Gazala
In this Battle, the Eight Army, holding the Gazala line, was attacked by German-Italian forces under Rommel, and after very severe fighting and fluctuating fortunes was forced to withdraw to the frontier defences.
The Honour has been awarded to the 4th Hussars.
Ruweisat
Counter-attacks launched by XIII and XXX Corps contributed to this subsidiary Action to defeat advancing enemy forces.
The Honour is borne on the Guidon of the 4th Hussars.
Defence of Alamein Line
The fighting in this battle was heavy and continuous. General sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, took personal command of the Eighth Army, and not only halted Rommel’s Army but by persistent attacks forced the enemy onto the defensive. By the end of the month, though both sides were exhausted, the initiative had passed to the British.
The Honour has been awarded to the 4th Hussars.
Detail
The 4th Hussars fought in this disastrous battle that marked the beginning of Rommel’s great advance across North Africa.
The Regiment arrived with 1stArmoured Brigade on 2 June at Capuzzo and apart from ‘B’ Squadron immediately lost all of its tanks to other units. ‘B’ Squadron lost all but one tank in an ambush on 12 June.
The whole of the 8th Army began its long and hard fighting retreat to prepared defences at the Alamein Line. A composite squadron of the 8th Hussars was involved in the breakout of the pocket at Mersa Matruh.
The Regiment was heavily involved in the defence of the Alamein Line throughout July, with especially hard fighting defending the Ruweisat Ridge 2-6 July.
They were joined later in the month by ‘C’ Squadron, 8th Hussars, to form the 4/8th Hussars.
