The Battle of El Alamein 1942

[jainso31]

This decisive battle in the Libyan Desert presaged the ultimate defeat of the Afrika Korps in North Africa; in the final batttles around Tunis- six months later.It was, as Churchill said at the time; "The end of the beginning"

jainso31

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk...el_alamein.htm

[jainso31]

This crucial battle of WW2 was split into two distinct operations:-

a) Operation Lightfoot started on 23/24 Oct.1942, which involved the undermentioned Infantry Divisions.
1) 51st Highland Div.-3 Brigades
2)9th Aust.Div.-3 Brigades
3)2nd NZ Div.-3 Brigades
4)1st SA Div.-3 Brigades
5)4th Ind Div.-3 Brigades

b)Operation Supercharge started on 1/2/11/1942,which involved Armoured Divisions as undermentioned.
1)1st Armoured Div.-3 Brigades
2)7th Armoured Div.-3 Brigades
3)10th Armoured Div.-3 Brigades

By the end of 1942 the Panzer Korps had been driven out of Libya into Tripolitania (now also Libya).

jainso31

[Brett Hendey]

jainso31

My interests are mainly with the Colonial wars that involved South Africans, but I do appreciate reminders of later conflicts as well. Thank you for your post and the link.

Regards
Brett

[jainso31]

Thanks for your support and comment Brett.One does one's best to provide what might be of interest to other members.

jainso31

[jainso31]

The cost in human terms for the initial onslaught of this major battle was:-
Eighth Army=13500 killed,wounded and missing.Mainly in the Infantry Assault units and 9th Armoured got badly mauled
Afrika Korps and Italians=26000 K W and M

jainso31

[Forester]

I met a German tank driver veteran of Alamein sitting by the pond in Ruislip. He said that they knew what was coming when the barrage began and they lay under their tanks until it stopped. As soon as the shells stopped falling they jumped into their tanks and headed towards the British. They were in groups of five and only their leader had radio communications and they followed him. In his own words "We drive forward, we see the tank - Boom! We shoot the tank. Sometimes we shoot the English tank (sad face), sometimes we shoot the Italian tank (smiles) and sometimes (chuckling to himself) we shoot the German tank!" They drove around, not knowing what was going on until they ran out of fuel, then sat and waited for a bowser. Eventually a British tank arrived and they surrendered and were taken into captivity. While being driven to the rear, the convoy was strafed by German aircraft and he was wounded in the foot. As a POW he ended up working on a farm in Cheshire and at the end of the war he married one of the farm girls and stayed.

The generals may have their battle plans but, as always, they are carried out by men who have no idea where they are or what is going on. They just shoot first and ask questions later.

[jainso31]

Jolly good story and well told Forester- absolutely typical of the ordinary war weary soldier-he will do as he is told- but leaderless and without orders- not many gave a d---! For them the war was over.

[Forester]

The same chap had been a POW in WW1. As he reached the age of 14 his mother arranged for him to become a military service exempt fisherman. While out in the North Sea his drifter hit a mine and sank. The survivors hung on to a piece of wreckage for nearly a day, drifting out of sight of land until a ship hove in sight and rescued them. Unfortunately it was a Royal Navy minelayer and he spent the next four years helping to grow potatoes on the Isle of Man. At the age of 38 he was called up for service in the army and trained as a tank driver. It seems that he was predestined to settle in Britain.

[jainso31]

Your man certainly bore a charmed life Forester -survivor of a mined drifter in 1914,picked up and made POW for the duration of the Great War (on a farm) and a POW again in 1942 and once again put to work on a farm.Does he like living in England.
Remarkable story F and thanks for sharing it .

jainso31