Gunners in North Africa

Gunners in North Africa is largely based on contemporary Royal Artillery documents, especially regimental war diaries, and follows the story of the Royal Artillery in the British Eighth Army from defeats in early 1942 to striking victories later in the year.

Gunner regiments, along with the rest of the Eighth Army, endured defeats at Gazala and Tobruk in the first half of 1942. They fought hard and with courage, but without commensurate success. Things changed when the tide turned in the strong defensive position of Alamein. Afrika Korps veterans of the Western Front recognised once again the dreaded British Trommelfeuer (‘drumfire’). Once Montgomery took command of Eighth Army, he appointed Sidney Kirkman as his chief Gunner. He trusted Kirkman implicitly. The guns of British divisions now worked together effectively, becoming a battle-winning factor. This began at Alam Halfa and 2nd Alamein. The Royal Artillery continues to celebrate the latter with the annual Alamein Dinner. Eighth Army’s advance took them to the capture of Tripoli and victories at Medenine, Mareth and Wadi Akarit. Following the ‘Torch’ landings of November 1942, Gunners of British First Army with the Americans joined the Eighth Army in the final round-up of Axis forces in ‘Tunisgrad’ of May 1943. This striking victory, in which the Royal Artillery played a major part, was one of the turning points of the Second World War.