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Bob recalls his first journey into the desert on 2 July 1941 with the advanced party. They passed through fig plantations as they climbed out of the fertile delta. As they ascended the ridge, the view was of salt flats that stretched towards the sea on their right and sand dunes fringing the desert to the left.

When they reached the ridge the road ran straight and parallel with the railway across a barren rock-strewn desert. The transition was dramatic. Bob continued along the rail track with the recce officer.

They passed several halts. They were attracted to Fuka, the next significant halt to the west which was also well sited for defence. Access to the sea for an evening swim was something else Bob was looking for. At El Alamein it would be possible to reach the sea through a gap in the salt flats.

Time was also pressing as the train loaded with the Company and their first equipment could arrive soon and they would not be allowed to block the line for long to unload equipment.

So they settled on the halt at El Alamein and started work on a platform and ramp to unload their heavy equipment. Bob mused on the purpose of this deserted station as he waited for the Company to arrive. It appeared to have no reason to exist. He had not seen any signs of life for 10 miles either way. The only residents were flies who plagued them whenever they stood in the limited shade.

Over the next four months, the defence lines and roads around the railway halt at El Alamein were laid out and built. In October, work stopped when the Company was moved to Kabrit for Commando training.

This story was submitted to the people’s War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of the late Bob Borthwick. It is a transcript of his own diary and he gave written permission for the material to be edited and published.

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