The Battles of El Alamein

A worthy recount of the three battles of Alamein. Endless debate still about Auchinleck and Chink Dorman; was it a hatchet job by Monty; or was he just a more clever and devious general? (I never liked Corelli Barnetts book "The Desert Generals".) The best description of the Alam Halfa battle and 3rd Alamein are in Nigel Hamilton's exhaustive "The Full Monty." The behaviour of Lumsden makes your teeth grind in anger.
One thing, you mention Operation Torch being the invasion of EAST Africa. Surely Algeria and Morroco were in the north west of the continent?
Very worthwhile and of interest to the casual reader. Starred, regards, Mark

Very detailed and a well written account of El Alamein. This is a treat for historians of World War 2.

Very impressiveand highly recommended.

best

I don't normally pick up a history book on my own free will, but your approachable pitch drew me into this, and I was captured by your clear writing style. Bolding key terms helps the initiate reader latch onto pertinent facts, and your explanations are detailed without dragging the reader down into the minutae. Thanks to you, this is not dry history on the page. It's vivid and engaging without slipping into fiction.

Abi xxx

The Battles of El Alamein

I am so impressed at how you have built up this book and structured it.
These is so much (what I assume is) researched fact the quality and depth to me (who has a liking for this type of thing) is engaging
I hadn’t realised there was three fronts in Alamien. This has a different style then most of this type, somehow it more approachable easier to engage with and accept; it feels to have that human touch not just sequential explanation. - Good luck

This is a good book: the story and analysis of a WWII battle that should receive a bigger place in history than it does. The mark of this is your writing style: it's clear and engaging and makes a reader want to keep turning pages. I embarrassingly don't know that much about WWII so this was a learning experience for me as well as a good read. I'm adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

This is very well writen and filled with interestiing facts, that really brings WW2 to life. But I do think it is crazy to have just one massive chapter. People like a break and the reward of finishing a chapter. Backed with pleasure
BADD

thanks Ray, I'm glad you enjoyed the book and found it interesting.

The Battles of El Alamein:

Leo,

Churchill's decision to divert British troops from North Africa which, as you say, left Tripoli more vulnerable to the enemy seems, on the surface, to be short sighted, and I wondered why the troops were nevertheless thought to be better placed in Greece. Of course the German war machine also had to be contested in Greece but I was interested to know why the balance of importance for Churchill was focused on Greece and why perhaps other allied troops could not have been used for that front.
Still, this isn't part of your focus and, indeed, the question set up in my own mind in any case kept me engaged to read on until I found myself absorbed into your main theme again.
Your style, throughout, is very lucid indeed and conveys a sense that you feel a good, honest urgency to clear up any misconceptions over the three fronts of Alamein, as you introduce them to us.
I was intrigued by some of the smaller detail; particularly the explanation of a degree of chivalry in the North African encounters where 'water holes were not poisoned' and it this facet, your ability to weave in a close-up on the toll which war exacts from humanity, which most engaged me and made your book, though extremely well researched, more than a clinical or chronological exposition. Backed.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

This is one of my favourites. enjoyed reading it very much and learnt from it.

shah

Thanks!!!!!

Hi Leo, this clearly is a passion of yours and you have obviously done your research. This is really detailed and well documented and I felt I was learning as I read. This is a book that could be passed down through generations, it's a book that can be left down and picked up at will and you will get more from it on the second, third and fourth reads than on the first. It's needs time to seep. Lovely writing aswell by the way. Enjoyed the read. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

I would appreciate your backing for Twin Beeches -- an Illinois Love Story. It is classified partly as both historical fiction and history. I think you would enjoy it enough to back it. I will, of course, reciprocate.

No problem! Leo

Hi Leo, this clearly is a passion of yours and you have obviously done your research. This is really detailed and well documented and I felt I was learning as I read. This is a book that could be passed down through generations, it's a book that can be left down and picked up at will and you will get more from it on the second, third and fourth reads than on the first. It's needs time to seep. Lovely writing aswell by the way. Enjoyed the read. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

The Battles of El Alamein:

Leo,

Churchill's decision to divert British troops from North Africa which, as you say, left Tripoli more vulnerable to the enemy seems, on the surface, to be short sighted, and I wondered why the troops were nevertheless thought to be better placed in Greece. Of course the German war machine also had to be contested in Greece but I was interested to know why the balance of importance for Churchill was focused on Greece and why perhaps other allied troops could not have been used for that front.
Still, this isn't part of your focus and, indeed, the question set up in my own mind in any case kept me engaged to read on until I found myself absorbed into your main theme again.
Your style, throughout, is very lucid indeed and conveys a sense that you feel a good, honest urgency to clear up any misconceptions over the three fronts of Alamein, as you introduce them to us.
I was intrigued by some of the smaller detail; particularly the explanation of a degree of chivalry in the North African encounters where 'water holes were not poisoned' and it this facet, your ability to weave in a close-up on the toll which war exacts from humanity, which most engaged me and made your book, though extremely well researched, more than a clinical or chronological exposition. Backed.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

Thanks!!!

Backed.

Jesse - Savant

Leo, it's obvious you have done your research. Thanks for the education. Good work.

Backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Hello Leo, this is an absolutely fascinating account of the battle of El alamein, possibly the best I've read since Basil Liddel-Hart's. Its dissertation length: I think you would do well to develop this work as a 'Book of Battles', you mentioned the other important battles such as Midway and Stalingrad, why not do those as well? Possibly throw in other 'scraps' like Monte Cassino, Kasserine, 'The Bulge', Kursk, Kohima etc. Now that would be something if you could research all that. You set the book out really well and I can visualise it like a chessboard almost. You portray the key personalities fairly (I personally think Churchill was an aristocratic amateur who was more trouble than he was worth. The real heroes, to whom we owe the great debt of course were our servicemen and women and this is a great tribute to them. Excellent stuff and right up my alley. BACKED Chris1

Backed.

Jesse - Savant

Hi,

Excellent piece of writing. Well researched obviously and works like these are invaluable to those that study the subject. Backed.

JED
Green Olives

Leo
I escorted a group of veterens to the 50th anniversary of the commemoration of the desert wars....We spent a day at the war graves of El Alamein, a hot sticky drive from Alexandria .......It was the most humbling day of my life....Not because I was pregnant, and throwing up in the hotel ladies room, subsequently holding up a convoy of 8 coaches flanked with a police escort....(I kid you not, 400 people had to wait on me).....But because I was full of admiration for these men who endured such hardships....and despite the fact we were fifty years down the line, still clicked their heels at the presence of a commanding officer.....Harry Secombe & Prince Charles were there.....(I missed them, I was in the toilet being sick at the evening function in the British Embassy).....

They used their tin hats to cook food......I have to go out now, but I have alot of stories....I gave them the microphone on the coach and they took turns telling stories.....I was too ill to speak....How they put up with my as a guide I dont know...

Anyway you're writing....

and his men had had time to recover........one 'had' would do....

Two exiled Free Polish officers (had) developed.........you very rarely need 'had' before an - ed verb......you have quite a few.....

Shelved.....brilliant , the fact you're up to speed on the subject matter screams off the page.....

A good account of the war in the Desert. I would have liked to have read a little more on the various units which made up the 8th Army, especially the Indian part, because I have a very soft spot for the Indian Army:-)).
Your research is good and you have quoted your sources which is alway welcome..
I'm happy to give this some time on my shelf

We didn't realize what we were in for as we prefer fiction or fraction and not fact.

We wrote enough about war in our own story.

War, man's folly or his inheritance?

You have our backing.

Eleanor and Sharkey.

Thanks Gerry!

I've always found history interesting, and you have a subject here which is exciting, even riveting, in itself. From the time I used to read Biggles, through to Spike Milligan, I've wanted to know more about the Desert Rats and Alamein; and you've given me the perfect opportunity. The desert war has been the subject of many novels, but your non-fiction approach is as gripping as any of them. You write well and clearly, making it easy to follow your arguments and your descriptions of events. I found your analysis of Monty very interesting, and also your view of Churchill. Your suggestion that Montgomery deliberately put Auchinleck down by mentioning only his contingency plan for retreat is fascinating. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

I learnt a lot from your book about Alamein and found it very interesting and well written. Did you know that Rommel's sister Dearse lived in East London for the whole war? I have a friend who when he was a boy, used to go round and empty her gas meters each week for her as the house had been turned into small flats. Interesting isn't it. Have a look at my book Three Stayed Home, a fictitious WW2 adventure and love story and let me know what you think of it. I am backing your history of the North African campaign and hope you will do the same for mine, Regards John

I started to read this and couldn't stop. You have written a clear account. It was easy to read and understand. I thank you for writting this books and I did indeed learn more about Alamein.