EL ALAMEIN 1942

Friday 23rd October 1942

At 9.40 on the night of Friday 23rd October 1942, the start of the battle was heralded by the sound of an artillery barrage, 1,000 allied guns, wheel to wheel, flashed deadly fire.  After four hours the barrage was lifted and the tanks and their supporting arms clanked forwards through the German minefields.  For the first 24 hours all was chaos.  The desert objective, and its baptism of fire, Miteiriya Ridge, was a mass of burning tanks.  Casualties on both sides were enormous.  A week went by with no respite from the fighting, there was deadlock.  But at least one German realised the worst as he wrote “the British are exerting tremendous pressure on us.  The dead are lucky - it is all over for them” he signed it “Erwin” and sent it back to Germany to Frau Rommel. 

 Montgomery was facing his moment of decision.   Someone had to smash the anti-tank guns holding up the advance.  But who was going to break up the enemy line and allow his armies to stream through the gap into the open desert?  He chose the 9th Armoured Brigade, part of the 2nd New Zealand Division comprising the 3rd The King’s Own Hussars, the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, the Warwickshire Yeomanry, the mechanised 14th Bn of the Sherwood Foresters, and a New Zealand anti-tank battery.  At the pre-battle conference Montgomery explained to his unit commanders “I am prepared for 100 per cent casualties” - there was no more to be said.

1 November to 3 November 1942

On 1 November 1942, the Warwickshire Yeomanry and the remainder of 9th Armoured Brigade left their positions near Alamein station on its eleven mile approach to the new assault positions. Enemy defences were not known and the artillery plan was for a simple bombardment but with three times greater concentration than that of the attack on the 23 October. The regiment’s task was to assist in the break of the line of enemy guns dug in on the Rahman Track. Several tanks were lost on the minefield.

At 6.15 on the morning of 2 November the tanks moved forward with the regiment given the left flank of the advance. Dawn was not far off and the regiment made for its first objective, a small hill, Tel el Aqqaqir. battle was soon joined and a battery of Italian guns were accounted for. Daylight dawned and this time each tank was fighting its own battle, engaging enemy guns, dug in tanks, and machine guns at close range, whilst being shelled by long range guns from the slopes of Tel el Aqqaqir. Tanks were brewing up all around. The advance continued with the Colonel’s comments over the air “for Gods sake get those bloody guns before they get the lot of us”. The Yeomanry pressed on relentlessly as had their ancestors some 25 years previously at Huj in Palestine.

There were now only seven tanks left road worthy in the regiment and shortly afterwards they had orders to move eastwards of the Rahman Track. Here they continued to fight awaiting the arrival of 2nd Armoured Brigade to exploit the gaps torn in the enemy gun line. Throughout the remainder of the day fierce tank battles were fought in which the regiment played its part, by nightfall the enemy had received crippling losses.

On the 3 November 1942 the remaining brigade tanks, severely depleted came under command of the Warwickshire Yeomanry.

Observations

The caption on the reverse of the first photo taken shortly after the Battle of El Alamein reads 

“Warwickshire Yeomanry ‘A’ Squadron Tank Crew – five sun burnt and long suffering Yeoman.”

 4th November to 15 November 1942

The following are extracts from the Warwickshire Yeomanry War Diary: 

4.11.42. 

  We are to go forward to exploit breakthrough, reinforced with some 3rdHussars and Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Tanks. Enemy were reported to be running fast. At 1400hrs set off in a South Westerly direction and continued to nightfall. Colonel JACKSON was evacuated. Major SAMUEL promoted to Lt. Colonel and took command.

5.11.42.

  March continued at night halting at dawn to refuel. Germans and Italians were everywhere and innumerable prisoners were taken.

6.11.42. 

  Moved off before dawn through minefield and then halted for breakfast. Ordered with Division to go North West and take the Aerodrome at BAGGUSH. With NZ Division Cavalry leading this was done with only slight opposition.

‘Yeoman Yeoman’ records: ‘on November 6th the Regiment had an usual shoot when it was able to prevent some Messerschmitts from taking off. The enemy now received unexpected assistance from the weather. Light showers developed into a deluge and water began to lie about in sheets.’

11.11.42 

  Spent the night 15 miles East of HELLFIRE PASS.

13.11.42 

  The Regiment’s return was delayed until 0300hrs at the top of HELLFIRE PASS as only one-way traffic was allowed until the SOLLUM road was clear.

14.11.42 

  Reaching the bottom of the Pass at 0300hrs and proceeded to MERSA UM EL RAKHAN arriving at approx. 1600hrs Finally settling down right on the seashore and again came under the command of the 9thArmoured Brigade.

15.11.42.

  2/Lt. ANDERSON brought in some crews from old tanks that had broken down and rejoined the Regiment.

Observation

The enclosed picture of Warwickshire Yeoman with the caption dated 15 NOV 1942 ‘With the Jerry in retreat we pause awhile to wash our feet’ was clearly taken on the beach at MERSA UM EL RAKHAN.

This caption was written by S.Q.M.S. Dennis JUKES, Warwickshire Yeomanry whose photograph album I purchased in 2015 from a local antique shop, along with other ephemera. Dennis JUKES was commissioned as Lieutenant Quartermaster (Royal Armoured Corps) on 21 June 1943 – he was finally released on 18 February 1948 with the honorary rank of Major.

16th November to 7th December 1942

The following are extracts from the Warwickshire Yeomanry War Diary:

16.11.42. 

     The day was spent removing a little of the “wear and tear” of battle and vehicles were sent to BURG EL ARAB to collect beer and NAFFI Stores.

17.11.42. 

     Owing to inclement weather and the fear of becoming bogged, the Bde moved to a position nearer the road on firmer ground.

20.11.42. 

     NTR these past few days apart from bad weather.

21.11.42.

   0930hrs Regiment moved on its journey back to COWLEY CAMP and halted for night at IMAYID Staging Area near EL HAMMAM. Advance party was bombed by a lone German raider. No casualties except Lt CLEGG who cut his eye on someone’s foot.

22.11.42. 

     0930hrs Journey recommenced.

‘Yeoman Yeoman’ records ‘the weather improved on the 20th November as the Regiment set out for Egypt and on the 22 November they arrived at COWLEY CAMP near MENA.

1.12.42. 

     Changed over to winter clothing. Lt.Gen.R.I.McCREARY, Chief General Staff, paid a short visit to the Regiment in the morning.

Between the 2nd and 6th November NTR to report except Lt. Col P.L.M Wright visited the Regiment on the 6th.

7.12.42. 

     The Regiment paraded with 9th Armoured Brigade at the KASR EL NIL Barracks and marched to the Cathedral for a Memorial Service for those killed in the ALAMEIN Battle.[1] After the Service the Bde marched past. The salute was taken by Lt.Gen. R.G.W.R. STONE DSO, MC Commander in Chief BTE. The March continued to the Continental Hotel where the March was dismissed. A detachment on New Zealanders attended the Parade and 3 NZ Bands took part in the March. All the men were entertained to a free lunch and all ranks were allowed to stay in Cairo for the evening.

‘Yeoman Yeoman’ records that the Memorial Service held in All Saints Cathedral Cairo on the 7th December 1942 ‘was a poignant moment, for many of the original Yeoman had lost friends of long standing in the recent fighting.’

[1] Those Warwickshire Yeoman killed in action at ALAMEIN are listed in ‘Yeoman Yeoman’ Appendix ‘Roll of Honour.’

Observation

The enclosed picture of two Warwickshire Yeoman with the caption ‘Thinkin of Thee 7.12.42.’ was taken in Cairo following the Parade, possibly in the evening, for they are both smoking their pipes. S.Q.M.S Dennis JUKES is holding his pipe with his hand obscuring part of his face - he is clearly in a contemplative mood.

The two newspaper cuttings from Dennis JUKES’ photograph album are undated and have no supporting annotations.