[Image] A means to an end

El-Alamein, Egypt, 19th July, 1942.

The Means

VX15962 Gunner Jack Wareham of the 9th Division's 2/8th Field Regiment takes aim with his tripod mounted Bren Gun. Gunner Wareham was credited with bringing down a German Messerschmitt BF109 Fighter Plane with this Bren rig.

And the end

The remains of a Messerschmitt BF109 that was brought down at Tel el Eisa later in the year. Whilst not the actual plane Gunner Wareham brought down the image is shown as representative of a crashed BF109 in the Western Desert.

images 024590 and 024906 Australian War Memorial.

[Image] Aussie Alamein Artillery Aftermath

Alamein, Egypt. 12th July, 1942.

25lb Field Guns of the 2/8th Field Regiment.

This image shows a 25 pounder field gun of the 9th Division's 2/8th Field Regiment. The aftermath of a successful shoot on Axis positions is seen by the huge mound of empty shell casings.

Whilst this image was taken during the 1st Battle of El Alamein and it wasn't until October that the largest artillery barrage of the campaign kicked off, one can only imagine how large the piles of the 'empties' were after the 2nd battle.

Large amounts of these brass casings made their way home in the form of Digger "Trench Art". Many were made into vases, ashtrays and umbrella stands for the people back home. Some were even personalised with engravings of battles fought, units served in and mates lost.

These days you can often see a decommissioned 25 Pounder Field Gun at memorials and RSL Clubs around the country. There are a few in my local area. I will see if I can photograph some of them to show you.

image 024515 Australian War Memorial.