Australia remembers Battle of El Alamein

Monday marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein, a fierce World War II battle in the North African desert that saw about 2600 Australians killed.

A commemoration will be held at the Australian War Memorial on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the costly Battle of El Alamein.

The fierce battle in the North African desert in 1942 saw more than 2600 Australians killed in fighting that ultimately turned the tide to help defeat the Axis powers.

The 18,000 soldiers of the Australian 9th Division played a key role in the battle, remembered by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the first Allied victory against the German forces in the desert led by the famous Erwin Rommel.

The commemoration begins at 4:55pm on Monday at the Australian War Memorial's Commemorative courtyard.

Visitors and veterans will lay wreaths and and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection, and the ceremony will end with the Last Post.

Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove spoke at a reception in El Alamein hosted by the President of Egypt Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Saturday night Australian time.

"The fighting was ferocious, some of the most vicious of the entire war," Sir Peter said at the memorial.

"Today we remember, and we pay our respects, to all those who fought, and died, in these desert sands"

Sir Peter also visited the graves of Australians killed in the battle.


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Source: AAP


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