July 1942

North Africa

Rommel pushes into the El Alamein gap. His Italian troops can't keep pace because of their lack of transport. As a result there are only 1500 infantry and 55 tanks to face the 8th Army. The German advance is halted because the troops are exhausted.

The El Alamein gap is 38 miles wide with a series of separate strongpoints guarding it. The XIII Corps is defending the southern half defenses. The 4th and 5th New Zealand Brigades hold a natural fortress at Deir El Munassib - the Munassib Depression - between Alam Nayil and Himeimat from which they can cover both the central and southern avenues of advance. To the west are 2 isolated boxes - one at Bab el Qattara, a pass lying close to Qaret el Abd; the other at Naqb abu Dweis, southwest of Djebel Kalakh and about 15 miles from Himeimat. The 6th New Zealand Brigade is at the former helping guard the central route but the other position held by the 9th Indian Brigade is too remote to be of practical value. This corps is only supported by armored cars since all the tanks are gathered farther north.

In the north Lt-Gen Willoughby Norrie's XXX Corps has fortifications worthy of the name. The most secure 'box' at El Alamein is held by the 3rd South African Brigade sheltered by sizable minefields. The 1st and 2nd South African Brigades are stationed between this and the Ruweisat Ridge, while to the south of them Norrie has prepared a further 'box' also behind minefields held by the 18th Indian Brigade. The 1st Armored Div protects the South African flanks, its 4th Armored Brigade between the Alamein 'box' and Maj-Gen Dan Pienaar's other 2 brigades, its 22nd Armored Brigade astride the Ruweisat Ridge covering the South African left rear and in position from which it can block either the northern of the central routes of advance. The 50th Div, transferred to Norrie from the X Corps, is in reserve north of the eastern end of the Alam Halfa Ridge.

In the midst of the fighting Auchinleck at Mersa Matruh reminds his corps commanders of his provisional orders of a possible withdrawal eastward, should it prove necessary. Norrie makes up his mind that XXX Corps will fight and die where it stands. His attitude is backed by Pienaar equally determined that the South Africans should fight to the utmost at El Alamein so as to wipe out the stain of Maj-Gen Hendrik B. Klopper's surrender at Tobruk.

Rommel advances. Lt-Gen Walther Nehring's Afrika Korps is to attack the 18th Indian Brigade's positions at the new 'box' at Deir el Shein. The Germans are first hit by a heavy air attack at 0615 which delays the advance and causes considerable confusion which is not fully straightened out before hitting the Deir el Shein 'box'. Nehring calls on the garrison to surrender. They refuse and he attacks.

In the 18th Indian Brigade consists of the 2/5th Essex, 4/11th Sikhs and the 2/3rd Gurkhas all under temporary command of the Gurkhas' commander, Lt-Col C. E. Gray. They have been reinforced by 9 Matildas and supported by 6-pounder anti-tank guns and 23 field guns from the 97th, 121st and 124th Field Regiments. Fierce resistance is put up all day that begins to wane about 1600. Poor communications prevents the rest of 8th Army from realizing the extent of 18th Indian Brigade's peril until another hour had passed. In that time all the Matildas and many of the guns are put out of action, but the infantry continue to resist. About 1900 they are overcome, their sacrifice is not in vain. The Afrika Korps had wasted an entire day and lost 18 tanks, about one-third of its strength.

Moving to the far north the 90th Light Div runs into instead of avoiding the Alamein defenses. It is thrown back by the 3rd South African Brigade. Later in the afternoon the 90th Light tries to circle south of the 'box', but is halted by the artillery of all the South African brigades and the 1st Armored Div.