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44th (Home Counties) Division Memorial.

Situated south east of El Alamein on the Alam Halfa Ridge, constructed of oil drums and shell cases set on a concrete plinth.

Commemorating men of the Division Killed in Action in the Western Desert 1942/43

2nd Buffs, 4th & 5th Queen's Own Royal West Kent's(132 Infantry Brigade), 1/5th, 1/6th & 1/7th Queens (131 Infantry Brigade), 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions the Royal Sussex Regiment(133 Infantry Brigade) and supporting Divisional troops.

2nd Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) were awarded the following Battle Honours for operations in North Africa:

Alum El Halfa 1942, El Alamein 1942, North Africa 1941-1943.

MIDDLE EAST

On the break up of 44 Division, 2nd Battalion The Buffs were moved from Egypt to Syria under the command of Lt. Col. Percival. Although the Battalion was engaged on essential and vital duties it was side-tracked from the main theatre of active hostilities. It was considered likely that, subsequent to the German's success of their South Russian offensive, the oil fields and communication links in the Syria, Iran and Iraq areas were at risk. Hence the build up of forces. It fell to The Buffs to go to Iraq after they had been little more than a month in Syria orders were received for 36 Brigade, which included 2nd Buffs, to join Paiforce, as it was called. Traveling by way of Damascus and Baghdad the battalion arrived in the middle of January 1943 at Khaniqin, in northern Iraq close to the Persian border. On 23rd November orders were received to move immediately to Teheran to guard the British Legation and airfield for the period of the Three-Power Conference at which Marshal Stalin, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill were to be present.

At the Russian Embassy on 29th November 1943, Winston Churchill presented the Sword of Stalingrad, the gift of His Majesty King George V1, to Marshall Stalin. The Guard of Honour and escort to the sword were furnished by 2nd Buffs with Lieutenant K. A. Horder as sword-bearer.The Guard of Honour consisted of Major Falloon and 16 O.R's. The Russian Guard of Honour of an identical number formed up opposite the Buffs in the large room prepared for the occasion. On arrival of the two great leaders Lieut. Horder marched forward and handed the sword to Mr. Churchill, who then gave it into Marshall Stalin's keeping with the words "Now it is in the Russian Army."

On 30th November, in celebration of his 69th birthday, CSM R. P. Calloway presented The Prime Minister, on behalf of the Battalion, with a silver tray of Isafhan work. In his speech of thanks Winston recalled how he had served along-side The Buffs on the North West Frontier in 1897. Later that same day a number of NCO's of the battalion paraded and were inspected by Winston Churchill. (See picture below)

By 1944 the risk to the Middle East had diminished and the area was considered to be immune from attack and consequently there was a distribution of troops to other areas. So it came about that 26 Brigade embarked at Basra at the end of July 1944, bound for India and subsequently Burma.

	Home Page		A BATTALION AT WAR THE STORY IN PHOTOGARHS OF 2ND BATTALION THE BUFFS AT WAR PART 2. NORTH AFRICA 1940-43
	Part 1 Part 3

SS Laconia SS Laconia, home of the 2nd Battalion and 132 Brigade for 2months leaving Liverpool on May 30th 1942 arriving Port Tewfik, Egypt on July 26th. She was later torpedoed and sunk by U156(Lt. Hartensen) 550 miles from Las Palmas. Homeward bound she had a crew of 463, 256 British Troops, 80 women & children with 1,800 Italian POW's on board. Survivors were rescued by the attacker and also U507 (Lt. Schacht) and U506 (Lt. Wurdemann) who were sent by Admiral Doenitz to assist. Casualties were very heavy. Pictured below is the Port of Tewfik on the left and the Battalion disembarking into lighters on the right (To see an enlarged photo of the map above double click image ) At Left above: Gen Freyburgh (Div) Commander), Brig. Robertson (Comd 132 Brigade & Lt. Colonel Nicholson (CO 2nd Buffs) discuss final plans prior to the battle at 'Bare Ridge'. At centre- a Buff platoon commander passes on the 'Good News' and at right a sketch plan of the battle during which 12 Buffs were killed 53 wounded and 44 reported missing. Awards 1 MM and 2 MID's. At left above: Cleaning weapons prior to the battle. Centre a patrol moving and at right 'A' Platoon of 'C' Company moving into position. The figure on the extreme right with binoculars is Cpl. 'Johnny' Hurst. At Left: The assault goes in. Centre: The Intelligence Section(Sgt Wilkins-KIA Burma- Cpl Davies, Lt. Greenfield, Pte's Maylum, Daniels & Low. At Right: The Battalion MO, Capt. Shragovitch, with Pte. Callaghan attend one of the casualties. The El Alamein War Cemetery. Situated 65 miles west of Alexandria and 1 mile from the sea. ROLL OF HONOUR Members of 2nd Battalion The Buffs Killed In Action. Western Desert Sept/Dec. 1942 who are buried in this cemetery
		Pte. W. F. Allen Pte. G. B. Austin L/Cpl H. L. Braund Major P. H. Buckwell Pte: A. B. Carter Pte. E E . Crane Pte. J. W. DeCock Pte. G. W. Dewey Pte. F. C, Flello Pte. J. W. Gillman Pte. R. Hodges L/Cpl. W. R. Holman .L/Cpl. V. M. Huntley 2/Lieutenant H. D.Hurry.		Pte H. Kearn . L/Cpl. C. W. Lammin Pte. T. Law T. Pte. T. MacJannett Pte. F. H. Martin L/Cpl. A. J. Middleton Pte. O'Casey Sgt. A. E. Parish MM Pte. A. A. Smith Pte. R. Stephens Pte. A. A. Summer Pte. A. E. Thomas . Pte. H. A. Tuck . L/Cpl. R. C. Wraight	THOSE WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE L/Sgt. J. R. Brown J. R. Pte. H. T. Burn L/Sgt. H. G. Button Pte. R. F. Coultham Pte. H. C. Dolton 2/Lieutenant W. J.Gray Pte. E. J. Higginson Pte. W. Lumsden Cpl. A. G. Pointer Pte. S. J. Robinson L/Cpl. E. H. Scutt Pte. C. G. Sedgwick
44th (Home Counties) Division Memorial. Situated south east of El Alamein on the Alam Halfa Ridge, constructed of oil drums and shell cases set on a concrete plinth. Commemorating men of the Division Killed in Action in the Western Desert 1942/43 2nd Buffs, 4th & 5th Queen's Own Royal West Kent's(132 Infantry Brigade), 1/5th, 1/6th & 1/7th Queens (131 Infantry Brigade), 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions the Royal Sussex Regiment(133 Infantry Brigade) and supporting Divisional troops. 2nd Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) were awarded the following Battle Honours for operations in North Africa: Alum El Halfa 1942, El Alamein 1942, North Africa 1941-1943. MIDDLE EAST On the break up of 44 Division, 2nd Battalion The Buffs were moved from Egypt to Syria under the command of Lt. Col. Percival. Although the Battalion was engaged on essential and vital duties it was side-tracked from the main theatre of active hostilities. It was considered likely that, subsequent to the German's success of their South Russian offensive, the oil fields and communication links in the Syria, Iran and Iraq areas were at risk. Hence the build up of forces. It fell to The Buffs to go to Iraq after they had been little more than a month in Syria orders were received for 36 Brigade, which included 2nd Buffs, to join Paiforce, as it was called. Traveling by way of Damascus and Baghdad the battalion arrived in the middle of January 1943 at Khaniqin, in northern Iraq close to the Persian border. On 23rd November orders were received to move immediately to Teheran to guard the British Legation and airfield for the period of the Three-Power Conference at which Marshal Stalin, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill were to be present. At the Russian Embassy on 29th November 1943, Winston Churchill presented the Sword of Stalingrad, the gift of His Majesty King George V1, to Marshall Stalin. The Guard of Honour and escort to the sword were furnished by 2nd Buffs with Lieutenant K. A. Horder as sword-bearer.The Guard of Honour consisted of Major Falloon and 16 O.R's. The Russian Guard of Honour of an identical number formed up opposite the Buffs in the large room prepared for the occasion. On arrival of the two great leaders Lieut. Horder marched forward and handed the sword to Mr. Churchill, who then gave it into Marshall Stalin's keeping with the words "Now it is in the Russian Army." On 30th November, in celebration of his 69th birthday, CSM R. P. Calloway presented The Prime Minister, on behalf of the Battalion, with a silver tray of Isafhan work. In his speech of thanks Winston recalled how he had served along-side The Buffs on the North West Frontier in 1897. Later that same day a number of NCO's of the battalion paraded and were inspected by Winston Churchill. (See picture below) By 1944 the risk to the Middle East had diminished and the area was considered to be immune from attack and consequently there was a distribution of troops to other areas. So it came about that 26 Brigade embarked at Basra at the end of July 1944, bound for India and subsequently Burma.