Hi all, I hope you will find this of some interest especially anyone that has a relation that served in the North African Campaign, or was actually there themselves. I have now added a virtual tour to my website that takes you from Cairo to Tunis, visiting the places below: Cairo Alexandria El Alamein Mersa Matruh Sidi Barrani Halafaya Sollum Bardia Fort Capuzzo Gumbut Tobruk Derna El Abair Benghazi Marble Arch Sirte Misurata Tripoli Sfax Tunis I've still got a lot of work to be done, but I hope you get a feel for what I am trying to create. my website address: www.eightharmy.ww2site.com regards Kieron
Great addition to your site Kieron - looking forward to the next part of the journey, through Sicily and up the Boot. The first photograph in the Tunis section appears to be taken at the entrance to the Medjerda Valley looking toward "Longstop Hill" - I so, may I have permission to reproduce it? Longstop was the key to opening up the Valley, and was captured by 78th Division supported by the North Irish Horse - the Germans deemed it impossible that a tank could reach the summit! Warmest regards, Gerry
Hi Kieron - really like your website. Some great material on there; but I can't seem to find the virtual tour. What section is it under? Have you been out to any of the 8th Army sites? I am currently involved in planning an El Alamein battlefield tour and would be interested to know if you have been there?
Hi Paul, Firstly thanks for taking a look, the virtual tour can be found on my home page after my introduction. Do you feel I should put a link in a more obvious place, say where all my other navigation bars are? as I don't want people having the same problem. With regards El Alamein not I've not been out there, but I was only saying to my wife last night thats its a place I'd love to go. So please keep me posted on what you're doing because I'd be interested. Regards Kieron
Hi Kieron - found it! Some really great photos there; particularly liked the Fort Capuzzo ones and the captured airfields. It's only an observation, but I think it might be an idea to have a more direct link to this tour and maybe have a 'next stop' button for every location so you don't have to keep going back to the menu. I will keep you informed about the tour; probably won't be until 2006.
Cheers Paul, I am going to make the alterations that you suggested, All new to me this. For the very first time I have just looked at my stats for my website that can be viewed on the service that Lee has provided and can you imagine my astonishment when I saw that I'd had over 11,000 visitors since I uploaded it, so I've now added a hit counter. I've had some great feed back from all over the world. I would just like to say a big thanks to Lee for helping me get this up and running-Cheers regards Kieron
Hi Kieron, This is great for me - my Dad was in the Australian Army, I know he travelled to most of these places - but unfortunately on his records it just states ME (middle East) - I know that there are photos of some of these places - but unfortunately they are on the opposite side of the country and until I can get there I cannot retrieve them. Thanks Dee
I realise this is an old thread, but I am new to the forum, so you must forgive me. I am a Battlefield Guide for all of North Africa, can I help? Regards MF
Good day Monty's Foxhound As a battlefield guide you must have a wealth of information at your finger tips! I 've been tracing the career of my father-in- law during his stay with the 51st Royal Tank Regiment. I've managed to get War Diaries and a small library, but what I find difficult to find is military maps of the areas and correct time period. Any ideas of finding maps beside visiting IWM etc. Roger and out.
How rude of me for not introducing myself. I'm from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. I should like to say hello to all who are intersted in the North African and Italian compaigns. I have a limited knowledge, but improving as I read more. If I can I will put my pennyworth in as I see it and try to help. TTFN Roger
OurBill, Regarding maps, the IWM supply maps of any time/period, these are full size copys at 6 GBP each, they can be ordered and paid for via the internet. Also sometimes you can get some very good maps from ebay. Litchfield eh, well my home town is Burton on Trent. So your father in law was in the 51st RTR, my grandfather was kia with the 50th RTR. Regards MF
(Montys Foxhounds @ Dec 7 2005, 12:02 PM) [post=42808]I realise this is an old thread, but I am new to the forum, so you must forgive me. I am a Battlefield Guide for all of North Africa, can I help? Regards MF [/b] Monty's Foxhound, welcome to the boards, thank you for your work as a Battlefield Guide, and do tell us about yourself and your work.
Thanks for the welcome, My new website should be up and running by Monday night. www.western-desert.de regards MF
(ourbill @ Dec 7 2005, 05:41 PM) [post=42814]How rude of me for not introducing myself. I'm from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. I should like to say hello to all who are intersted in the North African and Italian compaigns. I have a limited knowledge, but improving as I read more. If I can I will put my pennyworth in as I see it and try to help. TTFN Roger and out. [/b] Welcome aboard, Ourbill....I know Lichfield as being the site of a notorious US Army wartime prison, but I'm glad to see it's also home to good folk like yourself. You'll enjoy this board and learn a lot.
I have been looking through the photo`s on the Virtual Tour and there is indeed some very good ones. The landscape shots are the ones I like best. This next piece is for Gerry Chester who thought that the first photo in the Tunis section was Longstop Hill. Sorry to say you are mistaken, this is one of the hills in the Wadi Akarit position, just a few miles up the road is the large Roman ruins of El Djem as shown in the Virtual Tour. Regards MF
For:Montys Foxhounds Interesting that your grandfather was with the 50th RTR which was part of 23rd Amoured Brigade with 8th Army. The 51st RTR was with the 25th Army Tank Brigade along with the North Irish Horse(Gerry Chester's Regiment) and the 142nd RAC part of 1st Army. So near yet so far. My father in law survived the war after ending up in the PO Valley. For:Kiwiwriter I know Lichfield as being the site of a notorious US Army wartime prison. Tell me more. Roger
Just bringing this to the top as Kieron's website (which is excellent) is now: http://www.eightharmy.co.uk/
Our Bill - as your avatar indicates - the 51st RTR was a part of the 25th Tank Bde which landed in North Africa around the end of March '43 then actively involved in the fighting for the first battle for Medjez el Bab and subsequently in the second battle there which precluded the campaign in Africa. They then spent a great deal of time at Ain Mokra south of Bone ( Annaba) leaving for Italy in April of '44. Gerry Chester might have some maps of the area as he was also in the 25th with the North Irish Horse ! Cheers