Ruweisat Ridge: NAM webinar 29/4/2022

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by davidbfpo, Apr 1, 2022.

  1. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is not a specific thread for this battle, although there are many threads about units that fought there.

    There is a free, online webinar on the battle, under the title 'The Day Rommel Was Stopped' by Dr Chris Jephson, who co-authored a book of that name in 2017. See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Rommel-Was-Stopped-Ruweisat/dp/1612005586

    From the NAM notice (with booking details):
    Link: The Day Rommel Was Stopped | National Army Museum

    An online account of the battle: Forgotten Fights: Stopping Rommel at Ruweisat Ridge, July 1942 | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans

    The formation on the ridge was 'RobCol' and Charley Fortnum posted their make-up in 2016:
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2022
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  2. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I think they're overegging the case a bit.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    I only have a vague notion of this campaign before El-Alamein, so will try to listen.
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I have a strong interest in this as my grandfather was with 1/4 Essex, but the time-zones mean that it's very tricky for me to tune in. If anybody watching/listening (not aiming this at David alone) is able to record the broadcast, I'd be very grateful.

    As to over-egging the case, although I think the book (and its title) features a bit of that, there's a good case for the claim nonetheless: it was an awfully thin line thrown up by an improvised formation with inadequate support at the high-watermark of Rommel's advance into Egypt.

    We now know that the Axis were close to spent, but without something present to offer proper resistance, there's a decent chance that the 'Gazala Gallop' would have continued past Ruweisat into the Delta, and the enemy would have ended up in Cairo—as, indeed, many in Cairo expected.

    The book, as I've said elsewhere, is frustrating. It contains some excellent information, much of which has not been published previously, but it doesn't read like a conventional book: it's more of an account of someone researching someone else's research, and the information comes out on that journey, which, frankly, isn't the best method of presenting anything.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2022
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  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Charley,

    You can catch up via: National Army Museum - Crowdcast I have checked a number of previous webinars are there. I am registered with them, but it is not clear if you need to register to view after the actual event.
     
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  6. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Will investigate, thank you, David.

    On this topic, I've just been poking around this report.

    Extracted from: WO 169-4006: XIII Corps, G Branch (June-Aug 1942):

    P1660140.JPG P1660141.JPG P1660142.JPG P1660143.JPG

    Map to accompany:

    https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/north_africa/txu-oclc-6949452-nh35-8.jpg

    "Probably the most successful day over the whole front we've had since the end of May"
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I also found it frustrating although my impression was more "the account of an artillery regiment in WW2 which happened to include this action" as opposed to an actual history focusing on the battle. I don't think I've kept it although it might still be in my "to sell" pile.
     
  8. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Thanks for the files Charles!

    All the best

    Andreas
     

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