This week in the war, 29 June 1942, Benito Mussolini flew from Italy to North Africa. The Duce piloted his own plane.

Given Rommel’s spectacular advance and the fall of Tobruk, Mussolini was convinced that Axis forces would arrive in Egypt within days. (15 days was his personal estimate.)

Rumour has it that Mussolini’s white horse was aboard the plane, ready to be ridden by the Duce on his triumphant entry into Cairo. (He was an avid horseman and rode daily for many years.)

A few days later, on 2 July, the failure of the British Eighth Army to hold Rommel in check triggered a motion of censure against Churchill in the British House of Commons. Churchill’s supporters rallied and the motion was defeated 476 votes to 25. Churchill remained at the helm of the British war effort.