Battle of El Alamein fallen honoured
“We will remember them” is said by the Moths (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) as they remember their fallen comrades-in-arms and on Sunday October 23, they paid respect to fallen soldiers in the battle of El Alamein.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the second battle of El Alamein in which South African troops were involved as part of the Allied Forces fighting the “Desert Fox ”– German General Erwin Rommel.
The Allied victory in the second battle of El Alamein became a turning point during World War 2 in the North African campaign.
“Today we remember those who have paid the supreme sacrifice,” said Kevin Riddin, the Old Bill of the Moths Port Alfred Battleaxe Shellhole.
A prayer was given by the historian of the shellhole, Jon Pieters, who proceeded to give an informative and insightful talk on the second battle of El
Alamein and the involvement of South African troops.
Pieters shared interesting facts about the battle, such as that South African troops wore a strip of orange cloth known as “the orange flash” and
it is due to this that Pieters had orange pins made especially to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the battle. These pins were given to all those who had done military service.
Members from the various branches
of the military laid wreaths at the Moth memorial.
Moth members, Dave Tyrrell of the Battleaxe Shellhole, Mark Shroder of the Gunners Association, John Rogers of SAAFA (South African Air Force
Association), Riddin, of the SA Military Intelligence Veterans Association, Owen Whiteside of the Rhodesian Armed Forces, Ivan Erasmus of the Royal Air Force Officers Club, and Piet van Oudtshoorn of the Cape Coloured Corps all placed wreaths at the monument
They were joined by John Hodges of the SA Legion Port Alfred branch, Craig Theunissen of SPAR, and Yvonne Pieters of SA Military Nursing Services.
Members of the Port Alfred Battleaxe Shellhole who fought in the battle of El Alamein and have since passed away were remembered with their photos on display, namely Norman Clayton (1919-1997), Victor Francis (1919-1997), and Bill Hill (1923-2019).
The Moth Battleaxe Shellhole is located at the Eddie Grant Hall in Port Alfred, next to the Port Alfred River and Ski Boat Club, and it is where you will find a fascinating military museum and library for all those interested in the past that has shaped our world.