David Longworth remembers the decisive Allied victory that turned the tide of the Second World War – and protected Jews in the Middle East from annihilation.

Tuesday of this week (15 November) marked 74 years since church bells around Britain rang out in thanksgiving for victory in the Second Battle of El Alamein, which had been won on 11 November 1942. This victory, which marked a decisive turning point in the war and the history of Israel, was described by Churchill in a speech at Mansion House in London on 10 November 1942, "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." On the day the battle was won Churchill told the Commons it was "a British victory of the first order".

To remove all possibility of misunderstanding, an announcement was made from Downing Street that church bells should be rung everywhere before morning service on Sunday 15 November 1942¹ (since June 1940, the customary ringing of church bells had been brought under Government prohibition. Bells were only to be rung if the authorities needed to give warning of imminent or actual German invasion). Looking back, Churchill later wrote in his history of the Second World War: "It may almost be said, 'Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat."²

Ringing with Hope

Today there are those who seek to decry the significance of this great event, and even to dismiss the bell-ringing as a fond fantasy. However, the records of ordinary people testify differently: for example, the North-East Diary (now online), 1939-1945, clearly records, "Sunday, 15 Nov. Church bells are rung for first time since June 1940 to celebrate the victory at El Alamein".³

On the same day Robert Osborne, in training with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, wrote to his mother, "Today is a big day for England. The Church bells are ringing for the first time in 3 years – my but they sound good with a ring of hope in them...".⁴

Furthermore, digging into the records of those who experienced those times reveals a spiritual dimension and confirms the ancient Scripture: "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Dan 4:17, also 4:25, 31).

Despite a wartime prohibition on bell-ringing, Downing Street announced that all church bells should be rung to celebrate the victory of El Alamein.

July 1942: The Road to Palestine BlockedDeployment of forces at Second Battle of El Alamein, 23 October 1942. See Photo Credits.

The second great battle of El Alamein commenced on 23 October 1942, after Rommel's Afrika Korps had swept the British Army roughly a thousand miles eastward, from Tripoli in Libya as far as the ridge of El Alamein (Egypt). At this point, in July 1942, British General Claude Auchinleck had managed to hold a defensive line, a mere 70 miles from the crucial port of Alexandria. But morale, from Generals to Privates, was at rock bottom, after a series of defeats including the fall of Tobruk (Libya) in June 1942, when Britain had lost about 35,000 soldiers, captured as prisoners of war.

Back in Britain and the Empire, according to anecdotal memories, the North Africa crisis was the subject of many prayer meetings. One in particular stands out, being well-documented. At the Bible College of Wales, in Swansea, on 4 July 1942, Rees Howells said, "Unless God will intervene on behalf of Palestine there will be no safety there for the Jews. These Bible Lands must be protected, because it is to these lands the Saviour will come back. If I had the choice today, I would say to God, 'Take all I have, but preserve Palestine.' We want to say to God today, 'unless there is a special reason for Egypt to fall, don't let Alexandria be taken, but give Rommel a setback.' Can I carry the same burden today for Alexandria, as I would if Swansea were being attacked?"⁵

Unknown to Rees Howells, we now know that in the summer of 1942 the German Einsatzgruppe Egypt was on standby in Athens, awaiting Rommel's breakthrough to the Middle East. Their task was the liquidation of the Jewish populations of Egypt and Palestine. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, had agreed to assist in local recruitment to the unit and was already engaged in anti-Semitic incitement, not least by radio broadcasts.⁶

In the College in Swansea students and guests continued in prayer for many hours that Saturday afternoon. On the evening of Sunday 5 July, after yet more prayer, Howells was assured: "I thought Hitler might be allowed to take Egypt," he said, "but I now know he will never take Egypt – neither Alexandria nor Cairo will fall."⁷ The clarity with which the Holy Spirit orchestrated prayer and assurance is truly remarkable: Rommel began his assault on Auchinleck's defensive line on 1 July and battles raged to and fro until 31 July, ending in stalemate - but Egypt was secured and the path to Palestine blocked.

August 1942: The Right Leadership

On 3 August 1942, Churchill himself flew out to Cairo, where the Eighth Army had its HQ, specifically to stiffen the backbone of the British Forces and appoint a General who had swagger and self-confidence. He was attracted by General William Gott's record as a bold and aggressive leader. But the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Alan Brooke, had noticed the man's battle-weariness and lack of vision for the next stage, and attempted to dissuade Churchill, recommending the appointment of Bernard Montgomery. Brooke was unsuccessful. Auchinleck was relieved of his command and Gott, who was known for his Christian virtues,⁸ appointed.

We know from his diaries that Alan Brooke was another Christian, a man who habitually prayed for God's help and guidance. Writing in retrospect of the invitation in November 1941 to become Chief of the General Staff, he said, "I am not ashamed to confess that as soon as I was out of the room my first impulse was to kneel down and pray to God for guidance and support in the task that I had undertaken."⁹ This was our top military leader, whose advice Churchill overruled.

Rommel's breakthrough to the Middle East would have meant the liquidation of the Jewish populations of Egypt and Palestine.

On 7 August General Gott took off from his base camp to take up his appointment in Cairo in an RAF transport plane. Sadly, a carelessly uncoded British wireless message was intercepted by Rommel's signals unit. Six Messerschmitt fighters were sent to intercept the flight, the plane was skilfully crash-landed in the desert, but was mercilessly strafed, killing most of the passengers, including General Gott, the principal target of the Luftwaffe mission.¹⁰

Churchill, awaiting Gott in Cairo, was given the awful news by a staff officer, who remarked, "It may be a blessing in disguise".¹¹ In 9 months Britain's Eighth Army had gone through four commanders. Alan Brooke again urged Churchill to appoint Lt-General Montgomery, but Churchill now wanted General Wilson, the officer commanding the 9^th Army in Syria and Palestine. Brooke persisted and by midnight Churchill relented.

Commenting later, Captain Tom Witherby, Wireless Officer of 23^rd Armoured Brigade under Gott's command, said "Gott was a brave man, but he was tired and simply did not have the intellectual stature for the command. I do really feel that the circumstances in which Montgomery appeared at this critical time was one of the rare examples of direct intervention by the Almighty!"¹²

September 1942: National Prayer

Under Montgomery's leadership, meticulous planning and preparations began. In spite of political pressures, 'Monty' would not be rushed. He even insisted upon a new Chaplain General, hopeful of more effective prayer.¹³

Back home in Britain, a National Day of Prayer was called for Thursday 3 September. Archbishop William Temple insisted on it being kept on the anniversary of the start of the War, to ensure that it did not lose effect by being part of Sunday routine. Gatherings for prayer were organised in homes, factories, canteens, offices, schools, military locations, cinemas, theatres, fields and squares, and many other people listened to the broadcast services in their homes. A very high proportion of the population must have participated.¹⁴

Pathé and Movietone films of the day show over 7,000 RAF servicemen and women attending on one airfield alone, and a large congregation in the bombed-out ruin of St Dunstan in East London.¹⁵ Before Montgomery went to church in Egypt that day, "he gave orders that there was to be no forward movement from the main battle positions except by patrols, which were to concentrate on the destruction of the enemy's motor transport...It was a quiet morning, and all who could attended church services."¹⁶

A very high proportion of the population must have participated in the National Day of Prayer on 3 September 1942.

October-November 1942: From Assault to Victory

Italian prisoners of war, taken at El Alamein. See Photo Credits.

In North Africa, military preparations continued. 23 October was eventually set for the commencement of the great assault against the Afrika Korps. This is what Derek Prince remembers of the start of that day: "I was serving with a military ambulance up in the desert, a little way behind the advancing British Forces. On the tailboard of the truck there was a little portable radio. I listened as a news commentator described the preparations at Montgomery's headquarters just before the Battle of El Alamein. He described how Montgomery came out and assembled his officers and men and said this: 'Let us ask the Lord, mighty in battle, to give us the victory.'"¹⁷

Major General DN Wimberley, the General Officer Commanding the 51^st Highland Division, recalled "One thousand guns were to start firing at 21.40hrs. I watched my Jocks filing past in the moonlight...There was nothing more I could do now to prepare for the battle. It was only possible to pray for their success, and that the [Highland Division] would live up to its name and the names of those very famous regiments of which it was composed."¹⁸

Twelve days later, on 4 November, having been driven back from any defensible position, particularly by the 51^st Highland Division supported by the 4^th Indian Division, Rommel had to withdraw his forces from any major engagement (though units of the Eighth Army continued to harry his retreat for several days more). The Second Battle of El Alamein was over – and so, very soon, Einsatzgruppe Egypt was disbanded. The assurance given to Rees Howells was fully justified.

Gratitude?

In the estimation of many, it was the great turning point of the war. In spite of many mistakes and shortcomings in our armed forces, God had overruled - the forces of evil had been thwarted. Yet the spiritual dimension of these great battles now lies largely forgotten, if not airbrushed from standard histories. The faithful work of leading intercessors like Rees Howells, the hours spent by diligent prayer warriors, as well as the willing response of the masses to the national call to prayer, had been fruitful.

The faithful ministry to the young that had nurtured the seeds of early faith in those God-fearing officers and men had played its part. And the Lord, mighty in battle, had indeed granted the victory.

But where now is the gratitude? Remembrance Day has just passed once again, the fallen have been honoured, the nation's pride in its armed forces reiterated, but with little recognition of the One who rules all things.

In our homes and in our churches we should surely repent of our pride and ingratitude. The unseen spiritual battle continues today. Oh that we would return to seek the Lord in thousands and would intercede, that the forces of darkness at work in our nation would be driven back! It is worth remembering the prayer of Daniel, one of a tiny minority in pagan Babylon, "Blessed be the Name of God for ever, for wisdom and might are His...He removes kings and raises up kings...He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him" (Dan 2:20-22).

References

1. Seaman, LCB, 2003. Post-Victorian Britain, 1902-1951. Routledge.
2. Churchill, WS, 1951. The Second World War (Vol. 4). Houghton-Mifflin.
3. Ripley, R & Pears, B. North-East Diary, 1939-1945. Accessed 28 October 2016.
4. Osborne, RE & Osborne, DE 2016. Pax in Bello: Peace in War. David Osborne.
5. Grubb, N, 1952. Rees Howells: Intercessor. James Clarke and Co Ltd, 2003.
6. Mallmann, KM, Cüppers, M & Smith, K, 2010. Nazi Palestine: The Plans for the Extermination of the Jews in Palestine. Enigma, New York.
7. See note 4.
8. Nash, NS, 2013. Strafer, Desert General: the Life and Killing of Lieutenant General W.H.E. Gott. Pen and Sword.
9. Quoted in Hare, RM, 1998. Essays in Religion and Education. Clarendon Press.
10. Carver, T, 2009. Where the Hell have you been? Short Books.
11. Nash, NS (see note 8), op. cit. p238.
12. Ibid.
13. Chandler, DG, 1990. World War II on Land. Mallard Press, accessed via The National Archives.
14. Williamson, P, 2013. National days of prayer: the churches, the state and public worship in Britain, 1899-1957. English Historical Review 128(531), pp324-366.
15. British Pathé Archive, Film ID 1336.22, released 07/19/42. Movietone Digital Archive, Story No. 42802, released 07/09/42.
16. Carver, M, 1962. El Alamein. Wordsworth Editions, p69.
17. Prince, D, 2009. Secrets of a Prayer Warrior. Chosen Books, pp118-119.
18. Delaforce, P, 2007. Monty's Highlanders: 51^st Highland Division in the Second World War. Casemate Publishers, p43.