Tom Gilling’s book offers a vivid account of the pivotal battles at El Alamein, illuminating the valour of Australian and New Zealand forces against Rommel’s Afrika Korps in July 1942. This battle which turned the tide in North Africa involved troops from Britain, India, South Africa, Rhodesia, and Free French Forces. Australia suffered around 5500 casualties who were killed, wounded, captured, or missing out of 16 000 troops. More Australians were lost in the two years in North Africa than any other campaign.

Gilling reveals that there were two battles around El Alamein. The first halted the advancing Panzeramee of Rommel only 61 kilometres from Alexandria and, if it hadn’t, the capture of Cairo and the Suez Canal could have changed the whole course of the war. The bravery of the ANZACs was instrumental in halting the German-Italian advance. They were out-gunned. Despite this they made significant advances onto tactically important landmarks. It became evident that the coordination between tank and infantry was impossible.

The appointment of Montgomery as overall commander of allied forces in North Africa, the arrival of Sherman tanks, the dominance of RAF in the air and an advantage in artillery were how Rommel and his forces were eventually defeated. By May 1943 the German and Italian forces surrendered in North Africa and this led to the invasion of Sicily and then Italy.

If I have one minor critique, it’s calling El Alamein the definitive ‘turning point of the Second World War’, most historians will look to the Eastern Front and the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. Start Digging You Bastards! is a book for history enthusiasts seeking both action and insight.

Reviewed by Anthony Llewellyn-Evans

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Gilling is an acclaimed novelist and non-fiction writer. His first two novels, The Sooterkin and Miles McGinty, were New York Times notable books of the year.

His non-fiction works include Bastard Behind the Lines and The Lost Battalions. He is also co-author with Clive Small of the bestselling true crime books Smack Express, Blood Money, Evil Life and Milat.

Read more about his work here.