In November 1942, Prime Minister Winston Churchill marked a major turning point in the Second World War by authorising the mass ringing of church bells (not heard for over two years) and declaring: ‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.’

The reason for his profound relief and utter delight was the Eighth Army’s recent victory at El Alamein, which preceded the heralded American landings at the other end of the Mediterranean.

However, the battle itself had been in the balance for more than a week and Rommel’s defeat was achieved only through the heavy sacrifice of thousands of Allied soldiers, as well as the vital support of the Desert Air Force, the Royal Navy and Special Forces operating behind enemy lines.

In his talk to commemorate the 80th anniversary of El Alamein, Rupert Wieloch will explain the political context and strategic consequences in North Africa, as well as highlighting the role of Churchill and the main participants. He will pay tribute to the fallen and the Victoria Cross recipients, and discuss the hand of fate in the key moments of the battle.

Rupert Wieloch is a historian who spent 35 years in the British Army, including ten years as a junior commander in an armoured regiment facing the threat of the Soviet 3rd Shock Army.

In 2011, while serving as a member of the Middle East Peace Process working group on arms control, he became involved in the UN-authorised operation to protect civilians in Libya and was appointed as the Senior British Military Commander in Tripoli.

His latest book, Liberating Libya: British Diplomacy and War in the Desert, includes fresh insights about the Western Desert campaignsand the enduring Anglo-Libyan relationship.

The End of the Beginning:The Second Battle of El Alamein