Len Moore fought with the 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps 2/KRRC across the deserts of North Africa during WW2 from 1941 to 1943. The second Battle of El Alamein battle drew to a close on the 2nd November 1942 with a night attack that went through to the following day. Len Moore was in the thick of the fighting with the KRRC.

Len Moore 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps

This account of the battle was written by By Lieutenant-Colonel W. Heathcote-Amory of the 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifles. - The 2nd Battalion, as part of the 7th Motor Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, entered the battle near El Alamein in the northern attack on 26th October, taking part in the night attack which resulted in the destruction of 70 German tanks, and in the attack at Aqqaqir on the night of 2nd/ 3rd November, which effected the breakthrough.

The 2nd of November found the 2nd Battalion forming, with the remainder of the 7th Motor Brigade, a pivot on which the Armoured Brigade was manoeuvring. This area was under very heavy enemy shell fire all day and the Armoured Brigade were unable to move west as they were held up by a strong enemy anti-tank screen along the El Raman track which ran north south about two miles west of the Motor Brigade position.

During the afternoon the Brigade received orders to attack this screen during the night with the object of destroying all enemy anti-tank guns on and to the east of this track before first light. Each Battalion was given one area to attack and occupy. Attacks were to be put in simultaneously.

British riflemen waiting for German troops to attack

3rd November - German counter-attack repulsed

A short time after first light the first enemy tanks were seen moving up over the ridge to the west. At a range of about 800 yards our first 6-pounder opened up and put one in flames at the first shot. A good beginning.

About a dozen tanks now appeared moving up through the broken ground which provided them with good hull-down positions from which they brought heavy fire to bear on the Battalion positions. However, they were not sure what was in front of them and their subsequent efforts to find out cost them six tanks destroyed and several more damaged.

Unfortunately five out of our eight guns had by now been knocked out by direct hits and the crews had suffered casualties. Owing to the amount of shell and machine-gun fire which was now falling on the Battalion, it was impossible to think of replacing these guns from the reserve, or of re-siting those still in action. The main arc westwards was now uncovered by anti-tank guns, and so Brigade were asked if they could help.

The Brigadier promptly sent up his troop of Churchill tanks which provided the necessary support, and successfully deterred the enemy from pressing his attack until our Armoured Brigade arrived in the neighbourhood. The Battalion held on in this position all day under continuous shell fire, sniping and machine-gun fire. Tanks were seen moving about to the west as if preparing for a further attack, but this never materialized, and by the afternoon it appeared as if they and some of the infantry opposing us must have withdrawn.

British Army still made sure the troops got mail from home.

Enemy Position Pierced

About 1700 hrs., therefore, a reconnaissance was made westwards to discover if this was the case. Lieutenant Colman went off with a carrier section and disappeared into the broken ground where he apparently found the enemy still in some strength, and after shooting up the crew of one gun post with tommy guns the patrol withdrew. Unhappily, Colman was shot and killed during this encounter and his driver wounded. Another carrier was disabled in the middle of the enemy position but the crew took cover until dark and then made their way back to their company.

This proved to be the last of what the Army Commander had previously described as the "crumbling operations." The crust of German defence was now very thin and the position gained and held by the Battalion was chosen for the break-out by the armour the following morning.

At first light, therefore, preceded by a heavy artillery concentration, the Armoured Brigades went through the Battalion position and the break-out was an accomplished fact. The pursuit was on.