Rememberance -Battle of El Alamein

70 years ago the 'Dessert Rats' as they were known as won the battle of El Alamein in the World war 2. The battle took place in the dessert in Eyppt close to the border with Libya. It is considered the decisive Battle of World war 2 because it seriously wounded the Nazi Forces, who were intent on creating a Fascist state in Europe. It is to the credit of all the 'Allied' soldiers that died in that war that they stopped Hitler from his goal of controlling the whole of Europe in a Fascist Regime, which based its ideology on an idea of a superior race that would control and exterminate all those who were minorities or who dared to disagree with them. Fascism is the opposite of Freedom.

My father, was a gunner with the 7th Armoured Division, as far as I understand, and he was in the Highland Division of the artillery Units which were known as the 50th. They were the armoured part of the Highland Division manning 25 poinder guns. It is fitting to remember him today on Rememberance Sunday and during the Anniversary of the Battle of the Battle of El Alamein.

Later on this week I will write a small memoir of the things he spoke about the war, when he faught with the Armoured Division for 6 campaigns, in North Africa and Italy. He survived the war, and died in 1997. The memoirs of the war were important to him and throughout his life he continued to work to educate people against the dangers of Fascist ideology. When he died we made sure he wore his Highland Division Tie with a military style funeral and a Scottish piper.

Donald Sutherland 1920 to 1997