Minqar Qaim
It was fairly late when we left Mersa Matruh to take up our position at what was later known as Minqar Qaim. Arriving there our first job was digging slit trenches, and what a job it was, solid rock with about 2" of sand on top. Our possy was about 200 yards from the Maori Battalion on our right, and they were on a slight rise, with the escarpment back of us. In front we had a great field of fire. While setting up camp a number of Jerry bombers came over, but left us alone although we heard that the 27 Bty had copped the lot. We had a few visits from night fighters, but no damage done. Next morning Oggie Wiles and Clefty Stinson went out to set up an O. Pip, and after ranging a few rounds the next thing Oggie's back and Clefty said the whole Africa Corps was coming, and then we were told we were now anti tank. The Maoris were blasting weapon pits on the ridge, and they were the first to come under fire from some tanks. So we had to move in front of them and take on a mobile role. One tank was disabled and the other withdrew. There was a terrific amount of lorried infantry with their usual flares, and we were certainly keeping them moving back. The Jerry seemed to be using big stuff for airbursts and they were mainly well back of us. We could see some smoke coming from their lorries, so I think we hit a few. I remember the Maoris cheered when we hit something and kept yelling to keep it up. We then moved to a Wadi and got stuck into Jerry Infantry, and it was while there that the Jerry 88's started firing around 11 o'clock. Shortly after we were bracketed by two 88's. One hit peppered our Limber and gave us a flat tyre, and while we were getting ready to move an air burst killed Shorty Potts and his mate Bert. We moved back to our other guns and Jimmy Beard came and gave us more ammunition and a chat on what was happening. We moved about 7 or 8 times that day, and about 3 o'clock we were all firing in different directions. We got Chook Fowler and Gnr Robinson as replacements on loan. The Jerries stopped firing after 4 o'clock and we saw tanks in the distance going southwest. Gussie Glasgow thought they could be our 7 Armoured. Jack Dell thought he could see a couple of their pennants through the telescopic sights, but they didn't stop. About teatime we were pulled back to the main H.Q. area and told about a breakout planned for later that night. While fixing the Limber a General Grant tank limped in with its turret split and jammed. It was disabled properly and abandoned and its crew had to ride with us. Talk about sardines, no room in the quad at all. Some Infantry rode hanging on to the gun carriage and a couple on the roof. They had evidently lost their transport. Jerry flares went up all night. We got a briefing - when we move we follow the vehicle in front, and stop for nothing, and good luck. It was about 1 a.m. when we got the order to move, and it was as bright as day with the exploding hand grenades being thrown from trucks, Verey flares, burning trucks, and the noise of the machine guns, screams and yells and men running everywhere with fixed bayonets. We had to keep dodging broken down vehicles, over slit trenches, and the only damage we got was a flat tyre on the quad. Joe Nattrass was driving and Bernie Savage cheered us up no end when he said the quads could run for a hundred miles on a flattie. When daylight came we found we had lost our other guns and had become mixed up with the 22nd and a bofors and 2 guns of the 6th Field and a portee with 2 anti tank guns. Our passengers were transferred among the trucks, and I never saw a tyre changed so fast. We were between a couple of escarpments and when we reached the open space we saw away on our right hundreds of vehicles stopped. They were miles away and we were trying to pick out any quads, and not seeing any we were a bit worried in case Jerry had caught up with us. Some Stukas came over, left us alone and attacked the convoy on our right. And the hot reception the planes got we knew they were ours. Shortly after, two of our planes came over and a pickup came over from the main body with loud speakers telling us to stop at El Alamein. We moved on and arrived at our destination about 11 a.m. We stayed put till about 4 p.m. when we saw our other 2 guns arrive, and next morning our other joined us. General Montgomery had taken over 8th Army, and things began to happen. The first time he was sighted, Monty certainly did not have the appearance of giving much confidence. And when he put out an order of the day saying the Germans were going to attack around the Qattara Depression so all vehicles were to be removed from positions, and that men, although wounded, would fight till the last breath in their bodies, there were some mutterings in the Ranks. The Germans did attack and they got a thrashing. Mainly because our Air Force had control of the skies. A new Division from England, the 50th, had come into the line. Unfortunately they apparently would not listen to advice and set up Mess Tents in the middle of the Mine Fields, and thought it was all a nice picnic. But with the help of the Maori Battalion and the Div. Artillery in the main, order was restored, with the remnants of the 50th Div. streaming back in utter disarray. Those that went past our Guns all told us how tough it was up there - as if we did not know. Eventually we were relieved, and I for one was sorry to leave my Slit Trench that had been home to me for three months. Not sorry to leave the area, as everyone at this stage required a little rest and recuperation. We finished up at a place called Wadi Natrun, and Micky Hackett and I were the last of "A" Troop to get away to Cairo for four days leave. And did we have a leave. We had not been back at the Bty. for long when a few of us were called up and told we were on a special detail. We could not be told much except that we would be going West!!! .../Miteiriya Ridge This article first appeared in a 5 Fd Regt Newsletter. |