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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 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
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
6th June 1942 Pilot survived crash and desert walk
6th June 1942 Enemy Attacks
June/July 1942 Reorganisation
23rd June 1942 Operational
26th June 1942 Back to Kabrit
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
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
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
27th Oct 1942 Attacks
27th October 1942 Malaria control
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
23rd Apr 1943 HQ Moves
23rd Apr 1943 In Action
24th Apr 1943 Shelling
24th April 1943 Tank Captured
24th April 1943 Attack
24th Apr 1943 In Action
25th Apr 1943 In Action
26th Apr 1943 In Action
26th Apr 1943 Advance
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.
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Those known to have fought in Western Desert Campaign in North Africa during the Second World War 1939-1945. 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,
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about Western Desert Campaign in North Africa? There are:904 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. |
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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.
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Fus. Arthur Edward Cox MM. 2nd Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers (d.24th Oct 1943) Citation for The Military Medal, Fusilier Arthur Cox, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers.
On the 26th of February 1943, Fusilier Cox was in a leading section of his company which was carrying out a counter-attack against the enemy penetration South East of Mendjez Bab.
Fusilier Cox was wounded in the early stages of the engagement, but remained with his section, and continued to fight.
During the attack on the enemy's main position this fusilier advanced alone and on the flank and, in spite of heavy machine gun and mortar fire to which he was exposed, took up a position from which he could fire on the enemy, thus, in no small degree, contributing to the success of the operation.
Though wounded, he showed complete disregard for his personal safety, and his conduct, besides being of material assistance, was an inspiration and example to his comrades.
Aged 30, Arthur died of Wounds in Italy on 24th of October 1943.
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Pte. Hodgson Wilson "Bill " Alker 6th Btn. C Coy. Durham Light Infantry  Hodgson Alker was born in April 1919 at Willington, Co Durham. He enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry on the 15th of November 1939 and was posted to No 3 Infantry Holding Battalion
He arrived in France on 13th of March 1940 on the SS Ulster and was
posted to C Company, 6th Battalion, DLI on the 18th in Belgium, at Smeerchebbev Loersegem. He saw action in Northern France at Arras, Vimy Ridge and Beaurins in the Battle of Arras 1940. Made it back to
Dunkirk and was evacuated at 20:00 hrs on 1st of June 1940 on a Minesweeper from the Mole. He was then deployed on the south coast defences at Cullompton.
He embarked from Scotland on 23rd of May 1941 on the SS Duchess of Windsor, Canadian Pacific Line. On 27th of May all convoy escorts disappeared as they were hunting the Bismark. He disembarked in Egypt on 10th of July 1941 having sailed via South Africa, Aden and Port Suez. 6th DLI embarked for Cyprus on 27th of July 1941 on the Destroyer HMS Kimberley, Kokinni Trimithea.
They moved to Palestine 3rd of November 1941, on HMS Nizam, Napier and Jackel and entered Iraq on the 14th, being based at EskiKellek, Kirkuk and Habbaniya before leaving for Egypt on 13th of February 1942.
They were engaged in the North Africa Campaign at Gazala, Mersa Matruth, El Alamein, Mareth, Wadi Akarit, Enfidaville, Canal Zone. The Battalion then embarked for the Invasion of Sicily on 29th of June 1943 on the Winchester Castle and landed at 3:00 am 10th of July 1943 at Avola Floridia, moving through Solarino, Primosole Bridge, Catina, Alterella to Riposto. Bill embarked for the UK on 16th of October 1943 on the Sibajak and arrived 3rd of November 1943 to take his first leave for two and half years. The battalion were based at Shudy Camp near Thetford, while training for Normandy. The embarked for France on 3rd of June 1944 at Southampton on HMS Albrighton and landed in King Green Sector on Gold Beach, Normandy at 11:00 am on D Day near Ver sur Mer. They then saw action the the
Battle of Normandy at Conde s Seulles, Tilly Seulles, Villers Bocage, Auny, Mont Pincon, La Cannardiere, Conde s Noireau St Honorine la Chardonne until they were pulled out for rest on 18th of August 1944. At the end of the month they joined The Pursuit to Brussels through Nerrin, Gondecourt, Seclin, Vendeville, Tournai, Bizencourt, Ninove, Shepdaal to Brussels. They were in action in the The Battle for Gheel in September 1944 during the push into Holland, protecting the right flank at Eindhoven on the 16th, and on through Breugel, Lieshout, Beeken Donk, Uden,Grave, Nijmegen, Haalderen.
6th DLI returned to England in December 1944
The Battalion was disbanded and the men who had survived all of the campaigns from the beginning of the war were sent back to England to train others for active service. The remaining men were sent to join other regiments.
He was posted to Skipton Camp in Yorkshire and was training new recruits when he met his first wife Edith Child.
1946-12-16 The camp closed on 16th of December 1946 and Bill was released to the reserve the following day. He returned to coal mining in 1946/7 first in Lancashire then back in Willington Co Durham.
Hodgson never talked about war to his family and only in later life visited France with the Legion. He dies in 1992.
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L/Cpl. Sidney Barnes 9th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (d.2nd Jan 1945)   Sidney Barnes enlisted in Mansfield on 17th of January 1940 when he was working as a barman at his Auntie's pub, The Market Hotel, in Mansfield.
His record shows that he was enlisted into the 9th Sherwood Foresters and on 26th April he was posted to the B.E.F. in France.
Only a short stay, as he was evacuated from Dunkirk on the 1st June and transferred to the 8th Green Howards in October. After 2 years spent back in England he was posted to the Middle East where he served until 7th of January 1943. His next posting was Persia and Iraq until 7th of May 1943 when he returned to the Middle East until 8th of January 1943 when he was part of the British North Africa Force with the 8th Army.
It is believed he was at Anzio, although we have no official record of this.
He was wounded twice in Italy, 27th May 1944 and 24th of September 1944 and promoted to L/Cpl.
On the 22nd December 1944 he was transferred to 6th York & Lancaster Regiment and on 2nd of January 1945 was in a lecture on a training Cadre in Porto San Giorgo when enemy mines exploded killing 1 Officer and 14 ORs and wounding 3 Officers and 22 ORs, 4 of whom died later of their wounds.
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L/Sgt. Arthur Victor Sidney Spencer 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards (d.17th April 1943) Arthur was born in the Foleshill Coventry area of Warwickshire. He married Olive Eyden at Staines in 1941. They had a son Barrie. Arthur is buried at the Medjez El Bab War Cemetery in Beja, Tunisia
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Sgt. Cyril Weinberg 13th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cyril Weinberg enlisted on 16th of May 1940. Somewhere between 1940 and 1943, he served as a small arms instructor at rank of Sgt. for the 12th and 13th Battalions of his regiment.
His only war injury was being run over by a bus in Glasgow, damaging his right knee. He spent first 3.5 years in Scotland in Campbeltown, Strabane, Stirling, Carnoustie, and Edinburgh. In 1943, he joined the British North Africa Force.
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Cpl. Jack Sanson 5th Btn. Sherwood Foresters Dad, Jack Sanson told me about fighting in Tunisia, how Americans would drive past their positions in the mountains asking "where's the shooting match, Bud?".
They would get a bollocking for driving with their lights on and betraying British positions.
He told me about Salerno and HMS Warspite shelling the Germans. He was very reticent to speak about how he came to be wounded: I know it was after Salerno and involved crossing a river, maybe the Volturno? He described being carried to the water and comrades being shot at by paratroopers as they got him to the other bank.
If it was the Volturno then the crossing would have been at or near Cancello, the Foresters were hammered there.
I am desperate for any information about that crossing: A, B and C Coy's of 2nd Bbattalion. I have some after action reports but need to pin down which Companyy Jack Sanson was in.
God bless all who fought in Italy, you were never given the recognition you so richly deserved
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L/Cpl. James Charles Soden Commandos  James Soden volunteered and did basic training at Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth and 7 weeks additional training at Achnacarry, Fort William, Scotland. Then to Leavesdon for transport training. Learning to drive bren gun carriers and tanks etc, under the instruction of CO Tallymash from Cheltenham & Sgt Major "Boy" Roy.
After training Jim left Avonmouth docks onto a troop carrier, a converted luxury liner called Volandam (a dutch packet). With thousands of all sorts of troops in a convoy of 30 ships escorted by the Royal Navy to South Africa to collect supplies, then through the Red Sea to Cario Egypt. Disembarking going through the desert, he was at Tobruk, El Alamein following the 8th Army to Sicily.
In Sicily he was based at Syracuse for a few months dealing with disgruntled locals and minor skirmishes. Then moved to Catania checking on the vodka and general duties for 1 month.
His unit was called back to Scotland for D Day preparations to a place called Gurrock, he said there was no landing stage for the ship to disembark us, just cliffs. We were told to climb as we were commandos. We waited and waited for D Day. Eventually got involved, swept through the Ardennes with a lot of fighting and trying to keep yourself alive.
Later to return to the UK to be demobbed in 1946 at Eastney Barracks Portsmouth.
Jim returned to a farming life in the Vale of White Horse Berkshire an still has a say in the running of the family farm today in 2020.
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A/L.Bdr. Douglas Oliver Elphee 97th Field Regiment Royal Artillery  Douglas Elphee was my father. He said very little about his war service except that he was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, then billeted in South Wales. He then was shipped to the Middle East by way of South Africa and crossed from Iraq to North Africa by way of Palestine, Egypt, and Libya, where he was captured by Rommel’s forces and handed over to the Italians. When Italy capitulated, he lived in the hills picking olives until he was re-captured by the Germans. He was then taken by train to Magdeburg and put to work in the salt mines until being liberated by the Americans.
The only time I heard my father swear was one Sunday lunchtime back in the eighties he was re-united with his sergeant. They were going over their experiences in South Wales and were relating to the time when the invasion codeword "Cromwell" was inadvertently passed in the Southwest by mistake. The sergeant received a phone call from the officer relaying the codeword, whereupon the sergeant replied: "Who the f*** is Cromwell?" The reply was "Invasion". "Oh, that Cromwell, right sir". Then he said "Put the kettle on lads”.
Toward the end of his life, I took him to Dover Castle where our local Radio Kent was trying to piece together people’s experiences of the war. So I suggested he go tell them about his evacuation from Dunkirk. Over he went and came back in 5 minutes. “How come you were so quick?” I asked. He replied “I told them it was just like a day at the beach, I walked down to the sea and got on a boat”. I am not sure I could be so laid back as that, but there were so many like that who saw such awful things during the war, and that was their way of coming to terms with it.
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Tpr. Frederick William "Don" Donhou 6th Btn., B squadron Royal Tank Regiment (d.21st November 1941) Don Donhou was killed at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh on 21st/22nd of November 1941.
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