RUWEISAT BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 5

RUWEISAT BATTLE

N.Z. Troops In Epic

Action ADVANCE & RETREAT (Olßcial War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) EL ALAMEIN, July 16. After passing through a terrific hail of’ enemy fire, New Zealand infantry formations took their objectives on the Ruweisat Ridge. Pockets of heavily-armed Italian infantry were left in the deep defences through which they advanced, and caused a reversal yesterday in the advantage gained by the attack. Separated from their guns and armoured support, the New Zealand infantry suffered such losses in the fierce engagements that they were forced to withdraw last evening to reorganize. The advance to the ridge was made in three main groups. In gaining their objective through strong defensive lire, our infantry, machinegunners, and anti-tank gunners—the leading group—left enemy positions and isolated minefields behind, and these prevented support groups of guns, carriers, and mortars reaching the ridge. Without close support by the guns the New Zealanders on the ridge were subjected to continuous machinegun and artillery fire, which eventually enabled the German armoured force to overrun their positions. Even in the face of tremendous odds of heavy tanks the New Zealanders resisted stubbornly till the situation became impossible. Dive-bombing raids during the day added to the intensity of the German attack. Immediately after their withdrawal the New Zealand formations were reorganized, and early this morning battle groups were in position. Positions Overrun. Cut off from their artillery and mortars by cross-fire from the pockets of resistance, the New Zealanders on the left sector of the Ruweisat Ridge withstood a day of terrific artillery barrages, tank shell-fire, and dive-bombing before being over-run in the evening. Only late in the afternoon was it possible to get carriers and mortars, the seoond section of the formation’s attacking force, on the ridge. Our artillery was in action all day, but the closest position they could get to was three miles from Ruweisat. The tank attack which ended our left formation’s gallant stand came from the west at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. More than a score of fighting vehicles, including mounted anti-tank guns, advanced under cover of an artillery barrage on our infantry—men of the Auckland, Wellington and South Island battalions. While our anti-tank gunners pumped out their six-pound shells the infantry stood by them, but their resistance could not last long against the heavy tanks. Penetrating our semi-circular defences the tanks cut through the brigade headquarters and began firing back at our men from sheltered positions about 400 yards to the rear. As they passed the headquarters, the German tank crews threw grenades out toward the men in the trenches. Caught in a hopeless position, our men on the edge of the attack were forced to surrender to German lorried infantry following the tanks. Toward dusk the German tanks began n withdrawal, sending out armoured cars to collect the prisoners from the centre of. our line. The prisoners were 1 being inarched off when a strong force of British tanks opened fire. Some of the New Zealanders escaped while the enemy armour was withdrawing. -Many others were caught amid the furious exchange of tank shells. The German tanks moved back in stages for a few hundred yards, firing as they went. When our men tried to escape they •were faced also with the shots of the German infantry watching them from the edge of our line. Some did escape and were helping to evacuate the wounded when three German tanks returned to collect them again. Even then some escaped and rejoined the New Zealand forces under cover of darkness. The remainder of our left formation were withdrawn during the night. Headquarters Captured.

Between 7 o’clock and sundown the eonnnnnder of the New Zealand force on the left sector of the Ruwaisat Ridge was twice captured and twice escaped. He was with a group of his commanding officers at formation headquarters when the German tanks passed through it, and four grenades were thrown at _ the trenches where officers were sheltering. The commander of the Auckland group was wounded by one grenade, but the others exploded harmlessly on the edge of the trenches. German armoured ears had collected the whole headquarters when our tanks opened fire and they were forced to withdraw, leaving their prisoners between the opposing tanks. The commander of the force and the •ommander of the Wellington infantry- i men had started a truck and were ' gatherin'* up the wounded when they j were again captured, this time by Ger- I man tanks. As they were being marched away, both took an opportunity to drop to the ground and escaped back to the British lines. Under Heavy Shelling. Outflanked after a day of losses, and helpless against the tanks and armoured vehicles, men of the Auckland battalion on tile right of the New Zealand positions returned in scattered parlies Io their brigade headquarters last night. Throughout (lie day they had been under lire from automatic weapons with which the enemy sprayed them from shelter pits that they had over-run during the previous night s attack. As the evening haze developed there was heavy shelling and mortar fire. Only one move was possible—to move back and reorganize. There were still troublesome enemy pockets as late as 6 o'clock in the evening, though many had been disposed of, with big hauls of prisoners. The less seriously depleted South Island battalion on the extreme right was now exposed, and moved to cover the flank of the adjoining division. With great difficulty a message was sent through for it to withdraw to n position near brigade headquarters, which it did in excellent; order. Reorganization began immediately. By early morning batlle-groups had been formed, and were in position.