Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the start of the 2nd battle of El Alamein. This 13-day battle was a decisive turning point in the Western Desert Campaign which saw German and Italian troops forced into a retreat which would ultimately end in the defeat of axis forces in North Africa.

But to secure victory careful planning and preparation for the battle was required, and logistic units of the RLC’s antecedent corps played key roles in the build up to, and sustainment of, the offensive.

Left: An RASC Tank Transporter moves a Crusader Tank towards the frontline.
Right: (E 18461) Once in position, this crusader was disguised as a lorry. Copyright: © IWM.

The plan for the battle as laid out by then Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery, commander of British Eighth Army, hinged upon a devastating artillery barrage in advance of a major tank offensive. In preparation for this Tank Transporter units of the Royal Army Service Corps moved many of the 1000+ tanks that were to take part in the advance into staging areas in preparation for its commencement. Once in place these tanks were disguised as lorries to hide them from German aerial reconnaissance.

At the same time the Royal Army Ordnance Corps ensured that large stockpiles of ammunition for the guns and fuel for the tanks were available. Another key resource needed was water, and RASC water tankers moved back and forth, providing sustenance for both the soldiers and the cooling systems of weapons and vehicles.

(E 18467) A 25-pdr gun firing during the British night artillery barrage which opened Second Battle of El Alamein, 23 October 1942. Copyright: © IWM.

After weeks of preparation and gradual build up, on 23 October 1942, at 21:40, one thousand guns opened fire on the German lines in the largest artillery barrage of the North African Campaign. This provided cover for members of the Pioneer Corps and the Royal Engineers to pave the way for the main advance.

 

Following the stalemate of the First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942, Erwin Rommell had ordered the creation of a vast defensive minefield containing over 3 million anti-tank and anti-personnel mines which was known as “The Devil’s Garden”. For the allied advance to succeed, pathways through this killing zone had to be cleared. Pioneers from Britain and across the Empire and Commonwealth painstakingly disposed of vast quantities of ordnance by hand, marking the cleared channels as they slowly made their way across the mined desert. This was dangerous work, not only because of the risks posed by the mines themselves, but because the minefield was deeper than anticipated, at places as deep as 1.7 miles, meaning it took longer than anticipated for the Pioneers and their supporting armoured vehicles to make their way through, exposing them to enemy fire.

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH AFRICA 1940-1943 (E 18565) El Alamein 1942: An RASC driven British drives into a tank battle to rescue wounded men. Copyright: © IWM.

As the fighting raged on casualties began to mount. RASC ambulance drivers helped to ferry the wounded away from the fighting, often coming under fire as they evacuated their charges to field hospitals. For their bravery and devotion to duty six (Drivers Creighton, Hartley, Machlin, Tebutt, Tipper, and Tomlinson) would be awarded the Military Medal.

Despite the delay in the advance, the Pioneers and Sappers cleared the path for the tanks which were able to break through the axis lines, and by Armistice Day (11 November) 1942 the Germans and Italians were in full retreat. At the same time, commencing on 8 November 1942, a combined Anglo-American force landed in Vichy French North Africa, opening a second African Front.

As well as a decisive military victory, the battle was also a major turning point for Britain as a whole, as for the first time since 1939 UK Armed Forces had secured victory in an offensive (as opposed to defensive) operation. For the British public this was huge boost of morale. Churchill would later remark that “Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat.”

For his role in planning and then commanding the battle, Field Marshal Mongomery would after the war be titled 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.

 

Alex Crisp

Curator, RLC Museum