UNDER ONE HUNDRED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 307, 30 December 1942, Page 4

UNDER ONE HUNDRED

N.Z. CASUALTIES AT EL AGHEILA GEN. FREYBERG’S REPORT ON OPERATIONS (P.A.) Wellington, Dec. 29. “Operations foreshadowed in earlier cables are over and have resulted in turning the strong enemy position at iEI Agheila and in driving the Axis forces back nearly 200 miles. Our casualties, I am thankful to say, were comparatively light. Three officers and 11 men were killed, eight officers and 53 men were wounded, and three officers and nine men are missincThis is the opening paragrapn of * cablegram received from the Commander of the Second N.Z.E.F., Lieu-tenant-General Sir B. C. Freyberg, V.C., by the New Zealand Defence Minister, Hon. F. Jones. After recording the moves from Bardia to Nofilia General Freyberg concludes: “The success of the operation was largely the result of the skill and efficiency of our drivers and mobile workshops, who have kept our vehicles in serviceable condition, notwithstanding the roughness of the desert going. “I have just visited our wounded. In an isolated spot in the Tripolitanian desert they have received the best surgical treatment in what amounts to a fully-equipped field hospital. They are being carried back by ambulance as soon as the roads are all clear. Most serious ecses are evacuated by air “ambulance over many hundreds of miles of desert to our hospitals in Egypt. As usual your division maintained the high standard and fighting spirit expected of it. The health and spirits of the men are excellent.” In his cable describing recent New Zealand operations General Freyberg states: “The role involved a series of desert moves totalling more than 600 miles. On December 5 we moved from Bardia across the desert past our November, 1941, battlefields and south of Jebel to the assembly position near Agedabia, 350 miles away. At Agedabia we were joined by a British armoured brigade and replenished to be self-contained with food, water, ammunition, and petrol for 12 days, since we could not expect any lines of. communication until the Eighth Army fought its way through on the coast. “Full medical arrangements were made. Two full field ambulances, one light field ambulance, and two surgical teams were with us, and also additional equipment for brain, chest, and abdominal surgery and a blood transfusion unit with supplies of blood preserved in refrigerators. Invaluable medical comforts and Red Cross supplies were provided by the New Zealand Red Cross. “On December 13 plans were complete and several thousand vehicles set out in desert formation on a wide encircling move of more than 250 miles round the southern flank of the El Agheila position to threaten and if possible cut oft' the panzer army. “Success of our operation depended on negotiating hitherto uncrossed desert. To obtain a surprise wireless silence was imposed until contact was gained with the enemy. We were also helped by heavy rain, which laid telltale dust. The first stage of the soft, bad going was negotiated by day and later stages by night. Then came the last dash to the north of 40 miles, starting at dawn on December 15. By that night the Sixth Brigade had almost. reached the coast road. “This manoeuvre was a surprise to the enemy, who had to turn and fight to get out or be surrounded. “Our force was too small to cover all lines of the retreat, and the panzer army escaped, but the enemy was severely mauled by armour, artillery, and infantry as it withdrew, losing tanks and a considerable number of anti-tank guns. “During the afternoon of December 16 we made preparations for a further move to the west and at dawn on December 17 we moved 30 miles to outflank the enemy covering a position west of Nofilia. “Again the enemy rearguard was surprised by the speed with which our forces moved and struck. “In the ensuing lighting our armour and the Fifth Brigade caused the enemy further losses in equipment, capturing 250 prisoners, and the enemy withdrew under cover of darkness.” _________