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AFTER three years of fighting that had swept to and fro over a thousand miles of desert, Cyrenaica and Tripolitania were completely occupied and the enemy driven back to Tunisia. With Tripoli harbour in use, supplies were rapidly brought forward, and by the end of February 1943 Eighth Army was ready to resume the offensive. In Tunisia Rommel had linked up with Von Arnim, who through the winter had been fighting off the British and American forces that had advanced from the west.

While other formations of Eighth Army pressed along the coast, the New Zealand Division rested and reorganised outside Tripoli. There were changes of command in the Medical Corps. In February Col Ardagh was appointed DDMS 30 Corps, with the rank of Brigadier. He was succeeded as ADMS 2 NZ Division by Col Furkert, who in turn was succeeded as CO 6 Field Ambulance by Lt-Col Fisher.