF THE many battles that British and Indian Army veterans seldom wish to be reminded of, Ruweisat Ridge in the Western Desert and Monte Cassino must rank among the most pitiless. Arguably, the first should have been fought differently and the second possibly not at all. “Nutty” Hazle took part in both as a medical orderly/stretcher bearer, winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar. Of the estimated two and a half million British front-line soldiers in the war, only seven were gazetted for this coveted decoration twice.
Ruweisat Ridge runs east to west ten miles south of El Alamein and on July 18, 1942, in what became know as “First Alamein”, the Eighth Army under General Sir Claude Auchinleck attacked along the general line of the ridge against the centre of Rommel’s positions. Poor co-ordination between armour and infantry dissipated the force of attack and the 5th Indian Division suffered heavy casualties. Under fire, Hazle led one of the many stretcher teams collecting those lying in the open. He was wounded in the shoulder and severely in the right side of his face, but continued tending the wounded even after he could no longer help to carry them. The citation for his first DCM described his courage as “an inspiration to all”.
His wounds kept him out of battle for 18 months but he returned to 4th Battalion The Essex Regiment in Italy in time for the third assault on Monte Cassino on the night of March 15-16, 1944. Major-General Francis Tuker, commanding the 4th Indian Division, argued for an indirect approach through the mountains, but his division was ordered to support 2nd New Zealand Division in another direct assault.
In torrential rain 1/9th Gurkha Rifles moved through ruined houses and rubble towards their objective, known as Hangman’s Hill, from the gibbet-like pylon close to its crest. The enemy had well-sited machinegun positions and mortars covering all approaches but the leading Gurkha company secured a foothold on the hill. Because of to intense fire, the rest of the battalion was unable to follow up and the 4th Essex was ordered to send two companies as reinforcements, together with Hazle and his stretcher bearers.
The Gurhka company, commanded by Major Michael Drinkall was reached but, sustaining casualties from artillery and mortar fire on the boulder-strewn hillside, the combined Gurkha-Essex battalion was unable to gain further ground, nor was the medical officer able to reach the forward companies. Hazle administered morphia, dressed wounds and carried out an amputation yet was unable to evacuate casualties because of intensive enemy fire.
Advertisement
In his citation for award of a bar to his DCM, Lieutenant-Colonel Nangle, commanding 1/9th Gurhka Rifles, wrote, “The magnificent service rendered by this NCO under the most grim and dangerous conditions; the medical skill he displayed; and his never faltering devotion, bravery and spirit have earned him the universal admiration of the whole force isolated in this position.”
Edmund Bryant Hazle was born in Hadleigh, Essex and educated at the local school. Towards the end of the campaign in Italy, he went with his battalion to Greece where it had become necessary to suppress a civil war between the Government and communist guerrillas as the Germans withdrew. He was demobilised in 1945 and returned to his job in the printing trade.
He is survived by his wife, Cissie, née Clemens, whom he married in 1945, and by a son and two daughters.
Corporal “Nutty” Hazle, DCM and Bar, wartime medical orderly, was born on November 26, 1918. He died on June 22, 2006, aged 87.