Memories of Don Gay
Don Gay, M7 Driver, British 8th Army
"This time we went back to the Nile Delta and base depot to await refit. When the new equipment arrived it proved to be a batch of American self-propelled gun howitzers called Priests. This was a sight for sore eyes. These weapons were mounted on what was basically a Sherman tank without a turret. They had a good deal of protection for all the crew never before experienced with the old 25 pounder field guns. So it was a new degree of training which set about with gusto. These machines had proved a great morale booster, added to the fact that the regt. was now completely armoured with all staff vehicles and ammo trucks in the shape of armoured cars. Mostly American half track vehicles and the crews of forward observation posts now had Sherman tanks instead of Bren Carriers. So here we were raring to go once more but feeling much more confident with our new equipment...
On the night of 23 Oct., 1942 800 guns opened fire to created what was to be the biggest artillery barrage of the war. This carried on until first light and by this time the engineers had cut lanes through the minefield with the 51st Highland Div. following through led by the pipers of the Black Watch and Gordons, behind them, we came in co-operation with the tanks who we supported. At the end of the 3rd day things went so well that we were withdrawn to rest for a few days and prepare for the long chase back up the desert."
Courtesy of http://www.warlinks.com
On the night of 23 Oct., 1942 800 guns opened fire to created what was to be the biggest artillery barrage of the war. This carried on until first light and by this time the engineers had cut lanes through the minefield with the 51st Highland Div. following through led by the pipers of the Black Watch and Gordons, behind them, we came in co-operation with the tanks who we supported. At the end of the 3rd day things went so well that we were withdrawn to rest for a few days and prepare for the long chase back up the desert."
Courtesy of http://www.warlinks.com