Поющие в терновнике

           TheNinthheldoffGrafvonSponeckandLungerhausenwhilethetanksbrokeouttothesouth,andfinallyRommelwasbeaten.ByNovember8hewastryingtorallybeyondtheEgyptianborder,andMontgomerywasleftincommandoftheentirefield.Averyimportanttacticalvictory,SecondAlamein;Rommelhadbeenforcedtoleavebehindmanyofhistanks,gunsandequipment.OperationTorchcouldcommenceitspusheastwardfromMoroccoandAlgeriawithmoresecurity.TherewasstillplentyoffightintheDesertFox,butalargepartofhisbrushwasonthegroundatElAlamein.ThebiggestandmostdecisivebattleoftheNorthAfricantheaterhadbeenfought,andFieldMarshalViscountMontgomeryofAlameinwasitsvictor.

           SecondAlameinwastheswansongoftheNinthAustralianDivisioninNorthAfrica.TheywerefinallygoinghometocontendwiththeJapanese,onthemainlandofNewGuinea.SinceMarchof1941theyhadbeenmoreorlesspermanentlyinthefrontline,arrivingpoorlytrainedandequipped,butgoinghomenowwithareputationexceededonlybytheFourthIndianDivision.AndwiththeNinthwentJimsandPatsy,safeandwhole.

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           OfcoursetheyweregrantedleavetogohometoDrogheda.BobdroveintoGillytocollectthemfromtheGoondiwinditrain,fortheNinthwasbasedinBrisbaneandwoulddepartafterjungletrainingforNewGuinea.WhentheRollssweptroundthedriveallthewomenwereoutonthelawnwaiting,JackandHughiehangingbackalittlebutjustaseagertoseetheiryoungbrothers.