The early battles of Eighth Army : 'Crusader' to the Alamein line 1941-1942 / by Adrian Stewart.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 167-169) and indexes.

A day in the desert -- "Crusader" -- Pyrrhic victory -- Counter-stroke -- Pause for reflection -- Cauldron -- Divided counsels -- False dawn -- Tactical discussions -- Five failures -- Talk of retreat -- Arrivals and departures -- Bibliography -- Index of Eighth Army formations and units.

In 1941 and 1942, time and again the British Eighth Army squandered opportunities for victory against Rommel in North Africa, despite superior numbers and equipment. Thousands of tanks, guns and soldiers were lost and captured, including some of the best units of the entire British Army, those of the Dominions of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Over and over again infantry units attacked and took German and Italian positions at night, only to be insufficiently supported and overrun by German tanks the next day. My own grandfather, fighting with the 6th NZ Brigade was captured in the El Mreir Depression in such a situation during the second battle at Ruweisat Ridge, just months before the arrival of Montgomery and the El Alamein turning point of the war in North Africa.