Rommel launched his final attack on the night of 30th/31st August. His main thrust was directed, as had been foreseen, round the British left flank towards the Alam Halfa Ridge, some fifteen miles in rear of the centre. This was combined with a frontal attack on the whole Alamein position. The enemy turning attack penetrated the minefields, but after three days of intensive fighting with heavy loss all attacks were foiled and the withdrawal commenced. General Montgomery counter-attacked on 3rd September. Severe fighting continued until the 7th, when the British front was re-established and the battle then stopped. The ground was littered with enemy vehicles.

The 1st and 2nd Battalions, with the 4th Light Armoured Brigade and the 7th Motor Brigade of the 7th Armoured Division, were fighting on the southern flank of this battle from the first to the last of it, delaying the enemy advance and finally harassing his retreat.

The 11th Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. T. Eve, now arrived in Egypt and joined the 7th Armoured Division.

Battle Of Alamein — 23rd October to 4th November 1942

During the lull after the Battle of Alam Haifa the enemy had strengthened and deepened his defences. In the north sector he had three belts of defended localities and minefields. In the south the defences were not so highly organized, but were sited to canalize any penetration we might make. In general, the minefields alone extended to some 5,000 to 9,000 yards in depth.

The enemy positions were held by two German and seven Italian divisions, together with a German parachute brigade. In reserve were two German panzer and two Italian armoured divisions and the famous German 90th Light Division.

General Montgomery had under his command in the Eighth Army seven Empire infantry divisions, three armoured divisions and some independent brigades. The Eighth Army possessed a slight superiority in artillery and in numbers but not quality of tanks. The Desert Air Force attained supremacy in the air.

The Army Commander's plan was to make two attacks, one in the north and one in the south.

On 23rd October the Eighth Army was launched to the attack. Ten days heavy fighting ensued and by 4th November the enemy were in full retreat and the battle had been decisively won. Thirty thousand prisoners fell into our hands and only heavy rain on 6th and 7th November, by slowing down the pursuit, saved the enemy from complete annihilation.