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Western Desert Campaign in North Africa    The Western Desert Campaign began in In June 1940 with skirmishes between British and Italian Troops on the Egyptian - Libyan border. In August the British forces were reinforced during Operations Hats. Both sides established scouting and raiding units, the British Long Range Desert Group (which would later become the SAS) and the Italian Auto-Saharan Company. On the 13th of September 1940 the Italian Army invaded Egypt, the British Operation to put down the Italian Force led to the German Afrika Korps under Gen. Erwin Rommel being sent to Tripoli. Fighting in North Africa continued with a series of battles until the Axis forces in North Africa surrendered on the 13th May 1943. Operation Compass 7th Dec 1940 - 9th Feb 1941 Battle of Sidi Barrani 10th - 16th Dec 1940 Battle of Bardia 14th Dec 1940 - 5th Jan 1941 Battle of Beda Fomm Jan - Feb 1941 Siege of Tobruk 10 April – 27 November 1941 Operation Brevity 15th - 16th May 1941 Operation Skorpion 26th - 27th May 1941 Operation Battleaxe 15th June 1941 Operation Crusader 18th November – 30th December 1941 Operation Theseus 21st Jan 1942 Battle of Gazala 26 May to 21 June 1942 Battle of Mersa Matruh 28th June 1942 First Battle of El Alamein 1st – 27th July 1942 Battle of Alam el Halfa 30th Aug 1942 Second Battle of El Alamein 23rd Oct - 20th Nov 1942 Operation Torch 8th Nov 1942 Tunisian Campaign 17th Nov 1943 - 13th May 1943   30th June 1940 Move 14th Sep 1940 Advance 15th Sep 1940 Orders 16th Sep 1940 On the Move 17th Sep 1940 On the Move 18th Sep 1940 On the Move 20th Sep 1940 Bombing 22nd Sep 1940 Bombing 23rd Sep 1940 Patrol 26th Sep 1940 Visit 29th Sep 1940 Recce 2nd Oct 1940 Minefield 4th Oct 1940 On the March 21st Oct 1940 Minefield 22nd Oct 1940 Demonstration 23rd Oct 1940 Patrol 31st Oct 1940 Enemy Aircraft 2nd Nov 1940 Air Battle 15th Nov 1940 Conference 17th Nov 1940 Orders 19th Nov 1940 On the March 20th Nov 1940 In Action 20th Nov 1940 On the March 21st Nov 1940 On the Move 22nd Nov 1940 On the Move 25th Nov 1940 Demonstration 26th November 1940 Missing in action 30th Nov 1940 Reliefs 1st Dec 1940 On the March 1st Dec 1940 On the Move 2nd Dec 1940 On the March 6th Dec 1940 Orders 7th Dec 1940 Orders 7th Dec 1940 On the March  Operation Compass  After the unsuccessful attempt by the Italians to drive the Allied forces out of Mersa Matruh on the 31st October 1940, the Italian invasion into British-occupied Egypt came to a halt. Archibald Wavell in command of British Troops in Egypt ordered Lieutenant General Henry Wilson to begin planning a limited operation to push the Italians back into Libya. The offensive was codenamed Operation Compass. The operation plan was guarded with great secrecy; as late as 25th/26th November when a rehearsal was held, only a small number of officers knew that the training grounds were modelled after the Italian held towns of Nibeiwa and the Tummars. The plan was to dispatch the Support Group of the British 7th Armoured Division to Sofafi where the Italian 63rd Division had its HQ. Meanwhile, the remainder of the 7th Armoured Division and the Indian 4th Division were to advance in two separate columns through the gap between Sofafi to the south and Nibeiwa to the north. After this breakthrough, the British 7th Armoured Division was to attack northwest toward Buq Buq, Egypt while the Indian 4th Division was to attack northeast toward Sidi Barrani, Egypt, attempting to capture Nibeiwa and the Tummars en route. The Royal Navy was also to participate in the operation by bombarding Sidi Barrani. The plan was to be a raid lasting only five days to drive the Italians out of Egypt. However by 28th November the British were so confident in their plan that Wavell gave the permission for Wilson to escalate the operation and continue westward into Libya should he see an opportunity to do so. Initial objectives were achieved in only three days, and with considerably fewer casualties than expected. The Indian troops were then redeployed to Sudan and replaced by the untried Australian 6th Division, but Wilson decided nevertheless to press on. A second advance in the first week of January 1941 captured the Libyan town of Bardia, with 36,000 troops taken prisoner. The Australian troops reached Tobruk on the 9th January and paused there to bring up reserves and supplies. A third assault captured Tobruk on the 24th January where a further 17,000 Itlaian troops surrendered. By the 9th February the Italian 10th Army had been effectively eliminated with 32,000 Italians escaping westward in disarray and a total of 130,000 taken as PoWs. 800 miles of territory along the Egyptian and Libyan coast had been taken. At this point Churchill ordered that the advance was to cease, bringing Operation Compass to an end, so that resources could be diverted to the effort to drive the Italians out of Greece.  Operation Compass 7th December 1940 Libyan Airfields attacked 8th Dec 1940 On the March 8th Dec 1940 On the March 9th Dec 1940 On the March 9th Dec 1940 Prisoners 10th Dec 1940 On the March 10th Dec 1940 Shelling 11th Dec 1940 In Action 11th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft 12th Dec 1940 Prisoners 12th Dec 1940 Water Truck Recovered 13th Dec 1940 On the Move 14th Dec 1940 Enemy Sighted 14th Dec 1940 Communication Issues 15th Dec 1940 Patrols 15th Dec 1940 Air Raid 16th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft 16th Dec 1940 Bombing 17th Dec 1940 On the Move 17th Dec 1940 Supplies 18th Dec 1940 On the Move 18th Dec 1940 Air Raid 19th Dec 1940 Enemy Camp 20th Dec 1940 Orders 21st Dec 1940 Escarpment 21st Dec 1940 Enemy Camp 22nd Dec 1940 Holding the Line 22nd Dec 1940 Command 23rd Dec 1940 Holding the Line 23rd Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft 24th Dec 1940 Visit 24th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft 25th Dec 1940 Quiet 25th Dec 1940 Divine Service 26th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft 27th Dec 1940 Quiet 27th Dec 1940 Tanks 28th Dec 1940 Quiet 29th Dec 1940 Quiet 29th Dec 1940 Postings 30th Dec 1940 Reliefs 30th Dec 1940 Orders 31st Dec 1940 On the Move 31st Dec 1940 Recce 1st January 1941 Tripoli Harbour bombed 1st Jan 1941 Tanks 1st Jan 1941 Recce 2nd Jan 1941 Tanks 2nd Jan 1941 Preparations 3rd Jan 1941 Attack Made 4th Jan 1941 Situation Obscure 5th Jan 1941 On the Move 5th January 1941 Harbour bombed 6th Jan 1941 Quiet 6th January 1941 Raid 7th Jan 1941 Preparations 8th Jan 1941 On the Move 9th Jan 1941 Patrols 10th Jan 1941 No Move 10th Nov 1941 Orders 10th Nov 1941 Orders 11th Jan 1941 Shelling 12th Jan 1941 Observation 13th Jan 1941 Patrols 14th Jan 1941 Supplies 15th Jan 1941 Visit 16th Jan 1941 Orders 17th Jan 1941 Conference 17th Nov 1941 Prisoners 18th Jan 1941 Vehicles 18th Nov 1941 Prisoners 19th Jan 1941 Vehicles 19th Nov 1941 Prisoners 20th Jan 1941 On the Move 21st Jan 1941 On the Move 28th Jan 1941 Tour 30th Jan 1941 Raid 31st Jan 1941 Report 1st Feb 1941 Into Tobruk 2nd Feb 1941 Advance Party 2nd February 1941 Libyan airfield bombed 7th Feb 1941 Vehicles Arrive 8th Feb 1941 Vehicles 9th Feb 1941 Vehicles 10th Feb 1941 Vehicles 11th Feb 1941 Vehicles 12th Feb 1941 Vehicles 13th Feb 1941 Exercise 17th Feb 1941 Withdraw 24th February 1941 Tripoli bombed 27th Feb 1941 moves 7th Mar 1941 Move 11th Mar 1941 Equipment 23rd Mar 1941 Guard Duty 24th Mar 1941 Transport 25th March 1941 Wellingtons moved to Libya 31st Mar 1941 Reorganisation 31st Mar 1941 Recce 1st Apr 1941 Orders 1st April 1941 Hasty withdrawal 1st Apr 1941 On the Move 1st Apr 1941 Recce 1st Apr 1941 Chase 2nd Apr 1941 Attack 2nd Apr 1941 In Action 3rd Apr 1941 Enemy Patrols 4th Apr 1941 Preparations 5th Apr 1941 Orders 6th Apr 1941 On the Move 6th Apr 1941 On the Move 7th Apr 1941 On the Move 7th Apr 1941 Orders 8th Apr 1941 In Defence 8th Apr 1941 Defence Work 9th April 1941 Return to Tobruk 9th Apr 1941 In Defence 9th Apr 1941 Orders 10th Apr 1941 Attacks 10th Apr 1941 Reliefs 11th Apr 1941 In Defence 11th Apr 1941 Patrols 12th Apr 1941 On the Move 12th Apr 1941 Dust Storm 13th Apr 1941 Air Raid 13th Apr 1941 Prisoners 13th April 1941 Tripoli bombed 14th Apr 1941 Air Raid 14th Apr 1941 Mine 15th Apr 1941 Defences Apr 1941 Bombardment 16th Apr 1941 Reliefs 17th Apr 1941 Reliefs 18th Apr 1941 Defences 19th Apr 1941 Recce 20th Apr 1941 Patrol 21st Apr 1941 Patrol 22nd Apr 1941 Patrol 23rd April 1941 On the move 23rd Apr 1941 Patrols 24th Apr 1941 Patrols 25th Apr 1941 Patrols 25th Apr 1941 Mentions 26th Apr 1941 Orders 27th Apr 1941 Withdrawal 28th Apr 1941 Patrols 28th April 1941 Reconnaissance over Tripoli 29th Apr 1941 Patrol 30th Apr 1941 Patrol 1st May 1941 Belly landing at desert airstrip 1st May 1941 In Reserve 2nd May 1941 Benghazi Port bombed 22nd May 1941 Tanker bombed off Tunisia 27th May 1941 Blenheim lost over Tunisia 28th May 1941 Ship blown up at Sfax 1st Jun 1941 On the Move 2nd Jun 1941 On the Move 7th Jun 1941 On the March 8th Jun 1941 On the March 9th Jun 1941 Maintenance 10th Jun 1941 Maintenance 11th Jun 1941 Recce 12th Jun 1941 Recce 13th Jun 1941 Orders 14th Jun 1941 On the March 15th Jun 1941 In Action 15th June 1941 Airstrip abandoned 16th Jun 1941 In Action 17th Jun 1941 Artillery in Action 18th Jun 1941 On the Move 19th Jun 1941 Reorganisation 20th Jun 1941 Reorganisation 21st Jun 1941 Reorganisation 22nd Jun 1941 Reorganisation 26th June 1941 Wellingtons on Malta 27th June 1941 Tripoli harbour bombed 29th June 1941 Blenheim bombed 29th Jun 1941 Orders 29th June 1941 Wellingtons attack Tripoli 30th Jun 1941 On the Move July 1941 Long Range Targets 1st July 1941 Tripoli bombed 2nd July 1941 Tripoli bombed 3rd July 1941 Tripoli bombed 4th July 1941 Tobruk and Beirut both bombed 7th July 1941 Railway yards bombed 16th July 1941 Tripoli harbour and ship bombed 5th Aug 1941 Reliefs Sept 1941 Reliefs Sep 41 On the Move Sep 1941 Bombardment 7th Oct 1941  Advance Party 8th Oct 1941  On the Move 9th Oct 1941  Air Raids 10th Oct 1941  Equipment 12th Oct 1941  On the Move 14th Oct 1941  In Reserve 17th Oct 1941  Training 20th Oct 1941  Damage 22nd Oct 1941 Reliefs 23rd Oct 1941  New Tracks 25th Oct 1941  Test 29th Oct 1941  Equipment 31st Oct 1941  On the Move 5th Nov 1941 Attack 9th Nov 1941 Orders 18th Nov 1941 Attack Made 18th November 1941 Attacks Made 18th November 1941 Patrols 18th November 1941 Attack Launched 18th November 1941 Attacks made 18th November 1941 Behind enemy lines 18th November 1941 Supply lines 20th Nov 1941 In Action 21st Nov 1941 In Action 21st November 1941 Wellington shot down 22nd November 1941 Four Wellingtons lost 22nd November 1941 Airfield attacked 22nd Nov 1941 Attack Made 24th November 1941. Bombers attempt to disrupt supply lines 25th Nov 1941 Dog fight 25th November 1941 Supply transport attacked 26th Nov 1941 Under Shellfire 26th Nov 1941 Attack Made 27th Nov 1941 Equipment Problems 27th November 1941 Searching for enemy ships 28th Nov 1941 Orders 28th November 1941 Tanker attacked 29th Nov 1941 Orders 30th Nov 1941 Enemy Active 30th Nov 1941 In Action 30th November 1941 Convoy attacked 1st December 1941 Tankers sunk 1st December 1941 Collision on airstrip 1st Dec 1941 Reorganisation 2nd December 1941 Attacks 4th December 1941 In Action 4th December 1941 Radio Jamming ineffective 5th Dec 1941 In Action 6th December 1941 Barracks bombed 6th Dec 1941 Reorganisation 11th Dec 1941 Reliefs 12th of December 1941 Advance 12th Dec 1941 Raid 13th Dec 1941 Reorganisation 14th Dec 1941 On the Move 17th December 1941 Fuel shortages 17th Dec 1941 Tanks Rejoin 18th Dec 1941 On the Move 19th Dec 1941 On the Move 22nd December 1941 Axis airfield attacked 23rd December 1941 Move 23rd Dec 1941 On the Move 24th Dec 1941 On the Move 25th Dec 1941 Fuel 26th Dec 1941 In Action 27th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost 27th Dec 1941 Heavy Shelling 28th Dec 1941 In Action 29th Dec 1941 Enemy in Force 30th Dec 1941 Enemy Advance 31st Dec 1941 In Support 1st Jan 1942 On the Move Jan 1942 Reorganisation 1st Jan 1942 Raid 2nd Jan 1942 Reorganisation 3rd Jan 1942 Reorganisation 4th January 1942 New Squadron formed in Egypt 4th Jan 1942 Search 6th Jan 1942 Reorganisation 6th January 1942 Six aircraft but no personnel 7th Jan 1942 Quiet 8th Jan 1942 Orders 9th Jan 1942 Orders 9th Jan 1942 On the Move 10th January 1942 Relocation 10th Jan 1942 On the Move 10th Jan 1942 On the Move 11th Jan 1942 On the Move 11th Jan 1942 Advance 12th Jan 1942 On the Move 12th Jan 1942 Patrols 12th January 1942 Radio jamming tests 13th Jan 1942 Digging In 13th Jan 1942 Patrols 14th Jan 1942 Patrols 15th Jan 1942 Patrols 16th Jan 1942 Leave 16th Jan 1942 Patrols 17th Jan 1942 Orders 18th Jan 1942 Leave 18th Jan 1942 Enemy Active 19th Jan 1942 Leave 20th Jan 1942 Attacks Made 20th Jan 1942 Orders 21st Jan 1942 Orders 22nd Jan 1942 Orders 22nd Jan 1942 Enemy Advance 23rd Jan 1942 Preparations 23rd Jan 1942 Orders 24th Jan 1942 On the Move 24th Jan 1942 In Action 25th Jan 1942 Preparations 25th Jan 1942 In Reserve 26th Jan 1942 Attack Made 26th Jan 1942 Preparations 26th Jan 1942 In Action 27th Jan 1942 On the Move 27th Jan 1942 Orders 28th Jan 1942 On the Move 28th Jan 1942 Tanks 29th Jan 1942 On the Move 29th Jan 1942 On the Move 30th Jan 1942 Dust 31st Jan 1942 In Camp 1st February 1942 Still under canvas Feb 1942 Training 2nd Feb 1942 Captured 3rd Feb 1942 On the Move 4th Feb 1942 On the Move Feb 1942 Raid 5th February 1942 Additional aircraft arrive 1st March 1942 Blenheims delivered Apr 1942 On the Move 8th May 1942 Search for missing Blenheim 12th May 1942 Missing Blenheims located 22nd May 1942 In Action 23rd May 1942 Reorganisation 26th May 1942 Cover 27th May 1942 Attack 27th May 1942 Attacks 28th May 1942 Waiting 28th May 1942 Stand Off 29th May 1942 In Action 29th May 1942 Gun battle in the desert 29th May 1942 On the Move 29th May 1942 In Action 30th May 1942 In Action 30th May 1942 In Action 31st May 1942 Standing by 31st May 1942 Patrols 1st Jun 1942 Patrols 1st Jun 1942 Patrols 2nd Jun 1942 Observation 3rd June 1942 Successful operation to Libya 3rd Jun 1942 Observation 4th Jun 1942 Planning 5th June 1942 In Action 5th Jun 1942 In Action 5th Jun 1942 In Action 6th June 1942 Pilot survived crash and desert walk 6th June 1942 Enemy Attacks June/July 1942 Reorganisation 15th June 1942 Into operations 15th Jun 1942 Reorganisation 20th Jun 1942 Reorganisation 23rd June 1942 Operational 24th June 1942 Movements 25th June 1942 Battle of Mersa Matruh 26th June 1942 Back to Kabrit 27th June 1942 Advance 27th June 1942 Breakthrough 27th June 1942 In Action 27th Jun 1942 Brave Actions 28th June 1942 Battle of Mersa Matruh 28th June 1942 Move to North Africa 29th June 1942 Move planned 30th June 1942 Move 30th Jun 1942 Difficult Times 1st July 1942 Hard Fighting 1st July 1942 Blenheims transferred 2nd July 1942 Afrika Korps repelled 2nd July 1942 Secret records destroyed 3rd July 1942 Italian reinforcements 3rd July 1942 Blenheims dismantled 4th July 1942 Bombing ops 5th July 1942 Standstill 5th July 1942 Railway bombed 6th July 1942 Ops 6th Jul 1942 On the Move 7th July 1942 Tobruk bombed 8th July 1942 Move cancelled 9th Jul 1942 Night Raid 9th July 1942 No operations 10th July 1942 Attack Launched 10th July 1942 Tobruk bombed 11th July 1942 Australian attack 11th Jul 1942 Bombing 11th July 1942 Tests and Operations 12th July 1942 Counter attack fails 13th July 1942 South Africans stand firm 14th July 1942 Assault on Ruweisat Ridge 15th July 1942 Tobruk bombed 16th July 1942 Night ops 17th July 1942 Four Hurricanes shot down 17th July 1942 Unreliable aircraft 18th July 1942 On the Move 19th Jul 1942 On the Move 19th of July 1942 Recce 20th Jul 1942 Change of Command 20th July 1942 Enemy aircraft engaged 20th of July 1942 Reorganisation 21st Jul 1942 On the Move 21st July 1942 Tank attack destroyed 21st of July 1942 Move Forward 22nd Jul 1942 In Support 22nd July 1942 Killed in road accident 22nd of July 1942 Appendix A 22nd of July 1942 Appendix A (2) Casualties 23rd Jul 1942 In Action 23rd of July 1942 Post battle 24th July 1942 Postings 25th Jul 1942 Intelligence 26th Jul 1942 Orders 26th July 1942 Ships bombed 27th Jul 1942 In Action 27th Jul 1942 In Action 27th July 1942 Failed attack 27th July 1942 New aircraft arrive 28th Jul 1942 In Position 29th Jul 1942 Intelligence 29th July 1942 Absconder returned to squadron 31st July 1942 Stalemate 31st July 1942 Detachment to Habbiniya 1st Aug 1942 Recce 1st August 1942 Situation Report 3rd August 1942 Operations abandoned 4th Aug 1942 Sniping 4th August 1942 Calibration and bombing flights 5th Aug 1942 Training 6th Aug 1942 Training 7th Aug 1942 Training 8th August 1942 Routine operations 9th August 1942 Relocated 9th Aug 1942 Visit 11th Aug 1942 Positions Improved 11th August 1942 Flights from Cyprus planned 12th Aug 1942 Positions Improved 12th Aug 1942 Visit 13th Aug 1942 Positions Improved 13th August 1942 Bisley crew killed carrying aircraft spares for Churchill 14th Aug 1942 On the Move 14th Aug 1942 Positions Improved 14th August 1942 Change of Command 15th Aug 1942 Exercise 15th Aug 1942 On the Move 16th Aug 1942 On the Move 16th Aug 1942 Difficult Ground 17th Aug 1942 Positions 17th Aug 1942 Recce 18th Aug 1942 Health 18th August 1942 Search for R.D.F. Installation 18th Aug 1942 Positions 18th Aug 1942 Recce 19th August 1942 Ground crew armed 19th Aug 1942 Positions 20th Aug 1942 Training 20th August 1942 Crete bombed 20th Aug 1942 Visit 21st Aug 1942 Training 21st August 1942 Poor cooperation 21st Aug 1942 Posting 22nd Aug 1942 Training 22nd August 1942 Crashed on the aerodrome 22nd Aug 1942 Recce 23rd Aug 1942 Preparations 23rd August 1942 Enemy convoy reported 23rd Aug 1942 Improving Defences 25th Aug 1942 Preparations 24th Aug 1942 Orders Issued 26th Aug 1942 Exercise 26th August 1942 New air personnel arrive in Egypt 27th Aug 1942 Preparations 28th Aug 1942 Exercise 28th Aug 1942 Defensive Positions 29th August 1942 Tobruk bombed 29th Aug 1942 Defences Improved 30th August 1942  A week of battle 30th Aug 1942 Orders 31st Aug 1942 Enemy Advance 31st Aug 1942 Attack Made 1st Sep 1942 In Action 1st Sep 1942 In Position 1st Sep 1942 Raid 2nd Sep 1942 In Action 2nd Sep 1942 Orders 3rd Sep 1942 In Action 3rd Sep 1942 On the Move 4th Sep 1942 In Action 4th September 1942 Detachment 4th Sep 1942 On the Move 5th Sep 1942 Exercise 6th Sep 1942 Enemy Hold 6th September 1942 Air Raid 6th Sep 1942 Exercise 16th Sep 1942 Training 7th Sep 1942 Precaution 7th September 1942 Aircrew injured by flak 7th Sep 1942 Exercise 8th Sep 1942 Reliefs 8th Sep 1942 Exercise Ends 9th Sep 1942 Reorganisation 9th Sep 1942 Training Instructions 9th Sep 1942 Reorganisation 10th Sep 1942 On the Move Sep 1942 Reorganisation 13th September 1942 Recce over Sicily and Tunisia 13th Sep 1942 Training 14th Sep 1942 Prisoner 14th Sep 1942 Raid 15th Sep 1942 Orders 15th Sep 1942 Course Ends 16th Sep 1942 Orders 19th September 1942 Desert crash 28th September 1942 Shortage of serviceable aircraft 1st Oct 1942 Quiet 2nd Oct 1942 Reliefs 3rd Oct 1942 Patrol 4th Oct 1942 Patrol 5th October 1942 Crashed near Tobruk 5th Oct 1942 Under Fire 6th Oct 1942 Patrol 7th Oct 1942 Reliefs 8th Oct 1942 Move 16th Oct 1942 Gun Pits 18th October 1942 Stand-by for tank radio jamming operations 19th of October 1942 Admin Order No. 1 20th Oct 1942 On the Move 20th of October 1942 152nd Brigade Operational Order 20th of October 1942 Gapping and Taping 21st Oct 1942 Vehicles 21st of October 1942 Operation Order No.1 21st of October 1942 152nd Brigade Administrative Order No.1. 22nd Oct 1942 Into Position 22nd Oct 1942 On the Move 22nd October 1942 Good Report on R.D.F Calibration Flights 22nd Oct 1942 Minefields 22nd of October 1942 Notes on 152 Brigade O.O. No 1. dated 20 Oct 42 23rd Oct 1942 Guns in Action 23rd Oct 1942 Orders 23rd Oct 1942 In Action 23rd October 1942 Tank R/T jamming operations begin 23rd Oct 1942 Led by the Pipers 23rd Oct 1942 Units Move Through 24th Oct 1942 Advance 24th Oct 1942 In Action 24th Oct 1942 Under Fire 25th Oct 1942 In Action 25th Oct 1942 In Action 25th Oct 1942 Minefields 25th October 1942 In Action 26th Oct 1942 Slow Progress 26th October 1942 Tand R/T jamming operations 26th of October 1942 In Action 27th Oct 1942 Attacks 27th October 1942 Malaria control 27th of October 1942 Situation Obscure 27th of October 1942 152nd Brigade Operation Order 28th Oct 1942 Barrage 29th Oct 1942 Objective Gained 30th Oct 1942 Attack Made 31st Oct 1942 Tank Skirmishes 31st Oct 1942 Moves 1st Nov 1942 Advance 1st November 1942 Situation Report 1st Nov 1942 In Action 1st Nov 1942 Move 1st of November 1942 Operational Order No. 2 1st of November 1942 Attacks 1st of November 1942 Orders 1st of November 1942 Orders 1st of November 1942 Orders 2nd Nov 1942 In Action 2nd November 1942 Wellington lost on bombing raid 2nd Nov 1942 In Action 2nd Nov 1942 Move 2nd of November 1942 In Action 3rd Nov 1942 In Action 3rd Nov 1942 In Action 3rd Nov 1942 Equipment 3rd of November 1942 In Action 4th Nov 1942 Guns in Action 4th Nov 1942 In Action 4th Nov 1942 Out of Action 4th Nov 1942 Advance 4th Nov 1942 Mopping up 4th Nov 1942 Advance 5th of November 1942 Report 5th Nov 1942 Rapid Advance 5th November 1942 Move into the desert 5th November 1942 Instruction to move received 5th Nov 1942 Armour Destroyed 6th Nov 1942 Road Cleared 6th Nov 1942 Into Harbour 6th Nov 1942 Progress Difficult 6th of November 1942 Orders 7th Nov 1942 On the Move 7th November 1942 Instructions to move 7th Nov 1942 Wet Weather 8th Nov 1942 Orders 8th Nov 1942 On the Move 8th Nov 1942 Minefields 9th Nov 1942 On the Move 9th Nov 1942 Air Attack 10th Nov 1942 Maintenance 10th November 1942 Airfield abandoned 10th Nov 1942 On the Move 10th Nov 1942 Mines 11th Nov 1942 New CO 11th Nov 1942 Advance 12th Nov 1942 Advance 13th November 1942 Shortage of supplies 13th Nov 1942 On the Move 14th Nov 1942 Inspection 14th November 1942 Relocated 14th Nov 1942 Mines Lifted 15th Nov 1942 Church Parade 15th Nov 1942 Recce 16th Nov 1942 On the Move 16th Nov 1942 Patrol 17th Nov 1942 Contact 17th Nov 1942 On the Move 18th Nov 1942 On the Move 19th Nov 1942 On the Move 20th November 1942 Move into Benghazi 20th Nov 1942 Mines 21st Nov 1942 Mines Lifted 21st of November 1942 Move 23rd November 1942 Detachments 24th Nov 1942 Move 25th Nov 1942 Moves 26th Nov 1942 Detachment 27th Nov 1942 Move 28th November 1942 Enemy RDF installation discovered 28th Nov 1942 Return 29th Nov 1942 Mines 30th Nov 1942 On the Move 30th Nov 1942 Water 1st Dec 1942 In Action 2nd of December 1942 Instructions 7th December 1942 Move back to Malta 9th Dec 1942 Defensive Positions 10th Dec 1942 Recce 11th December 1942 Solitude 11th Dec 1942 Patrols 12th Dec 1942 Casualties 13th Dec 1942 Platoon in Reserve 14th Dec 1942 Platoon in Reserve 14th of December 1942 Update 17th Dec 1942 Visit 18th Dec 1942 Patrol Sucessful 20th Dec 1942 Enemy Aircraft 21st Dec 1942 Recce 22nd Dec 1942 On the Move 24th Dec 1942 On the Move 25th Dec 1942 Observation Post 26th Dec 1942 Attack Made 27th Dec 1942 Parachutists 28th Dec 1942 Enemy Active 29th Dec 1942 On the Move 30th Dec 1942 Stand by 31st Dec 1942 Supplies 1st Jan 1943 Aircraft Downed Jan 1943 Reorganisation 1st Jan 1943 Mines 2nd Jan 1943 Patrols 2nd Jan 1943 Mines 3rd Jan 1943 Patrols 3rd Jan 1943 Poor Conditions 4th Jan 1943 Patrols 4th January 1943 Consolidation 4th Jan 1943 Poor Conditions 5th Jan 1943 Under Fire 5th Jan 1943 Working Party 6th Jan 1943 Enemy Aircraft 6th Jan 1943 Air Attack 7th Jan 1943 Patrols 8th Jan 1943 Task Complete 9th Jan 1943 Visit 11th Jan 1943 On the Move 12th Jan 1943 Conference 13th Jan 1943 Awaiting Orders 14th Jan 1943 Move 16th Jan 1943 On the Move 17th Jan 1943 On the Move 19th January 1943 Advance to the west 19th Jan 1943 Mines 20th Jan 1943 Road Work 25th Jan 1943 Working Parties 31st Jan 1943 Recomendation 31st Jan 1943 Working Parties 3rd Feb 1943 Preparations 4th Feb 1943 Visit 6th Feb 1943 Works Complete 8th Feb 1943 Dive Bombers 9th Feb 1943 Air Raid 9th Feb 1943 On the Move 10th Feb 1943 Missing Man 10th Feb 1943 Road Work 11th Feb 1943 Reorganisation 11th Feb 1943 Road Work 12th Feb 1943 Air Raid 13th Feb 1943 On the Move 14th Feb 1943 Patrols 14th Feb 1943 On the Move 15th Feb 1943 Patrols 16th Feb 1943 Patrol 17th Feb 1943 Ambush Patrol 18th Feb 1943 Patrols 21st Feb 1943 Defence 25th Feb 1943 Air Raid 26th Feb 1943 Enemy Attack 26th Feb 1943 Attack 26th February 1943 In Action 27th Feb 1943 Attack Imminent 27th Feb 1943 Into Position 27th Feb 1943 In Action 28th Feb 1943 In Action 28th Feb 1943 In Action 28th Feb 1943 Air Raid 1st Mar 1943 Heavy Firing 1st Mar 1943 Infiltration 1st Mar 1943 In Action 2nd Mar 1943 Prisoners Taken 3rd Mar 1943 Attack Made 3rd Mar 1943 Withdrawal 4th Mar 1943 Shelling 6th Mar 1943 Orders 6th Mar 1943 In Action 7th Mar 1943 In Action 7th Mar 1943 Enemy Withdrawal 8th Mar 1943 Prisoners Taken 8th Mar 1943 Posiitions Held 9th Mar 1943 Minefield 10th Mar 1943 Small Engagements Mar 1943 On the Move 11th Mar 1943 Attack Made 11th Mar 1943 In Action 12th Mar 1943 In Defence 13th Mar 1943 In Defence 14th Mar 1943 Enemy Aircraft 16th Mar 1943 Orders 16th March 1943 Orders 16th Mar 1943 In Action 17th Mar 1943 Counter Attack 17th Mar 1943 In Action 17th Mar 1943 Report 17th Mar 1943 Mines 18th Mar 1943 Withdrawal 18th Mar 1943 Attack Made 18th March 1943  On the Move 19th Mar 1943 Withdrawal 19th March 1943  On the Move 20th March 1943  Mud 21st Mar 1943 Counter Attack 23rd Mar 1943 Reliefs 27th Mar 1943  29th Mar 1943 In Reserve 30th Mar 1943 In Reserve 31st Mar 1943 Advance Mar 1943 Defence 1st Apr 1943 Advance 1st Apr 1943 Enemy Aircraft 1st Apr 1943 Quiet 2nd Apr 1943 On the March 2nd Apr 1943 Advance 3rd Apr 1943 On the Move 3rd April 1943 On the move 4th Apr 1943 At Rest 4th Apr 1943 Plans 5th Apr 1943 At Rest 5th Apr 1943 Orders 6th Apr 1943 On the Move 6th Apr 1943 Preparations 6th Apr 1943 In Action 6th Apr 1943 Preparations 7th Apr 1943 Attack Made 7th Apr 1943 In Action 7th Apr 1943 Attack Made 8th Apr 1943 Attack Made 8th Apr 1943 In Action 8th Apr 1943 New CO 9th Apr 1943 Heavy Fighting 9th Apr 1943 Counter Attacks 9th Apr 1943 In Action 10th Apr 1943 Sfax taken 10th Apr 1943 Aircraft Downed 10th Apr 1943 In Action 10th Apr 1943 Advance 11th Apr 1943 Reliefs 11th Apr 1943 Into Harbour 11th Apr 1943 Orders 12th Apr 1943 On the Move 12th Apr 1943 Counter Attack 12th Apr 1943 At Rest 13th Apr 1943 Air Raid 13th Apr 1943 Reliefs 14th Apr 1943 Orders 15th Apr 1943 Harsh Opposition 15th Apr 1943 On the Move 16th Apr 1943 Orders 16th Apr 1943 New Position 16th Apr 1943 On the Move 17th April 1943 Into Tunisia 17th Apr 1943 Shelling 17th Apr 1943 Advance 18th Apr 1943 Difficult Conditions 19th Apr 1943 Good News 19th Apr 1943 Shelling 19th Apr 1943 In Action 19th Apr 1943 Planning 20th Apr 1943 Cinema 20th Apr 1943 Shelling 21st Apr 1943 On the Move 21st Apr 1943 Shelling 21st Apr 1943 Planning 22nd April 1943  Supplies disrupted 22nd Apr 1943 Attack Made 22nd Apr 1943 Attack Made 22nd Apr 1943 Attack Made 22nd Apr 1943 Plan 23rd Apr 1943 HQ Moves 23rd Apr 1943 In Action 23rd Apr 1943 Attack Launched 24th Apr 1943 Shelling 24th April 1943 Tank Captured 24th April 1943 Attack 24th Apr 1943 In Action 24th Apr 1943 Attack Made 25th Apr 1943 In Action 25th Apr 1943 Positions Strengthened 26th Apr 1943 In Action 26th Apr 1943 Advance 26th Apr 1943 Attack Made 27th Apr 1943 Advance 28th Apr 1943 Shelling 30th Apr 1943 Accident 30th Apr 1943 Patrols 5th May 1943 In Action 11th May 1943 In Action 12th May 1943 Concentration 30th May 1943 On the Move 31st May 1943 On the Move 14th June 1943 Instructions 17th Jun 1943 Royal Visit 21st Jun 1943 On the Move 22nd Jun 1943 On the Move 23rd June 1943 Exercises 26th June 1943 Move 6th Jul 1943 On the Move 9th Jul 1943 HQ Moves 21st July 1943 Reliefs 22nd July 1943 On the Move 23rd July 1943 Dinner 24th July 1943 Conference 26th July 1943 Training 28th July 1943 Leacture 1st August 1943 Church Parade and Tour 2nd August 1943 Route March 5th August 1943 Orders 11th August 1943 Lecture 12th August 1943 Reorganisation 13th August 1943 Preparations 29th August 1943 Transport 30th August 1943 Church parade 31st August 1943 Address 1st Sep 1943 Planning 2nd Sep 1943 Briefing 3rd Sep 1943 Preparations 4th Sep 1943 Move If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Those known to have fought in Western Desert Campaign in North Africa during the Second World War 1939-1945. Abbott William Harry Stanley. Tpr. Akitt Thomas Willis. Gnr. Alcorn John Joseph. Alker Hodgson Wilson. Pte. Allen Herbert George. Pte. Ambler Arthur William. L/Sgt. Amy Arthur Thomas. Cpl. Arrandale Harry. Pte. Bailey Arthur. Baines John William. Pte. (d.6th Apr 1943) Baker Thomas William. Ball Thomas. Pte. Barnes Robert. Cpl. Barnes Sidney. L/Cpl. (d.2nd Jan 1945) Barrow Charles. Sgt Bartlett Joseph Edwin. Sgt. Basham Wilfred Donner. Pte. Bates Cyril. Pte. Batten Percival Stan Claude . Pte. (d.26th April 1943) Bawden Sydney Arthur. Cpl. Bayley John. L/Cpl. Beeson Frederick William Roy . Pte. Begley Samuel Frank. Spr. Bennett Harry. Pte. Betts James John. Birchall Wilfred David. Gdsmn. Bishop Arthur Charles. Dvr. Bowling John Walter. Bowring Hubert Stanley. Pte. Boyd William James. L/Sgt. Bradley Francis Henry . Gnr. Brentnall Ernest. L/Bmbdr. Broadbent Laurence. Gdsmn. Brogan Edward Thomas. Tpr. Brown Maurice Weston. Pte. Brown Sydney Robert. Bullivent Frank. Pte. (d.2nd March 1943) Bullock Harry. Cpl. Burgess Edwin John. Cpl. Burley Robert. L/Sgt. Cadenhead Charles. Carder Leonard George. Bmbdr. Carrington Walter. Sgt. Cartwright Willoughby Hugh. Capt. Chapman George W.. Pte (d.31st December 1942) Chapman Thomas Henry. Gnr. (d.28th Oct 1942) Charter MC, MiD.. Robert Roderick. Capt. Childs Albert George. Pte Clappison George Arthur. Clark MM.. James Strauss. Sgt. Clark Ronald. Sgt. (d.6th June 1942) Clarke Samuel. Cpl. (d.27th Sep 1943) Clarkson Thomas. Pte. Cleaver Stanley. Rflmn. Clempson Richard John. Gdmn. (d.16th March 1943) Cochrane James. L/Cpl. Cocking Fred. Pte. Colley Albert. Pte. Compton Sidney George. Sgt. Cook Cecil Winchester. Pte. (d.3rd December 1942) Cook Thomas. Gdsmn. (d.23rd-25th Dec 1942) Cooper Bernard Charles. L/Cpl. Cotton Horace Bailey. Pte. Cox MM.. Arthur Edward. Fus. (d.24th Oct 1943) Cox William Henry. Pte. Crapnell John James Partridge. L/Cpl. Crouch William Joseph. Drv. Crowther George Henry. Pte. Davidson DCM.. Douglas. Tpr. Davison Thomas William. Tpr. Davison Vernon. Tpr. (d.30th March 1943) Devaney Francis. Pte. de_Kock Johannes William. Pte. (d.24th October 1942) Dixon Herbert. Pte. Doleman George. Gdsmn. Donhou Frederick William. Tpr. (d.21st November 1941) Dorrington Thomas. Pte. Downie William. Pte. Drozdowski Richard B.. PFC. Dunn MM.. Leslie Charles. Sgt. Durrant Francis Alfred Ward. Capt. Dyson Des . Sergeant Eades George Arthur. Pte. Earl John Geofrey Cadman. Bmbdr. Ellery William Harold. Pte. Elphee Douglas Oliver. A/L.Bdr. Erridge Ernest Victor. Erskine MID.. William Baird. L/Cpl. Everett Arthur Henry Wellington . Pte. Evinou Andrew Jeffrey. Tpr. Fahy Michael. Gnr. Farrar Arthur. Pte. (d.6th June 1944) Farrell Archibald Edmund Joseph. Sgt. Fawcett Jack. Fishel Cecil Leon. Sig. Fletcher Ernest Leslie. Bmbdr. Florence George. Tpr. Forrester James Arthur. Pte. (d.9th Dec 1941) France Harry. Pte. Freebury Norman James. Pte. Gardner Mervin Lyon. Garland Leslie George. Cpl. Geard John Cyril. Sgt. George Alfred Gilbert. Capt Gibb Lionel Simpson. Gibbon Thomas James. Sgt. Goldthorpe Norman. Pte. Grace Leslie Kitchener. Grasby John. CSM. Green Frederick Charles. Cpl (d.24th April 1943) Green George Alexander. Sgt. Green Robert Goodwin. L/Sgt. (d.17th Feb 1944) Groves Peter Macdonald . Cpl. Hagger Albert James. Tpr. Hall John. Lt. Hanson William Fitzpatrick . Pte. Harrah John Barclay. Pte. Harrison James. Cpl. Hart Gerald. Pte. Hartshorn James Owen. Pte. Harvey Robert Henry. 2nd Lt. (d.5th Dec 1941) Hawke Cyril Vivian. Sgt. Hayhurst John William. LAC. Haynes Albert Fredrick James. Pte. Hehir Valentine. Maj. Heinson Leonard P.. L/Bdr. (d.25th Apr 1943) Heron Albert. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1942) Hesketh William Arthur. Gnr. Hill Douglas Edward. Gnr. Hogan Maurice Anthony. Hoggan MM.. Alexander Rodger. Tpr. Holmes Francis George. Pte. Holroyd Frank. Pte. (d.5th Feb 1943) Holtom Albert Joseph. Cpl. Hurman MID,. Preston John. Maj. Hutchinson MBE.. Douglas Victory. Col. Hutchinson Jack. Hymer Roger Lee. Pte Jack Ebenezer Chisholm Leitch. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1944) Jeffries William Thomas. Pte. (d.14th May 1941) Jellicoe Norman. L/Cpl. (d.23rd April 1943) Jennings Frank William. Gnr. Jones C.. Gnr. Joyce MM.. Leslie Allan. Sgt. Katzovitz Louis. Pte. Killick Charles Fison. Lt. (d.23rd Feb 1943) Kirk George Robert Wilfred. Knott Henry. Sgt Major. Knott Reginald. Sgt. Lamb Leo Bernard. LAC. Lavers Alan Braden. Capt. Lavery Stanley James. Pte. Leckenby A.. Rfmn. Ledbury William Nelson Ellsmore. Pte. Lee Thomas Herbert. Pte. Lewin Robert. L/Bdr Lewis Martin Albert Henry. Pte. Loftus William Alfred. Cpl. Luff Leslie Howard. Cpl Lundie William. Cpl. Lythaby Ernest John. Mackenzie MBE. George. Capt. Maddock Norman Denzil. Gnr. Maiden George. Cpl. (d.29th Nov 1942) Makison George. A/SM. Manson J.. Gnr. Marples James. Sig. Marr MBE.. Henry. CSM. Marrs J. Gnr. Marshall Andrew Ernest Whitemore. Cpl. Marshall Maurice. Pte. Martin Sidney Frederick. Sgt. Maxwell William Edward. Gnr. McCreddie Kenneth Alexander. Pte. Mcintyre James Townsend. Pte. McKenna James. Pte. McKenna John Alphonsus Stuart. Pte. McMahon Thomas Kelly. (d.6th April 1943) McMillan William. Sgt. (d.23rd April 1943) McQuitty William Herbert. L/Cpl. Mee Albert. Gnr. Megicks Frederick James Rhys. Sgt Mellard John. Gnr. Melville Ronald Francis. Pte. Mills Charles Sidney. Cpl. Mills Norman. Cpl. Mitchell John. Pte. Morrison Charles Edward. Pte. Morrison MID. William Landskroon. Mjr. Motley William Thomas. Moulton Owen William. 2nd Lt. Munton John Charles. (d.1st Mar 1943) Murphy Gerard. Pte. Myburgh Ronald Philip Abercromby. Bmdr. Newell Sidney. Spr. (d.13th June 1945 ) Newton Herbert Leonard. Tpr. Nicol Stephen. Nixon Wilfred. Pte. Noyce Dennis Gordon. L/Cpl. O'Connell Daniel Peter. Cpl. Patilla MiD.. Colin Seaton. Drv. Paver Ian Albert . WO1. Peach Peter Noel. Tpr. Pearce Thomas Victor. Tpr. (d.3rd Jul 1943) Pedley Norman. Pte. Perkins Harry. Perrin William Alfred. Potter John Edward. Dvr. Prangley Cyril John. Prebble Norman Noel. L/Sgt. Preston Dennis Percy Saunders. Pte. Randell MM.. Philip Oland Edwin. Sgt. Ray Robert. Cpl. Rees George Alexander. Pte. (d.17th November 1942) Rees Glyndwr Howell. Cpl. Reeves William. Pte. Reid Adam Haddow. Gdsm. (d.15th March 1942) Reid Adam Haddow. Gdsm. (d.15th March 1942) Reynolds Charles Edward. L/Cpl. Reynolds MM.. James. L/Sgt. (d.1st September 1948) Richards James. Richardson Robert Walmsley. L/Cpl. Riley Joseph Arthur. Robson Leonard. Bmbdr. Rowles Ronald George. Pte. (d.5th Jun 1942) Rule Leslie Malcolm Gordon. Pte. Rumble Leslie William. Gnr. Sambrano Armando Loya. S/Sgt. Sanders Ernest. Sanson Jack. Cpl. Santarciero Rocco A.. Cpl. Savage Harold Victor. Savory MiD.. George Frederick. Cpl. (d.22nd Jul 1944) Scholtz Abraham Johannes. Scott John. Fus. Seller Douglas Reid. Cpl. Sexton Bryon Harford. Pte. Seymour MM,MiD.. Thomas James. Tpr. Shepherd Victor. Pte. Sheppard George. Cpl. Sheppard John Arthur. Maj. Shore Bernard. Gnr. Shufflebotham Gordon James. Pte. Sibley Charles Edward. Pte. Skeats Joseph Charles. Pte. Sly Herbert Randall. Capt. Smart Charles. (d.6th May 1943) Smethurst Cyril George. Sgt. Smith Eric Reginald. Tpr. Smith Norman John. Pte. Smith Robert. Gdsm. Smith Sydney Harry Hyder. Cpl. Soden James Charles. L/Cpl. Spencer Arthur Victor Sidney. L/Sgt. (d.17th April 1943) Stapleton John Francis. Sgt. (d.7th Dec 1941) Startup MM and Bar.. Edward George. Sgt Statham John. Spr. Stewart Douglas Haig. Pte. Stewart Jacob Augustus. RSM. Stewart Samuel. Stockley Robert. Sgt. Stoker John Mullen. WS/Sgt. Strachan Douglas. CSM. Street MC.. Eric Peter. Major. Summerhill Reuben Horace. Staff Sgt. Sutter John Kitchener. LBdr. Taggart William. Trp. (d.4th Feb 1944) Tannahill MiD.. Anthony J.. A/Sjt. (d.4th Nov 1944) Taylor Albert Edward Kenneth. Dvr. Taylor George Reginald. Taylor Robert. CQMS. Thomas Alfred. Sgt. Thompson John Walter. Pte. Thompson John David. Gnr. (d.3rd April 1943) Toy Stanley Dudley. Tpr. (d.27th May 1942) Trescothick Douglas Harold. Turner Francis Stanley. Gnr. Turner Frederick William. Spr. Turner Godfrey Evelyn. Mjr. Turner Peter Scales. Lt. (d.15th March 1941) Vincent Robert William. Sgt. Walker Joseph. Warne William. L/Cpl. (d.18th Jan 1944) Webb Douglas Ernest. L/Cpl. Weinberg Cyril. Sgt. Wells Dave. Pte. West Leslie. Sgt. Wheatley Leonard. (d.15th March 1943) Whitehead Robert. Pte. Wiard Edgar Lewis. 2Lt. Williams Clifford. LAC. Williams Eric George. L/Sgt. Wilson John Henry. L/Cpl. (d.8th October 1944) Wood Norman Alexander . Pte. (d.30th Oct 1943 ) Wood Stanley K.. Woods George Richard. Spr. Woodward Daniel. Gnr. Woolman William Arthur. L/Sjt. (d.30th Dec 1941) Wright Cyril Charles. Wright Walter Thomas. Tpr. Young Edgar W.. Pte. Young Leonard Douglas . Gnr. (d.14th Nov 1942) Young Thomas. Pte. Younger Joseph. RSM. (d.21st January 1943) Rossi Gaetano. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. Announcements 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web. 18th Dec 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 265120 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQs The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. Want to know more about Western Desert Campaign in North Africa? There are:1250 items tagged Western Desert Campaign in North Africa available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. Sergeant Des Dyson 17th Coast Battery Royal Artilliery Dad was captured in Tobruk and ended up in Campo PG78 from 6th June 1942 until he escaped in Sept. or Oct. of 1943. He was Sgt. Des Dyson, 17th Coast Battery, RA. I am hoping to find out more about my fathers'regiments' movements. Clive Dyson Add to this record. Sgt. Cyril George Smethurst Royal Durban Light Infantry Uncle Cyril Smethurst was not very talkative about his experiences and, although married to Marge before the War, they did not have any children who could have been privy to his war-time exploits. In May 1945 he and some fellow Durban Light Infantry pals were not part of the Long March, so found their way as small group to a village or small town. He had managed to secure a discarded German Luger revolver without ammunition during the camp disruptions caused by the liberators which he used to good effect by hijacking a car from a poor fellow looking down the barrel of the empty Luger. This proved useful for transportation, but sadly, no destination is available for disclosure. It must have worked out well, as he returned to the Union of SA. and died in his home town aged 89. Mel Smethurst Add to this record. L/Bdr Robert Lewin 2nd Light Anti Aircraft Regiment As dictated to Bev Lewin by Robert Lewin in January 1986. "As from 1940 I was assigned to 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, which was posted to North Africa under command of General Klopper. Our regiment was at El Adem, near Tobruk. After the capture of El Adem on 22nd of June 1942 by German forces lead by Field Marshall Rommel, we were shipped to Campo 52, at Chiavari, on the Gulf of Genoa. When the Allied invasion came and Italy surrendered, in early September 1943, the Germans decided to send their prisoners of war to Germany. En route across the Lombardi Plains, some of us escaped by cutting a hole in the canvas covering of the cattle train truck we were in, and we jumped out of the moving train. Four of us stuck together. We were Bill Watson, Andy Blake, Charles Shaw and I – all South African Non-Commissioned Officers. We made it to Stradella. We were astonished one day to find Sergeant Fick of the UDF in Bobbio in North Italy. He had escaped with us from the same prison train. He had got through the Allied lines walking 16 days to cross the Sangro River. Now he had been parachuted with orders to help us get through to the Allies. We embarked on a perilous journey of +/- 100 miles, through the mountains to the Allied Lines. One of the former Partisans, who made the trip with us, was SAMC Corporal Mark Rubenstein, of Johannesburg. He was their official medical officer to a group called the Brigade of Garibaldi. When we reached the Allied lines, we were de-briefed at the Red Cross station when we had crossed over the Alps to the North Western border of Italy." I appeal to you for any guidance you could offer me, in my search for the above papers. I sincerely hope that these pieces of information and the names I have supplied can assist in locating the whereabouts of my affidavit. It would be greatly appreciated, if any leads could be passed on to me. Bobby died in March 1991 Bev Lewin Add to this record. Pte. Horace Bailey Cotton 57th LAA Regiment Royal Artillery Horace Cotton served as a dispatch rider from 1933 to 1945. He was at El Alamein and in Italy and Greece, he lived to be 93. John Cotton Add to this record. L/Sgt. Arthur William Ambler Royal Horse Artillery I know that my father, Arthur Ambler was posted to Egypt from India at the outbreak of the war and took part in the early actions against the Italian forces in a unit attached to the Australian forces. He subsequently took part in the general retreat when then the Africa Korps arrived and forced the British back to Egypt. He was captured in 1941 when an attempted ambush of German troops was itself ambushed, and sent to Italy to the Italian POW camp PG53. When the Italians surrendered he was taken by the Germans to Stalag 357 at Thorn in Poland. Late in 1944 he was moved with part of 357 to Stalag XIB and from there to Stalag XIA where he was repatriated by the Americans after the Russian troops moved through the area. He never told me anything about his experiences in either Italy or Germany until just before his death in 2000, but it was obvious from his withdrawn state that he suffered a serious level of psychological trauma from his experiences - and I do know that he expressed a bitter resentment of Churchill's order that they did not attempt to escape from the camps in Italy after the capitulation. A J Ambler Add to this record. Pte. Victor Shepherd 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery Victor Shepherd was born in 1919 to Elizabeth Ann and John William . He served with the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery during WW2. An article was published: Wednesday 6th of January 1943, in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle entitled: "On same Aerodrome" Three Brothers Meet in Cairo. Three Brothers, two in the Royal Air Force and another in the Army, have met in Cairo and Alexandria after serving two years in the Middle East. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Shepherd, of 18 Worley Street, Westgate Hill, Newcastle. Victor Shepherd, Northumberland Hussars, the 23 year old youngest member of the trio writes to his parents that he was walking through the streets of Cairo with a friend when he saw someone who looked very much like his brother Richard. "Not knowing that Dick was in the Middle East." he continues in his letter, "I said to my friend 'Surely that is our Dick over there'? My friend thought not, apparently thinking Dick was still at home. However, I dashed over to the other side of the road, and surely enough it was Dick. You can imagine the surprise Dick received." Vic's brother, L.A.C Richard Wingrove Shepherd (29) R.A.F., and the other brother, Corporal George Shepherd (31) were both working on the same aerodrome in the Middle East unbeknownst to each other. They met by accident, and after exchanging addresses discovered that they were both stationed at the same camp." Later the three brothers arranged a meeting in Alexandria. In 1944 Victor Shepherd married Isabella L. Noble. Victor died in 1979 at the age if 59 at Newcastle upon Tyne. P Shepherd Add to this record. Dvr. Arthur Charles "Sandy" Bishop 465th (General Transport) Coy. Royal Army Service Corps My Dad, Arthur Bishop was called up on 15th of January 1940 and served as a Driver in the R.A.S.C. He was home on leave for my sister’s birthday on 1st of January 1943 when someone knocked on our front door. Through the glass panel we could see the shape of a policeman’s helmet. My mother looked at me (a 6-year old boy) and said “ What have you been up to now?”. The policeman had come with orders for my father to return immediately to his unit. We did not see him again until late 1945. During that time he served in North Africa and Italy. He did not tell us about that time , but we have a photo of him standing in front of the infamous white line that the Nazis had painted around the Vatican City in Rome. My 2 sons and 3 grandsons have since stood in the same spot. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw their photographs. Mervyn Bishop Add to this record. Cpl. William Alfred Loftus 8th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment We believe William Loftus was wounded in December 1941 He was listed as missing with 8th Royal Tank Regiment in the Western Desert Force in June 1942. Bill was then a PoW in Italy where the family story says he escaped and fought with the partisans. In Dec 1944 he was listed as no longer a PoW. He lead a full and happy life with his wife and two children and died in 1978. Val Payne Add to this record. Tpr. Edward Thomas Brogan 12th Royal Lancers My late father, Edward Brogan served with the 12th Royal Lancers during World War 2 after transferring from the Royal Hampshire Regiment. Although he was very reluctant to talk about his war-time exploits he was a proud veteran of the XII. He drove an armoured car and served in the Africa and Italy campaigns. I am in possession of his 5 WW2 medals nd I also have 3 Christmas Day Lunch menus from the war (12th Royal Lancers). Sadly, that's all I know. Michael Brogan Add to this record. Gnr. Thomas Henry Chapman 231 Bty. 42nd LAA Regiment Royal Artillery (d.28th Oct 1942) Thomas Chapman served with 231 Battery, 42nd Light Anti Aircraft Regimet, Royal Artillery. He was killed in action during the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. Trevor Matthews Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices. Links

The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Hosted by: The Wartime Memories Project Website is archived for preservation by the British Library Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV - All Rights Reserved We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.