Month: July 2025

1st July 1942 – DEIR EL SHEIN

I can’t recall exactly when but, sometime before my father died on 5th December 1998 and whilst he was still mobile (possibly in the 1980’s or 1990’s?), I vaguely recall asking him if he would like to visit the Western Desert on one of the Tours that were becoming popular for veterans and families. I’m not sure how he responded but, rather sadly, the suggestion never led to anything and I’m not sure whether he just couldn’t face that period in his life or, more likely, he just didn’t need to re-visit it.

Dad had experienced the most extraordinary life and this brief period of trauma between 1939 and 1945 (aged 23 to 29) was probably best transcribed to history. At the time I really wasn’t at all sure where I had hoped to take him, and on which tour of the Western Desert Campain he might associate himself with. Other than vague hints of El Alamein and possibly Mersah Matruh?

So, now that I’ve started this search for all these needles strewn all over these many haystacks that I am encountering, it has come as a bit of a relief that I am starting to find a few clues. None more so than the extraordinary amount of information being gathered by hundreds, if not thousands, of enthusiasts who all seem to have an amazing amount of interest and enthusiasm for researching and clarifying every minute detail of the events of World War II. Appropriately enough the information is being gathered under the website heading of WW2Talk.

The major piece of work that has, and is continuing, to provide the most fulfilling reading has come from a ‘Thread’ entitled – Deir el Shein – July 1942. Essentially this information has been extracted from the Battalion Diary of the 4/11th Sikh Regiment (WO169/773) concerning an action in which the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade was overrun by German forces on 1st July 1942 at the beginning of the First Battle of Alamein.

On 28th August 2023 I had been astonished to read two references to my father in a Post I had called “Another piece of the Jigsaw“. But I had failed to continue reading this ‘Thread’, as I was probably in shock. But a little down the track and I’m once again scrolling through this incredible transcription of the Diary and I have one of those moments where the hair stands up on the back of your neck. The diary entry for 30 June 1942 DEIR SHEIN is providing details about the location of a number of military units in “BOXES”, including a New Zealand Division. But I’m afraid my limited military knowledge is not making this an easy read, although in this “BOX” at Deir el Shein there is:-

“2/5 Essex, 4/11 Sikh, 2/3 Gurkha Rifles, 66 Field Coy S & M, 4 medium M.G. manned by the Cheshires, 7 Matilda tanks manned by scratch crews from 42 R.T.R. while the arty (sic) consisted of 18 (?) 25 pdrs manned by 121 Field Regt & 79 Field Regt, approx 20 2 pdr A/Tk guns manned by unit’s, South Africans & some of the WELSH Regt also 16 (?) 6 pdr A/Tk guns manned by ? In addition of course was an ADS from 32 Field Ambulance & some S.A. sappers with compressors.”

Yes it says 4/11 Sikh. But I already knew that. It’s their War Diary! What comes next blows me away! Again!

Does that say that at midnight of 30th June 1942 my Dad was listed as a British Officer present with the Battalion at Deir el Shein? But the comment associated with the map below that one researcher provides brings a certain chill to proceedings.

“Begs the question of who put 18th Indian Brigade in that position? Presumably Willoughby Norrie, XXX Corps commander. Useful map showing the brigade out on a limb. Don’t quite understand the thinking of defending a depression rather than the high ground.“

As I start to read on I’m recalling a rather famous quote from a wonderful Harry Potter movie….
“BUCKLE UP, WE’RE IN FOR A BUMPY RIDE!!!”

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OLDHAM, Lieutenant Graham Francis.

Military Cross.

Officer Commanding 18th Indian Infantry Brigade Signal Section. WWII. Western Desert Campaign. Published citation: In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field. No recommendation—For his conduct at Deir el Shein on 1 July 1942 in the First Battle of El Alamein during theWestern Desert Campaign prior to being captured when the brigade was overrun. LG 11 April 1946; 37528, p. 1835.
From a footnote: Captured in the Western Desert on 1 July 1942 and held in Italy at Campo 49 (Fontanellato) and at Oflag 79 at Brunswick, in Lower Saxony, Germany.

My extraordinary friends on WW2Talk keep coming up with mouth watering snippets of information, but it was only when I picked up on the last sentence of this entry that I started wondering….

“Was this when my Dad was captured in the Desert too?”

So, what was Oldham doing and where exactly was he when he was captured? The Citation above tells us that he was

  • Officer Commanding 18th Indian Infantry Brigade Signal Section
  • It was WWII
  • Taking part in the Western Desert Campaign
  • And he was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field….
  • Prior to being captured when the brigade was overrun.

One of my few recollections of my Dad talking about his wartime experiences was a very brief reference to suddenly being surrounded by German forces somewhere in the middle of the desert, ultimately leading to becoming a Prisoner of War in Italy. But that was it and how I wish I had pushed for more information then rather than looking now for lots of little needles in this vast haystack.

My contact at WW2Talk had identified that Graham Francis Oldham (151450) was a Cadet from an Officer Cadet Training Unit and had been Commissioned on 15.10.1940. But how are the Officers from the Royal Corps of Signals distributed around the various Allied forces? For now I’m pleased to know that on 1st July 1942 he was part of the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade. And the very first post written by Tom O’Brien on Deir el Shein sources – July 1942 had identified the following list of British Officers present with the Battalion on the midnight of 30/6/42. Sourced from WO169/7773 – The Battalion Diary of 4/11 Sikh Regiment. Commanding Officer – Lieut. Col. R. Bampfield.

It’s very clear that 4/11 SIKH REGT is at the North West corner of this “Box” at Deir El Shein, 16 miles south of El Alamein, and I’m getting the distinct impression that my Dad is at the sharp end of an inevitable thrust by the Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel, himself and I’m going to have to leave Oldham here for now, although it appears he ends up at Fontanellato with Dad at some point, and try and pursue this thread of information under the Tribute to my Dad’s page.

Another Google search brought up something called the Feldgrau Forum providing information about:-

2/11th Sikh Regiment and 4/11th Sikh Regiment

“As for the 18th Brigade at Deir el Shein, the 4/11th Sikhs were on the NW of the box, the 2/5 Essex on the NE, the 2/3 Gurkhas on the E in a semi circle, and the 66th Field Company of Sappers & Miners on the SW. They were supported by 7 Matildas of the 42nd Royal Tank Regiment, 4 medium machine guns of the Cheshire Regiment, 2-pounders and 6 pounders manned by South African and Welsh units. Oh, and the 32nd Field Ambulance had an Advanced Dressing Station too. Sorry, I don’t really remember all the other units outside of the main battalions of the 18th Brigade since there was a huge mess in setting up the box, the 18th Brigade had no signal equipment, very little ammunition, and the supporting artillery came in too late and because the area of Deir el Shein was bedrock, there was not enough time to dig the guns in. As for the result of the battle, the Sikhs were overrun at 1730 hours, the Gurkhas at 1900 hours and Essex by 1930 hours. The Sikhs lost 3 officers and 370 other ranks with 7 officers and 500 other ranks missing. The Gurkhas lost 12 officers and 580 men, not sure of how many missing, but their commanding officer was captured.” – by DocAmerica Sun Aug 28, 2011: Moderator John W. Howard

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