El Alamein
This battle, a ‘set piece’ attack by the Eighth Army, ended with the rout of the German-Italian forces and was the turning point of the war in North Africa.
The Honour is borne on the Guidon of the 4th Hussars.
The Honour is borne on the Guidon of the 8th Hussars.
Detail
Throughout the battle of Alamein, ‘C’ Squadron stayed with the 4/8th Hussars in the 4th Light Armoured Brigade. The main task was to penetrate the two big minefields which shielded the main enemy positions. ‘C’ Squadron had the task of clearing anti-tank resistance to the east of these and giving protection to the formations waiting to go through.
By the time that happened they had lost five tanks on mines and several by gunfire before, on 3rd November, the last anti-tank screen had been forced back and Rommel’s forces were in full retreat.
For ‘C’ Squadron the pursuit which followed westwards through Libya lasted three weeks. Enemy action, random mines and mechanical action failures gradually reduced the Squadron’s tanks.
By 24th November they had reached Magrun, west of Benghazi, and with no replacement tanks ‘C’ Squadron was given orders to call off the chase and return to RHQ at Sidi Bishr, 700 miles behind them.
