HC Deb 18 May 1943 vol 389 c914
3. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of the 13,600 officers and men lost at the battle of El Alamein were lost owing to the necessity for going ahead of the armoured equipment in order to detect and remove mines?

Sir J. Grigg

I have no information which makes it possible to allocate casualties to one specific hazard or enemy weapon rather than to another.

Mr. Stokes

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Prime Minister in his statement in November last remarked that severe casualties were suffered by Engineers and Pioneers in mine-removing? On what basis did he make that statement?

Sir J. Grigg

The statement that severe casualties were involved in one particular incident is not the same as a specific calculation such as the hon. Member asks for.