Diary of George William Edward Clark, January 1941 - September 1942 - Part 3

MARCH —1941
420
4 TUESDAY
A bit of a panic last night. Changing
their mind a lot as to guards. Wrote to
Yvonne. Rumor of mail tonight! Also
of action tomorrow us or the British as a
whole I Don't know! A beautiful day
barely a breath of wind! warm. Nothing
new at 4 P.M. FLASH! MAJ. PETERS
has told drivers to immediatly maintenance
all trucks for a long journey!!! PALESTINE
MAYBE!!! 
5 WEDNESDAY
421  
Fair nights sleep. Cool! Hear a regualar
Rumble in distance ahead. May be Navy!
Prepare to move. To be ready to move 8 P.M.
only going about 2,000 yds back. No
reason at all. Rumors of Sunday being
the day we leave! Windy again. From
desert and warm. Started a letter to Mum.
Still NO mail! ATP - stopping here we (BTP-
Move back about 4,000 yds.
1941— MERSA BREGA  MARCH
422
6 THURSDAY
Gosh are we tired. Digging all night. 185° Traverse
gun pit!!! No 1 gun. May move again tonight!
FORWARD!  A beautiful morning. No wind! Wish
we were still with ATP.! Plenty of rumors abou
about! Back to 3 TP bty! Are not going back! C.O.
now a Brig. C.R.A. now C.C.R.A.! B.C. has the
mail! Definite move tomorrow tonight!!! Back.
Nothing new today! Am on first shift 8-30 9-20.
423
7 FRIDAY
Had a wonderful sleep last night. Up at 6-30AM. Beautiful
morning! 'NEW GUTS' We go to Mena camp on

the 9^th Sunday! Hope so! Brig. came today. 4 guns
going up tonight  and may shoot tomorrow! 
come back tomorrow night. We stay Thank-
-goodness. We move back to MERSA MATRUH 
may be there some time. Officers are talking 

about Mena. Very hot ! am getting sunburnt
 4 guns went out 2 ATP - guns came in -

MARCH —1941

424
8 SATURDAY

Another nice warm morning. Be a hot day. 
again. The 2 'A'TP. guns came in last night 
will move back to own troop again tonight 
and our 4 guns come back tonight. AT 1 P.M. 
had not heard a shot from them. An order 
to shoot immediately! Move tomorrow we

hope! Very hot day. MAIL. Seven for
me ! 3 from Mum  1 Trix 1 Mrs Bennett.
2 Margaret. Am a bit light headed. 
Snaps from Margaret. Air raid! Four 
planes over!  Came from East where 
A.A. fire flew over head to West. dive

bombed white house on road. Missed
by 30 yards. Our move back is put back 24
hours! So they say. Gosh everything is good
again. 'Meg.' looks wonderful.

1941— MERSA BREGA  MARCH

425
9 SUNDAY

Stand to! 5 A.M. Stand down 7 A.M. breakfast
9 AM. A cool breeze this morning, clear sky!
Wrote to Mum, Margaret, A very quite
day. Had a bath up at the white house.

Feel very clean again. Have to shave every 
day. Stand to at 5 A.M. tomorrow at 5-10

must be in rear of gun. What next. Very 
hot day. Definitely move tomorrow!

426

10 MONDAY

A very mild night last night. Cool morning
cloudy. We stood to as ordered and were told
we could get back into slit trenches but not to
sleep. I did. Breakfast 7-30! Wrote to Bob.
join Germany.4^th R.H.A. Recce-party came at 5 P.M.

we move out tonight at 10 P.M. Did not leave until
12.30. Travelling all night! Pulled into a 
bivouac position 4^th R.H.A. were at Tobruck on
way to Cairo on leave! were called back.

MARCH —1941

427 
11 TUESDAY
Bob's birthday. Pulled off road 20 KM past 'AGEDABRIA'
at 6-30 A.M. No one knows anything!
Have a headache. Breakfast 10-30 went to
sleep. woke up at 4 P.M. Tea at 6 P.M.
Will be here for four days or more.

Still waiting for relief! No guards tonight.
The AMMO DUMP at Regina is supposed to be
bombed pretty bad. No body there.

428
12 WEDNESDAY

Up at 7 A.M. Breakfast at 8-30 PERHAPS

Parade at 10 if breakfast arrives. Have to
shave. Leut B. [[?Prentice]] £1. Has till Saturday?
Maintenance on gun and tractor all day. No
news. New Zealand destroyer is supposed to have
sunk Nazi armed merchantman.16000 Tons 11in
guns!!! Breakfast came at 9-30 No parade?
Tea at 6 P.M. Beer issue 8 P.M. one bottle per

man. 60 mils per bottle!
1941— AGEDABIA  MARCH

429

13 THURSDAY

Have £26-15-6 in pay book. May move tomorrow!

go to Mersa Matruh, possible embarkation

from there. our kit bags being sent from Alex

to Mersa! Also reequip. there! Swimming parade 10.

to windy? I went for swim! 2 mile walk from
truck over sandhills. Very cold. A small ship ashore!

'Ite'. tanker. Back 1-30. very windy. On guard
tonight on road. Mounted 7 P.M. Am on 1 till 2-12.
cig. issue.50.
14 FRIDAY

430

Terrible morning. Windy, dusty & cloudy! Had to go
to OM for breakfast! Pay for those that want it.

We don't move until Sunday now. Wish we

could get some stamps! Lay around all day.

Still windy. Parade at 6-30 P.M.  B.C. is going to
talk to us. and give us story for move.

also a talk on march discipline. Leave on

Sunday morning. I did not draw any pay.

MARCH —1941
431
15 SATURDAY

£27-9-3 in pay book. We are to do 200

miles tomorrow! Stop at DERNA. for night

Should be at Mersa Matruh on Tuesday night

Regt. at 400 yd. interval extends 25 miles

will be travelling nearly twelve hours a day.

At Mersa we reequip and leave there 
for another country. Where to ?

Gun was pulled back today. Wind dropped

last night. A shower of rain. Hot night
cold morning! issue of choclates. 5 per 
man, also 1 orange. each truck carries
days issue of petrol for 200 miles
New orders for march. Stop near Barce 1st
night. Take 5 days now instead of 3.

Reivelle 6-30 AM. we move only if R.H.A.
relieve us. They are reported at GHEMINES

today. 300 yds instead of 400. interval!

Going to GREECE!!! Hope so.

1941— AGEDABIA  MARCH

432

16 SUNDAY

Move posponed! Maybe Wednesday. Had to

do Tank drill in morning. Wrote to Margaret in

afternoon. God knows what the matter is.

Have hopes of some beer this afternoon Truck

going into Magrum. 50 Km. towards

Bengasi. left at 12.30 not back at 6 P.M. Ites
were bombing up that way this morning.

£27-15-9 in pay book. Boys came back with

433
17 MONDAY

two bottles each, and some choclates. and a good
night was had by all:! Lectures on Bren Gun in

morning followed by lazing class. I am in

kitchen for 24 hours from midday. We only
wash up tonights tea things and tomorrows

breakfast. PREPARE TO MOVE. Probably
 1 A.M. tomorrow morning. hope so. we all

want to get a move on. 9 P.M.! yes we move

in morning.

MARCH  ON ROAD —1941

434
18 TUESDAY

£28-9-1

Moved off at 1-30 A.M. first stop BARCE.

stopped just outside Bengasi for breakfast.

11 A.M. Thankgoodness, we are at last on

way. Boat from Mersa to Haifa is rumor.

Wellington bomber & 6 hurricanes went over
and out to sea. ITALY? Went through Barce.

all camouflaged! stopped at TECNIS for night

big prison camp outside Barce.
435
19 WEDNESDAY

Up at 6. breakfast 7. ready to move 8-20.

Moved off for Derna plus 20! 8-30 a
good trip. road starting to f breakup.

came down new road at Derna, hill
alright. Took some getting up again.

a number of trucks couldn't quite

make it. Stopped at about 5-45. saw

graves of 3 chaps killed at Derna. In bed

at 8-30

1941— ON ROAD  MARCH
436
20 THURSDAY

£29-2-3

A good nights sleep last night. up at 
6 breakfast 7. ready to move 8-30.

moved 8-45. Tobruck our next stop.

a monotonous trip. road terrible. A
number of trucks on road B.A.S.C. went thru'

Tobruck 2 P.M. raining! A lot of ships in

harbour. Kept on going and stopped about 40Km

other side.  Bleak day & windy night.

437
21 FRIDAY
Up at 6 slept well. on to Buq Buq today. left

at 8-30. road terrible. Bardia 11 AM.  crossed
border into Egypt at Cappuzzo. 12. stopped for

lunch. Went down pass into Sollum and

broke Trailer engine draft connector. no road,

only a track!!! along edge of marsh. Has a long
wait last of the convoy now. Wont get in

until late. Got in at 9 P.M. Howling gale.

dust and rain !!!

MARCH   MERSA MATRUH  —1941
438

22  SATURDAY 

Had fair sleep last night very windy and

raining. 7 miles from Sidi Barrani.
left at 8 AM instead of 8-30. Sidi Barrani

a wreck! Onto a good road. But is torn up

in a number of places. Our last lap.

Mersa Matruh is destination. Stopped
20 miles from there for lunch. In Mersa

3 P.M. went into barracks? be here for

3,4 days! Maintenance! Everything.

Mail! Letters and parcel for me. Mrs

Gray parcel. Letters:- Mum, Margo, Alice clark

16^th Brigade have left. Destination unknown

Our Sub' on guard veichle parts tonight.
Had to carry beds back again after moving

into rooms. Still very windy and dusty.

Am on last shift. 4-30 - 6 AM.

1941— MERSA MATRUH  MARCH 

439
23 SUNDAY
£30-2-0
Up at 4-30 cool morning. breakfast 7-30

we have to clean gun and stores even though

on guard. more mail Letters from Mum

Trix and Lynette Aicken. We are on 'till

5 P.M. are to be on 24 hours notice after

Wednesday. Go to Alex? Played 2 up at [[?Eing's]]

won £7-10-0. Lent Branighan & Cruikshank

£2 each. total £4. Cash in hand £6. £7

Bill paid £1.
24   MONDAY
446
½ hours foot drill. followed by maintenance in 

morning. Colonel Barker said goodbye. Afternoon
off. Managed to get a case of beer.

Paid £3-8-0 for it. 4 doz bottles. looks

like a session on tonight. Ales on issue

of 2 bottles of Allsopps beer and 4 choclates 15

piastres, played 2up again lost 30/-.
Sent letter to Margaret. Got on the beer.

in bed 9-30 P.M. everybody drunk.

MARCH —1941
441
25 TUESDAY

£30-15-2

Sent letters to Bob, Mum. Jim, Yvonne. Bought

some stamps £1. getting Egyptian

stamps again. foot drill again in morning

followed by more maintenance. Have a

new Mormon. Went for a swim in afternoon.

Very nice. Our kits came 
back from kit store in Alex. Some

drivers went to Abassia today whofor?
442
26 WEDNESDAY

Another fine day. Had good sleep. Am getting
quite brown again. Usual foot drill. fixing

camouflage nets. A tedious job. finished 11-30

went through our kit bags. was to have 

been a swimming parade. But owing to possible

move tomorrow - too much work. Had some

fun in afternoon water fight. Played cards

at night. won £3. owed to me.

1941— MERSA MATRUH   MARCH 

443
27 THURSDAY

£31-8-4

Slept well last night. up at 6 AM. breakfast

7-30. parade 8-30. Usual foot drill. then on

with maintenance! Trucks leaving today!
all guns with war equipment and trucks

leave this afternoon for Abassia? or IKingi?

lecture on gas after lunch. and gas drill. Then

swimming parade at 3-30 out on beach at 4-15

no body went in. back in camp 5-10. a bit on nose!

444
28 FRIDAY
Slept well. usual hours. Went for route march
take books or writing pads with us. We went
about 2 miles then lay about on sands.
for an hour. then continued walk along sea
shore and back to camp for lunch. lectures
in afternoon followed by foot drill T.S.M.
said we were good. Am in kitchen from
6 PM tonight. issue of Australian beer. 2 bott
65 mils each.

MARCH —1941
445
29 SATURDAY
£32-1-6
in kitchen all day. a good day a bit
windy. No news! A boat trip in
sight. Nobody knows where we
are going!? our l new number -
Serial - 61032. Can't write any
letters!! Beer! Two bottles per man.
Australian!
A very uneventful week. A fair
amount of beer to be bought.
we have had quite a fireworks display here
every evening. The infantry, 2/4^th, have been
shooting away a lot of lte ammunition!
Verey lights, flares, and all sorts. The beer is
the best thing about the place except for
the food, which is pretty perfect!
1941—  MERSA MATRUH  MARCH
446
30 SUNDAY
Day off. parade at 8-30. Then broke
off the day our own. beer at 11-30. a beautiful
day. No wind very warm. Rumor of us
going to Lemnos Islands! As if we know
May go tomorrow! Have 8 bottles of beer
during afternoon. TOOTHS KB &
ABBOTTS. Rumors of Italian & British fleet
meeting! Ites lose 1 battleship & 2 cruisers etc
447
31 MONDAY
There was a rumor of a move ealry this
morning but nothing happened. Usual
parades this morning! foot drill lectures.
Swim in afternoon. 'PREPARE TO MOVE'!!!
We leave tonight and go to the station.
Sleep there and leave tomorrow A.M.
At least we are on move again Ites'
have lost 1 battle ship 7 cruisers 1 destroyer
& battle still going.

APRIL  AMIRYA  —1941
£33-1-3
1 April TUESDAY
Had good sleep out side Mersa station.
up at 6 breakfast 6-15. parade, roll call,
6-30 train left 7 A.M. A heavy fog cant see
more than 100 yds. A fast trip. At Amirya
at 1-30 P.M. We go under canvas where
2/1 Anti Tank were. guns had to be put in
grease, for boat trip. They go on tomorrow
we dont know when we go. New trucks.
449
2 WEDNESDAY
Up at 6 breakfast 7-15 parade 8-15. Trucks &
guns ready to leave by 1 P.M. I was sorting mail
all morning. A parcel from Mum. letters from
Mum, Margo, Lennis & Mavis. Cleaning rifle
in afternoon. 2^nd Bty not going with us!
finish at 3-30, 4-45 Pay parade! drew
£E.6. = £A 7-14-0. lent K. May £1. all
debts paid £5-10 to me. I paid R Gold! 10/-
A lot of A.W.L. last night!
1941—  AMIRYA  APRIL
450
3 THURSDAY
£33-14-5
May be leave today. Morning parade, foot
drill! lectures. Leave! from 2 - 9 for all
I am on guard but mount when return if able!
went in by taxi left about 1 P.M. got
pretty 'tight'. drinking at Anglo American
bar. Blackouts! whiskey. letter from
Alice Clark in England. We dont go on
guard at all. thank goodness. * ?
451
4 FRIDAY
Oh! my head! Gosh what a night. came
home in taxi by my self cost £1. slept
all the way. don't know what time I
got in. On our guard tonight - very
quite day. everybody very crook after
hectic night on leave. I am very shaky
more leave tomorrow. every other day,
they think. Hope so.

APRIL  —1941
452
5 SATURDAY
£34-7-7
on leave today. 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. Unit
transport. in Alex' by 9-30 A.M.
had a big meal & several whiskies
drinking until 3-30 had another meal
talking to medium artillery sergeant,
a permanent chap. Think I will go into
army in India! Must be a great life
Visited the street of ill fame.
more drinking anglo american bour bar.
bought a silver identification bracelet
for Margaret. Back on trucks 10
in camp very tired 11 P.M.
Sent letter to Margaret. Sent
G. RICHARDS £1.
Lenore Bond is engaged to Eric Black!
There will be none left when I get ∗ 4/-
back - if ever - ! [*You said it - if ever!
in hospital. 1/8/41 *]
1941—  AMIRYA  APRIL
453
6 SUNDAY
Could have gone on leave again, but too
tired, day off parade 8-45. had to clean
up lines. then time our own. wrote letter
to Mum. reading and writing all day,
very warm. would like some Aussie beer.
Fancy being too tired for leave. Probably too
broke! Wish I had the chance now. Even if I
had to walk the whole way. 1/8/41
in hospital
454
7 MONDAY
Leave again today. Only 9 from Troop. I
am one. Had to catch train at 7 A.M. from
AMRIYA. Also had to march down to
station. A warm day. Had an egg
breakfast about 6. eggs. Then had hair
cut and shave & shampoo. Had photo taken
after lunch have to pick them up at 9 P.M.
got stuck into beer. not too good!
Letter from Margaret. Sent  * 4/-