The enemy fights back on 26 October 1942

During the night of 25 to 26 October 1942, the enemy attacked the 2/13th Battalion. They used both tanks and infantry to try again what they had tried in the day but which had failed. The enemy lost three tanks to "Hawkins mines". It seems that two half-tracked troop carriers were also knocked out. The combination of artillery fire with infantry weapons were enough to stop the attack. By dawn, the 2/17th Battalion could see twelve tanks on a ridge to the northwest. They had remained out of sight in the dark. The tanks were able to reach the Australians with their armaments and were able to knock out wheeled vehicles. To the left of the 9th Australian Division, the 1st Armoured Division made an appearance in their usual spot. On the morning of 26 October, they had some thirty Sherman tanks in action, firing on the enemy. They wisely refrained from attacking the enemy anti-tank guns.

During 25 and 26 October, the 9th Australian Division had taken 173 Germans and 67 Italians as prisoners. The Germans were all from the 125th Regiment. The Italians were all from the Trento and Littorio Divisions. The Australian 26th Brigade had taken losses. They had 4 officers and 51 other ranks killed. They also had 20 officers and 236 other ranks wounded or missing.

The 51st Highland Division was also in action on the night of 25 to 26 October. They were successful to a degree on the left side of their division front. Only on the right were there still enemy defensive positions. Otherwise, they had cleared out strong points up to the Oxalic line.

We find that Rommel had been gone from North Africa and he only returned with orders to take over command of operations. General von Thoma had been commanding in Rommel's absence. Things were not going well for the German and Italian army.

Rommel's aim was to retake the old positions in the defenses that had been lost to the British forces. Without that, there was now a bulge towards the west where the British forces had taken German and Italian ground. Rommel was concerned that what they called "Hill 28" had been lost. This was what the British called "Trig 29". This is based on the account given in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.