WO1 Michael Tugwell and SSgt Geoffrey Ryan at rest during the El Alamein ceremony.

Cpl Trevor Green, Cpl Rosemarie Kevelj, Lt-Col Jon Black and Cpl Troy Park at the grave of Pte Gratwick, VC

Maj-Gen David Hurley speaks with Cpl Rosemarie Kevelj during the El Alamein ceremony. Photos by Maj Mark Smythe

Victory at great cost

By Maj Mark Smythe
AUSTRALIANS serving on Operation Mazurka in the Sinai recently participated in the 60th and last formal commemoration of the Battle of El Alamein.

The commemoration was staged over two days and Australia was represented by the Governor-General Dr Peter Hollingworth and Maj-Gen David Hurley, who represented the CA. Also in attendance were about 50 ex-members of the former 9 Div.

The events included a small memorial service at the 9 Div memorial, a Commonwealth ceremony in the cemetery and ceremonies at the German and Italian Cenotaphs.

At 9.40pm on October 23, 1942, 80 Australian guns joined 800 Allied guns in the opening barrage of the Battle of El Alamein. They were still firing when the final breakthrough was achieved on the night of November 2, after more than 600 Australians had died securing the Allied victory, marking a significant turning point during WW2.

The Australian 9 Div on the northern coastal flank of the battle constituted about 10 per cent of the 8th Army’s strength, yet sustained about 22 per cent of its casualties during the Battle of El Alamein.

.