Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45
Alam Halfa and Alamein
by Ronald Walker
Historical Publications Branch
Department of Internal Affairs
Wellington, New Zealand
1967
The authors of the volumes in this series of histories prepared under the supervision of the War History Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs have been given full access to official documents. They and the Editor-in-Chief are responsible for the statements made and the views expressed by them.
Contents
Chapter 1: The Opposing Armies
Chapter 2: The Alam El Halfa Defences
Chapter 3: The Days of Decision
Chapter 4: Axis and Allied Plans
Chapter 6: Rommel’s Offensive Opens
Chapter 7: The Battle Develops
Chapter 8: Withdrawal of the Panzer Army
Chapter 9: Operation BERESFORD
Chapter 10: Enemy Counter-Attacks
Chapter 11: Summary of the Battle
Chapter 12: The Uncombined Operations
Chapter 13: Preparations for the Offensive
Chapter 14: The Development of the Plans
Chapter 15: The Eve of the Offensive
Chapter 19: Comparative Strengths
Chapter 20: Advance by 30 Corps
Chapter 21: The Battle is Joined
Chapter 22: 13 Corps’ Operations
Chapter 24: The Break-Out Fails
Chapter 25: Tanks Attempt Night Advance
Chapter 26: Montgomery Changes Direction of Attack
Chapter 27: The Fourth Day of Battle
Chapter 28: Australians Keep the Initiative
Chapter 29: Australians Under Counter-Attack
Chapter 30: Operation Supercharge
Chapter 31: The End of the ‘Dog-Fight’
Appendices
Appendix 1: Commanders at 23 October 1942
Appendix 2: Order of Battle, 2 NZ Division, 23 October 1942
Appendix 3: New Zealand Casualties in the Battle for Egypt, 20 June–21 November 1942
General Freyberg and his brigadiers, 23 October 1942 – J. C. White – Aerial mosaic, Alamein – Wheel tracks, Alamein – R. C. Gibson – Approaching dust-storm – E. J. W. Howarth – Washday – NZ Army (H. Paton) – Fly-proofed – Bofors gun and crew – Digging a trench – Sandbagged headquarters dugout – A disabled enemy tank serves as an OP – A 5 Field Regiment gun crew – The gunners go underground during a Stuka raid – Stuka pilot shot down at Alamein – Camouflaged gunpit – Special message by General Montgomery, 20 August 1942 General Alexander, Mr Churchill and General Montgomery – Mr Churchill and General Freyberg – German prisoners captured by the Maori Battalion, 4 September 1942 – C. N. D’Arcy – Aerial mosaic showing the depressions south of Bab el Qattara – Munassib Depression – Wounded awaiting treatment in 6 ADS, near Alam Halfa – General Freyberg and Brigadier Kippenberger, August 1942 – German propaganda leaflet and some of its New Zealand readers – A New Zealand navigator in the Long Range Desert Group – An LRDG patrol – Kiwi Concert Party audience in the rest area near Burg el Arab – ‘Swordfish’ area A Sherman tank of 9 Armoured Brigade – A Grant tank on manoeuvres – A flight of Liberators sets out on a raid – Air Vice-Marshal Coningham and General Montgomery – Two of the ‘Commonwealth commanders’: General Morshead (AIF) and General Freyberg – Commander’s conference. General Freyberg discusses plans for the Division’s attack on Miteiriya Ridge – The barrage opens: a 5 Field Regiment 25-pounder – A ‘Scorpion’ flail tank in action – Miteiriya Ridge. Tanks and prisoners in 6 Brigade’s area – The congestion of tanks and trucks on 22 Battalion’s front, 24 October – 5 Field Regiment gunners watch aircraft overhead as the New Zealand Division’s convoy moves through the enemy minefields – British tanks halt for maintenance – New Zealand convoy in soft sand – A shell bursts near the convoy – New Zealand main dressing station – Italian prisoners – General Freyberg directs operations from the turret of his Honey tank – GOC’s orders group conference, morning 1 November 1942 – British tanks begin the pursuit – Wrecked enemy transport – New Zealand convoy on Boomerang track – El Alamein railway station – Heavy rain delays the convoy near Fuka – Past Fuka. Looking eastwards along the Western Desert road – The New Zealand Mobile Casualty Clearing Station convoy stops for tea – Nearing Mersa Matruh – Mersa Matruh – Climbing Halfaya Pass – A New Zealand engineer sweeps for mines near the top of the pass – The winding road up Halfaya Pass
List of Maps
The Axis Approach to the Oilfields
El Alamein
Panzer Army Africa, situation on 3 September 1942
Operation BERESFORD, night 3–4 September 1942
Approximate Positions of 30 Corps at Daybreak 24 October 1942
Approximate Positions of 13 Corps at Daybreak 24 October 1942
The Pursuit, 4–7 November 1942
The Advance from 8 to 11 November 1942
Sketch taken from a map on which Rommel marked his intended movements towards Cairo and the Suez Canal should he break through at Alamein
The Panzer Divisions break through the Minefields, 31 August 1942 – a trace from a 21 Panzer Division sketch map
Alam Halfa, 31 August–1 September 1942
Enemy Defences in 30 Corps’ Sector
Plan of the Artillery Barrage for the New Zealand Sector on 23 October 1942
The Operations of 30 and 10 Corps, 24–26 October
13 Corps’ Operations, 24–26 October
Operations in the Northern Sector, 26–27 October
30 Corps’ Operations from Night 28–29 to 31 October
Operation SUPERCHARGE. Night 1–2 and 2 November
Infantry Movements between 2 and 4 November