DAY or TERRIFIC ARTILIERY FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 169, 20 July 1942, Page 3

DAY or TERRIFIC ARTILIERY FIRE

UNITS OVERRUN Brigadier's Three Escapes In One Day (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) EL ALAMIEN, July 16. Cut off from their artillery and mortars by crossfire from pockets of resistance left in their line of advance, infantry, machine-gunners and anti-tank gunners of the New Zealand formation on the left sector of the Ruweisat ridge withstood a day of terrific artillery barrages, tank shellfire and dive-bombing before being overrun by a force of German armoured units and fighting ▼ehicles last evening. Only late in the afternoon was it possible to get carriers and mortars —the second section of their formation's attacking force—on to the ridge. Our artillery was in action all day. but the closest position they could get to return the enemy's fire was three miles from Ruweisat. Enemy Tank Attack The tank attack which ended our left formation's gallant stand came from the west at four o'clock in the sfternoon. Over a score of fighting vehicles, including mounted antitank guns, advanced under cover of Ml artillery barrage on our infantry —men of the Auckland. Wellington and South Island battalions. While our anti-tank gunners pumped out their six-pounder shells the infantry stood by them, but their resistance could not last long against heavy tanks. Penetrating our semi-circular defences, the tanks cut through brigade headquarters and began firing back •t our men from sheltered positions about 400 yards to the rear. As they passed headquarters the German tank crews threw grenades out towards the men in the trenches. Caught in hopeless positions our men on the edge of the attack were forcod to surrender to German lorried infantry following the tanks. New Zealand Prisoners Escape Towards dusk the German tanks began a withdrawal, sending out armoured cars to collect prisoners from the centre of our line. The prisoners were being marched off when a strong force of British tanks opened fire. Some New Zealanders escaped while the enemy armoured vehicles were withdrawing Many others were caught amid the furious exchange of tank shells. The German tanks moved back in stages of a few hundred yards, firing as they went. When our men tried to escape they were faced also with the shots of German infantry watching them from the edge of our line. Some did escape and were helping to evacuate wounded when three German tanks returned to collect them again. Even then some escaped and rejoined the New Zealand forces under cover of darkness. The remainder of our left forma.tion was withdrawn during the night. Commander's Adventures Twice between 7 o'clock and sundown the commander of the New Zealand force on the left sector of the Ruweisat ridge was captured and twice escaped. He was with a group of his commanding officers at formation headquarters when the German armoured force overran our infantry and anti-tank defences. As the tanks passed through headquarters four grenades were thrown •t the trenches where the officers Were sheltering. The commander of the Auckland group, who had been placing overrun infantrymen, was

wounded by one grenade, but the other® exploded harmlessly on the edge of the trenches.

The German armoured cars had collected the whole headquarters when our tanks opened fire. They were forced to withdraw, leaving their prisoners between the opposing tanks.

The commander of the force and the commander of the Wellington infantrymen had started a truck and were gathering up wounded when they again were captured, this time by German tanks.

As they were being marched away both selected an opportunity, dropped to the ground and escaped back to the British lines.