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           Theycouldseewheretheyweregoingasifithadbeenday,thehowitzerstrainedonshortestrangeburstingshellsnotyardsinfrontofthem.Everythreeminutestherangeliftedanotherhundredyards;advancethosehundredyardsprayingitwasonlythroughantitankmines,orthattheS-mines,themanmines,hadbeenshelledoutofexistencebyMontgomery’sguns.TherewerestillGermansandItaliansinthefield,outpostsofmachineguns,50-mmsmallartillery,mortars.SometimesamanwouldsteponanunexplodedS-mine,havetimetoseeitleapupwardoutofthesandbeforeitblewhiminhalf.

           Notimetothink,notimetodoanythingsavecrab-scuttleintimetotheguns,ahundredyardsforwardeverythreeminutes,praying.Noise,light,dust,smoke,gut-wateringterror.Minefieldswhichhadnoend,twoorthreemilesofthemtotheotherside,andnogoingback.Sometimesinthetinypausesbetweenbarragescamethedistant,eerieskirlofabagpipeontheroastinggrittyair;ontheleftoftheNinthAustralian,theFifty-firstHighlandersweretrekkingthroughtheminefieldswithapipertoleadeverycompanycommander.ToaScotthesoundofhispiperdrawinghimintobattlewasthesweetestlureintheworld,andtoanAustralianveryfriendly,comforting.ButtoaGermanoranItalianitwashackle-raising.

           Thebattlewentonfortwelvedays,andtwelvedaysisaverylongbattle.TheNinthwasluckyatfirst;itscasualtieswererelativelylightthroughtheminefieldsandthroughthosefirstdaysofcontinuedadvanceintoRommel’sterritory.