A pivotal battle during World War II began on October 23, 1942, with Australian troops playing a key role.

The Battle of El Alamein in North Africa opened with a thunderous artillery barrage by 800 heavy guns.

Soldiers from the Australian 9th Division, under the command of British General Bernard Montgomery, were among the first to advance on the lines of their German and Italian enemies.

But nearly all were unaware of an elaborate deception ordered by Montgomery to fool his adversary, Nazi General Erwin Rommel, commander of the German Afrika Corps.

Rommel had proved a masterful military commander who had recorded victory after victory over his British-led adversaries.

Montgomery, even though he had amassed a powerful army far outnumbering Rommel's forces, realised guns and manpower

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