Nofilia, on the coastal road next to the Mediterranean Sea, was where John Trotter's Battalion, the 23rd, was ordered to reach by driving through the desert in order to cut off retreating axis forces.
The place was reached, and the 23rds Bren gun carriers, lightly armoured tracked vehicles mounting machine guns, engaged the enemy who were equipped with tanks and anti-tank guns. The carriers had been uparmed with captured machine guns and were able to pour fie into enemy positions. Infantry in trucks surged ahead, bombarded with artillery from the enemy flank guard. Fortunately, the soft desert sand, which caused the trucks to lurch in their advance, also softened the impact of the shells.
Closing on the coastal road, the NZers were held by heavy fire from tanks and infantry determined to keep the road open. The heaviest weapons they had were mortars and truck-mounted anti-tank guns, both of which they put to good use. As night fell, enemy fire was kept up but a small number of NZers was able to reach the road, lay anti-tank mines, and withdraw.
The road was not cut, but it would seem that the pressure at Nofilia resulted in a speeding up of the enmy's retreat. The Official History of the 23rd Battalion sum up the action as follows:
This sharp engagement at Nofilia was almost entirely a 23rd action. It enabled Colonel Romans, a leader of great courage and also a daring opportunist, to display some of the qualities for which he will always be remembered. The verve and gay enthusiasm with which he entered on the advance under fire and gave his shout of ‘Push on!’ were typical of the man. Those present long remembered Nofilia, not so much as a successful action but as one when the speed of the advance and the dash of all ranks were unexcelled. All ranks who knew Peter Norris mourned his death and in B Company they lamented the deaths of two of their finest soldiers — John Trotter, the CSM, who had led several bayonet charges at Alamein, and Private Jock Brand, who had recently been awarded the MM for his exploits in escaping from the Salonika prisoner-of-war camp and bringing back useful information from Greece. But as such engagements go, the 23rd escaped lightly with only twenty casualties. At a service conducted near the graves of the fallen, Brigadier Kippenberger spoke of the losses of ‘this good faithful battalion, the 23rd.’ Not without sacrifice was this reputation earned.
WARRANT OFFICER J. D. TROTTER
Warrant Officer J. D. Trotter, who has been reported killed in action, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. D. Trotter,, “Roslin,” Woodlands, Southland. He was educated at Woodlands, and later at the Waitaki Boys’ High School and Otago University. He then took up farming with his father at Woodlands. He was a deacon of the Presbyterian Church, an active member of the Farmers’ Union, a past president of the Woodlands Ex-pupils’ Association, and a past president of the Woodlands Literary and Debating Society, He was also keenly interested in sport and actively participated in boxing, athletics, and football. Warrant Officer Trotter, who was 35 years of age, went overseas with the second echelon, and served in Greece, Crete, and Libya. A brother, Gunner E. M. Trotter, is at present on active service in the Middle East, and is reported as having been wounded. -Otago Daily Times, 13/1/1943.
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