VON THOMA’S CAPTOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1942, Page 4

VON THOMA’S CAPTOR

BRITISH HUSSAR OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION NEXT DAY. STORY OF EXPLOIT TOLD. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, December 22. Credit for capturing the German General von Thoma (commander of the Afrika Korns) belongs to Captain Grant Singer, a former West Country master of foxhounds. Captain Singer, who was in the Royal Hussars, was killed in action next day. Captain Singer had been scouting ahead of British tanks and wirelessing back from his little light armoured scout car targets to the tanks. He located two tanks, one of which put an armourpiercing shell through the armour of his own car, and went to look for British tanks to engage them. The tank Captain Singer picked up was commanded by Lieutenant S. B. Ferguson, who said: “Captain Singer jumped on the back of my tank and said he had got a couple of targets for us. Our second shot went home and the enemy crew jumped from their burning tank into a slit trench As we got closer, Captain Singer jumped off and collected the crew, among whom was Von Thoma, slightly wounded in the leg. After he had been captured, Von Thoma presented Captain Singer with his field glasses, which Captain Singer promised to return after the war.”