Monty's achievement
From Mr Charles Cameron Sir: As a junior officer (captain and compa ny commander) at Alamein, I would like to take issue with comments in the review of Alamein by Jon Latimer (Books, 3 August).
Morale in the army in Egypt in July 1942 was rock-bottom, with dissension at Auchinleek's headquarters, and depression in the army at having to retreat all the way back after nearly reaching Tripoli. Then out came Alexander and Montgomery, to take command, and the latter raised morale by getting rid of the defeatists and moving most of the staff out of Cairo to nearer the front line.
There are many reasons why the landing in Algiers could not have replaced Alamein. First, the 1st Army and the Americans found it difficult enough to defeat the opposition they faced, which was only a fraction of what had been Rommel's army in North Africa and Libya. They needed the assistance of the 8th Army, which was already in Tunisia, Second, it would have been logistically impossible to move the 8th Army from Egypt to Tunisia in time to affect the issue. Third, an attack at Alamein was from a secure land-base with all facilities; an attack in Algeria had to be sea-based, which is limiting. Fourth, the bulk of the 8th Army were battle-experienced, unlike the Americans and most of the 1st Army. Fifth, it was essential to clear the coast of Libya quickly in order to relieve Malta.
Your reviewer was not fair to Montgomery, his staff (he had excellent generals to back him) or to those who took part in the 8th Army offensive action.
Charles Cameron
Nairn, Scotland
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