John Sadler has had a lifelong interest in military history. He now combines writing with lecturing in History at Newcastle University and working as a battlefield tour guide, living history interpreter, and heritage consultant. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. As archivist of the Durham Light Infantry Museum he has also taken veterans groups to North Africa to re-visit the battlefields. His other books include GLENCOE: THE INFAMOUS MASSACRE 1692 ('Remarkably vivid - reads like a horror thriller' THE SCOTS MAGAZINE; 'Handsomely produced and lavishly illustrated - a very readable book' HISTORY SCOTLAND), CULLODEN: THE LAST CHARGE OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS 1746 ('Drawing extensively on first-hand accounts, paints a vivid picture of the campaign and battle' SCOTLAND IN TRUST), SCOTTISH BATTLES ('A thrilling account of a turbulent nation' SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY), and BORDER FURY (Transports readers back to the events of the day, giving a feel of what it was like to participate in combat then' THE SCOTS MAGAZINE). He lives in Northumberland.

Glossary Introduction: 'Up the Blue' 1. Prelude 2. 'Compass': June 1940 - March 1941 3. A New Thermopylae: March 1941 - May 1941 4. 'Brevity' & 'Battleaxe': May 1941 - July 1941 5. 'Crusader': August 1941 - January 1942 6. 'Msus Stakes' & 'Gazala Gallop': January 1942- June 1942 7. Mersah Matruh & First El Alamein: June 1942 - August 1942 8. Alam Halfa: August 1942 - September 1942 9. Prelude: September 1942 - October 1942 10. Break-in: 23 October 1942 - 24 October 1942 11. 'Crumbling': 25 October 1942 - 28 October 1942 12. 'Supercharge': 29 October 1942 - 3 November 1942 13. Break-out: 4 November 1942 - 23 January 1943 14: 'Torch' to Tunis: November 1942 - May 1943 Appendix 1: Desert Tactics Appendix 2(a): Orders of Battle Appendix 2(b): Extract From A Tactical Appreciation 27 July 1942 Appendix 3: The Ultra War Appendix 4: The Battlefield Today Notes Acknowledgements Chronology Dramatis Personae Bibliography List of Illustrations Index