Lucas Majozi Middle East, members of the Native Military Corps were used as batmen, loaders, and guards and the more skilled ones were used as drivers, cooks, carpenters and telephone operators. Upon their discharge, black soldiers received a cash allowance of two pounds, a civilian suit and a gratuity for length of service. Majozi became famous during the Second Battle of El Alamein which commenced on 23 October 1942 when the British 8th Army under the command of General Bernard Montgomery, attacked the German/Italian forces under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rammel. Throughout the night of 23 October, stretch-bearers worked under
2/8th Field Regiment (Australia) possible German invasion, until July 1942 when the 9th Division was hurriedly transferred to El Alamein, after the fall of Tobruk. There, the regiment subsequently took part in both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein between July and November, firing over 163,000 shells, mainly in support of the 26th Brigade. In January 1943, the 2/8th was withdrawn to Australia as the 9th Division was brought back to join the fight against Japanese forces in the Pacific. The regiment, sailing aboard the Dutch transport, "Nieu Amsterdam", made landfall at Melbourne on 24 February 1943, and in April the 2/8th