Sid Jefford, who was a member of 208 Squadron’s Workshops Flight at the time of the Battle of El-Alamein, recorded the following in his diary:


August – September 1942


The Squadron now had two Advanced Flights, one at LG202 near Wadi Natrun, and the other at Burgh El Arab and, after a long period of ‘nuisance raids’, the enemy was now attempting raids by day as well as in darkness, and in ever increasing numbers. Workshops were very busy which indicated the aircraft were putting in lots of operational flying. Reports from the ALOs were that the enemy had established a front with little extra build-up; on the other hand our troop movement was continuous and continued to build up. When Workshop fitters were needed at one of the Forward Flights, it was noted by them that since they last were there, increases, especially of artillery, had arrived all along the front. The Squadron aircraft replacements were improving too: none of the promised Hurricane Mark II yet, but aircraft were being received that appeared to be in much better condition than those received previously. The ex-Italian cannon had long used up all its ammunition and had been dropped off at a junk reception area. The twin Brownings were still giving the crew using them a fright or two and, hopefully, German airmen also.


October – November 1942


Workshops Flight now had a detachment at Burgh El Arab with the Advanced Flight. This settled two problems at one stroke. During the previous weeks we had received new intakes of ground staff, some directly from Technical Training Schools and also from units with no previous experience of work on operational fighter-type aircraft. Most of these were put onto the Flights and, although keen, were found to be lacking in the necessary operational ‘know how’. Workshops tradesmen were put on the detachment to help with the training of the new intake and, by doing so, remove some of the pressure off the Flights’ ‘regular’ tradesmen. It could also mean that certain work usually carried out at the Workshops base could now be carried out within the Flights, and gave the fitters drafted to them from Workshops the chance to pass on information to the new crews at the same time. This arrangement was not without its drawbacks but, allowing for all the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’, it had its successes and continued until the whole Squadron was moved up to Burgh El Arab.


This move only added to the present feelings that something was about to happen. There was unusual quietness, apart from the everyday chatter of the crews going about their duties,

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