The Battlefield of Al Alamein

Yesterday I was able to join a group exploring the WW2 battlefield of Al Alamein west of Alexandria on the North (Mediterranean) coast of Egypt. In July - November 1942 Australian, British, New Zealand and South African troops battled and ultimately ousted the German and Italian forces led by General Romel who were trying to invade Egypt from Libya. This was the 'high-water mark'; the furtherest point the Axis forces came into Egypt (111km from Alexandria).

A friend who is a WW2 buff and a British Colonel who is also very interested in the battle guided our group. We went to the Commonwealth cemetary where nore than 4000 soldiers are buried. The Australians (3 of us) laid a wreath at the memorial.

We also went to the various battle sites along the front line and the battles were described. My favourite was 'the blockhouse' (below) which was a railway shed used as a Medical post by the Germans. This was one of the first buildings captured in a big offensive at the end of October / early November 1942. The Australian forces took over the building and convinced the German medical team working there to continue. They were soon inundated with the wounded either walking in, or being carried on stretchers from the fighting going on around them. In one night they cared for more than 265 wounded (mostly on stretchers), including digging some of their patients out when the ceiling collapsed from the shelling!

Below is the original Al Alamein railway station. The British are trying to get funding to make this into a little museum. The rail line comes from Alexandria. Supplies would have been brought in and wounded out via this railway.