 In September and October the battalion took part in important actions as part of the offensive in the Munassib Depression and at Miteiriya Ridge during the Second Battle of El Alamein . On 2 November the battalion supported the final breakthrough by Allied forces that decided the outcome of the battle . Casualties were high during this time and three of its commanding officers were either killed or wounded between July and November 1942 . Nevertheless , the battalion remained in the fighting and in March 1943 , at Medenine it undertook a defensive role before switching to the offensive at Point 209 in the Tebaga Gap , where it was responsible for almost completely destroying a German panzer grenadier battalion . It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Moana @-@ Nui @-@ a @-@ Kiwa Ngarimu performed the deeds that led to him being posthumously decorated with the Victoria Cross . The battalion 's commanding officer , Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett , also received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the attack . 
