Turmoil due to the Australian government in October 1942

While Montgomery was hoping to use the Australians to "break the at El Alamein", the Australian government was growing concerned about the defense of Australia. One problem was that the United States told the Australians that they could not "provide a superior naval force concerned solely with the defense of Australia and New Zealand". At the same time, General Blamey wrote the government that he was concerned that they lacked the military strength to defeat a Japanese invasion. The government learned that General MacArthur now believed that the 9th Australian Division should be returned to Australia.

The Australian government was aware of the shortage of military strength to complete their order of battle for the defense of Australia.

Australia had three divisions in New Guinea at this time. Being in the tropics was having a bad effect on the troops. The Australian government thought that they could re-create the 9th Australian Division "by disbanding other formations". The consensus was that the 9th Division should be requested to be withdrawn from the Middle East.

In Britain, the commanders wanted to go forward with Montgomery's operation that was planned. The Australians wanted the British to understand that there were no reinforcements to be sent from Australia. General Morshead heard from the Australian government right before the planned attack. Morshead, in response, went to see Montgomery at 11am on 27 October. General Alexander made a pitch to keep the 9th Australian Division, as "it was the one he could least afford to lose".

Early on 27 October, the enemy attacked the 2/13th Battalion. Artillery fire successfully repelled the attack. In the afternoon, Trig 29 was heavily pressed by the enemy. There was firing by both sides near Trig 29. Heavy artillery fire supported the 2/48th Battalion defense. There was so much "dust and smoke", they needed to stop firing so that machine guns could see to fire. The attackers had been Germans, who had to pull back. There was continued fighting involving the 2/17th Battalion and the 2/24th. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.