FROM ALAMEIN TO SOLLUM

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 4

FROM ALAMEIN TO SOLLUM

General Freyberg’s Account NEW ZEALANDERS’ PART (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. The part played by the 2nd New Zealand Division in driving the Axis forces from Egypt is described in a cablegram which has been received by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) from Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, General Officer Commanding the division. General Freyberg says:— “We are now outside Tobruk. Our advance from the Alamein position took just over a week, during which British armoured formations and the 2nd New Zealand Division drove the defeated enemy from Egypt. I am taking advantage of a short lull to cable a brief report for publication, in the hope that it will give the people of New Zealand a connected story of the battles in which the 2nd New Zealand Division has been engaged. “When the German attack in August failed to pierce the Allied position at Alamein, the enemy had either to stake all on holding his line, with its difficult communications, or go right back. Rommel decided to stay, and while the Bth Army trained for the attack the enemy extended his minefields and prepared defences in great depth. The nature of the country, the extent of the minefields, and the number of automatic weapons made a daylight attack extremely hazardous, while night attack was most difficult, owing to the depth to which it had to penetrate. The best solution, therefore, was to attack in moonlight, and the October full moon was fixed for the offensive. “The division was withdrawn from the line on September 11, after taking part in the battles of Minqar Qaim, Ruweisat ridge, and Alamein. After nearly three months in the front line, during the heat of the Egyptian summer, the men were tired, but, after a short break, started to train for the next exacting battle. Spirits Were High” “Spirits were high, for we were about to attack. On ground similar to the ridge we were to attack we rehearsed during the September fy.ll moon with tanks, artillery, and all infantry supporting arms firing live ammunition. The spirit of optimism increased as infantry, artillery, and new heavy tanks trained together. “The remaining two weeks were used to correct shortcomings and improve technique. Nobody doubted our ability to capture the Miteiriya ridge. We felt confident the infantry, would overcome any opposition in a night attack. The problem was to lift the minefields and get forward vehicles of supporting arms and tanks. If we could achieve this, no enemy counter-attack could succeed against our defences of 6-pounder and 2-pounder anti-tank guns and heavy tanks in hull-down positions ready to prevent our infantry from being over-run. , , . . “On October 14 we ceased training and started to assemble for the attack. For days before the attack A.S.C. companies under the command of Colonel S, H, Crump, were bringing ammunition and supplies up to the from line, “To achieve surprise, deception and camouflage played a large part in 9ur Guns and ammunition were brought up and dug in by night; the guns had been calibrated and surveyed so that they would not need to open fire to register, and thus give away their presence. “The infantry brigades brought up before daylight on October 23 lay waiting all day for the attack that night, while their transport was withdrawn at dusk on October 23. The routes from the back areas to our front line began to fill up in orderly sequence, with anti-tank guns, Bren carriers, mortars, and tanks to support the infantry, and behind them rumbled up the heavy tanks and transport of the British armoured divisions. 500 Guns Open Fire “It was brilliant moonlight. Every man was tense as zero hour approached. Suddenly, with a single crash, over 500 guns opened fire in the greatest barrage seen in Africa. The opening roar of the guns was the sign for the assault. Infantry armed with rifle and bayonet, Tommy gun and bren gun moved to the start line, and half an hour later they went forward with the barrage. “The sth Infantry Brigade was on the right, commanded by Brigadier H. K. Kippenberger, and the 6th Infantry Brigade on the left, commanded by Brigadier W, G. Gentry. “The attack was planned in two phases. The 23rd Battalion on the right and the 24th Battalion on the left were to capture the enemy forward defences. The Maori Battalion had the role of mopping up centres of resistance left in the course of the advance. The 21st and 22nd Battalions on the right and the 25th and 26th Battalions on the left were to leapfrog over the first two battalions to capture the final objective, Miteiriya ridge. “The enemy defences were manned by German ihfantry, and throughout the 6000 yards advance strong point after strong point had to be taken at the point of the bayonet in clouds of dust and smoke. The inevitable uncertainty of war prevailed (in some companies all the officers became casualties), but the attack went on. For hours the situation was obscure, but at last the signals came back from one battalion and then another; ‘We are on our objective.’ Ridge Captured “By morning the Miteieriya ridge was in our hands. “The infantry assault was magnificently carried out by our infantry and by the Australians, Highlanders, and South Africans on the whole corps front. ... . “In such an attack casualties must be expected, and we had all suffered; but we had driven a great wedge in the enemy line. ' , , “I pay tribute here to the great work of our divisional medical services, under Colonel P. A. Ardagh, who looked after the wounded. Many lives were saved by our blood transfusion units and the fully-equipped surgical team. “While the infantry assault went forward our engineers and provost followed close behind. The success of the attack depended on the skill and determination with which they lit tracks on the line of advance and detected and lifted all the mines and booby traps on the whole route from our own front line to the final objective. Great credit is due to the divisional engineers under LieutenantColonel Hanson and the provost personnel for their vital work. “Anti-tank guns and infantry weapons were rushed along the lit routes to be dug in on the objective before daylight. Tanks followed, and by dawn we were ready to meet the panzer counter-thrust. “During October 24 and 25, fighting on the Miteiriya ridge continued, but both brigades, supported by artillery, anti-tank guns, machine-guns, and tanks, held all the ground, and on the night of October 25-26 the 6th Brigade went forward in another determined attack which consolidated the position. "I wish to pay a tribute to the gallant support of the tank regiments of the 9th Armoured Brigade under Brigadier Currie, who went into action with us for the first time. “We held the line until October 27, when we handed over the sector to the Ist South African Division for a short relief before returning to the line alongside the Australians, who had been attacking continuously and most successfully along the coast. “On the night of November 1-2, we attacked again to breach the enemy position for our armour to sally out. To conserve the strength of our infantry brigades, weakened by losses in the earlier attacks, General Montgomery placed the Tyneside Brigade and the Highland Brigade under my command. These two brigades and the Maori Battalion attacked, supported by an even greater concentration of artillery than in the first attack under the command of our C.RA., Brigadier Weir.