Erik Thackrey

Posted Sunday, January 7, 2024

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On This Day in History - January 6, 1945

January 6, 1945 #OTD Herbert Lumsden, senior British Army officer who fought in both the First and Second World Wars. He commanded the 1st Armoured Division in the Western Desert campaign, and later commanded the X Corps at the Second Battle of El Alamein, before being relieved by his superior, Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery. He was killed in action by the Japanese in early 1945, becoming the most senior combat casualty of the British Army of the Second World War. On 6 January, the Allies suffered their heaviest loss in the Pacific since Guadalcanal when kamikaze mauled the U.S. 7th Fleet as it began bombarding the invasion beaches on Luzon and minesweeping Lingayen Gulf. Twenty-nine kamikaze hit 15 ships and Lumsden was killed by one while on the bridge of the battleship USS New Mexico, becoming the most senior British Army combat casualty of the Second World War. (Born: 1897), died on this day aboard USS New Mexico, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, aged 47.