The Australian attack on 10 July 1942

The 9th Australian Division attack on 10 July 1942 was supported by artillery and air power. The division had the 7th Medium Regiment firing in support, along with the divisions three field regiments and guns from the South African division that were able to bear on targets. Starting at 7:30am, the air force was set to sweep over the battlefield. There were to be bomber and fighter-bomber attacks. There was also the division cavalry regiment ready to advance at 8am with a field battery in company.
General Morshead and the division headquarters were located in the El Alamein "fortress" from 9 July. The attacking battalions were sent to their starting positions on the west side. The battalions were well-supported. They each had an anti-tank gun troop, a machine gun platoon, some engineers, and a tank squadron (presumably infantry tanks).
The 2/48th Battalion was assigned to take Point 26. The battalion commander was Lt-Colonel Hammer. He served in Greece as the brigade major of the 16th Brigade and afterwards. He was appointed to command the battalion in January 1942. Colonel Hammer called his battalion "Hard as Nails" based on his name. His men came to respect his abilities.
Colonel Hammer planned to attack Point 26 with two companies forward. To surprise the enemy, he would attack with artillery preparation. They would advance as quietly as possible. Artillery would fire on Point 23, the next objective, and the other half of the battalion would advance to Point 23. After that, the leftmost two companies would wheel towards the Tel el Eisa train station and take and hold it.
The 2/48th was transported in trucks which got stuck in the salt-marshes that lay next to the rail tracks. That burned time that might have been used for men to sleep. The move forward while being quiet started at 3:40am. There was an aircraft overhead, presumably enemy, that dropped a "parachute flare" that lit every thing for the attackers. The 2/48th men expected to be fired on but they were relieved that none came at them. They were able to see to move quickly. Point 26, with its Italian defenders, were captured before dawn. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.