Australians are encouraged to remember the 65th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt during World War II, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, said today. The Minister said that El Alamein was one of the great battles of World War II, marking the turning point in the Allied campaign in the deserts of North Africa, and arguably the course of the war in Europe. “The Australian 9th Division was at the heart of the battles at El Alamein between July and November 1942 and paid a high price, with more than 5200 casualties including more than 1000 dead and about the same number taken prisoner,” Mr Billson said.

The 9th Division made a series of attacks during July, some successful and others costly failures in fighting that became known as the first Battle of El Alamein. The second Battle of El Alamein began on 23 October 1942, with 220,000 Allied troops, 1100 tanks and 900 guns pitted against the Axis forces of 180,000 German and Italian soldiers, 600 tanks and 500 guns. ‘Operation Lightfoot’ called for infantry from Australia, Britain, South Africa and New Zealand to attack along a 14 kilometre front, dividing enemy lines and clearing the way for an armoured advance.

The opening assault continued for two days but failed to produce corridors through the minefields to allow an armoured breakthrough. The 9th Division at the northern end of the line was ordered to begin attacking northwards towards the sea and for a week most of the infantry action was undertaken by the Australians. The Australians bought the Allies the time they needed, drawing Axis forces north and unbalancing them. On 2 November 1942, New Zealand and Scottish troops, backed up by British armoured brigades, launched ‘Operation Supercharge’. The operation proved very difficult, with Allied troops suffering heavy losses before finally breaking through the German lines. By late afternoon on 4 November 1942 the enemy was in full retreat. The Allied victory at El Alamein lead to the surrender of the Germans in North Africa in May 1943.

A memorial was built on land adjacent to the El Alamein War Cemetery by the 9th Division Association, with the support of the Australian Government, in 1989 to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the 9th Division in North Africa during World War II. It deteriorated in the harsh climate, and in 2006 the Australian Government rebuilt the memorial. It was rededicated at a ceremony attended by a representative group of veterans of the battle.“Based on the original memorial’s design, the new memorial is built from Egyptian Galala stone, and placed on a raised platform to ensure that it is better able to withstand the harsh desert conditions,” Mr Billson said. “It is important to mark occasions such as the 65th anniversary of El Alamein, and reflect on the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women.”