Diary of Garth Edward Sommerville Clabburn - 1942-1944 - Part 13

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.277
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

18th Mor but found nothing of interet off at 1510 ts to do the same accse Many tanks have been going up the yove. We went like the daffer wilh road this day on tobiled & our Dayny leading. My ingire threw oil aomy are bushing up stt. at I would see little we found seveal Behghazi to cllans up the stoaded large A/C on the soome enloading evemy Dension canned petrol at speed & also our yorres in Taniia are advancing about 12 parked 1093 hame in low at speed & news from the Fat & fast & stafped setting fir to two East is good, so most of our £5452 which getloded & sent up front are on the up & up & a bemendors steet of flame & saake all is going well. It has ramed Danny went through a tlephone heavt this evening & acodoomes line Allan had one set of rudder to the west may be 4/. cables + his AS indicaton shot away We are to stay here for a few & Pex & another fellow had more days, Ibefore moving to Mateha their A/e holed by ackpee. I came Po deeds has to return to training back with Reglette & led him on to base because at washing on landing Timie where he creshlanded. H is to do more cercuits & lombing Syas dn Met Dennis OBrien in the evening ato jot until 11 A.M. A six & a your fou bralin & be ats with is & stayed in welt off for a recer ove enems the mess until 8Pm. H is now Edew doomes sth of Zenghaze + they destloyged on PRU. spits. about fine ig A/c on one dorke + 19th Nor ao job until about 12 A.M. The also one 106 which was just taking co went aff + had a look at Matila off The tif lasted 3/4 Mhrs. With a retured at 3 PM. to fly the 109 up He convoy left at £Pm & pnt only 24s at dayught left we took
of it reached our new camp before 8 M. John Hook & I flew up along the rugged coast together It was a wied stoony day & a heavy sea was running against the Aomendous diffs. We flew along below the cliff lops or just an the spay & is was a most exlerating sight. Went up as far as the know white town of Dona & after a good look around there we pushed off across cunt t landed at Matuba. The boys carried out a long 344 t recco sit of Benglase bbut saw little at interest but had wonderful filn low flying over the heavy county & sttle fams on the way home. Sevcal more vehicles have been blown up today by miner which are very thic & clever planted around the Dana Arca. 1 Many have been found right in the tared surtace at road - & it was one at these that killed 20th Nov famy Fery Straucher & the ather Wing signal officie in the crl morning secco the Co & his fomation foend the enemy to be on the cast read Sth at Antator & they nembred 800-1200 vehicler & sent up a packet of ackfact. Thit toather wea was covered by beary rain storms & a possibilit of the enemy being boyged in was reported six at tis look off at 2 Pm. for a patial our ou poraad troops in the Antalet Assadabia area. The royals Comowedcas are here ate 4th Hussars are racing N.W. to accupt Bengashi & ale only a few miles from the town The 7th Dw omour) is at Masss & our toops have taken or Occupied Barce. The onl place ery can hold now is Aghelia It we are following up in such strength I think it will one be a matter of some before that falls I admire the enemy for even
attempting to make a fight of it after his wiffic revesets during the past a days. He has lost 75000 men in this last battle for Egght/ Lybia. His losses in amout to A/C have also been exceptionally heavy - be had to Aabandon tmane through lack at fuel. 400 hes doo lanks have been destroyed whereas we have 700 teaks moving up right now Tings are porgreeing Savourably aund sanes despits one of two heavy clashes with enemy oA. patrols. The navl battle i the Solomons has ended with the score well in favour of the W.S.H. fores. The Aussies & rend are still advnsing in New Guinea & all goes well on out other wont News same that M Boothwick whom we had seen crash in glames a few deys wgo as alive & in a thospital in Cypt. He must have had a remankable scape for he was shat down in flance taken frrioner, had mattiple gunched wounds must have been bunt, was recaptured & is now safe even though he must be frett sick. P/o Dnt crasted badl afe our recco this aftenoon & did a complet iasalt on to his back. He was taffed in the cockfit & was very suich the o/c did not bun. H is to bodow she other two new pilots back to Wing base for father training After a few houss at standly we were released for the day sform BGuldwell, Andes Taylorn went for a walk arund the drome duing the aftrroon & had a look at the many (4 lying about in varous stages of destruction. Duving our walk a 51188 came along out of the cloud & bombed the road & also the doome across the way Every thing opened up at him or a
Ltt hawk managed to get a bust at him but he stowed aff Again into leavy closed. He was a cool & good bomber filst. Have just read through the sammary of Oar advance from El Elinein containing many P.O.W. statements I evident their moral, health+ general intereet on the war are very low, & I think their Abica Cap has had it We do expect some good stiff resistence from Agelia but we will wait untl oue Aomow has caught up with us (700 tanks) & then give them, a very heavy pounding (Bostons all L2nd Nov. 450 Sg have been out this morning soveing the fleet which is off Bena returning from Malta after having successfully seen a convey through so tt then 23od. greyt fund a Tost at about Bos above the ships & set ore at his engine in fire & that his I1/e away. He i volled at about 2600 & disaposed into a rain squall - so they could not see him defentely but the sea, but they think he did. Another 5488 fecco ofe has just flown over the doome at great height & the Ader had a bang at him. We now have a standing patral up looking for my more that might happes along The general intertion now is to build up the strength of the faces togeste with ample supplies so that when we do nush at Agelia thee will be no half measures + we will be able to cary staight through to Tripoli. This being the case we will stay her for a few more days until new aeoodromes & supplies are fixed up for us down Antelet way Shee has been no flying for our Squadon this day Te 80 had to parde before the AOC. & anewe for the eight landing cracked we
have unfortunately had since the 24th beginning of the pirsh. It has been to Attebuted to mexpeience of the new pilote we received from Austalio 29th Hey have not had vaired exprience Pof landing on small & crgular doomes & also have it slomly fired in their heads that where A/C must be landed fast. If they would land them at 100 NF.H. instead at About 120 -30 NP.H. many of the crastes would be abolated. Theyf are to now receive father landing wraiing. The squarton together with 450 has been granted 5 days leave in Alexandora ix the pilbt. We soe so be flown down by sockheed in batches. Everone is very happy about this dey welcome break Servicablity will be brought up by the Ground cews & supplies built up to the Aisdrew rested & everthing will be ready for a big push in about 114 days time. Oine of our pdat are leaving for Merandrie today & the rest widl push off Gomorowt t hese past you days we have spent in Alexandree on leave New came quite unexpected on the 24th that all pilots were to take four days t they were to be floxed to Elex & air by bomber bu Sguada went down in Baltinons & Dockheeds & John Bay + I stayed at the Hotet &e Rox & enjoyed a very expensivg time All in all D spent 30 Eguptian but have I watch, nike shirt fountain pen & New photographs to show for fitt Deving the past few days Soutoriu has Halle into t prench hands eman lands & the Frend Eflect has scalled itself. Things have been very quiet in our frond & there will not much doing or a week or so & An FFM today from June Adams
30th We are not working for a few days get. Half the pilote are away Sevicability is being tined up & supplits are Ocoming fowr. Even though we have no duty her we must hang aound + set about & are not allowed to go off & have a look at the country. Ttransport is coverted by the fat in authority & even tthough a pilst is tousted to fly & fight n agloooe awcft be is not trusted to take care at a 7t vitule valued at about $200 & is given less peedom of action & speech than any AC1 in the squadron Coperation belween pitots & general team work in this Exuadon today is not good - in sact there is no love lost between many member & many a mnbled theat against rules o desisions ae in the ar 31A Dac. We are released today but mus hang about Many of the stewards have been collecting loat- using tea & now have fine cannoas guns & glasses We not have 13 o/c & the 1090 is to go to Cawo. The weather is beautiful this day He ais is clear & there are high winds up tof with fine cirs tavelling At speed. All the county is weck after the rains & green grass & wild Howes are gowing in great pofusion I all together this County is far more pleasant to us than those two which we have just left behind The fellows who went to bain on leave returned by Loctbeed this Afternoon & all ssaid they had enjoyed a good time & had spent all their Smoney 2nd Des. Wo glying for us again this day. At dawn a £488 came along & dropped a few bomber down on the road & also on the next
dome h oe h from our aone ox That txe E/A down in flames. Sel managed to crash land the A/c + there of the crew were taken prion. One of these thee was injured & taken to hospital. He fourch member has not as yet been caught. Hack finlase I went to picturesque Dena in a waggon atbe luncheon. one road showed signs Of having ben heavily mined to late in the day we met & talked with the English sapfes who had deloused the gaps at El Alinern oalso thhis steld ot road. He amount of wrecks on Denna some was amazing & by, for the eargess dump I have yet seen. From the top at the 1200 escarpment to the little white town & fr but over the Mediterano was one of the finest views I have ever witnessed in all my travels. She town itself was very quant old & greaty damaged. Hare + There wee fine market Gadens which had evidently beed poducing vegitables since roman times 3c. do old were the surounding walls & iongation Channels. We whole town is surounded by a nigh sone wall evidents beilth before the Stalians took over after the last was for the new roads definited built by Stalian labou cut right though thes fine grample of solid stone masonr We hass down from the escarpment which is a fine engineering piece had been blowsd in by the retreating evemy & our engineers had nearey completed its mending after a veyy busy 14 days. The fine main steets, white tall dean homer & marble park benches all spoke of the fine work
the Ptahan colonisto had put into this new land of theirs. What a great mistake atalys leader made when he pushed het into was against we for now they have lost their colonice H will tose all before we are done. Hey are a fine nation of good vuildes & are a clean & well cultured race in peace time they should have remained that way for was does not suit any thing in their make up ake rative for the most past were wearing some part of axie itter tol boot on great coats & many of them cut a comical figie. The Buzee did not stink like the usual Wog vilage but it was dity just the same. The native worken all wore very fancy red or yellow leath boots embroied Iwat bright cotting & many of the young girls wrist impleswre weighd down with great silver slave bractets Te denuse would trade loot for lea & sugas only & it one out had slls at tea a 140 minatie came was of his Needless to say we had not a pinch of the stith, but sevral member of the Suadon have made bargains He town had been saul paid bombed but dozens at fine homes can be used again & all that has gone is the funiture & fittings T Co. flew the 109 away toddy & we stayed late in the mells talking & drinking. I was not very well this night. 3rd Decembe. It has rained & been very dull this morning. Diving luncheon we decided that we would go off & bargain with the Dedowms for a sheep. Dave Kitchie was to be chief buyer because of his wide knowledge of the sheep world & lesides he held the little Eloabic English tranelation book We dave for miles on the opps
truck across the hills & dates & finall found a camp at about six tents. We talked with the chief & he said the usual Bouera" or come back tomorrow. We finally pesuaded him to ride on the trucn to where the sheep wee - about another five miles. Dave picked out a nice fat lamb, then bargained for 1 hown. Te Oulcome was that the sheef was ous for 3lls of sugar - but we had none with us & had to bring the Chief, his shephod, the larb & a few oches right back to, the camp whee we bagained for another hore in the pouring rain. Te little animal was our Im the end for about tlls of sugar + 10/- Eggpttan - evidently we had mistihdestood the chiefs Aabic. David & Godon Jones slaughtred I desied the Animal + I was one of the interceted spectators. Hhe meat will be good for it is some time since we have had 4th Dec. an Iech stupf Few for an 1420 on a practice flight this beautiful morning. After a &fw tuns & sunabouts we went To Affollonia & Cissenla & thee Slav low pound the Great Toman rains- the remains at a city built about 500 &c his Orea was delight. full green & most picturesque fron the eir & I would very much like to tor through this part when we advance again. She Author at They Flewt Through sand says that byrenea is the really only beautifle place in all the land west athe Nill & agree to, date. F Watt flew very close ain n me this Ar igter me for & had not had anathe of so close to me since my O.T.H. but this bird can fly +I should not have worred. Walked to the King picture at 1 & had a lough with the aithed at Clarke Haable & fom crawford. We
Sth Dec all got lost ao the was back in the dark- as usual & ats bage Of sames & tomata jce for suffer. Huckellig was in fine fettle diking free Statian vemouth _ it was free because the bor had decided it was a hopless battle after having it in slock for r a month & selling none at all. It pont like spirit & tasted like gin & asnis & had a pich like a mule It has rained & we have not flown. But the rain has brought up bags of Mushroome & George Barton Donk Huck + I collected about 2 1/2 lls duing ou walk over the hills this afternoon. Donk was very funny & kept up a running story all his differnt & serced sdducions duiing our 2t samble With Mic Watson we all retured to Georgis gary at about 7.30 P.M.D thee cooked a great feed of mushrooms whichwe enjoyed with bread & butter & a cay at beer. We all stretched out after & listered 6th Dec. to the new radio given isite comforld und & relepting from the 8C good I few at the boye arwed back- the last of them from leave in Alexandere & iveyy had to come frm Efzala ly tack because our srome was Ho wett a couple af days ago the Cos. amous who had gone aheadt with the fist poty was killed. He evident was mucking about with a captured gun. Todart we collected mushoome in the carl morning. It has rained again but tuded aut to be a tol beautiful afternoon. Arder Jnes Huck & I walked many miles this Afternoon down a great river canyon in which thee was no rwer We found bags at ancient fossils - olde than the 1 great rocks themselves & had fn sook rolling & climbing. This evening the C.S. has given us the PCN on the coming battle. We are to be part a the spearhead any right in the which at things. He have 12 fighte squadons going a


 

but found nothing of interest.
Many tanks have been going up the
road this day on trailers & our
army are pushing up Sth. of
Benghazi to clean up the stranded
enemy Devision.
Our forces in Tunisia are advancing
at speed & news from the Far East
is good, so most of out
fronts are on the up & up &
all is going well. It has rained
heavily this evening & aerodromes
to the west may be W/S.
We are to stay here for a few
more days before moving to Matuba.
P/O Leeds has to return to training
base because of crashing on landing.
He is to do more circuit & landing.
[*18th Nov.*] No job until 11 A.M. A six & a four
went off for a recco over enemy
dromes Sth of Benghazi & they destroyed
about five big A/C on one drome &
also one 109 which was just taking
off. The trip lasted 3¼ hrs. With
only 2 hrs of daylight left we took 

 

off at 1510 hrs to do the same [[?aerodrome]] over. We went like the clappers with Danny leading. My engine threw oil & I could see little. We found several large A/C on the drome unloadiing canned petrol at speed and also about 12 parked 109s. Came in low and fast & fast & straffed setting fire to two J452 which exploded & sent up a tremendous sheet of flame & smoke. Danny went through a telephone line Allan had one set of rudder cables & his A.S. indication shot away & Rex & another fellow had their A/C holed by ACK/ACK. I came back  with Reg later. & led him on

to[[?Timic]] where he crash landed. [*Jepas Dan from Crosby on Eden*] Met Dennis OBrien in the evening and he ate with us & stayed in the mess until 8P.M. He is now on P.R.W. Spits.

[*19th Nov.*] No job until about 12 A.M. The CO went off & had a look at [[?Matula]] & returned at 3 P.M. to fly the 109 up. The convoy left at [[3P.M]] & parts

 
 
 

 of it reached our new camp before 8P.M. John Hook & I flew up along the rugged coast together It was a wild strong day  & a heavy sea was running against the tremendous cliffs.   We flew along below the cliff tops & just over the spray & it was a most [[?exilerating]] sight. Went up as far as  the snow white town of Dona & after a good look around there we pushed off across country & landed at  Matuba. The boys carried out a long 3 1/4 hr recco sth of Benghasi but saw little of interest, but had  wonderful fun low flying over the [[?heavy]] country & little farms on the way home. Several more vehicles have been blown up today by mines which are very thick and cleverly planted around the[[?Derna]] Area. Many have been found right in the tarred surface of road - & it was one of these that killed[[?Barny Terry Strauchen & the other Wing Signal [[?officier]] [*20th Nov.*] On the early morning recco the Co & his formation found the enemy to be on the coast road Sth of [[?SAntalet] and they numbered 800 - 1200 vehicles & sent up a packet of AcK/acK.   This [[?Soathern]] Area was covered by heavy rain storms & possibility of the enemy being bogged in was reported. Six of us took off at 2P.M. for a patrol over our forward troops in the [[?Anatalet/Raadabia]]Area. The royals Amoured cars are here The 4th Hussars are racing N.W. to occupy [[?Bengashi]] & are only a fewmiles from town. The 7th Div (Armour) is at Masus & our troops have taken or occupied Barce. The only place Jerry can hold now is Aghelia & we are following up in such strength I think it will only be a matter of time before that falls. I admire the enemy for even

 
 
 
 

 

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Lee KidwellLee Kidwell
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