EIGHTH ARMY’S RAILWAY

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 1

EIGHTH ARMY’S RAILWAY

N.Z. Operators' Part SECOND TO NONE.

(N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent) TOBRUK, March 20. New Zealanders have had a nand in almost every phase of the Eighth Army’s advance from El Alamein to the west of Tripoli. No unit has played a more important part, in the vital matter of communications than the Railway Operating Group. During the hectic da ! y)s of the E’ghth Arinvs withdrawal to El Alamein, heavily loaded rolling stock was removed behind forward positions, carrying much stores, equipment, army personnel, and refugees, who were sometimes complete with their donkeys, sheep, goats and fowls. Although they were’ uncomfortably close, the enemy ia'Jed to capture any of the trains, ano about eighteen hundred waggons were removed. Air attacks failed to prevent these operations. - and minor damage that was inflicted was quickly repaired. ‘ The withdrawal to El Alamem left the New Zealanders with only about .forty nrles of line to operate, bur immediately large quantities of supplies and equipment were brought forward to maintain the army in new positions and to prepare for the coun-ter-offensive. This work went on for nearly four months, until the great advance began. Everything had been prepared for the repair of the damage to the railway in the recaptured areas, and railway construction personnel followed close behind theadvancing forces. The damage to the railway in the actual battle area was fairly considerable, but in other areas it. was comparatively slight. The enemy had carried out some demolitions and had mined the line in parts, as he’ retreated. Splendid work was done bv the construction personnel in renewing the damaged track and bv the engineers in removing mrnes. The group' was used as a forward operating unit throughout the advance. As sections were opened up and organised on a running oasis, they were handed over to other railwav operating troops, arid the tmit pushed forward. The unit was faced with many difficulties. For some days trains were run without communications. There were no signals, and water was again a’ problem, as a pipeline built by the British Army had been demolished in parts by the enemy. These difficulties were overcome by fine work and co-operation on the p,art of all the engineer and s’gnal services. Within eight days ci the start of the enemy’s retreat, the railhead had been carried two miles west, and the unit continued to advance with supplies at this rate until the western terminus of the Western Desert Extension Railway was roacued.