Francis Lane Fox

Soon after D-Day, 43 Recce embarked on a transport named the MV Derrycunihy, which arrived off Sword Beach on the evening of 20 June. High seas and enemy shelling prevented unloading for three days and it was decided to move to Juno Beach for disembarkation. As the ship started engines on the morning of 24 June it detonated a mine dropped by a Luftwaffe raider. The mine explosion split the ship in two, and the after part, packed with soldiers, sank rapidly. Worse still, an ammunition lorry caught fire, and oil floating on the water was set alight. Landing craft and gunboats quickly came alongside and picked up survivors. The Regimental War Diary records that 'Great gallantry was displayed by all troops in the two aft holds'. Over 180 men of the regiment and 25 ships' crew and gunners were lost, and about 120 wounded of 43 Recce were evacuated. The disaster represented the biggest single loss of life off the invasion beaches.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

When all the survivors had been taken off, Lane Fox and the Captain of the Derrycunihy argued over who should be last to leave the half-sunken ship.[11]

Once 43 Recce had been reinforced and reorganised, it took its place in the fighting line, seeing its first action on 4 August, following up the retreating Germans and gaining vital information for 43 Wessex Division's attack on Mont Pinçon. The divisional historian praises the Recce regiment for its boldness in this action.[12] 43rd Wessex took Mont Pinçon after bitter fighting[13][14] and on 10 August 43 Recce advanced boldly again, seizing bridges and slipping between pockets of German resistance.[15]

Following the German defeat in Normandy, the Allies advanced rapidly, until they came to the canals and rivers of the Netherlands. A bold plan (Operation Market Garden) was conceived whereby airborne troops seized bridges to allow fast-moving ground forces to 'bounce' the river crossings up to and including the Rhine at Arnhem. The parachute and glider drop went in on 17 September and the ground advance was led by the Guards Armoured Division, with 43rd Wessex given the vital task of following up and keeping the precarious single road open behind them. The plan failed: the British 1st Airborne Division was only able to reach the north end of Arnhem Bridge, and eventually were driven off. When 43rd Wessex arrived, it was too late. All they could do was make a desperate attempt to cross the Rhine by boat, and when that failed to assist the evacuation of the survivors of 1st Airborne during the night of 25 September 1944.[16][17][18]

The 43rd (Wessex) Division was blamed by many airborne soldiers for its dilatory advance[19] However, Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, GOC of XXX Corps (under whose command the 43rd Division was serving), defended the division, pointing out that it could not deploy any armoured vehicles (like 43 Recce's armoured cars and half-tracks) off the single road, nicknamed "Hell's Highway," which was cut behind them on several occasions.[20] Nevertheless, Lane Fox was immediately replaced as CO of 43 Recce (1 October 1944) by Major-General Thomas, the 43rd's GOC.[21] The divisional history describes Lane Fox's departure as "a sad loss to the Regiment. Throughout the Normandy battle his constant presence with the forward troops his traditional high standards of honour and his indifference to personal danger had endeared him to all ranks".[22]

In 1945, Lane Fox was appointed to command the Yorkshire Hussars, of which his father-in-law Lord Bingley was honorary colonel. He retired from the Army in 1946.[1]