F. R. Jephson - The Day Rommel Was Stopped: The Battle of Ruweisat Ridge, 2 July 1942

The Battle of Ruweisat Ridge, 2 July 1942

MAJOR FRANCIS RONALD JEPH JEPHSON, MC, TD AND CHRIS JEPHSON

Published in Great Britain and the United States of America in 2017 by CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

The Old Music Hall, 106108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE, UK

and

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Copyright 2017 Francis Ronald Jephson & Chris Jephson

Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-558-4

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-559-1

Mobi Edition: Mobi ISBN 978-161200-559-1

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

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My father was inspired to start work on the research for this book by a number of events, not least the 25th anniversary of the First Battle of Alamein in 1967. On 2 July 2017 it will be 75 years since the battle and that only reinforces the desire to see my fathers work finally published.

As an amateur historian, he was concerned about being accurate, something that as a trained actuary he probably needed to worry less about than he did. As a person who could generally complete the challenging Times crossword puzzle in less than ten minutes, he was also probably the right person to try and unravel this quite complex story. I am sure that he would agree with Professor Mary Beard when she wrote in her book SPQR on the history of Rome that: Reconstructing the history of this period is an intriguing and sometimes tantalising process, and part of the fun comes from wondering how some of the pieces of the incomplete jigsaw puzzle fit together

My father worked on the research well into the 1990s as his health started to deteriorate. He had been there, on Ruweisat, on 2 July 1942 and in fact remained there until November that year, but was aware that his own view of the events was only one view. He developed and maintained an extensive correspondence with many others who had been there. He made copious notes, read extensively on the subject and talked with those high and low who could contribute. He made a series of undated working drafts, but, due to ill health was never able to complete the work.

His concern was not to glorify war. It was to provide missing knowledge about the day when Rommel was finally stopped and the tide of the Second World War started to turn in the Allies favour. Even more importantly, it was to provide some better recognition to the men of the very diverse small force that came together as Robcol that day and which was described a few days later by the commander, Brigadier Rob Waller as being nobodys child. His ambition was to trace as many as possible of those who had been there. In the event, there remain some gaps, but I hope you will agree that he came close.

Although my father took responsibility for the accuracy of this history at the time that he was writing the drafts, ultimately, the errors and omissions in editing the papers that make up this book must be mine alone.

Chris Jephson

Copenhagen, Denmark

February 2017

A UCHINLECK , General Sir Claude: Commander in Chief, Middle East, later Field Marshal, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE. Known as The Auk.

F REYBERG , General Bernard: Commander of 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, later 1st Baron Freyberg, VC, GCMG, KCB, DSO and 3 Bars.

G OTT , General William Strafer: Commander XIII Corps, later Lt. General CB, CBE, DSO and Bar, MC.

H OLMES , General William: Commander British Troops in Egypt, later Lieutenant General Sir William Holmes, KBE, CB, DSO and Bar.

K ESSELRING , Albert: Overall German Commander in the Mediterranean theatre.

K IPPENBERGER , Brigadier Howard: 5th New Zealand Brigade, later Major General Sir Howard Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED.

L UMSDEN , General Herbert: Commander 1st Armoured Division, later Lieutenant General, CB, DSO and Bar, MC.

M ELLENTHIN , General Friedrich von: Staff Officer in the Afrika Korps.

M ONTGOMERY , Lieutenant General Bernard Law: later Field Marshal, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC.

N ICHOLS , General John Crasher: later Major General, DSO and Bar, MC and Bar, Commander 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.

N OBLE , Colonel Arthur: Commander, 1st/4th Essex, later Sir Arthur Noble, KBE, CB, DSO, TD, DL.

N ORRIE , General Charles Willoughby: later Lieutenant General, 1st Baron Norrie, GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC and Bar.