New Zealand at El Alamein

ERIC BATCHELOR, DCM and Bar, was one of four veterans who travelled to Egypt with the official New Zealand delegation to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the second battle of El Alamein.

At 9.40pm on 23 October 1942, the 900 guns of the Allied forces lit up the sky as Eric, with his infantry mates, lay face down in the Egyptian desert, just metres from the start line.

"We were waiting for the counter-barrage to start - and it did," he recalls. "All hell broke loose

"In the first wave, a shell landed almost on top of us, my mates on either side of me were killed instantly…"

In the early dusk at El Alamein 60 years later, the setting sun lay a yellow cast across the forest of headstones in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery. Eric, in his white bowler's hat, walked down the rows and came across one of those killed alongside him.

"I don't know what it is," he reflected, "maybe age, but the experience of these moments when we were just young men, are alive as if they just happened a moment ago."

Tears came behind a white handkerchief as he stood silently, before moving on.

AMONG THE GRAVESTONES, ROW ON ROW: Tears brought memories of fallen comrades to life amid the sand and dust of the Commonwealth War Graves at El Alamein.

During the three days of commemoration, the New Zealand contingent attended four separate ceremonies of remembrance. The first, a simple, but moving service involving a tour group of veterans from the 28th Maori Battalion was held in the late afternoon with the lowering red orb of an Egyptian sun lengthening shadows which significantly added an appropriate background to the solemn proceedings.

PRIME MINISTERIAL PRESENCE: Helen Clark met up with the four New Zealand El Alamein veterans at the 28th Maori Battalion ceremony: (from left) Bill O'Brien (Auckland), Patira Edwards (Auckland), John Ferguson (Dunedin), who died shortly after returning home, and Eric Batchelor (Waimate).		"IT WAS LIKE THIS…": Chief of General Staff Major General Jerry Mataparae and wife Janine in discussion with HRH the Duke of Kent after the Commonwealth service.

Next, on Saturday afternoon, the Commonwealth Service attended by the Duke of Kent representing The Queen, the Governor General of Australia and New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark was observed. Members of the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, South Africa and Canada took part, together with military representatives from Poland, France, Greece and Egypt.

Among the many wreaths laid during the service was one from RNZRSA placed by National Executive Committee members Denny Morris and Eru Manuera.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM: RNZRSA National Executive Committee members Denny Morris (left) and Eru Manuera about to lay a wreath at the Commonwealth commemoration.		ADDING TO THE POIGNANCY OF THE OCCASION: The New Zealand Defence Force Maori cultural group performs during the New Zealand national service.

The highlight for the New Zealanders at El Alamein was the national commemoration on Sunday morning providing a uniquely different scene with the NZDF Maori Cultural Group adding to the poignancy of the occasion. During the service, the four New Zealand veterans of the El Alamein campaign, were supported by the secondary school students and Cadet Force representatives who travelled with the official delegation.

AT EASE IN THE COMPANY OF VETERANS: With a Mediterranean backdrop are Cadet Lance Corporal Sam O'Neil (Dunedin Cadet Unit), Able Cadet John Keu (TS Gambia, Auckland), and Cadet Warrant Officer Piarimu Niao (No. 65 ATC Squadron, Kawerau) who represented the New Zealand Cadet Force at the El Alamein 60th anniversary commemorations.		HAVING FORTY WINKS: Veteran Eric Batchelor takes time out from the contingent's busy schedule to relax for a few minutes in the cool of the hotel.

The International Service, this year hosted by Italy, was a grand affair of pomp and ceremony with speeches proclaiming that enemies were now friends.

"It was of Ben Hur-like proportions," says RNZRSA representative Eru Manuera, "with the Italian military wearing a dazzling array of uniforms including some in helmets and body armour dating from the era when Christians were being introduced to the lions."

The songs, and hymns which accompanied the three officiating ministers, were in keeping with the grand scale operatic setting, he says. "There was Zorba the Greek, an Italian opera piece marvellously sung by the Italians and Land of Hope and Glory most enthusiastically supported by the British."

Mr Manuera says, in spite of a minor contretemps when one Italian veteran vented is annoyance at the four Kiwi veterans because they were blocking his view, an overall warm camaraderie pervaded the occasion.

He has nothing but praise for the military contingent, especially the RNZAF crews, for the manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the arduous trip.

Of the younger complement of the group, the Cadets and essay competition winners, Mr Manuera says they will have experiences with which to regale family and friends.

He says, having read the essays, he was mightily impressed with their endeavours. "It's hard to believe that these were the words and thoughts of children - or should I say young adults - and not the actual words and deeds of those who fought in those battles."

But there is a sad and tragic footnote to what has been described as a most spectacular and moving commemoration of one of the world's great battles. One of our veterans, John Ferguson of Dunedin, whose granddaughter Pip Wilson was one of the Prime Minister's essay competition winners died just three weeks after returning home.

Photographs by Warren Inkster, NZDF and Denny Morris