he end of June 1942 saw the New Zealand Division complete assembly on the Alamein line.They had been urgently summoned to the front from their temporary bases in Syria to help stem the threatening advances being made by the Axis armies towards Egypt.
The defensive line itself stretched 35 miles from the small village of El Alamein on the Arabs Gulf and ran south southwest across Ruweisat Ridge until reaching the north eastern tip of the impassable Qattara Depression.
Between July and early September the "Kiwis" were involved in desperate clashes against Rommel's forces who were attempting to penetrate the last Alllied defences before Cairo and Alexandria.
This series of battles inflicted heavy losses upon Rommel's forces whose attacks had been faced and beaten back. The initiative was now with the Allies. Preparations began towards the largest Allied offensive of the war so far - The Battle of El Alamein.
New equipment had been arriving in great quantities from Great Britain and the United States, including new Sherman tanks. Motorised artillery recently developed in the Egypt was now ready to be brought into the line. Vast administrative arrangements had been prepared to deal with the logistics of a sustained attack for 10-15 days and plans to reopen sabotaged ports once recaptured had been drawn up.
Allied manpower numbered twice as many as Axis, tank strength was 3:1 in favour, artillery 2:1 in favour and aircraft 5:1 in favour.
Meanwhile everything possible was being done to hinder and interdict enemy reinforcement and resupply. Rommel's ports, sea routes and land transport routes were being continually attacked.
Tactical preparations were concealed with great secrecy. A diversionary attack in the southern sector of the line was planned whilst the main attack would be launched towards the enemies strongest positions in the north which comprised of seasoned Afrika Korps panzer and infantry units.
The role of the New Zealand Division would be twofold. They would initially be used in the main offensive to penetrate the enemy defences. They would then be required to exploit any succesful break-through in the German and Italian lines.
On 10 September the New Zealand division was withdrawn from their central sector positions for 4 days leave. This was followed by intensive training in conditions as similar as possible to the actual attack. For example, practice minefields were layed exactly as they were expected to be found and infantry assaults were conducted with support from artillery and tanks firing live ammunition. Weapons and guns were painstakingly checked and calibrated. Special attention was given to mine clearance, booby trap and wire entanglement dismantling, as both sides had vast areas defended by these means.
On 30 September General Bernard Montgomery visited the New Zealand Division at their training grounds behind the Alamein line. Spending 12 hours with them he addressed the men and quoted "The Eighth Army is made up of men from all parts of the Empire. All are hard fighting men but none are better than the New Zealanders".
Preparations for the offensive were completed by mid October. It was now time to put the power of the Eigth Army to the test.
