Came across this original photo of the El Alamein Cemetery in 1943. Then: Circa ??? From CWGC Website: There are 55 RAAF lads here who died while serving with the following squadrons. 3sq 14sq 24sq 37sq 39sq OLG 47sq 55sq 92sq 104sq 127sq 148sq 162sq 203sq 213sq 223sq Malta 250sq 252sq 459sq 70 O T U 22 PTC 1437 SR Flight ME Sea Rescue Flight RAF CWGC :: Cemetery Details Historical Information: The campaign in the Western Desert was fought between the Commonwealth forces (with, later, the addition of two brigades of Free French and one each of Polish and Greek troops) all based in Egypt, and the Axis forces (German and Italian) based in Libya. The battlefield, across which the fighting surged back and forth between 1940 and 1942, was the 1,000 kilometres of desert between Alexandria in Egypt and Benghazi in Libya. It was a campaign of manoeuvre and movement, the objectives being the control of the Mediterranean, the link with the east through the Suez Canal, the Middle East oil supplies and the supply route to Russia through Persia. EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY contains the graves of men who died at all stages of the Western Desert campaigns, brought in from a wide area, but especially those who died in the Battle of El Alamein at the end of October 1942 and in the period immediately before that. The cemetery now contains 7,240 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, of which 815 are unidentified. There are also 102 war graves of other nationalities. The ALAMEIN CREMATION MEMORIAL, which stands in the south-eastern part of El Alamein War Cemetery, commemorates more than 600 men whose remains were cremated in Egypt and Libya during the war, in accordance with their faith. The entrance to the cemetery is formed by the ALAMEIN MEMORIAL. The Land Forces panels commemorate more than 8,500 soldiers of the Commonwealth who died in the campaigns in Egypt and Libya, and in the operations of the Eighth Army in Tunisia up to 19 February 1943, who have no known grave. It also commemorates those who served and died in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Persia. The Air Forces panels commemorate more than 3,000 airmen of the Commonwealth who died in the campaigns in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, Crete and the Aegean, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Somalilands, the Sudan, East Africa, Aden and Madagascar, who have no known grave. Those who served with the Rhodesian and South African Air Training Scheme and have no known grave are also commemorated here. The cemetery was designed by Sir Hubert Worthington. No. of Identified Casualties: 6547
I always find these original cemetery shots rather striking. Be nice if the CWGC could try and include one where they have a more modern photo.
Pathe News: 1943 British Pathe - PILGRIMAGE TO ALAMEIN 1943 British Pathe - ALAMEIN TODAY 1954: British Pathe - EL ALAMEIN: 12 YEARS AFTER
Geoff, most of the Australian Graves are to the right of the up todate photograph. My last visit was almost 4yrs ago. During the week I spent a full day looking at all the headstones and photographing those marked with the Star of David for Martin Sugarman of AJEX. The first time a Pilgrimage was made was in 1992 when I was alone in the Cemetery. Only I wasn't alone as there was a tremendous presence. Something I have never fealt in any othe C.W.G.C. Cemetery. Has any other member had the same experience.
Some more modern photo's from the Cemetery and Memorial: Picasa Web Albums - Lee Anna - Egypt: El Ala...
