9th Lancers at El Alamein - October / November 1942

9th Lancers at El Alamein - October / November 1942

Editing in progress... ;-)

 

Links...

El Alamein RL Emblazoned Battle Honour - The Royal Lancers

Second Battle of El Alamein - Wikipedia

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0159.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Battle of El Alamein | North Africa Campaign | October 1942 | 51st Highland Division

BBC - WW2 People's War - El Alamein 1942 Category

Outpost Snipe

Maps

British copy of Field Marshal Rommel's annotated map of El Alamein, 23 October 1942 | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0173.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



Film

DESERT VICTORY [Main Title]

PRISONER TAKEN AT EL ALAMEIN [Allocated Title]

IWM

THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945: NORTH AFRICA 1940 - 1943
MH6005 - Object description - Lieutenant-General Montgomery's message to the Eighth Army before the Second Battle of El Alamein, 23 October 1942. A significant factor in Montgomery's leadership was his ability to communicate with and inspire his troops.

IWM - Photos

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
E18969 - Object description : Crusader tanks of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, moving at speed across the desert, 5 November 1942. Photo taken by Sergeant Chetwyn.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
E18970 - Object description : A Crusader II tank of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, moving at speed, 5 November 1942.

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH AFRICA 1940-1943
E18971 - Object description : The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Sherman tanks of the Eighth Army move across the desert at speed as the Axis forces begin to retreat from El Alamein. 9th Lancers.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
E18972 - Object description - Sherman tanks of 'C' Squadron, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, 5 November 1942.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
E18973 - Object description : Sherman tanks of 'C' Squadron, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, 5 November 1942.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 E18974 - Object description : Original wartime caption: One of Britain's surprise weapons which are taking a big part in the present battle - the Sherman tanks. They have a 75 mm gun mounted in the turret and a high turn of speed. Here a number of Shermans are seen proceeding towards the battle front.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
E18975 : Object description - Sherman tanks of 'C' Squadron, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, 5 November 1942.

 

Events...

Monday 12th October, 1942... 12d10m1942...



Friday 23rd October, 1942... 24d10m1942...
Events : The Second Battle of El Alamein began.
The Battle for Henderson Field began on Guadalcanal.
The Royal Air Force conducted its heaviest raid on Genoa to date.
The British cruiser HMS Phoebe was torpedoed by German submarine U-161 off Pointe-Noire. Phoebe had to head to New York for repairs and returned to service in August 1943.American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt arrived in London and met with the King and Queen of England at Buckingham Palace.
Born: Michael Crichton, author, in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2008)
Died: Ralph Rainger, 41, American composer (plane crash)

9th Lancers - " At sunset on the 23rd... " - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0160.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Saturday 24th October, 1942... 24d10m1942...
Events : Operations of the German 6th Army in Stalingrad slowed down considerably due to exhaustion after two weeks of intense fighting as well as the weather growing appreciably colder.
Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma took over command of Afrika Korps after Georg Stumme went missing. Georg Stumme - Wikipedia
A huge task force participating in Operation Torch departed England for North Africa.
German submarine U-599 was depth charged and sunk northeast of the Azores by a British B-24 Liberator.German submarine U-230 was commissioned.
Born: Frank Delaney, novelist, journalist and broadcaster, in Tipperary, Ireland (d. 2017)
Died:James C. Morton, 58, American actor;
Georg Stumme, 56, German general (died on the North African front, possibly of a heart attack).

9th Lancers - "By this time (24th October 1942) it was nearly dawn... " - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0161.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Sunday 25th October, 1942... 25d10m1942...
Events : The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands began.
Erwin Rommel returned to the North African front and resumed command of the Afrika Korps.
The Japanese cruiser Yura was heavily damaged by U.S. aircraft in the Indispensable Strait off Guadalcanal and had to be scuttled.

9th Lancers - " At dawn on the 25th... " - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0161.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Monday 26th October, 1942... 26d10m1942...
The Battle for Henderson Field ended in an American victory.
On the Eastern Front, the German 1st Panzer Army took Nalchik.
During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the American aircraft carrier USS Hornet was heavily damaged by Japanese aircraft and had to be scuttled early the next day. The American destroyer USS Porter was also sunk after being hit by a torpedo.
The ocean liner troopship President Coolidge sank after striking a mine off Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. All 5,340 aboard were rescued.
The Defence of Outpost Snipe began in North Africa. Defence of Outpost Snipe - Wikipedia
Born: Bob Hoskins, actor, in Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, England (d. 2014)
----- x ----- x -----
7th Bersaglieri Regiment attacks 9th Australian Division: 8am- October 26th, 1942.
51st Highland Division takes Kidney Ridge, further advance stoped by counterattack north of Kidney Ridge by Littorio Armoured Division: 5pm- October 26th, 1942.
2nd New Zealand Division and 1st South African Division advance 1km against Trento Division: 5:30pm- October 26th, 1942.

9th Lancers - " Enemy shellfire continued intensely on the 26th October... " - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0165.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Tuesday 27th October, 1942... 27d10m1942...
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands ended in tactical Japanese victory but strategic American victory.
The Defence of Outpost Snipe ended in British victory. Defence of Outpost Snipe - Wikipedia
The Battle of Goodenough Island ended in Australian victory.
German submarine U-627 was sunk south of Iceland by depth charges from a B-17 of No. 206 Squadron RAF.
The war film The Navy Comes Through starring Pat O'Brien and George Murphy had its world premiere at Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco Bay.
Died: Helmuth Hübener, 17, German anti-Nazi (executed)
----- x ----- x -----
21st Panzer Division, 15th Panzer Division and Littorio Armoured Division attack 51st Highland Division, but fail to retake Kidney Ridge: 8am October 27th, 1942.
7th Bersaglieri Regiment tries unsuccessfully to dislodge Australian 9th Division from Hill 28: 10am October 27th, 1942.
44th Infantry Division probes Folgore Parachutist Divisions defences: October 27th, 1942.
7th Armoured Division moves north: October 27th, 1942.

9th Lancers- " The next morning, the 27th of October... " - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0165.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Wednesday 28th October, 1942... 28d10m1942...
On the second anniversary of Ohi Day, Winston Churchill made a speech to the Greek people telling them that their "courage and spirit in adversity remain a lively inspiration to the United Nations. Outside their own country the armed forces of Greece, the navy, army and air force, are once again in the field already testing their growing strength in the face of the enemy, and anxious for the day, not far off now, when they will be with you and avenging your sufferings."
12 Hawker Hurricanes under the command of Greek aviator Ioannis Kellas marked Ohi Day by raiding Italian positions at El Alamein.
The twentieth anniversary of the March on Rome passed without a speech from Benito Mussolini, who was rarely appearing in public anymore.
The Richard Strauss opera Capriccio premiered at the National Theatre Munich.
Clark Gable was commissioned as a second lieutenant, earning the right to regrow his famous mustache which he had to shave off when he enlisted.
German submarine U-531 was commissioned.
----- x ----- x -----
Trento Division under heavy attack by 1st South African Division and 4th Indian Division falls back. 21st Panzer Division and Littorio Armoured Division counterattack and stabilze Axis front: October 28th, 1942.
2nd New Zealand Division moves behind 9th Australian Division. October 28th, 1942.
Australian 9th Division attempts to break through Axis lines west of Hill 28: 10am October 28th, 1942.

9th Lancers - "By Dawn on the 28th..." - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0165.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Thursday 29th October, 1942... 29d10m1942...
Leading British clergymen and political figures held a public meeting to express their outrage at the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany. Churchill sent a message to the meeting stating that "Free men and women denounce these vile crimes, and when this world struggle ends with the enthronement of human rights, racial persecution will be ended."
The unescorted British passenger ship MV Abosso was torpedoed and sunk northwest of the Azores by German submarine U-575. 362 of the 393 people aboard perished.
German submarine U-646 was commissioned.
----- x ----- x -----
Axis Commander General Rommel reorganizes his troops: October 29th, 1942.

9th Lancers - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0169.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Nb. "By evening" of the 28th October 1942... on to the 29th... etc.



Friday 30th October, 1942... 30d10m1942...
The Defense of the Adzhimushkay quarry ended with the Germans crushing the last Soviet resistance forces.
German submarines U-520 and U-658 were depth charged and sunk east of Newfoundland by aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
German submarine U-559 was depth charged and sunk in the eastern Mediterranean by British destroyers.
German submarine U-520 was commissioned.
Died: Tony Fasson, 29, British Royal Navy officer (drowned while retrieving codebooks from the sinking U-559).

Saturday 31st October, 1942... 31d10m1942...
30 planes of the Luftwaffe bombed Canterbury in one of the heaviest raids on England since the Blitz.
Hitler, confident that Stalingrad would fall soon, moved his headquarters from Werwolf back to the Wolf's Lair.
Two days after signing his first professional contract, 21-year old Maurice Richard played in his first National Hockey League game for the Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins. He recorded an assist during his first NHL shift as the Canadiens went on to win 3-2.
"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby hit #1 on the Billboard singles charts.
Died: Paul Galland, 22, German Luftwaffe ace (killed in action)
----- x ----- x -----
Operation Supercharge begins. Australian 9th Division attacks to open breach in Axis line for 2nd New Zealand Division: 11pm October 31st, 1942.

9th Lancers - Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0169.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Sunday 1st November 1942... 1d11m1942...
Events : U.S. forces began the Matanikau Offensive on Guadalcanal.
German Army Group A captured Alagir.
Escape from Fort Stanton: Four German sailors escaped from an internment camp at Fort Stanton, New Mexico.
The Embassy of the Soviet Union posted a bulletin announcing that the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet had formed a committee for the investigation of war crimes committed by the Germans and their associates to the people and property of the USSR.
Strikes broke out in Haute-Savoie in protest of the Vichy government's forced recruitment of labour for Germany.
Legislative elections were held in Portugal. Since the country was a one-party state, the National Union claimed 100% of the vote.
Died: Hugo Distler, 34, German organist and composer
----- x ----- x -----
Australian 9th Division fails and returns to starting position. Supercharge pushed back 24h: November 1st, 1942.

Monday 2nd November, 1942... 2d11m1942...
Events : Australian troops captured the village of Kokoda and the accompanying airfield.
Stars and Stripes became a daily publication, the first in U.S. Army history.
The BBC began French-language broadcasts to Canada.
German submarine U-306 was commissioned.
Died: John Eldridge Jr., 39, United States Naval Aviator, killed in action in the Solomon Islands
----- x ----- x -----
15th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division counterattack- Tank Battle of Tell el Aqqaqir: 9am November 2nd, 1942.
Ariete Armoured Division moves north: November 2nd, 1942.
Trento, Bologna, Pavia, Brescia, Folgore Divisions and Ramcke Brigade begin retreat: 10pm November 2nd, 1942.

Tuesday 3rd November 1942... 3d11m1942...
Erwin Rommel received an order from Adolf Hitler to "stand and die", but disregarded it as plans for a withdrawal were already in place.
The Koli Point action began on Guadalcanal.
The United States midterm elections were held. The Republican Party gained seats but the Democrats retained control of both chambers.
The fugitives in the Escape from Fort Stanton were recaptured. One of the escapees was wounded in a shootout with authorities.
German submarine U-198 was commissioned.
Died:
Ernest Gibbins, 41, British entomologist (speared to death by Ugandan tribesmen)
Violette Cunnington, 32, mistress to actor Leslie Howard (sepsis)
----- x ----- x -----
Axis units ordered to halt their retreat by Adolf Hitler: November 3rd, 1942.



Wednesday 4th November 1942... 4d11m1942...
The Matanikau Offensive ended in American victory.
German submarine U-132 was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by the explosion of the British cargo ship Hatimura, which had just been torpedoed by U-442.
German submarines U-169 and U-416 were commissioned.
----- x ----- x -----
9th Lancers : Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0171.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



Thursday 5th November 1942... 5d11m1942...
Fighting in and around Stalingrad forced the city's power plant to shut down.
German submarine U-408 was depth charged and sunk north of Iceland by an American Catalina.
German submarines U-647, U-658 and U-712 were commissioned.
Died: George M. Cohan, 64, American songwriter and entertainer
----- x ----- x -----
9th Lancers : Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0175.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Friday 6th November 1942... 6d11m1942...
The Battle of Madagascar ended in Allied victory.
An operation by the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion during the Guadalcanal Campaign began. It was known as Carlson's Patrol after the battalion's commander Evans Carlson.
The British passenger ship City of Cairo was torpedoed and sunk south of Saint Helena by German submarine U-68 with the loss of 104 of the 311 people on board.
The Church of England abolished its rule requiring women to wear hats in church.
The comedy-mystery film "Who Done It?" starring Abbott and Costello was released.
Born: Jean Shrimpton, model and actress, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.
----- x ----- x -----
9th Lancers
Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0175.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



Saturday 7th November 1942

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
IWM E19174 : Object description - A German 88mm gun abandoned near the coast road, west of El Alamein, 7 November 1942.
Photo by Sergeant Palmer.

Sunday 8th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...
"Western Desert
Our forces occupied Mersa Matruh. The remnants of the German Afrika Corps continued to retreat. The Thirteenth Corps was allotted the task of clearing the Alamein battlefield and the collection of the many thousands of Italians abandoned by their Allies on the southern flank.
Two L.C.T.s with petrol unloaded from Smuggler's Cove, east of Mersa Matruh harbour."

Monday 9th November 1942

9th Lancers... from 9th November 1942 to 13th November 1942...
Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0176.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



Tuesday 10th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...
"estern Desert
Axis forces crossed into Cyrenaica from Egypt. Our forward elements were operating in the Gambut area. The speed of our advance was to a great extent limited by the supply problem. A total of 24,153 German and Italian prisoners of war had now passed through the cages."

Wednesday 11th November 1942

The Second Battle of El Alamein ended in a decisive Allied victory.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19352 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Part of a large number of 8th Army tanks moving into action at dusk against the enemy. Photo taken by Sergeant Gladstone. 11d11m1942.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19400 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Wrecked enemy planes and parts on the airfield at Daba, abandoned by the enemy in their headlong flight. Photo taken by Sergeant Palmer. 11d11m1942.

Thursday 12th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...
"Western Desert
The supply of petrol and water from L.C.T.s was proceeding most satisfactorily. Bardia was occupied and water supplies were found intact. The jetty was completely demolished; there were no alongside berths for any type of craft, up to five landing craft could however, discharge onto an unsheltered beach.
4. Reconnaissance reports showed that the enemy was evacuating Tobruk. All landing grounds east of Tobruk were in our hands. The following signal was sent by the Arm Commander to the Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Station:
"My very sincere thanks for your kind message which is much appreciated by the Eighth Army. We send to the Navy our thanks in the part they have played, first in safeguarding the passage of troops and supplies without which the offensive would not have been possible, and secondly, in the direct assistance during the present operations."

Friday 13th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...

"Western Desert
Tobruk was cleared of the enemy today and occupied by our forces. The enemy had left hurriedly and little demolition had taken place. Many of the jetties were seriously damaged as a result of our own bombing and several wrecks were found in addition to the many already there. The inner boom was intact, but the outer boom was useless. Water supplies were uncontaminated. The wreck of an Italian submarine of the BALILLA class was found beached in position 32-04.6N, 23-59.2E. This U boat had been hit by two bombs in a raid by U.S. Army Air Force bombers on the 7th November. She was subsequently completely wrecked internally by demolition and salvage was impossible.
Operation SNEEZE
The operation and loading of Western Desert ships and craft in Alexandria took precedence over the restrictions previously imposed due to Operation SNEEZE.
Motor Torpedo Boats
Two M.T.B.s were sailed from Mersa Matruh and operated in the vicinity of Tobruk during the night to intercept enemy shipping proceeding westward, but found nothing.
The Mobile M.T.B. Base was transferred to Sollum in order that the M.T.B.s could operate against enemy shipping evacuating Tobruk.
Submarines
H.H.M.S. NEREUS arrived in Beirut from a long patrol in the Aegean, in spite of several engine defects. On the night of 3rd/4th November, Operation HOLLYM was successfully carried out. This consisted of landing one and a half tons of stores and three Greek agents on the Euboean coast.
H.M.S. P 44 returned to Malta from patrol off the northwest of Sicily to cover Operation TORCH. H.M.S. P 44 witnesses an attack on a REGOLO class cruiser by H.M.S. P 46 at 1125 on 8th November, 16 miles northwest of Cape San Vito, which blew a considerable portion of her bow away. H.M.S. P 44 attempted to finish her off, but missed, though an escorting destroyer may have been hit.
H.M.S. UNA also returned to Malta from patrol off the southern approaches of Messina and Port Augusta for the initial stages of Operation TORCH. At 0710 on 10th November, H.M.S. UNA sighted an enemy force of three 6 inch cruisers, escorted by six destroyers in position 37-11N, 15-30E. The cruisers were missed by UNA, but a fleet destroyer on the far side of the screen was hit and sunk."

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19464 : Object description - Original wartime caption: A sign left at Daba aerodrome after the enemy had left it. Photo taken by Sergeant Smale. 13d11m1942.

Saturday 14th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings
Has... "Western Desert
The enemy's opposition in the Gazala area was slight, but his main forces continued retreating towards Tocra. Tmimi was occupied at the close of the day.
The cased petrol carrier EMPIRE PATROL was sailed from Alexandria for Bardia and Tobruk with 1200 tons of aviation spirit and 300 tons of benzine for the advanced landing grounds at Gazala in order that aircraft could operate from there for Operation STONEAGE. Many L.C.T.s, L.C.M.s, L.C.P.s, Z craft, pontoon, and water carriers were on passage to Mersa Matruh, Bardia, and Tobruk.
H.M.S. WHITEHAVEN reported being attacked by two Italian torpedo bombers when in the vicinity of Mersa Matruh. All the torpedoes missed and the aircraft made off undamaged.

Sunday 15th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...

"Western Desert
Bardia and Tobruk were reported to be cleared of mines. Derna and Martuba landing grounds were clear of the enemy. A dusk raid at Tobruk by three JU 88s resulted in no damage. The first railway train reached Mersa Matruh today."

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19576 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Mersa Matruh lies peaceful and quiet after the re-occupation by Allied troops. Photo taken by Captain Keating. Catalogued 15d11m1945.

Etc.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
E19600 : Object description - Original wartime caption: The Union Jack is hoisted in Tobruk in place of the swastika. The British toomy stands sympbolically, on the swastika as he hauls the Union Jack up into the breeze.

Monday 16th November 1942

Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942, including North African Landings

Has...

"Western Desert
2. Heavy weather along the Libyan coast made the passage for small craft precarious; Bardia was unworkable due to heavy swell.
3. H.M.S. EMPIRE PATROL offloaded 400 tons of aviation spirit at Bardia and then sailed for Tobruk to await until the Vice Admiral Malta had reported that 2000 tons of aviation spirit had been discharged from the merchant ships of STONEAGE. If STONEAGE had failed, it was intended to sail her for Malta.
4. The merchant ship HERMALIN grounded whilst entering Mersa Matruh, but sustained no damage. Tobruk reported minesweeping operations completed; a special Wellington exploded one mine.
5. Derna and the landing ground were reported clear of the enemy, but the roads east and west of the town were blocked.
6. At Derna, the small pier and jetty were found intact.
Motor Torpedo Boats
7. Two M.T.B.s were sailed from Ras el Hilal to intercept shipping leaving Benghazi on the night 15th/16th November, but were forced to turn back early due to weather.
Levant
8. Schooner traffic in the area south of Tripoli (Syria) was resumed."

Tuesday 17th November 1942

Has...

"Western Desert
2. Heavy weather along the Libyan coast made the passage for small craft precarious; Bardia was unworkable due to heavy swell.
3. H.M.S. EMPIRE PATROL offloaded 400 tons of aviation spirit at Bardia and then sailed for Tobruk to await until the Vice Admiral Malta had reported that 2000 tons of aviation spirit had been discharged from the merchant ships of STONEAGE. If STONEAGE had failed, it was intended to sail her for Malta.
4. The merchant ship HERMALIN grounded whilst entering Mersa Matruh, but sustained no damage. Tobruk reported minesweeping operations completed; a special Wellington exploded one mine.
5. Derna and the landing ground were reported clear of the enemy, but the roads east and west of the town were blocked.
6. At Derna, the small pier and jetty were found intact.
Motor Torpedo Boats
7. Two M.T.B.s were sailed from Ras el Hilal to intercept shipping leaving Benghazi on the night 15th/16th November, but were forced to turn back early due to weather."

A GREAT ARMY AFRICA BOUND : PROTECTING PLANE PHOTOGRAPHS HISTORIC CONVOY EN ROUTE
IWM C3225 : Object description - Original wartime caption: The sea, as far as the horizon, covered with British Navy and Merchant Navy ships bound for the coast of French North Africa with a cargo of armed men and machines of war - a historic picture made from one of the aircraft of R.A.F. Coastal Command which, together with R.A.F. Bomber Command, and the U.S. Army Air Froces, maintained a great protecting air "umbrella" over the convoy. While Sunderland Flying Boars, Whitleys, Liberators, Wellingtons and Hudsons maintained constant patrol, pinning U-boats in their Bay of Biscay bases, Beaufighters of Coastal Command neutralised the efforts of German long-range fighters to intercept the U-boat hunting aircraft. In one of the biggest 'combined operations' ever known, the air and sea forces took vast land forces safely to a new theatre of war.

Wednesday 18th November 1942

Has...

Western Desert
4. M.T.B.s made several attempts to attack shipping in the Benghazi area, but bad weather limited their activities. Minesweepers began sweeping a swept channel into Tobruk.

Thursday 19th November 1942

Has...

Western Desert
3. The first convoy entered Tobruk; the discharge of cargo and petrol made a satisfactory start. The anti aircraft defences of the port were now completed.
4. Gale weather all along the coast delayed the unloading of ships in Bardia and Mersa Matruh.

 

9th Lancers - El Alamein - Roll of Honour

Editing in progress...

Re. SERJEANT EDWARD WORSWICK - 317126
Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0162.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2213158/edward-worswick/
SERJEANT EDWARD WORSWICK
Service Number: 317126
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 'C' Sqn. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 24 October 1942
Age 29 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. XVIII. A. 18. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of John and Mary Ann Worswick; husband of Mary Marjorie Worswick, of Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Personal Inscription : "FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT"

Re. TROOPER STANLEY SMURTHWAITE
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2125034/stanley-smurthwaite/
TROOPER STANLEY SMURTHWAITE
Service Number: 7912769
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 24 October 1942
Age 27 years old
Buried or commemorated at ALAMEIN MEMORIAL. Column 18. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smurthwaite; husband of Edith Brenda Smurthwaite, of Hemsworth, Yorkshire.

Re. TROOPER ERIC DONNELLY
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2093499/eric-donnelly/
TROOPER ERIC DONNELLY
Service Number: 7045340
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 24 October 1942
Age 22 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. X. D. 19. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of James Patrick and Lucy Donnelly, of West Didsbury, Manchester.
Personal Inscription : ONE OF NATURE'S GENTLEMEN. RESTING WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL

----- x ----- x -----

Re. SERJEANT FRANK HENRY RAYNOR - 310896
Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0162.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2211472/frank-henry-raynor/
SERJEANT FRANK HENRY RAYNOR
Service Number: 310896
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 'B' Sqn. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 25 October 1942
Age 35 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. IX. C. 10. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Husband of Gladys Violet Raynor, of Hounslow, Middlesex.
Personal Inscription : MAY THE ANGELS PRESENT HIM NOW BEFORE THE LORD. LORD, HAVE MERCY ON HIM

Re. SERJEANT FRANCIS STOCKS - 317441
Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0165.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2212215/francis-stocks/
SERJEANT FRANCIS STOCKS
Service Number: 317441
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 25 October 1942
Age 30 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. XXIV. F. 6. Egypt.
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Stocks; husband of Doreen Amy May Stocks, of Colkirk, Norfolk.
Personal Inscription : THOUGHTS FOR EACH DAY MEMORIES FOR EVER. HIS DEVOTED WIFE AND BABY ANN

Re. TROOPER WILLIAM SHELTON
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2211886/william-shelton/
TROOPER WILLIAM SHELTON
Service Number: 317243
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 25 October 1942
Age 32 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. X. D. 17. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of George and Phoebe Ann Shelton; husband of Rose Ellen Shelton, of Meanwood, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Personal Inscription : HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE

Re. TROOPER GEORGE LEONARD HORTON
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2094789/george-leonard-horton/
TROOPER GEORGE LEONARD HORTON
Service Number: 7920351
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 25 October 1942
Age 31 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. VI. B. 25. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of George William and Mabel Horton; husband of Vera Horton, of Penmaenmawr, Caernarvonshire.
Personal Inscription : GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

Re. TROOPER LESLIE THOMAS MIFFLIN
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2210504/leslie-thomas-mifflin/
TROOPER LESLIE THOMAS MIFFLIN
Service Number: 3459880
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 25 October 1942
Age 30 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. V. F. 1. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Henry and Mabel Mifflin; husband of Edith Maud Mifflin, of Elton, Bury, Lancashire.
Personal Inscription : TIME FLIES AS THOUGH ON WINGS BUT MEMORY LIKE THE IVY CLINGS

----- x ----- x -----

Re. Lieutenant Henry Scawen Wyndham, 65975...
3rd November 1915 - 28th October 1942 - Person Page

Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0167.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2213183/henry-scawen-wyndham/

LIEUTENANT HENRY SCAWEN WYNDHAM
Service Number: 65975
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 28 October 1942
Age 26 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. VI. E. 13. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Colonel the Hon. Edward Scawen Wyndham, D.S.O., and of Gladys Mary Wyndham (nee Farquhar), of Mayfair, London.
Personal Inscription : KILLED IN ACTION AT ALAMEIN, BELOVED ELDEST SON OF COL. THE HON. E. S. WYNDHAM, DSO. AND GLADYS HIS WIFE

https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/175166/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/66032

----- x ----- x -----

Re. Trooper Arthur Thomas Wood, 7927131...

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2213126/arthur-thomas-wood/

TROOPER ARTHUR THOMAS WOOD
Service Number: 7927131
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 02 November 1942
Age 27 years old
Buried or commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY. VI. E. 11. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Arthur Henry and Emma Wood, of Birmingham; husband of Nancy Wood, of Small Heath, Birmingham.
Personal Inscription : IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY DARLING HUSBAND AND DADDY OF RICHARD "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN"

----- x ----- x -----

Re. 2nd Lieutenant Theodore Zissu - 194232

https://royallancersmuseum.co.uk/ar...regimental-histories-1936-1945-bright-0171jpg

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2111442/theodore-zissu/

SECOND LIEUTENANT THEODORE ZISSU

Service Number: 194232
Regiment : Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C.
Secondary Unit : Seconded to 9th Queen's Royal Lancers Royal Armoured Corps
Date of Death : Died 03 November 1942
Buried or commemorated at ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY. 4. C. 13. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom

----- x ----- x -----

Re. LIEUTENANT JOHN TETLEY MILNES
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2209511/john-tetley-milnes/
LIEUTENANT JOHN TETLEY MILNES
Service Number: 226347
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 04 November 1942
Age 29 years old
Buried or commemorated at HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY. 2. G. 33. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of Ralph and Gwendoline Milnes; husband of Cynthia Milnes, of Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire. B.A.(Oxon.).
Personal Inscription : IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND JOHN

Trooper George Patrick Hamlett, 7903158
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2110679/george-patrick-hamlett/
TROOPER GEORGE PATRICK HAMLETT
Service Number: 7903158
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 04 November 1942
Age 26 years old
Buried or commemorated at ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY. 5. A. 8. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom
Additional Info : Son of William and Gwendoline Hamlett, of Cardiff.
Personal Inscription : REMEMBERED ALWAYS WITH LOVE AND PRIDE BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Trooper Alfred Smith, 320698
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2124955/alfred-smith/
TROOPER ALFRED SMITH
Service Number: 320698
Regiment : Royal Armoured Corps. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Date of Death : Died 04 November 1942
Age 22 years old
Buried or commemorated at ALAMEIN MEMORIAL. Column 18. Egypt
Country of Service : United Kingdom

 

9th Lancers - El Alamein - Citations

Editing in progress... ;-)

Colonel Gerald Hugh Grosvenor, DSO...
(13 February 1907 – 25 February 1967)
Service Number : 36661

Gerald Grosvenor, 4th Duke of Westminster - Wikipedia

9th-12th-Lancers_1961_0003.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0155.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Recommendation for Award for Grosvenor, Gerald Hugh Rank: Major Service No: ... | The National Archives





----- x ----- x -----

Re. Captain Basil Somerton Agate, MC - Service No:184253
Born in Sussex England on 13 May 1918 to John William Coleman Agate and Lucy Anne Hardcastle. Basil Somerton Agate passed away on 16 December 1969 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

Recommendation for Award for Agate, Basil Somerton Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives

Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

----- x ----- x -----

Re. Lieutenant Colonel Sir George David Meyrick, Bt. MC...
Service Number : 71865
9th-12th-Lancers_1989_0138.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby
Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...



----- x ----- x -----

Trooper Hyman Ferner, MM., 7920344...

Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_389.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Nb. 792034 below is a typo for 7920344...



Lance Corporal Edwin Alfred Instone, MM., 5349069...

Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_387.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

 

Re. Lance Corporal / Corporal Alfred "Alfie" Nicholls / Nickolls, MM, 550824...

9th-12th-Lancers_1989_0144.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

Recommendation for Award for Nicholls, Alfred Rank: Lance Corporal Service... | The National Archives

Albeit nb. as Nicholls, rather than Nickolls.

Reference:WO 373/22/384
Description:
Name : Nicholls, Alfred
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No:550824
Regiment:9 Queen's Royal Lancers
Theatre of Combat or Operation:Middle East (Egypt and Libya)
Award:Military Medal
Date of announcement in London Gazette:14 January 1943
Date:1942-1943
Held by:The National Archives, Kew
Legal status:Public Record(s)

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_387.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

 

Maps - For comparison...

 

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947

E18800 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Sappers going out to clear a lane through an enemy minefield at sunset. These men are first in and sometimes last out. If the enemy should attack in force before our troops have got through the gap they clear, then the sappers must relay the mines again so that the enemy cannot use the gap either.
Taken by Sergeant Silverside. Catalogued on 1d11m1942.

9th Lancers...

 

9th Lancers...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0175.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



RAF El Daba - Wikipedia

EL DABA, WESTERN DESERT, NORTH AFRICA, 1942-1943. AERIAL VIEWS OF GRAVEYARD OF GERMAN AND BRITISH ...

DABA, EGYPT. 1942-11-06. DABA RAILWAY STATION, SHOWING DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.

DABA, EGYPT. 1942-11-06. PRISONERS WALKING ALONG TOWARDS EL ALAMEIN WHILE OUR ARMIES STREAM ...

 

Re. El Daba/ Daba (rather confused / confusing captions, descriptions and iwm picture links ;-)

IWM tag - Daba - : Find an object | Imperial War Museums

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E 19218 (link) aka E19219 : Object description (E19217) - Original wartime caption: An armoured car brings in a load of German prisoners to Daba. Nb. "Actual" link - THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947 : F61749.

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19219 (link) aka E19220 (seen photo) : Object description (E19218) - Original wartime caption: A German prisoner from Mulheim-on-Ruhr, who was a metal worker in peace time, seemed uncertain as to how we treated prisoners of war. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19220 aka E19221 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Two German prisoners rounded up at Fuka station during the British advance. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947
IWM E19221 aka E19222 (?) : Object description - Original wartime caption: Damaged rolling stock and abandoned enemy supplies at Daba station. Photo taken by Major McDonald. Catalogued 10d11m1942. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947

----- x ----- x -----

ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943.
IWM CM3927 : Object description - Vickers Wellington B Mark IIs of No. 104 Squadron RAF await their bomb loads at LG 224/Cairo West, Egypt, before undertaking night operations against enemy columns retreating after the Battle of El Alamein.

--- x ---

ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943.
IWM CM3930

ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943.
IWM CM3931 : Object description - A gunner of an RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Flight mans a 20mm Hispano-Suiza anti-aircraft gun from the back of a lorry, while securing a desert landing ground in Egypt. These units seized the Fuka and Daba landing grounds during the enemy's withdrawal following the Battle of El Alamein, capturing 300 some prisoners and clearing the area ready for the arrival of the flying squadrons.

IWM tag - Fuka - Find an object | Imperial War Museums

Sidi Haneish Airfield - Wikipedia

 

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942
IWM E19174 : Object description - A German 88mm gun abandoned near the coast road, west of El Alamein, 7 November 1942.
Photo by Sergeant Palmer.



THE DEFEAT OF ROMMEL'S ARMY IN EGYPT
IWM E19175 : Object description - Original wartime caption: Another knocked out German 88 mm gun with hauling tractor beside it, found by our advancing troops.

 

9th Lancers... from 9th November 1942 to 13th November 1942...

Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0176.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby



Re. Tmimi aka Timini...

http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/18029330/&q=Tmimi&o=relevance

& http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/18029410/&q=Timini&o=relevance

IWM - as Tmimi... Find an object | Imperial War Museums

IWM - as Timimi... Find an object | Imperial War Museums

BBC - WW2 People's War - Libya by Tmimi Airfield, November 1942

Timimi - Wikipedia

 

Operations in North Africa and the Middle East 1942-1944

 

Merrick (referred to as 'Meyrick' in the WD) missed the sh*tshow in late January 1942, I am guessing LOB. He was a Captain then and on 8 Feb returned to become 2 i/c B Squadron.

All the best

Andreas

 

9th Lancers...



Regimental-Histories_1936-1945 Bright_0111.jpg - The Royal Lancers Museum at Derby

 

Not sure if this is a 9th Lancers Sherman ...




Photo series E 18705 - E 18712

 

It's tricky.

The censorship has obviously affected what we can see on many of the photos taken around then, but my first thought when looking through the many photos was that whilst lots seem to be attributed to given Regiments, and/or Brigades, many are not and even the dates that they were catalogued and the variances between what the caption cards "say" and what the Object descriptions profess could lead the casual viewer into muddled confusion.

You can compare quite a few of the tank photos taken around then here...

https://www.how-amps.org/british-m4-sherman-tanks-north-afric

And the labelled 9th Lancer ones, along with the 2nd Armoured Brigade are fairly distinctive. Usually the desert camouflage scheme that they used stands out. There's even a picture of one that was half way towards being styled as they did then...

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942

A jeep and Sherman tanks of HQ 2nd Armoured Brigade, 10 Oct 1942. "The white line on the tank was being used as a guideline by the Camouflage Unit who were called away before completing the painting of the Brigade's tanks." IWM photo E 17898.

Sergeant Mapham was with Chet's Circus at the time and the tank recovery units were perhaps employed with removing the tactical markings and etc. of the recovered tanks so that they could go into a pool to be later redistributed as future need(s) arose.

None of the individuals have obvious cap badges, though what can be seen of one is distinctly un-9L "like".

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST 1940-1947



Mapham often seems to have his photographs studied...

PREPARATIONS FOR THE INVASION
Object description : Original wartime caption: Sherman tanks of a famous Cavalry Regiment on the road. 2d6m1944.

So often there are "claims". Or they get used generically to show how "things were" without many more specific details being spelled out.

 

Agreed. It's not unusual to find discrepancies or gaps of information in picture information cards. There is some type of marking above the rear fender on the Sherman tank, for what its worth.

I have no idea if the cropped off edges of those pictures had I.D. marks and numbers left by the creator. I've recently made a somewhat alarming discovery that some of the LAC (Library and Archives Canada) pictures have the wrong photographer assigned in the online captions, even when the initials of a different photographer were marked on the edge of the film!