Battle of Tel el Eisa: First Battle of El Alamein July 1942

Australian machine gunners Privates Rymer and Cullen fired their Vickers continuously for two days against German positions. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 1942.

The offensive action that established the position around the rail siding at Tel el Eisa, north-west of Alamein, Egypt. Leaving from their start line Australian troops broke through the German and Italian line and followed the coast for several kilometers. The troops then swung south, inland towards Tel el Eisa, which was captured, and two other positions, East Point 24 and Trig 33. The fighting lasted for several days, during which time the Australians withstood a series of German armored counterattacks.

The 9th Division’s Foundation for Success at El Alamein

by Major Sean VW Childs

The Allied victory at the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt is one of the most famous of the Second World War. That is because it was the start of the end of the Axis forces in North Africa.

Less famous, is the Australian 9th Division’s involvement in an attack around Tel el Eisa west of Alamein.  The attack laid a foundation for the later success of the British Eighth Army at Alamein. That success is traced to the British Army’s reinvigoration of combined arms warfare and the improvement of its related tactical doctrine. Prior to the attack the 9th’s preparations incorporated innovative ‘battle drill’ training. During the attack, the 26th Brigade used Radio

Telephony that enhanced the synchronization and coordination of their supporting arms.

Training

From September 1941, the 9th were in Palestine to refit and train following their successful actions in the Defense of Tobruk. By May 1942, they had deployed to Syria as part of an Allied garrison, where they continued their training

The training focused on cohesion in combined arms warfare and the role of supporting arms, particularly in the attack. Central to the training was the introduction of the British Home Forces’ new ‘battle drill’ concept that suggested simple drills to eliminate unnecessary orders and economize time. This approach was designed to counter the changed character of the war in North Africa that had become attrition warfare.

The Action

By July 1942, the 9th had moved to Egypt to join the Eighth Army making its stand at Alamein. The order for the Division’s leading brigades was to deny the enemy the approaches to Alexandria from the west and south-west. In the defensive ‘Alamein Box’, the 24th Brigade occupied the right with its flank to the coast and the 26th Brigade was on the left. Here, to defend Alexandria, the plan was to attack Rommel’s forces.

On July 10, the 26th Brigade attacked the Axis lines, its objectives being the capture of the high ground west of Alamein and then the Tel el Eisa ridge. The high ground (see map Point 26, Point 23, and Trig 33) afforded observation of the ground in front of the Alamein Box and much of the Eighth Army's territory.

The 26th Brigade achieved its objectives through a combined arms assault of the Tel el Eisa area. Each of its battalions, supported by a squadron of tanks and artillery, commanded a troop of anti-tank guns, a platoon of machine gunners and some engineers. For six days the Allied and Axis forces continually attacked and counter-attacked each other. By July 16, the Brigade had tactically withdrawn from Point 24 (Tel el Eisa ridge) because the enemy commanded the area, and it was deemed to be of no tactical value. This was a defensive victory for the 9th.

Lessons Learnt

The 9th’s success was due to its training, morale, cohesion and its artillery support. The exercises in Syria, which included working with armor and air support, contributed to the success of the attack. Their consideration of ‘battle drill’ that was not widely accepted across the Eighth Army is evidence of an organization that was adaptive and innovative. Morale throughout the attack was high because of exemplary leadership.

Because of the training and morale, the 26th Brigade’s combined arms cohesion was effective. It was the first time that the divisional artillery and machine-guns had fought beside their own infantry, and it was the first time that direct air support was available to the division. Their machine-gun, mortar fire, and supporting artillery fire was timely, accurate and intense. Here Radio Telephony was a watershed. The Brigade’s 2/24th Battalion recorded that, “[sic] The Bn used R/T [Radio Telephony] for the first time and it proved very successful. Comn with Pts and 33 would have been virtually impossible without R/T and it was extensively used for directing arty on to required targets”.

Broadly, the 9th Division’s defensive victory solidified the knowledge that coordinated, combined arms warfare was the requirement for the Eighth Army’s transition to the offensive, a break-out from Alamein, and the eventual victory in North Africa. The Tel el Eisa actions reinforced the requirement for adequate firepower, agile forward movement of battalion support weapons, and efficient divisional combined arms coordination.

The 9th at Tel el Eisa and after was in a forceful mood, and was reaching a pinnacle of organizational effectiveness and structural maturity. This was a foundation of the victory at El Alamein that Field Marshal Montgomery acknowledged was given to him by the 9th.

On July 10, 1942, the 26th Brigade attacked the German and Italian lines, its objectives the capture of the high ground west of Alamein (Points 26 and 23, and Trig 33) and then the Tel el Eisa ridge (Points 24 East and Point 24 West). The high ground afforded observation of the ground in front of the Alamein Box and much of the Eighth Army's territory.

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The 9th Division's Darkest Hour

During the First Battle of El Alamein the 9th Australian Division was tasked with the capture of Ruin Ridge. Despite heavy fighting during the opening stages they achieved some of their objectives, but their successes obliged General Rommel to divert large numbers of troops to contain the Australian advance. The fighting then became desperate, leading to heavy casualties and the near decimation of one battalion.

Capture of Tel el Eisa. The capture of Tel el Eisa on 16 July 1942 provided a firm base of operations for the attacks at Ruin Ridge.

Makh Khad Ridge. On 17 July, the 24th Australian Infantry Brigade pushed on from Makh Khad Ridge towards Miteiriya Ridge.

 

Dispositions on 18 July. After falling back from Miteiriya Ridge, the 24th Brigade gun in around the telegraph line. Note the position of Trig Point 22 which remained in Axis hands.

26th Brigade Attack 22-23 July.

The Push Towards Ruin Ridge. The 24th Brigade push forward with the 2/28th Battalion leading. The 2/28th would occupy Ruin Ridge, but the failure of Allied armor to come to their aid resulted in the surrender and capture of the Battalion.

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 Victoria Cross: Private Arthur Stanley Gurney, 2/48 Battalion

WX9858 Private Arthur Stanley Gurney was born at Day Dawn on the Murchison goldfields, near Cue, Western Australia on 15 December 1908. One of five children to George and Jane (nee Roberts) Gurney, Arthur was schooled at Day Dawn State School before entering Stott’s Business College in Perth. A keen cyclist, he was heavily involved in competition cycling in Western Australia. In 1929 he won the C R Wilson Shield, a 50 mile open cycling race with prize money of 14 pounds. After leaving school he worked briefly for a land agent before gaining a position with the City of Perth Electricity and Gas Department.

Gurney enlisted in the Second AIF at Claremont on 6 December 1940. He embarked at Fremantle for the Middle East on 5 July 1941, joining D Company, 2/48 Battalion (2/48Bn) at Tobruk, Libya on 12 September. In October, the battalion moved to Palestine and in early 1942 to Syria. In June, as part of 9 Division under Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead, 2/48Bn was rushed to Egypt to meet Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s advance across Egypt. On 29 June, following a series of losses, the allied Eighth Army, of which 9 Division was a part, fell back to the Alamein Line, barely 100 kilometers from the British Naval Base at Alexandria.

On the morning of 6 July, 2/48Bn was moved forward to Shammama Halt, about 20 kilometers east of the small railway siding of El Alamein. Three days later the battalion formed up and moved to the Alamein Line. With 9 Division, the battalion was to counter-attack the northern flank of Rommel’s forces. 2/48Bn’s objectives were the Hill of Jesus and Tel el Eisa Railway Station. Shortly before the action Gurney wrote home saying: ‘I regret that up to date I have not had a chance of locking horns with [the enemy], but I hope we shan’t be long now.’ At about 3.40 am on 10 July the attack began. D and A Companies’ objective of Point 23, north east of Tel El Eisa Station was taken soon after dawn. D and C Companies then swung down and took the station itself. Counter attacks soon followed and fierce fighting continued for the next two weeks.

At dawn on 22 July, B and D Companies were deployed to take West Point 24, an enemy position south west of the railway cutting. The action had not long commenced when the companies came under concentrated fire and were halted less than 200 meters from the enemy strong posts. Any attempt by the Australians to move forward was met with withering machine gun fire. Casualties quickly mounted to the point that D Company had lost all its officers. 17 Platoon, including Gurney, was now commanded by Private Herb Ashby.

At this point Gurney, closely followed by Private Ivan Hanel, rushed the nearest enemy machine gun post, somehow evading the heavy fire. Nearing the post Gurney threw a grenade and bayoneted a German before both men jumped into the trench, taking the post. Gurney then turned his attention to the next post but Hanel was killed before he could follow. Gurney continued on alone to take the next machine gun pit, accounting for a further three enemy soldiers in the process. Without slacking he moved toward a third before he was momentarily stunned when a grenade knocked him to the ground. Recovering his senses, he launched forward and disappeared into the enemy trench. He was using his bayonet to effect ‘when the inevitable end to such a magnificent display of single handed courage came. A burst from another machine gun killed him.’ His body was later recovered from the enemy trench. For his actions Gurney was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The recommendation for the award was, unusually, initiated by Ashby, a private. The citation reads:

For gallantry and unselfish bravery in silencing enemy machine-gun posts by bayonet assault at Tel el Eisa on 22nd July, 1942, thus allowing his Company to continue the advance. During an attack on a strong German position in the early morning of 22nd July, 1942, the Company to which Private Gurney belonged, was held up by intense machine-gun fire from posts less than 100 yards ahead, heavy casualties being inflicted on our troops, all the officers being killed or wounded. Grasping the seriousness of the situation and without hesitation, Private Gurney charged the nearest enemy machine-gun post, bayoneted three men and silenced the post. He then continued on to a second post, bayoneted two men and sent out a third as a prisoner. At this stage a stick of grenades was thrown at Private Gurney which knocked him to the ground. He rose again, picked up his rifle and charged the third post using the bayonet with great vigour. He then disappeared from view and later his body was found in an enemy post. By this single-handed act of gallantry in the face of a determined enemy, Private Gurney enabled his Company to press forward to its objective, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. The successful outcome of this engagement was almost entirely due to Private Gurney’s heroism at the moment when it was needed.

The loss of Gurney was felt keenly throughout the battalion. In a letter to Gurney’s sister, the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel H H Hammer wrote that ‘every man of the 48th Bn shares with you your sorrow in the loss you have suffered.’ The 11 September 1942 edition of the battalion’s newsletter, ‘Khamseen Kronicle’, was dedicated to ‘one whose courage on the field of battle wreaths his death in glory and begets honor to his comrades and country.’ Gurney is buried in plot XVI. H. 21. of the El Alamein War Cemetery. His VC and campaign medals came into the National Collection in 1993.

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Distinguished Conduct Medal: Corporal T C Derrick, 2/48 Battalion

Thomas Currie ‘Diver’ Derrick was born in Adelaide on 20 March 1914. Leaving school at 14, he tried various jobs and was a farm laborer when he enlisted in July 1940 as private SX7964 with 2/48 Battalion. He served in Tobruk before being awarded this Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions at Tel el Eisa in 1942. During the fighting he captured 100 enemy, three machine gun posts and damaged two German tanks by using sticky bombs. The citation for the award reads:

For outstanding leadership and personal courage in action during the initial fighting at Tel el Eisa in Jul 42 and devotion to duty for the period May to Oct 1942.

Sgt. Derrick has frequently shown outstanding leadership in action and during the initial attack on Tel el Eisa in the early morning of 10 Jul 42, by his own personal courage and leadership, attacked and captured three Fiat MG nests. He was personally responsible for the capture of 100 enemy by his cool determination, leading his men with great dash and bravery.

Later that same night, in a counterattack on enemy tanks and infantry at the Tel el Eisa Railway Station, Sgt. Derrick was outstanding in fighting qualities. He attacked two German tanks with sticky bombs, damaging both, and was a great factor in the successful counter-attack which restored the Sta. to our forces.

On all occasions, both in and out of the action, Sgt. Derrick has been exemplary in his conduct and courage. He has proved himself to be a fine leader and a brave soldier, always inspiring his men to follow his example.

During fighting at El Alamein in October Derrick was evacuated wounded but later rejoined his unit. Shifting to New Guinea in 1943, he saw more fighting and in one outstanding action firmly established himself as a national hero.

Late in the afternoon of 24 November, while leading a platoon at Sattelberg, Derrick, despite being ordered to retire, attacked up an almost vertical slope of thick jungle hiding Japanese machine-guns. Scrambling on hands and feet, hurling grenades, and using his rifle, Derrick cleared ten machine-gun posts in one of the most astonishing feats of the war, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Derrick later attended an officer cadet training unit, graduating in late 1944. Insisting on returning to his famous 2/48th Battalion, he was fatally wounded during fighting on Tarakan Island, Borneo, on 22 May. He died the next day.

View of men of “A” Company, 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, in the railway cutting taken from the Germans after bitter fighting on July 23, 1942. When taken it was held by two officers and 10 men for 10 hours until reinforcements arrived. Note the water tins in left bottom corner. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Distant view of Tel el Eisa (Hill of Jesus) station showing type of country over which the troops of the 9th Australian Division had to advance in the attack on this position. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Distant view of Tel el Eisa station looking toward German front line where there are Spandau posts. Heavy fighting took place around here before the position was finally wrested from the Germans. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Bronzed gunners. Study of heavy ack-ack gun at Tel el Eisa. January 20, 1943.

Graves of two members of the crew of a German Heinkel bomber which crashed on the roadside about a mile from Tel el Eisa station. August 2, 1942.

A Bren gun carrier moves forward during an advance by the 9th Australian Division in the Tel el Eisa area. August 1, 1942.

Private L. Myers with his mortar in position during an advance by the 9th Australian Division in the Tel el Eisa area. August 1, 1942.

Twin Italian machine gun lying burnt out near Tel el Eisa station. This position was captured by "A" Company, 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion after four separate attempts on July 23, 1942. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Scene of a decisive tank battle at the blockhouse west of Tel el Eisa. In the foreground are some of our tanks knocked out by an anti-tank gun. We accounted for 18 Jerries. In the background a convoy is seen advancing. The picture was taken a few hours after the battle was over.

The remains of a convoy that was carrying supplies to German troops in the Tel el Eisa sector during the last heavy fighting in the Western Desert. During the fluctuation of the battle these vehicles changed hands twice but were eventually reduced to wrecks when the enemy intelligence mistakenly directed the convoy into the Australian lines.

Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead (left) and his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Captain Tim Collins, at the end of Collins' appointment as ADC. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 31, 1942.

Salvage of a plane that came down near Tel el Eisa. Western Desert, Egypt. August 22, 1942.

The troop command post of a battery of 9th Australian Divisional artillery. Gunner Simpson on the field telephone. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 29, 1942.

Lieutenant General B.L. Montgomery, CB DSO, Commanding the Eighth British Army, photographed in a happy mood during a visit to the forward positions of the 9th Australian Division. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 21, 1942.

Lieutenant-General B.L. Montgomery, CB, DSO, Commanding Eighth Army (wearing Australian slouch hat) with Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED, Commanding 9th Australian Division on his right, is seen conferring with officers of the Australian Division during his visit to them in the forward area. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 21, 1942.

Lieutenant-General B.L. Montgomery, CB, DSO (center) Commanding Eighth Army is here seen talking with officers of the 9th Australian Division during his visit to the division in their forward positions. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 21, 1942.

Lieutenant-General B.L. Montgomery, CB, DSO, Commanding Eighth Army (back to camera, left) talking to officers of the 9th Australian Division during his visit to the division in their forward positions. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 21, 1942.

Looking back on the Hill of Jesus–the German view. This country is littered with mines and the general debris of battle. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

An enemy field gun abandoned near the railway station. Bitter fighting had taken place in this area before the enemy retreated. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 1942.

A 25-pounder gun crew of the 9th Australian Division at their stations. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 29, 1942.

A 25-pounder gun of the 9th Australian Divisional artillery under its camouflage netting. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 29, 1942.

Men of the 2/2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion manning a Vickers machine gun at the Tel el Eisa railway cutting. Private A. Starkey is in the firing position, the other man is Private R. Somerville. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Men of the 2/2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion manning a Vickers machine gun at the Tel el Eisa railway cutting. Private A. Starkey is in the firing position, the other man is Private R. Somerville. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Some of the 97 German prisoners captured by the British forces in Egypt in a raid on Tel El Eisa, Egypt, on September 1, 1942.

This sign was a well known landmark to troops engaged in the bitter fighting around Tel el Eisa, (Arabic for Hill of Jesus) north east of El Alamein. Originally located near a small railway station captured by 2/48 Battalion on the morning of 10 July 1942, the sign was later removed by Lieutenant Colonel A R Allen, a commissioner of the Australian Comforts Fund. SX681Driver Andrew James Todd, Australian Army Service Corps, 9 Division, of Kangarilla, South Australia, has scratched his name and service number into the sign.

Tel el Eisa Railway Station, Egypt 1942.

'The front', Tel el Eisa, Egypt, 1942.

The graves of two German airmen decorated with the swastika insignia taken from the Stuka in which they were shot down at Tel-el-Eisa. July 23, 1942.

Ruins of Tel el Eisa Mosque, Egypt, 1942.

Railway line repairs, Alamein to Tel el Eisa, Egypt, 1942.

The front line, Tel el Eisa, Egypt, 1942.

Taken during an advance by troops of the 9th Australian Division, this picture shows a signalman operating a portable switchboard while a linesman reels out more cable to a new position. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Corporal J. Hinson, 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion being congratulated by his commanding officer on his immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Another DCM. winner Sergeant J.K. Weston (Tobruk 1941) is waiting to add his congratulations. The award was for "conspicuous bravery and leadership during the attack of July 10, 1942." Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

Scene in the railway cutting near Tel el Eisa. Lieutenant N.E. McMaster, Acting Officer Commanding "A" Company, 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion (right) holding a belt of machine gun bullets from the captured Breda model 37 8mm machine gun around which men of the company are grouped. "A" Company wrested this position from the Germans after four attempts. Two officers and 10 men then held the position for 10 hours until the arrival of reinforcements. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. August 1, 1942.

In the FOP (Forward Observation Post). Lance-Bombardier Russell and Warrant Officer Mackenzie, members of the 9th Australian Divisional artillery observing the effects of their battery's fire on enemy positions. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 29, 1942.

Artillerymen of the 9th Australian Division are here seen manning a 6-pounder anti-tank gun in the Tel el Eisa area. This gun played havoc with enemy tanks. Tel el Eisa, Egypt. July 1942.