The 9th Australian Division and Trig 29

Montgomery's original plan included an attack against the enemy north of XXX Corps and to the sea. The 9th Australian Division was to attack towards the north and the sea. They hoped to cut off the enemy forces in that area. At the same time, the 1st Armoured Division would try to get into the enemy rear area west of the "salient". On the night of 25 October, the 9th Australian Division would try and take Trig 29. At 10pm, the South Africans would fire off an "artillery program" to attract attention.

Trig 29 was interesting due to its being the high ground in the area. General Morshead had given Brigadier Whitehead a warning that they should be ready to take Trig 29. That warning was passed along to the affected battalion and its companies.

The objective for the 9th Australian Division was not just Trig 29, but also the "high ground running out to the east". The effect would be to move the northern front out some one thousand yards. At the end of the attack, the Australians would be holding west "for about 5,000 yards and on the north for 4,000 yards". The 26th Brigade would then move the front line "from Trig 29 to the front edge of the enemy's defense line". The enemy "switch line" formed a back-up line of defense. The switch line was very prominent. You could recognize it "on the ground" as well as on a map. Interestingly enough, there was a fig orchard which extended down the ridge that connected to Trig 29. The 26th Brigade was expected to use the 2/48th and the 2/24th Battalions to take Trig 29 and "the orchard itself". The 26th Brigade commander intended to use the 2/48th Battalion to take Trig 29 and the 2/24th Battalion to take the fig orchard. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.