European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Remembered British 8th army broke through Rommel s lines 50 years ago today delegates from More than a dozen nations recently placed wreaths at the Stone of remembrance at the Commonwealth cemetery at Elk Alamein. Sas photos by Ken George Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Spike Ellis spent part of the Battle in command headquarter9. The Cross Marks the Commonwealth cemetery. By Craig Martin staff writer the Battle of Al Alamein according to the historians opened the Way for Allied landings in North Africa and turned the tide of world War ii. The 1942 Battle pitted British Commonwealth 8th army forces of Field marshal Bernard l. Quot Monty Quot Montgomery then a lieutenant general against the German italian forces under Field marshal Erwin Rommel the desert Fox. It was a typically hot desert Day at Elk Alamein on oct. 23, 1942. The British soldiers Lay cramped in their trenches throughout the Day waiting for the order to Advance. There was a full Moon and at 9.40 , More than 1,000 guns pounded enemy batteries until 10  British troops moved Forward and began pushing Rommel Back to Libya. For Many people Elk Alamein is just a Page in history books. For others it remains a grim reality. Spike Ellis of London Don Devaux of Johannesburg South Africa and Alec doll of Edinburgh Scotland mustered on this Battlefield once again oct. 25, but this time they weren t inching across the desert dodging bullets from their enemy. The two were among some 6,000 who visited Al Alamein for a 50th anniversary ceremony at the British War cemetery honouring the More than 7,000 troops who died in the Effort to secure Egypt and Force Rommel s troops into one of the longest retreats in history a about 1,750 Miles. This time the men could reflect Over what made this Battle such a Success the Commonwealth forces included soldiers from new zealand Australia great Britian South Africa and India. In ear y july 1942, the 8th army stood at Bay on the Alamein line an almost Flat 40-mile expanse of desert stretching from the Mediterranean sea in the North to the Pattara depression in the South. It was the last Barrier to the Axis Powers goal of seizing the Suez canal. Two exhausted armies faced each other and after 10 Days of attempts by Rommel to penetrate the a Alamein position a stalemate developed and the Battlefield stabilized. Patrolling reconnaissance and development of mine Fields became the order of the Day. Quot we were a beaten army Quot said Devaux who was a 21-year-old Corporal assigned to the South african 1st div Quot so we needed a new commander and we got Montgomery. Really he instilled Confidence in us Winston Churchill once said Quot before Alamein we never had a Victory a after Al Mem we never had a  Quot the 8th army wanted new blood and Monty was the blood transfusion Quot explained ebs 79, who was a warrant officer second class in charge of ammunition and Supples for the 8th army. He also served in the command Post during crucial stages of the Battle he said Monty visited the troops before the Battle began and cent nod on Pago 16 on nov. 25,1942, a British tank Rolls peat a disabled German tank in Africa s Western desert. The Commonwealth cemetery holds the remains of 7,367 men who died in the desert Battle. The Battle of Al Alamein German Field marshal Erwin Rommel s 1,500-mlle March across Northern Africa in 1942 was finally stopped at Al Alamein where forces led by British Field marshal Bernard Montgomery prepared a counterattack. The Battle was launched oct. 23, and the first breakthrough occurred nov. 4. Rommel was chased All the Way Back past Tripoli. T.4 a it Tunisia Mediterranean sea Tel Alamei Algeria aps amps Page 14 b the stars and stripes wednesday no.er&Quot"er4. 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 15