El Alamein   [ Content Tag Results ]

Below is a list of the history pages, personal accounts, extracts and photos that have been tagged with a reference to 'El Alamein'...

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North Africa

1. [ history ]

North Africa
Aug 1942 - May 1943

After St. Valery, what remained of the 51st Highland Division joined the 9th Highland Division to form the new 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. The reformed Division took on a home defense role between 1940 - 1942 when it set sail for Egypt and the North Africa Campaign.

Battle of El Alamein

2. [ history ]

Battle of El Alamein
Oct 1942

Montgomery was determined to attack the enemy using his infantry to create a gap and then push the armour through the gap created. The area for this was not the weaker sector in the south but the stronger part of the enemy position in the North. 30 Corps were to execute this attaching on a frontage four divisions wide...

Major General Wimberley

3. [ history ]

Major General Wimberley
Departure from 51HD

Major General Wimberley, affectionately know as "Tartan Tam" for his determination that the Division would wear the kilt, had commanded the Division from its England through North Africa and Sicily. On his departure he published the following farewell messages to his Jocks...

 

1. [ account ]

Brigadier James Oliver
A short biography from 'The Red Hackle'

Brigadier James Oliver : A short biography - an extract from 'The Red Hackle' - the Regimental magazine of The Black Watch.

2. [ extract ]

El Alamein, The Quiet Gunner
Extract from "The Quiet Gunner At War" by R. Gorle MC RA

Extract from "The Quiet Gunner At War" by R. Gorle MC, of 128 Field Reg. RA, describing the guns at El Alamein

3. [ account ]

El Alamein - A Gunner's View
Personal Account By Captain J T Lang

Captain John Lang served with 128th (H) Field Battery RA (TA). He was at El Alamein and this is his personal account.

Notes on Battle of El Alamein

4. [ account ]

Notes on Battle of El Alamein
North Africa, 1942

Detailed notes on the Battle of El Alamein from the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. (North Africa, October, 1942)

5. [ extract ]

5th Camerons Company Piper, Donald Macpherson at El Alamein
October 42

Extracts taken from The Queen's Own Highlander magazine issue commemorating the 50th Anniversary of El Alamein. The extract describes the use of the Camerons' Company Piper to alert the charging Black Watch of their position.

El Alamein - Colonel John Sym DSO

6. [ account ]

El Alamein - Colonel John Sym DSO
Oct/Nov 42

The following account of the Battle of El Alamein comes from the personal account of Colonel John Sym DSO who was 21C of 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders.

7. [ extract ]

El Alamein, Driver MacAskill
154 INF BDE.COY.RASC

An extract from the memoirs of Driver MacAskill provides a fascinating account of the logistic support at El Alamein, Oct '42.

8. [ account ]

Major (tmp. Lt. Col.) James Oliver : DSO Citation
October 1942, North Africa

Citation for the first of two DSO awarded to Major (temporary Lieutenant Colonel) James Alexander Oliver MBE of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). This first DSO is in recognition of his 'outstanding example' in the attack on the Miteriya Ridge on the night 23/24 October, 1942

9. [ account ]

51st (H) Recce. Reg. at El Alamein
24th October 1942

An account of the bloody shelling at El Alamein on the 24th October 1942 from the 51st (Highland) Reconnaisance Regiment; an extract from 'A Brief History of 51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment (1941 -1943) and its Involvement in the Desert Campaign', produced as a pamphlet in 1991

10. [ account ]

Operation Supercharge
El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942

A Description of Operation Supercharge, El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942.

11. [ account ]

PIOBAIREACHD
51st Highland Division Newsletter

PIOBAIREACHD was the name given to the 51st Highland Division newsletter which was produced from 14 June 1944.

12. [ account ]

154 Brigade - Final Brigade Operations
1st - 5th May 1945

154 Brigade account - 1st May 1945 to 5th May 1945.

 
51st Reconnaissance Regiment

1. [ photo ]

51st Reconnaissance Regiment
June 1942

Richard Sands, who's Father (Sgt George Sands MM) served with the 51st, kindly sent us a scan of a photograph his Father had of the Sergeants and Warrant Officers of the 51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment, taken in June of 1942 before their departure to Egypt where they would join the 8th Army in preparation for the battle of El Alamein.

Sgt George Sands served with both 2nd and 5th battalions. Sailing to North Africa, January 1942, as reinforcements/replacements for 2nd battalion at Tobruk. Before he had finished acclimatisation, Tobruk had fallen and 2nd battalion went into captivity. He fought for a few months with 4th Indian Div. He then joined 5th battalion when they arrived in Egypt some 6months later. He fought with 5th battalion from Alamein to Bremen.

Colonel John Sym DSO

2. [ photo ]

Colonel John Sym DSO
North Africa c. 42/43

Colonel John Sym DSO was 21C of 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders and then Brigade Major of 152 Brigade during El Alamein. His book, "Seaforth Highlanders" by Colonel John Sym (editor) was Published by Gale & Polden Ltd, Aldershot (1962) and can still be obtained from second hand book sites.

Route of North Africa Operations

3. [ photo ]

Route of North Africa Operations
1942-1943

Diagram depicting the route of the North African campaign.

Piper MacDonald, Western Desert

4. [ photo ]

Piper MacDonald, Western Desert
Western Desert, 23 September 1942

Caption reads "Piper MacDonald of the Seaforth Highlanders plays to some of the troops who make up the Highland Division while they rest during a march in the Western Desert, 23 September 1942."

Taken by Sgt.Martin 23.9.42.

With kind permission of the IWM.

Diagram El Alamein Operations

5. [ photo ]

Diagram El Alamein Operations
October 1942, North Africa

Diagram of the area of operations of 152 Brigade at El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942.

25lb Gun Firing, El Alamein

6. [ photo ]

25lb Gun Firing, El Alamein
23rd October 1942

A 25 pound gun firing during artillery barrage which signalled the beginning of the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, 23rd October 1942.

4.5 inch gun, El Alamein

7. [ photo ]

4.5 inch gun, El Alamein
North Africa, 1942

4.5 inch field gun firing at night at El Alamein

El Alamein Infantry

8. [ photo ]

El Alamein Infantry
El Alamein, 24th October 1942

British Infantry advance during Operation Lightfoot - 24th October 1942.

Empty 25lb Shell Boxes

9. [ photo ]

Empty 25lb Shell Boxes
Dawn, 24 Oct '42

A large heap of empty 25lb shell boxes, photographed at dawn 24 Oct [1942], illustrates the intensity of the opening barrage at the Battle of El Alamein.

taking tank at El Alamein

10. [ photo ]

taking tank at El Alamein

A Soldier of the 51st Highland Division charging a tank during the Battle of El Alamein.

Vehicles silhouetted against the flash of artillery

11. [ photo ]

Vehicles silhouetted against the flash of artillery
2nd Battle of El Alamein

Vehicles silhouetted against the flash of artillery firing at night during the 2nd Battle of El Alamein

Memorial Plaque, Nairn Old Parish Church

12. [ photo ]

Memorial Plaque, Nairn Old Parish Church
51st (H) Recce Reg

The Plaque and Roll of Honour in Nairn Old Parish Church.

The inscription reads "To the glory of God and to the memory of the men of the 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Regiment who fell at the Battle of El Alamein October 1942 and who worshipped in this church the previous winter"

The plaque was unveiled by Gen Wimberley, GOC 51st Highland Division from mid 1941 and throughout the Desert Campaign, during a Service of Remembrance held on Sunday 9th April 1950 (Easter Sunday). The service was conducted by the Padre Rev Thos. W. Topping and the Minister, Rev Donald M McDonald, 25 old comrades and relatives attending.