Major Henry Charles David Marshall - Wallet 1 - Booklet 3 - Part 1

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.280
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

134TOR H.C.D. Vp.RSHAII GEPTOT A.1.F. OFISGIXA 331 III 4
I dund after laviny prentent I had better frund my satof rastue and go to sestow and gaffe shayly way swale go ande he sane hame by side. fafe a sp id centnes old and is now muh gart expulation and like and toly rase catrlly supis Iis ryse on the aast and is he put for his part of Clumns, a wo aeven days it aad it oneton wil be litle. te huleyf to spe in fuslen was at an Cebnan and was by pond to p and carned from here to Jermalim. (o tron 2t Me ay Jone and he whale so connected with this mon Jonal in tyin to evade lods command tok ship pom Jaffe and hense the stry of Jonal and the great pit, Gal 1.2J. ODorss a vonan esd for good works amoy be realy died here and teter was sent fr. He prayed and spoke t her and she arose and be presented her alive to be people. A Church sow harks be spot of te some of Douas. Olr one lived in fafe with one know to Danney we house is shee to be seen. Ally hee had asmny from te and was sent to lomelins at bassares to cary be cope t be seples, (an is). Iel avis was hardly bnought of wnhe some 2ay were you ago after be lest was when to fwo we allwe tg back t Calestine. They then suilt his wodten city reat to tappe and it is really a very hameerous ashievemlnt and t many as a very seautiful city- a say ane and tunks a remankable performancs for, 20 years. Grankly I dow like lo und oey wen here more as I amnst apeat of at very manes cevey bakered to anergate it and got out of his city with be peater of rlaure as quatly as I could. I do nnt wess fur hew weluds as wack about then, but I do admire purtyanly by del and sew enducty and acheesenent anget bha proses what bey can do and suffer for her relyion. As the past 2o years they have again acted as pioneers for there is so dough tat. Arcks bake we fews and rere rerse and pay have leare from day to day wre kuning what whacks a troukles the day would bring ford. On any pist disit I amt into Muk to casl part of he better of Credit we brought over I was one of the Tirce signatures. Two very recessary. He aad t abore sarly as it is a pernliarity of basters Bandes tat bay are only open from eight t twelve earts day. It was a further experience for tods of us for he sil avrs branck of Banelays bank wasted the whole aroming fining dven up. French alerks with a limited amounto bngints ceen to be the rogue. after fryg the bunk we went 49 smacl byt very relect Hotel on the senpont for sunce, I was called te Gat limman and after our exremely light lunch and a couple of borries of Euglises seay we fund we were we kew delt to about 17 each. a likle sumforch we could see a couple of shamen ke we assu torce hundred yards fom he a mav as y here had been resent writ but th is we stary, some years ago two toatloads of refugees
had been collected i Lurthe and apparently guarants entry to Alestine. At hat time to Buksey admiilistal very denite eney laws-protally a quste and so in capiral per arent, when he boats arrived at lffer they were refused enter and here lite was to say arollud te tidie tryi a fie some country to escept him. They in him ald t do so and be people or board sufferes o3L. Duory hane beg rew be her despasine and writ, and edluded suemselves fire magenre. In guis is bhe only whally Jise bik in he world-wn by bew and for hem. It coust almost wutrely of flats. to oy senored wnd her loodee very rise hwlre pyybull and I studder to dink what a desent avray could do to hese building. They seened to be built of light remprement and and. There are is hams in he City - one buses and hars - and ben hus senoices are highly oxanised and iunerous. The sheets are wide and hn be case of he man sheet Allenty load he lined with sapty jones at intervaes. There seemed to be lott of ans about the secone nait I made in a huck accompaned t Dakers - to by some loking naterial for a touse of boxers and a iug for our radelurse. Datr wale we more amaayed with his time washen and no he end I intexered and finally bought the slroes and chart in faffer aper he had micked around pratory whele. Ame of he shops he geat weto had anyhing tile to qrantities we required. I had to bry a rigfr our bone for he races and seemed at a deadend, very few loyes appear to be kept in seb avid and to request for a tadlers shop was met with a blank look. I mually at an Englishman in he talistine hlice to resommend and give ne t address of a Riding school. Atter a nunber of attempts I kually arrived to find be owner. He had some hong ho whited entered in the rase and I also hired a rasin saddle, Rus ior horses shimpes lin for a while unde t suddenly remembered a friend who had brought wce a four from Austia a CheskoStoratia when he came to the City. We went here and lot a nice blue and white check ore Ir 10/- and also a couple of prasses (liqner one) o Brandy to celebrate be friends budiday. Lince Dabes had vased so wise time we were late and on the way come one dyver was hunin daed be wan sheet wher by his time had besome verly buoy, a car suring round the capty jone and we crasbed it dong a let tre dameg to it haw to onneeres. We dinted our font undguard and soon pulled it off the whell. I mut admit hat Iam a let son so annoyed wit the Adret that I way bat when he all on his seg in the sach is him seightly soraped tls mce I was slightly tappy and ate sit sorry, aad rater retundant. He cast be bet part of another hour whilst waiting for he pace who aar seregs he matter but de an owner and his pane wd emnlry easited and cinclute, and be ane cause where mharce wened were will gid hewe hand hs concen alde time was me to do pst hat you wre gle londs ap seack but neveing yous were orders but it ont alloied taggerons fartclarey as was wraw meke inat be gt houe wuntlel any where on he road. They are very addie us trew chuise of a place - he widdle is as ard as he aide and a tusclosd of roik is jst left any where for the ame braten t are. I aa sen anyting of see aowd as a leave town but I believe bew are plenty of wyue clubs and catanets stocked with girls from eony Smmentae Combey. Iel dowd night andy be 20 gers all but here as plenly of wice and wishedness squar to te vice in gaffe which is centuries old. Rrhaps I should say had sel aowd has little to learn in hs yard.I believe the prpolation is about 100oss but an oper to correction. Refre Igo on wit my discription of KlestineI want to give you two qustations from a book I have just read called: to Aubley takes to Road by Fister lanning Ias a my interistinn wack wather spoilt by a melodianate and wedless ending sue severteless a very fine bock. to sudent interted two boughts which I am capying as we may weber read bo took. New and again which whitng his I shall break away altogider so if you are not innected sading will yo seld n read it. pe, ausall, is consum of he middle hat whes upour lves. ti a litee more ansions of it, perhaps, haw some pespee sesause bes us an awe unddle himself. How would you feel of your living came from dsyning instruments of dead while you losed life wore dearly tran anyting its. por is alive, but all brough his working hours deate its on his son. I i dway so gloong as has sonds, but its ast law from the rads. And tiere are many nore like heve. ben and wonen live ie a welker of pancoces and bey dant like it, but tey find bey can do presious litle ame it some of be undate aned be clared up, but you caner wever stear he seabe enevely, not while wew and goner are what bey are sabe was - it a subject tot he and his friends often discuss these days - some people hame wass on plituans, who love to ecerise his uctimate veapon of power, oters slane it o he private hamstue g artiement, a few-sre t lose hink is will always be because it is non's desting. There were
was in he lible; here wul be was always, But he read reason for war les wit come of these. There are ware because naw is an imperpest being, because his hain simply snd descerpd enouh aoneilly to amouse aid hat was has no viores which do not belong to seads; and that here ar io fivend ws hiscover which cnnot be seltled amwidle yoney new are ready to admit hat bey have node issdes to naw likes to admit he has been wrong. Ais int ihiet is t de his second to arque and whene hs aggument fre ho ye segins to light, tukiy that fore o create right out of witng. The more cuctured and civilised the may he wore emplosis wes be two t argument because be bebeve bat words have a magie of tem own to change te natureg right and wrong. The savage just Lequis fighting right away anll I tink his nesod is clord honest of te to. Howeveril an old toper. and as new power torer! what new? With new wisdow come new wils. We may conquer wass and wife then exccluce a cuses of bew eascense from he wold, but here will always be evil of a kind with us, I think, secause we can never be perfect. War is aot the nost serrists of wils. At oney seems as recause it nampet stelf so quiticularly and thins its rickns a waese. But here are wone and we widespreed evils to be pught. There are plenty of children who enter his world never to have enough to eat, I did early from naliatation. disese claims wore vickus haw any way ever did a will claim. You can diny a country it rightful boundaries, but it is mor terrible to ay a people pee aw and good ford The oher brought I liked is his, live me he sea every time. They cant mck at up with adverticement hoardings and waddouses. You want find any dust out here. You can how your letter as much as you like but te seall swallen steep and a floating tr can is an object of amiosity outhere, not an execore as it would be in t country hedges to rony haps, and when here is a crowd it an interetng newd, different ships to watch, not different makes of nster caro, and theres always he water lask at it ho cried enthunsheall Every second the coloro change, every hour he mood differs The sea is as wordland slade weekly enfering a besporty ncit of untinking townsfolk. come out here for a hotiday for a slow, and you have to behave yourself. You have t do as he see says - or its so wish the worse for you. of trees could from he habit of falling on people who cut untials in blu, be countryside would be yspected. I am poy to write gut and tha remark but I dis ant sure yfI agree. Happiness- complite to we would be home wit you You sound as though puire me of those happy mew said t Turshley. Ho h not bt Iin as unhappy as most new at time Happy new don't exist, not completely rappy hen. There are vew who timt ber completely happy, of course. But generally they hir out to to very stupid men. This is ho wrond planet and de wrong life for complise happiness. Nature ashow complete happiness nor han she abloss a mamin, and we should be glad of what Courace is sensiless if you havent known fear, and the men sho landy but never cries is just wtin a shange sound hat has as neanin to you wind bese cxccumons wnto borks darling on nee I seall get bast t my story son, as I aaws tame Ihad setter semite is a representatev to we soadsast we had aa consie bi shday an sbiled as moring in st io amoget us and be went at bew pnt slect bey sended on a curtal plase which pnally pred at Bartars a comple of rules away. on a lead sandy seeth bey had to create a race track and it was mry eleverly cone. They used some unused remanen camp building as atalisators and erected a very semporary enclosure and fraudstand. A few bent and a by marguee hrown us and be place was complete, Evaryone ben set about finding wrehones b Battalion an individual exteres and many were mirse se seae consultation and schenes. And sore ren but condint hens on sharge cosses ano tey have be only speed baties ns the mres. A ereen said he bould at a hmse if the wet he Durden atonut to inter andry, appe en latte trouble be and sallday nt permission and a most of the day. They had track and were away me home achough a bit paced o thersk with ace and had bayf persuaded him to let us run him in our On name. The old chap lyore he would let us Main hem which was one hing we wanted to do came along and san sles and everyng. Tinally he dared and he homse arrived in charge of a young arat boy and occupied a stall we had fixed up in a by gurags near us. He was a gray stallion and contrary to expectation or stllion ead a very wwet semper, Assead of ety ar kicking he would let anyone pudle your and was achially a very alever nick can. He arrived a set tired after his purney of a days and many and raied were te discussions and projuntications of he troops who from te prst
wt a rest interest. Tize were hose who said he was hoold and is giod and hat no resuntion was a ple. we had a pekey in my company and be was made namer under teday and ro and be ame soy lived, and aast with the horse. Cooper was to be hhe rider in me Cas race as Anilian tidees only were adlowed in his me. Tuun and I incilentacly were geiae a loise and we entered it but only san he hondoy he rose hace, onr hore had one gavee haming lasit. a be git a bet wked bees and it was part of ano diet had to bhave his ganshalian be a day. De 4coue & haining expenses for about a month. The great day is and was ane and war all tnfo except i parly or meniers in eash camp were adlowed ano t altend and very shorlly after sanned he has was ane a very sucy play, crowded wt erats- toops officer wrse- some beil officers and a few English and wwish famlies. There was an opuint englosing as I said. The hoops had a canteen and ougue conan who as you know had a los to as wide Matran ran had arranged a prlator which puchoned ammuacle and qurly brsughout. Angress adde were of course not shown but bey were tible to pay one almost as soon as te race puished, I doe cvente was about he rases except tat in Go races where anat pckeys were riding de wak had a peld day. I knd they had most of the reces uigged, Enmaw sonewhere wohe had goe hell of rin blouses and aups and everyting enned we a leas rascourse. So even haditime a fur hoops who made soons- officiacey of course and bey had to lodge security. The great law of he day was to Bastagion enrayto ark our own raders up. We had I tie he sest hoise in he me cate coming to be hm our ochey bulled wide due in his eecitenent to plhing hat arad horses as not respond to be ren bit to a such an he seck. Anyway pit our horse put in a paralying puish and was only beaten by little wore han a nose in a wonderful finish. The old gray had lived up to his repuration and actough to was Deaten we were all satisfied. He was camed pine after a kinous old lone who camed te weonch of de dd Sevente. I spent nost of my time running to be snesator fr he ises - about too yards and segans tew and my commission. The heday I lost about 80 but it was work it. The hups delived resunadle well altnagly here were a wo sad but amusing insillents. Two us achools of course ode foushed guill opinly aaune order an ys got ay drit: the mea se sone distance hor be dind. A y had supplied dink augres but has do sone very brike dafer fom fulling some hards from he back of ten she bailding and gesy way prt some crates heer. another very reat suk I personally wassted but coned at slep. A ptign santy of four mew waned with te ges nargur - sebend t comte and pited up a crak of her overy me was ectemely mary and be sene cranded and in annyquence be marhed one with hensuge. I sull do usting at te end of he dan John Joun and I saw all de droops. and seen had a m kumks in he A.S.C har wh was at Surtans. We evatually not base to camp after a good day about, Oom to a very late dinner and we needed it by men, fnt was sent home to Bunseba wit te ing I had bought him his own. Curthera by the way was we seens of a lattle in he wst was, aiblically it was where abrabang liver for a time and where lod told him to take Seane his go and go to haw Coral Gumatend and here offer him as a sacrece. The only thes town ao Calisture I want to speak of here is tesion. I sid not go here but Abraham mored from Burtheba to Aaren where has wife Sanal died. H bought the care of backelsh as a buniae ground and here saned ben taken be unsell was buned were. David resqued in Nebron for seven sears before be reigned over all seace. The next any I have to till you is stout the erigade snt. Arn was in charge but I Hunk Harry and I kept him to it. After te est of ender Company foutesk and a Divisional Cricket contest we picked wr lams. When he engude sut conpetition was rually puched we wow as I hank you know be Adletes, Backet Ball, Dennes, we wre second in Swemning, band, Arny, smace, eiret and tever - and amme us where i bcey or sible sinnis. He we last in he latter, the be addetes we hell we did ast gain mery many points anny nost of te day and were laying on a poritien bat we coed one say was a mery disky tind, nost had war it up but hn be last three wents we ware all parses and pually wo his by I limk a point. The Aiske bil t ander my nw wir io be only playe availidle time. siller was at I school in sairs, I got about
hew lass inderested and tauht very a bit and us be end dey proced better haw t oter Cassalions and Duade who had pined with te Field Ambulance t wake a sent sent as bat bey were pretsy serible snn our ham and aone of the matches were mi fn tme, I had t do a let of wnk and each dawn pesure seemed to come just after a sout of sandly. They nearly killed ne, one hat be last one - I played Meney first and ben immeditely t to be Casket Ball He recaed to was and when we did I could hardly walk lomg. I had only get out of bed the day before Tennis was won by luss bodby and the Padies tanew as a leam. This las has since died in termang as a prosoner. To hold he compertion by had to enguge a court in See avi and play all he natues in one Day, te twennery was held on to beach at Eaza and I did not gt are it. I I am right prostically only be ream whec was fairly lagge evere to eving to tanspnedutage I was an adsenss wallover as we were every event and I hnve only allowed one peace to be piled by ansher competitor. I may be wrong of course but my remony is not as good just and. Our sand contest was a very good one and, and handnaster brought he band on hom loding. I remember he prosticed on he boat and he certainly kept them up to it ten and later and tey were very sappy to bu the Brigade, when they weron and wow te Civisional Comperition then joy and w knew ho bounds. Tahan was unfortunate to fail ill and has since bean sent home 5 anshalin, we was be brigide Boring on points aper a series of interestny bouts, th be divisional thampionships as istained two. Ohe seaeweight and ae over which I sant remember. He myth have wee livid but wr eurant got a dose of sandlly two days being. In Aushalan Cules dsttall we were beate by he with o but should not have been. It was he only hes bay ar any oter lave did but I can rmember and it was sut bew day out. Onr ham woimally was misly by better. In crisket we should have won as yur Onr hean was wase better haw be rest of be Bryade, I tik hat hnor ggain was to scame for ast frwards he result of a natly we ware, to be reply as were beakn with a poor heam in, I kow tat deincly it was his mnatention to vsnets which cast us to loser Champignship. We had beaten the oher seams but he did ast put in se remet. W were hereore piced to a replay with the 5th On whilst we were at Barce aft fo So i lanhad Cordie and Itruck and our re ant are seen lore some of it stars. Ihine unt overed and you have seen be penhants. I also timk I have resented tasting as I know it but here is one place Tmuse wention. I would have liked to had give here but as I said before leave was hard byet. It is generally spoker of as be nos plessune pease in alestine. It restles at he put obu bawill qount be sea. I is where styale, shallinged be prophets of saae and where bod answered seyals by me just beyand taye is be brook auton where to poset 7taal were slam. thep has wore modon claims. It is be end of the ort pipe line from Tras and a rival kielling staton. there are fr but purpose a wnter of or tanks and a repreny and the salians camed out a humser of amid to b and destroy hem. Tey get a sople of him once. S Canncl ss how nam residential ara - all fes and repuses. The only they bny I had asted was be cchils orchards y be two manly in see aver area. th really now be nost hawellous grapepet and oranes but I have an idea but tey were inssidule by be coverment. They de nt have all he groses for nat had nam and rane proses and conracled rearly as he pape orchards. The rest of my stay teat dam writing about - rater I should say bat from cwon I chace tell yu o eslated instances and went wibot any reatian to be time beg ossurie. Te pist lng will be about the Rleshne Achesha and the party apelwards. At sest Juza and in fast at every by aap a persue heake had been built- rather shall we say an open an affair wid a roof. It was oriinally designed a ae wer aleste weader with penly of rentieation but seachout denanded but all he arue bought was will and and and hese ofiing bad to be slosed up. A gewish from had be contract and tey showed reasonable pictines for a reasonasle price. Ioly went to to fctues once bewever. Angway wih all repyse uunsisimfrom Curips to draose from the Jwr had foumed a very pns tymphory Orchestia and bey gave apeypmance at Eaga which wn ccarquanters. Awas so wonderful I believe and so pepular that it was arranged but aute consent should be given and that at Bert Jugar as be new hour and were central. for must remember that hampal was be difpculry always and our rpusetion at te pirst consent was powr on that ascount as well as he pst bat we wre lest in for tnits. cries were not sheap and I think officers in be best sent had 6 pay about 10/6. You will remember I described the progror to you in a letter and told you then that I felt that the
orchesa did not come up to expectations bat is time. had looked forward so nace to the programine that I feet oquely disappointed at to end. The Clesha ipy has to came of bing be bnd bet in he world so seput newels wery me she seemed satshed so I cepect but as I was recovering from sundfly bat be usure noited and depressed frelm was the cause more than anythng else. Gam heard that he wrses were coming in foig to te consert in a hs so be suggested that we give tem supper after do perprnance. As hell would be too many for us sunde and to she baltalions were asked too and no the end be sug kept te hation and some senior surses an be oters were distoused as they wanted He had about twenty. All the preparations what on for day and on te day we sent a huck about sen miles cnly wuk gave it 104 ae it anwoed were wide isto of gantrees and hps, I had seen tere heas man and village and they were fairly rare. These tansformed the hew deamns noow and how snewhere we gt srn and red crukly paper for shilmers and also colored he table cols into ships of he same color. After he orcheshs we walted our quests to be new and started on a cold supper of which I remember little. Asparagus way one tin we were able to get from he bult canteen - I have an ade we alle lle reccun and fint as wellind seer and whishy of required. Aut he smprise of the evening tumnr and I engineered. By the way the table were aot lgides but spread around the room. Now for he emprise - whilst we were down in he canleen dunn te apinoo we discovered they had eight bittles of Champage. Hedseik 1920 which on enquiry was ti quike cheap - it worked out at o/-bottle, so we got the canteen sergiant to put it in the Repigerator and about half way though I went don and got it. So worked out at one per table and made the party so widy a sum. There was not enough to wake anyone ham and hon consnt aengin wns, he order oer one voted it the best party we had had and so did our mests. The champague was a norelty. sumn and I as originators quietly got te last two bottles on our tables and set ourselves up. We had a duty during te last stages of Palestine called showing the slag. Ao consisted of sending an officer wil an armed party to be reyghboring villages and here he had to interview he huster or headman of he vielago. The sie of he armed party depended on he sige of the nelage, I suppos in te pesple thought at hetesbary and taly an a act of gution and ting to till nailed party always waited in tewr such my swelmeat and whilst drining and ape and i reem & be tathr wrough an interpictr. Tey were all riendly as hr as I know - I used to rodge here sups and sicuedd. We had on our list neeages wolde names lige Cureery, Nerd, Hug, Sum, Sum, Cartara, Hasdal, Bent Jorga, A Arn and a farce arat town t which we y t one went ane- calle the weant a laye esent indand was a wmn wough and rew by two sayd bey were a hwe cllan orded and her churk was brnnd and did not mind sarry what he tnight. are Excellent adleses as well as tholsemanr and proved at an long and bugh pimps against our Oilld Ambulance who went but here bull on an scerme. One change little conal ls lavge captunred in a waps orchard tims he road from us. It was a chamblern about ine uhes long and it was wonderful to see it change color in gn greey - and its efforts on an army colored blanket were pretty good. It susdenly seemed to glaw and the ceter changed as if a lidht had been let inside it. to honal calod was gay but cuss ratured tired it out with a prece of fartam. That was too musts for it. He kept it about a week but it went off its ford - it was punny the gifts of flies he got - so ginally he let it so vack into lts bneyard, Ansher pini aninal we had was the hiote all ofa sudder wittel lumps yf eards arrived all over te peace and we could nt understand it. small we day one up and I hak thes has a phote of it. A little aumll very like a rat but could it more early. They were very inseresting to wath. Kenry had a friend from sumne in bleskoe and after awhile pt wll buch with hin. Isfct his naw now ben some money for commission on a deae and had returned to Rlistine without sayny. any way be decided by have some of it in help and got in tuc witlben. Insiderery I was unaere short an Tellve 4use dally Lords inhoduction & ad arclant oor I could ast pad him. This old two son in law pually got be knsy goods shop enhract in our lines and was really a fairly desent chat as Jews D. Just before we left we st a bessage 6 but hin out as a suspesed aitabe a pually himned out hat be had been confused with ausherclay of he sine came who was astouns and the lived conentere in he same ame. awatn a week at was noned out and he was allowed to return, anway jst ape he had strled us his shop be asked Henry to bring some friends and have
dinner and her g to a dance in the on cally disston be from. He was to call for us hered a car and he would srn us home. we tran Ouss Eodly, youry & rioch and I were te part one Saturday wear Henry. We finally got here with the aid of meny wrong drections and dismissed he car, by nemory is seaiy a lit. some time proviously Ihad been with Henry to assernoon sen at the old proples house and I was insended in the invitition bdinner in consequence. All be oders had also aet our host at some time or other. Anyway bey had a nice any some whish I tink he old naw owned and bey rented. Hs dayaler spoke good Enlish and was very chart aldouser shut. I last she did astlook a fwers except or being fairly broad and was ressonally slyat entertaining and pssinating. steder - the car in law had his broter and sister in law here too. He two hioters were apparently bsines backers and were aad only dones well after a henod of hardships and money lone me to ritts et. This other sister in law rater appealed to he. I could eever deside whether she was depirned or aot he was slight and losked very pail and was very tunb he said she could aot speak biglit but ascording to Selnerders wife it was only beeause she was to sly to My. ae awhile we convinsed her bat we would not lough at her attempts and she broadined out and started to by. I have sat at some very large dinners but hws was one of the largest. There seemed to be leyhing and her had promised us special Jewish disbes ant neats. What they were I can remember enept ae caller thutzel - he piere te resistance, it was very god and wit other kinp they purshed us properly. Mestine der was made in Rischon to giow and here was plenty of lat. I have just remembered the denans came was huse ar someting like tat and he was a director of hhe him. They purshed up wit some shong bocally wade liquess and brande and we were well set up for te dance. At was at a blub culled he ands Jewish blub - he anx represented by a refered Capr and be secretary also English, A was just a crowsed dance in a dinly let small room. Deall canced in him wit our hostenes and had a few more been and were intrduced all round but an a dment let in gut cte of he searhent and hhe dim bue light segmed to ms the beat. when it came to going atme, scheder rad as dan as be said it was too late - ben well payte ane tat as were allowed on he road. I hind be would have taken the rise only clands had absenred te noo and it readly would have been dancerous to drive audy king to was tat his aar was est insured a ou part te difficulty was but we did aot have overye lave and should have been home. Anxway I wanted to go but be shers desided to rt it so chnerders broker and his wype slept in Sdinerdes home and humed bew ower and he jest sidison oer to us. cnnmnately bay had wo double beds and teree o us slept us are and oi be ober all in underslodies. We were t lave at dewer which was absut 5 occock and schnewes kept his promise and arrived on time. We had only about dirce hours sleep and were up but I am apraid we made a mew of teir basrson, There are only bis baks in Klistine as porcelam one are very very expensive and I remember tat liter cometing went wrong wit be shower or the lavatory - here was water every where for awhile- we made as good agot as possible ohe cleaning but I think from he evidence of te house be lady was houseprend and protably would not have been te pleased. We get away sie of us very aamped in a small can be sye of a standard and got home about 6.20 and crept in without any one seems us. After a shave and a shower we asked as if wo had been home on time and it was only a hwo days ago that I told Thes about it. He did not know. Old lrust had an orange orchard as do bany oher fewo who either farm or grow atius of some kind. They eiter live in towm, or in commntes of houses for protection or in a tid type of community -a communce settlement. Io there everyone works for be common cause and get so much pocket money per week. They weave her own clot and make tew own clohes and are self supportug. some caske, ohers weave others wast- eash does a job and is no better haw the next. They nerry befre witnesses- and baties are lasted after in die commnal creshe, Divoice in here
givcery and lequor hade. Tey have earned it as te communities is very easy and like he Russian shels seel only be best and at fanly reasonable seme an announcement by one or the other nakes tuises. Thy spenatise in bursplan and amerisan it so. I have seen bee connance building huned giids. They glas have a small resturant attace from a distance but never resited one, Frow dil where we lunched! It was wonderfully cooked by native reports hey are very happy and quite sucusful. and was really words the onhalons prices charged. se esli wrin one tour as basnd aad to provide owother wards were of a sesurity nature guarding are guards, lome were intersty and some not so sulnerable points. - one on the pood stores at baydds where our mard on taking over thecovered a wholesale The prst was what was known as dd eage berd, on het Alaused a str and all sorts or enquiries and our teadquarters, and was not a pleasure, we bisen te deves were clivey. They spened to stacks and seen had be first with his company and ore of hi troops Geitleman had ranous treakents and was always a t repacted the ousside. Joan Wisking was io command as one wswve eyquor and became violent. Hhe same or d perton who deleavered his. The only oher nard which was at all interesting was one on a lonely supe theal but ae persisted with him and he turned up some wiles from Gaza and was placed there to prevent humps lifer on as a look, apart from alariuns and smaghing of hasheedn – a dry which ween iniched eccuision te bomance commander be Euard was gives the misker wonderful dreams. It was very hard generally a botiday. The Dw. Eor uidl to inspect the to get t and he last cople of mly was asrow land yard and like a schoolmasty which he was was dilnes. We had to get a samel to transport stres. Thange yer pursky about dress and bule calls. He used to say one mew liked his post. Ansher of my pasties to sie be sngles of another guard lessons himself. was to be president of a bourt wartial. I had b good by te way his name amongst our suigade was bvan secd frawhile. President of two which had seen conseniently batter and alver pusshed beprst te dcrble durl later shortened to dan the surble stuter on be that when sex week were charged wit or 1.P.T. Te other bryade called him t ships became weaking iill de thips butee and stealing been he was headmaster of Crantrock School (Byd in by duey Sue Cluder malty and he sixdy not pulty and Henry at our last tur wid his Company and had bat started te tiobles. Without going ito a very You Denney as well to lasts after. In his own inimitable long sry and involved stry on procidure I can bay se be made a complete holiday of it and enjoyed it whe all calculations. He had inninevarle adjieniment to consider ese pot and to sdy Liensell, There was a little Aral Bby who hung around be suard- he was about 2 or r and a clost we nanual o Mletany waw. This partiulus teat smace of on be win bg and were recooned. ane endeming like rassue - he wishd knny around presaation of to chaage by sone me who was syforl his little finger and in return used to lip the Guard to know all about it I cansing endeer trouble and of wheneol the General's car was coming. H was also the pussners friend was not a lwoges tough be a wonderful beggar and used to bry modey out of seiney was – ben be procleter fell ill and emone instuding ae. Tee told we tat hes tall his caused he admirament to land - aunext amongst the taeps was to show hem a roll of nokes attempt and he plissners friend was ill - a about £.0 and say he was saving to byy himsell parts admrament as it would to recessary a wife and wanted $120. He very truly said that There a bild cust ascembled. Qruadly I go fid up be could sy a much better wife for $20 than for £60, wido walting and went to de Div. Legal Officer and And he eventually got it. I visited Henry one day te papers were finally town up or pled a dropped when I went to diadquartes and we had a few drinks or sned properly. As he mew had been confined to in Sinneys bar which was just around the corner barracks witint leave for 22 monds then puniding This bay is owned by an Englishman who stayed m was land ensug. I have ns doust tat dily were Blestine after the last war and he and his cmpon guilty but lie whole procedune of bourts Rartal. now contiol almost he whole of the wholecall
favors te prisoner and is be farrest trias possible we slicht slip us proceduge can squast he whole sroceedins even after te prisoner has been found guilty. all prosedure has evelved from tradihion and has sep designed to seve the dumbert and nos stapid haw from his own shpidity and cast or knowledt The rest one was a deiver of duster be who had wos hs sie on a tamin exercise at tureng. afte we hnd spent over an how we had to admiz for a week as he nos relivent witness, who was his companion in the mrus was an at bt said. Anway I dever heard ansher any about his one. The only are I ever completed was in ogypt. You night wonder vhy he lon o a ryse shoned wate it resessary for a serions bourt hartial- and a court nartal is very serious to be casled, I explained about how careful we had to be rans and te rexonsibility was peased on the maw. We were worned not you officer lost nis regolver that he would be sent home. One chap did lose his but here were exentilating circumstances - he had been cdin a fare and his langard wke whiest he horse was pastions. He could not find it and it eater transpered but an Arat had found it and gld it in we Blach market at samhela. The Klestine Plice found it, about a sonty ao left we had a large parads at a camp called, Kilo 89 wanh was he next nearest to baza. Den sineed was be only other one between us and Kils O9. Since her of course I expect they have put us camps everywhere. The odeers in my time were at Julis, Qastina, Barbala, and Sidera. I am only putting this in to give you an ideg of peace rane. It was a consentation of all Aushalians and was addmensed by Davell. It was a few days tyne Haly entered he war and from his address I wnt be wnt have known it was inevitable. The seveyy was like all aher reviews- harshin and counter eardy due to mistakes in calencation of distances, and ancrest defence had been looked to and ahvicl himself was very siple and direct and whink he impressed the troops. He has only one eye and is very tously about anyone looking ho hard at it so we were vained hat if seor officers of ts were galled up to be presented that we must hot show any knowledge. However he was late arriving and he only had time to meet Astation Commanders and a fwothers who pinded temselves in as companders gods unit anoder paride we and was at bey pyn when I.I.I addressed all officers of te sivision in our sisture heake. He cave a really me address his time and was to ae point - ast like one I heard from him lake in egppt. At his time we were able I hold susble bhursh wraders and he sand payed be byns. Tes or the lemor ofe read be assar and Dakers gave one of his sernions. I regret to say bat by never impressed me and I can remember anyone of den b at te slart told be hops all about rlecture but sinwandered of his subject and we had a sene of sernons by so my mind would have disgrased a scloseoy. Inight as well say son that be did aot him out well and was always in houble aid Thes or one of us, He has is intenry mind and repuse to learn. at hs time I really fill that he was punsh drink- literally. Bode on de boat and at Buct Jorge he was bveing mad and at he troops but bin amound as a punstin ball. We had t arrange a fronight at Happa Vithen - the Aushalian Convalescent Apot or I tunk he would have gone crachers completely, hs grates desire was to get out of camp and go sight seeny and as far as his puritual tuhes were concerned was an absolute front, about once a mont we had a Brigude church parise and again here were usually a nnanc. bey were to me as I got he arrangements as sield offcer to otter for my liking. After our own shurch paride se On narshed past Thes or any visity officers or higher rank who were present. We occisionally had mailors from Dvision who came dnow b us. Dakers once arranged on one of his hips for the Aishop Jensalem to come on Saturday and conduct Communion and the Sunday horning Chuurch service. His rist was rater junny in many ways. He errived very lett on he Saturday aight and had a spence unner, an warve dageur on bay had to be spenally housed. I can remember why but he by mone of his religian whatwer it was coull ast steep wit in oder natves. The Wahus took him in the dark ona round of mits to be camp entertamment- canbeers reading wer – shall wow ek. Oaless

VX34 MAJOR H.C.D. MARSHALL
A.I.F.
3317.
III
Geprűft
2  9/6/43
Oflag IXA
Nr 4
 

 

                                                       73

I think after leaving Jerusalem I had better finish my travel
talk of Palestine and go to TelAviv and Jaffa. These two towns
strangely enough should go under the same name as they are side

by side. Jaffa or Joppa is centuries old and is mainly Arab in

population and life and both races naturally keep very much apart.

It is right on the coast and is the port for this part of Palestine. In

the olden days it had its connection with the Bible. The Amber for

the Temple in Jerusalem was cut in Lebanon and was by floats

to Joppa and carried from there to Jerusalem. (2 Chron.2). The story

of Jonah and the whale is connected with this town. Jonah in
trying to evade God's command took ship from Jaffa and hence

the story of Jonah and the great fish. (Jonah. 1.2). Dorcus a woman

noted for good works among the needy died here and Peter was sent

for. He prayed and spoke to her and she arose and he presented

her alive to the people. A Church now marks the spot of the home

of Dorcas. Peter once lived in Jaffa with one Simon the Tanner

whose house is still to be seen. Peter there had a vision from God

and was sent to Cornelius at Caesarea to carry the Gospel to the

Gentiles. (Acts 10). Tel Aviv was hardly thought of until some

20 or more years ago after the last war when the Jews were allowed

to go back to Palestine. They then built this modern city next to

Jaffa and it is really a very marvellous achievement and

to many is a very beautiful city - a gay one, and truly a

remarkable performance for 20 years. Frankly I don't like it and

only went there twice so I cannot speak of it very much. I

never bothered to investigate it and got out of the city with

the greatest of pleasure as quickly as I could. I do not like Jews

their methods or much about them but I do admire particularly

in Tel Aviv their industry and achievement - in fact Palestine

proves what they can do and suffer for their religion. In the
past 20 years they have again acted as pioneers for there is

no doubt that Arabs hate the Jews and vice versa and

they have lived from day to day never knowing what attacks

or troubles the day would bring forth. On my first visit I went

with Mick to cash part of the Letter of Credit we brought over.

I was one of the three signatures - two being necessary. We

had to start early as it is a peculiarity of Eastern Banks

that they are only open from eight to twelve each day. It

was a further experience for both of us for the Tel Aviv

branch of Barclays Bank wasted the whole morning fixing

things up. French clerks with a limited amount of

English seem to be the vogue. After leaving the Bank we

went to a small but very select Hotel on the seafront for

lunch. It was called the "Gat Rimmon" and after our

extremely light lunch and a couple of bottles of English

beer we found we were in their debt to about 12/- each.

From a little sunporch we could see a couple of steamers

lying on their sides about three hundred yards from the

shore. It looked as if there had been a decent wreck but

this is the story. Some years ago two boatloads of refugees

 

 

                                                    74

had been collected in Europe and apparently guaranteed
entry to Palestine. At that time the British Administration had
very definite entry laws - probably a quota and so much
capital per entrant. When the boats arrived at Jaffa they were
refused entry and there fate was to sail around the Mediterranean

trying to find some country to accept them. They were not
able to do so and the people on board suffered from hunger

and thirst. Driven frantic they ran the two ships ashore

at Tel Aviv and landed themselves "force majeure". Tel

Aviv is the only wholly Jewish City in the world - run

by them and for them. It consists almost entirely of flats.

To my untutored mind they looked very nice but were

jerrybuilt and I shudder to think what a decent airraid

would do to these buildings. They seemed to be built of

light reinforcement and mud. There are no trams in the
city - only buses and taxis - and their bus services are

highly organised and numerous. The streets are wide

and in the case of the main Street Allenby Road tree lined

with safety zones at intervals. There seemed to be lots of

cars about. The second visit I made in a truck

accompanied by Dakers - to buy some boxing material

for a troupe of boxers and rug for our racehorse. Dakers

made me more annoyed with his time wasting and in

the end I interfered and finally bought the shoes and

shorts in Jaffa after he had mucked around for a long

while. None of the shops he went into had anything like

the quantities we required. I had to buy a rug for our

horse for the races and seemed at a deadend. Very few

horses appear to be kept in Tel Aviv and the request for

a Sadlers shop was met with a blank look. I finally

got an Englishman in the Palestine Police to recommended

and give me the address of a Riding School. After a number

of attempts I finally arrived to find the owner. He had some

horses he wanted entered in the race and I also hired a

racing saddle. Rugs for horses stumped him for a while

until he suddenly remembered a friend who had brought

three or four from Austria or ChechoSlovakia when he came

to the City. We went there and I got a nice blue and white

check one for 10/- and also a couple of glasses (liquer ones)

of Brandy to celebrate the friends birthday. Since Dakers

had wasted so much time we were late and on the way

home our driver was hurrying down the main street which

by this time had become very busy. A car swung round

the safety zone and we crashed it doing a lot more damage
to it than to ourselves. We dented our front mudguard
and soon pulled it off the wheel. I must admit that I was

 


                                                  75
so annoyed with the Padre that I was not a little bit sorry
that when he fell off his seat in the back with the bump and
slightly scraped his face I was slightly happy and not a
little bit sorry. Thats rather redundant. We lost the best
part of another hour whilst waiting for the police who soon
settled the matter but the car owner and his passengers
were horribly excited and gesticulated and the usual
crowd which gathered talked very well with their hands. All
this concern with time. was due to the fact that you were not
allowed on Palestine Roads after Black Out. Any way we
got home by travelling against their orders but it was very
dangerous particularly as road repair metal might be
dumped any where on the road. They are very catholic in
their choice of a place - the middle is as good as the side
and a truckload of rock is just left any where for the
stone breakers to arrive. I can't say anything of Tel Aviv
as a leave town but I believe their are plenty of
night clubs and cabarets stocked with girls from every
Continental Country. Tel Aviv might only be 20 years old
but there is plenty of vice and wickedness equal to the
vice in Jaffa which is centuries old. Perhaps I should
say that Tel Aviv has little to learn in this regard. I
believe the population is about 100,000 but am open to
correction. Before I go on with my description of Palestine I
want to give you two quotations from a book I have just
read called "Mr Finchley takes the Road" by Victor Canning.
It is a very interesting book rather spoilt by a melodramatic
and needless ending but nevertheless a very fine book.
He suddenly inserted two thoughts which I am copying as
you may never read the book. Now and again whilst writing
this I shall break away altogether so if you are not
interested darling - well you need not read it.
"Joe, like us all, is conscious of the muddle that makes up our
lives. He's a little more conscious of it, perhaps, than some
people because he's in an awful muddle himself. How would
you feel if your living came from designing instruments of death
while you loved life more dearly than anything else. Joe is
alive, but all through his working hours death sits on his
shoulders. It isn't always so gloomy as that sounds, but
its not far from the truth. And there are many more like
him. Men and women live in a welter of paradoxes - and
they don't like it, but they find they can do precious little
about it. Some of the muddle could be cleared up, but you
could never clear the slate entirely, not while men and
women are what they are. Take war - its a subject that
Joe and his friends often discuss these days - some people
blame wars on politicians, who love to exercise this
ultimate weapon of power, others blame it on the private
manufacture of armaments, a few - like Mr Rose - think
it will always be because it is man's destiny. There were

 

 

                                                   76
wars in the Bible, there will be wars always. But the real
reason for war lies with some of these. There are wars because
man is an imperfect being, because his brain simply isn't
developed enough honestly to convince him that war has
no victories which do not belong to Death; and that there are no
problems in this world which cannot be settled amicably
if only men are ready to admit that they have made mistakes.
No man likes to admit he has been wrong. His first instinct
is to deny his second to argue and when his arguments
fail he often begins to fight, thinking that force can create
right out of wrong. The more cultured and civilised the man,
the more emphasis does he give to argument, because he believes
that words have a magic of their own to change the nature of
right and wrong. The savage just begins fighting right away
and I think his method is more honest of the two. However - its
an old topic." "And as men grower wiser? What then?" 
"With new wisdom come new evils. We may conquer wars and wipe
their existence or courses of their existence from the world. But
there will always be evil of a kind with us, I think, because we
can never be perfect. War is not the most terrible of evils. It
only seems so because it manifests itself so spectacularly and
claims its victims en masse. But there are worse and more
widespread evils to be fought. There are plenty of children who
enter this world never to have enough to eat, to die early from
malnutrition. Disease claims more victims than any war
ever did or will claim. You can deny a country its
rightful boundaries, but it is more terrible to deny a people
fresh air and good food."
The other thought I like is this. "Give me the sea every time.
They can't muck it up with advertisement hoardings and
roadhouses. You won't find any dust out here. You can
throw your litter as much as you like but the sea'll swallow
it up and a floating tin can is an object of curiosity out here,
not an eyesore as it would be in a country hedge. No noisy
traffic, and when there is a crowd it's an interesting crowd,
different ships to watch, not different makes of motor cars, and
there's always the water. Look at it" he cried enthusiastically
"Every second the colors change, every hour the mood differs.
The sea is no woodland glade, meekly suffering the despoiling
visits of unthinking townsfolk. Come out here for a holiday,
for a blow, and you have to behave yourself. You have to do
as the sea says - or it's so much the worse for you. If trees
could form the habit of falling on people who cut initials
in them, the countryside would be respected." I am going
to write out another remark but I am not sure if I
agree. Happiness - complete to me would be home with you

 

                                                          77
"You sound as though you're one of those happy men" said Mr
Finchley. "No I'm not that I'm as unhappy as most men at times.
Happy men don't exist, not completely happy men. There are
men who think they're completely happy, of course. But generally
they turn out to be very stupid men. This is the wrong planet
and the wrong life for complete happiness. Nature abhors
complete happiness more than she abhors a vacuum, and we
should be glad of that. Courage is senseless if you haven't
known fear, and the man who laughs but never cries
is just making a strange sound that has no meaning.
Do you mind these incursions into books darling one.
I shall get back to my story now. As I mentioned our race
horse I had better describe the Races. When the idea was
first broadcast we had to send a representative to the
committee. Harry Halliday was selected as knowing most
about it amongst us and he went. At their first meetings
they decided on a central place which finally fixed at
Barbara a couple of miles away. On a level sandy
stretch they had to create a race track and it was
very cleverly done. They used some unused permanent
camp buildings as totalisators and erected a very
temporary enclosure and grandstand. A few tents
and a big marquee thrown in and the place was
complete. Everyone then set about finding racehorses
for Battalion or individual entries and many were
the secret consultations and schemes. Arabs of course
love races but conduct them on straight flat
courses and they have the only speed horses in the
country. Sol Green said he could get a horse if he
went to Beersheba about 40 miles away. After a little
trouble he and Halliday got permission and a
truck and were away for most of the day. They had
traced a Sheihk with a good horse although a bit
aged and had half persuaded him to let us run
him in our Bn name. The old chap before he
would let us train him which was one thing we
wanted to do came along and saw Theo and
everything. Finally he agreed and the horse
arrived in charge of a young Arab boy and occupied
a stall we had fixed up in a big garage near us.
He was a gray stallion and contrary to expectations
of a stallion had a very sweet temper. Instead of
biting or kicking he would let anyone fondle
him and was actually a very clever trick
horse. He arrived a bit tired after his journey of a
couple of days and many and varied were the discussions
and prognostications of the troops who from the first

 

                                             78.
took a great interest. There were those who said he was
too old and no good and that his reputation was a joke.
We had a jockey in my company and he was made trainer
under Halliday and he and the Arab boy lived and slept
with the horse. Cooper was to be the rider in the Battalion
race as Australian Riders only were allowed in this
race. Guinn and I incidentally were offered a horse
and we entered it but only saw the horse on the race
track. Our horse had one queer training habit. He
liked beer and it was part of his diet and he got a bottle
of Australian Beer a day. We of course all had to share his
training expenses for about a month. The great day
dawned and was fine and warm. All troops except a
small party of volunteers in each camp were allowed
to attend and very shortly after I arrived the track was
a very busy place. - crowded with Arabs - troops - officers
nurses - some Polish officers and a few English and
Jewish families. There was an official enclosure as
I said. The troops had a canteen and Eugene Gorman
who as you know had a lot to do with Victorian racing
had arranged a totalisator which functioned
admirably and quickly throughout. Progress odds
were of course not shown but they were able to pay
out almost as soon as the race finished. I don't
remember much about the races except that in
the races where Arab jockeys were riding the Arabs
had a field day. I think they had most of the
races rigged. Gorman somewhere or other had
got hold of racing blouses and caps and everything
looked like a real racecourse. We even had three
or four troops who made books - officially of course
and they had to lodge security. The great race of
the day was the Battalion entrants with our own
riders up We had I think the best horse in the race
but coming to the turn our jockey pulled wide
due in his excitement to forgetting that Arab horses
do not respond to the rein but to a touch on the
neck. Any way Jim II our horse put in a paralysing
push and was only beaten by little more than a
nose in a wonderful finish. The old Gray had
lived up to his reputation and although he was
beaten we were all satisfied. He was named Jim II
after a famous old horse who carried the Colonel
of the Old Seventh. I spent most of my time running
to the totalisator for the nurses - about 300 yards and
placing their and my commissions. On the day
I lost about £3 but it was worth it. The troops

 

                                                  79
behaved reasonably well although there were a few bad
but amusing incidents. Two up schools of course
flourished quite openly against orders and some of the
troops got very drunk! There were a few fights in consequence
but some distance from the crowd. The Canteen Service
had supplied drink facilities but that did not prevent
some very broke diggers from pulling some boards from
the back of their store building and getting away with
some crates beer. Another very neat trick I personally
watched but could not stop. A fatigue party of four men
marched into the Officers Marquee - behind the counter
and picked up a crate of beer. Every one was extremely
busy and the tent crowded and in consequence they
marched out with their prize. I could no nothing. At the
end of the day John Young and I saw all the troops off
and then had a few drinks in the A.S.C. Mess which
was at Barbara. We eventually got back to camp
after a good day about 8 pm to a very late dinner
and we needed it by the. Jim II was sent home to
Beersheeba with the rug I had bought him his own.
BeerSheba by the way was the scene of a battle in
the last war. Biblically it was where Abraham lived
for a time and where God told him to take Isaac
his son and go to Mount Moriah (Jerusalem) and
here offer him as a sacrifice. The only other town
in Palestine I want to speak of here is Hebron. I
did not go there but Abraham moved from BeerSheba
to Hebron where his wife Sarah died. He bought the
cave of Macphelah as a burial ground and there
buried her. Later he himself was buried there.
David reigned in Hebron for seven years before he reigned
over all Israel. The next thing I have to tell you is
about the Brigade Sports. Prior was in charge but I
think Harry and I kept him to it. After a lot of
inter Company Contests and a Divisional Cricket
Contest we picked our teams. When the Brigade
sports competition was finally finished we won as
I think you know the Athletics, Basket Ball, Tennis,
Swimming, Band, Boxing. We were second in
Football, Cricket and Soccer - and came no where in
Hockey or Table Tennis. We were last in the latter. When
the Athletics were held we did not gain very many points
during most of the day and were laying in a position that
one could only say was a very dicky third. Most had
given up but in the last three events we won all places
and finally won this by I think 2 points. The Basket Ball
I took under my own wing as the only player available
at the time. Miller was at a School in Cairo. I got about

 

                                              80

ten lads interested and taught them a bit and in the 

end they proved better than the other Battalions and

Brigade who had joined with the Field Ambulance to make a

Sporting Unit. At that they were pretty terrible - I mean our

team and none of the matches were much fun to me. I had

to do a lot of work and each damn fixture seemed to come

just after a bout of sandfly. They nearly killed me. One

match the last one - I [played Hockey first and then immediately

after went to the Basket ball. We needed to win and when we

did I could hardly walk home. I had only got out of bed the 

day before. Tennis was won by Russ Godby and the Padres

batman as a team This lad has since died in Germany as

a prisoner. To hold the competitions they had to engage a

court in Tel Aviv and play all the matches in one Day. The

swimming was held on the beach at Gaza and I did not

go to see it. If I am right  practically only the team

which was fairly large could go owing to a transport shortage.

It was an absolute walkover as we won every event and

I think only allowed one place to be filled by another

competitor. I maybe wrong of course but my memory is

not as good just now. our band contest was a very good

one and our bandmaster brought the band on from

nothing. I remember the practices on the boat and he

certainly kept them up to it then and later and they

were very happy to win the Brigade. When they went on

and won the Divisional Competition then joy and

own knew no bounds. Trahain was unfortunate to fall 

ill and has since been sent home to Australia. We won

the Brigade Boxing on points after a series of interesting bouts.

In the Divisional Championships we attained two - The 

Heavyweight and one other which I cant remember. We

might have won a third but our entrant got a dose of sandfly

two days before. in Australian Rules Football we were beaten

by the sixth Bn but should not have been. It was the only

time they or any other team did that I can remember 

and it was just their day out. Our team normally was

much the better. In cricket we should have won as again

our team was much better than the rest of the Brigade. I

think that Prior again was to blame for not forwarding

the result of a match we won. In the replay we were

beaten with a poor team in. I know that - definitely it was

his inattention to results which cost us the Soccer

Championship. We had beaten the other teams but he

did not put in the results. We were therefore forced to

a replay with 5th Bn whilst we were at Barce after

 

                                                 81.

Bardia and Tobruck and our very fine Soccer team had

lost some of its stars. I think most of the sports have been

covered and you have seen the pennants. I also think

I have described Palestine as I know it but there is one place

I must mention. I would have liked to have gone there but as

I said before Leave was hard to get. It is generally spoken of as

the most pleasant place in Palestine. It nestles at the foot

of Mount Carmel against the sea. This is where Elijah

challenged the prophets of Baal and where God answered Elijah

by fire. Just beyond Haifa is the brook Kishon where the prophets

of Baal were slain. Haifa has more modern claims. It is the

end of the oil pipeline from Iran and a naval fuelling station.

There are for that purpose a number of oil tanks and a refinery

and the Italians carried out a number of airraids to any

and destroy them. They got a couple of them once. Mt. Carmel

is now main residential area - all Jews and refugees. The only

other thing I had noted was the citrus orchards of the Jews

mainly in Tel Aviv area. They really grow the most

marvellous grapefruit and oranges but I have an idea that

they are subsidised by the Government. they did not have 

all the groves for Arabs had many good orange groves and

controlled nearly all the grape orchards. the rest of my stay

that I am writing about - rather I should say that from

now on I shall tell you of isolated instances and events

without any relation to the time they occurred. The first

thing will be about the Palestine Orchestra and the party

afterwards. At Beit Jirja and in fact at every big camp

a picture theatre had been built - rather shall we say

an open air affair with a roof. It was originally designed

for the warm Palestine weather with plenty of ventilation

but blackout demanded that all the careful thought was

null and void and these openings had to be closed up.

A Jewish firm had the contract and they showed

reasonable pictures for a reasonable price. I only went to

the pictures once however. Anyway with all refugee

musicians from Europe to choose from the Jews had formed

a very fine Symphony Orchestra and they gave a performance

at Gaza which was Headquarters. It was so wonderful

I believe and so popular that it was arranged that another

concert should be given and that at Beit Jirja as being 

their turn and more central. You must remember that

transport was a difficulty always and our representation

at the first concert was poor on that account as well

as the fact that we were last in the tickets. Prices were

not cheap and I think officers in the best seats had to

pay about 10/6. You will remember I described the program

to you in a letter and told you then that I felt that the

 

                                                  82

orchestra did not come up to expectations - that is mine. I

had looked forward so much to the programme that I felt

vaguely disappointed at the end. The orchestra itself had

the name of being the third best in the world so I expected

marvels. Everyone else seemed satisfied so I expect that

as I was recovering from sandfly that the usual morbid and 

depressed feeling was the cause more than anything else.

Guinn heard that the nurses were coming in force to the

concert in a bus so he suggested that we give them supper

after the performance. As there would be too many for us

Brigade and the other battalions were asked too and in

the end the Brig kept the matron and some senior

nurses and the others were distributed as they wanted.

We had about twenty. All the preparations went on for

days and on the day we sent a truck about ten miles

away and gave it 10/- and it arrived back with lots

of gum trees and tips. I had seen these trees in an Arab

village and they were fairly rare. These transformed the

mess dining room and from somewhere we got brown and

red crinkly paper for streamers and also colored the table

cloths with strips of the same color. After the orchestra we

walked our guests to the mess and started on a cold

supper of which I remember little. Asparagus was one thing

we were able to get from the bulk canteen - I have an

idea we also had icecream and fruit as well - with

beer and whisky if required. But the surprise of the

evening Guinn and I engineered. By the way the tables

were not together but spread around the room. Now for

the surprise - whilst we were down in the canteen during

the afternoon we discovered they had eight bottles of

Champagne. Heidseick 1928 which on enquiry was to us

quite cheap - it worked out at 8/- bottle. So we got the 

Canteen Sergeant to put it in the Refrigerator and about

half way through I went down and got it. It worked

out at one per table and made the party go with a 

swing. There was not enough to make anyone tipsy

and soon community singing was the order. Every

one voted it the best party we had had and so did

our guests . The Champagne was a novelty. Guinn

and I as originators quietly got the last two

bottles on our tables and set ourselves up. We

had a duty during the last stages of Palestine called 

Showing the Flag. It consisted of sending an Officer

with an armed party to the neighboring villages

and there he had to interview the Muktar or 

headman of the village. the size of the armed party

 

                                                             83

depended on the size of the village. I suppose our Security

people thought it necessary and the officer detailed had

a list of quotations and things to tell the Muktar. The armed

party always waited in their truck. A sort of mailed fist

whilst drinking sweet coffee and eating sweetmeats and 

talking to the Muktar through an interpreter. They were all

friendly as far as I know - I used to dodge these trips and

succeeded. We had on our list villages with names like

Bureira, Ngid, Huj, Sum, Sunn, Barbara, Majdal, Beit

Jurja, Al Hurea, and a large arab town to which we

only went once - called Rahia. Henry took this trip which

meant a large escort and he had an interesting trip. It

was a town owned and run Arab Bedouins and he

said they were a fine clean crowd and their cheiftain

was proud and did not mind saying what he thought. They

are excellent athletes as well as horsemen and proved

it in long and high jumps against our Field Ambulance

who went out there once on an exercise. one strange little

animal Russ Savige captured in a grape orchard across

the road from us. It was a chameleon about nine inches

long and it was wonderful to see it change color on grass

 - green - and its efforts on an army colored blanket

were pretty good. It suddenly seemed to glow and the color

changed as if a light had been lit inside it. He kept it about 

a week but it went off its food - it was funny the gifts

of flies he got - so finally he let it go back into its

vineyard. Another funny animal we had was the mole.

All of a sudden little lumps of earth arrived all over

the place and we could not understand it. Finally

we dug one up and I think Theo has a photo of it. A little

animal very like a rat but could it move earth. They

were very interesting to watch. Henry had  a friend from

Melbourne in Palestine and after awhile got in touch with

him. In fact this man owed him some money for commission

on a deal and had returned to Palestine without paying.

Anyway he decided to have some of it in help and got in

touch with him. Incidentally I was unable whilst in

Tel Aviv to use Wally Firths introduction to old Orchardt- for

I could not find him. This old Jews son in law finally

got the fancy goods shop contract in our lines and was

really a fairly decent chap as Jews go. Just before we left

we got a message to kick him out as a suspected agitator

It finally turned out that he had been confused with

another man of the same name who was notorious and

who lived somewhere in the same area. After about

a week it was ironed out and he was allowed to

return. Anyway just after he had started in his

shop he asked Henry to bring some friends and have

 

                                             84

dinner and then go to a dance in their town called

Risshon le Zion. He was to call for us - no thats wrong we

hired a car and he would bring us home. Sol Green,

Russ Godby, young McGeuch and I were the party one

Saturday with Henry. We finally got there with the aid

of many wrong directions and dismissed the car. My

memory is clearing a bit. Some time previously I had

been with Henry to afternoon tea at the old people's

house and I was included in the invitation to dinner

in consequence. All the others had also met our hosts

at some time or other. Anyway they had a nice airy

home which I think the old man owned and they

rented. His daughter spoke good English and was

very short although stout. In fact did not look

a Jewess except for being fairly broad and was reasonably

bright, entertaining and fascinating. Schneider - the son in 

law had his brother and sister in law there too. The two

brothers were apparently business partners and were now

only doing well after a period of hardships and money losses

due to riots etc. This other sister in law rather appealed to

me. I could never decide whether she was deformed or not

She was slight and looked very frail and was very timid.

She said she could not speak English but according to

Schneiders wife it was only because she was to shy to
try. After awhile we convinced her that we would not

laugh at her attempts and she broadened out and

started to try. I have sat at some very large dinners

but this was one of the largest. there seemed to be

everything and they had promised us special Jewish

dishes and meats. What they were I cant remember

except one called Schnitzel - the piece de resistance. It

was very good and with other things they finished us

properly. Palestine Beer was made in Rischon Le Zion

and there was plenty of that. I have just remembered the

old mans name was Pruet or something like that and 

he was a director of the firm. They finished up with some

strong locally made liquers and brandy and we were

well set up for the dance. it was at a Club called

the Anglo Jewish Club - the Anglo represented by a retired

Major and the secretary also English. It was just a 

crowded dance in a dimly lit small room. We all

danced in turn with our hostesses and had a few

more beers and were introduced all round but

 

                                                      85

as a dance it left me quite closed.  It was very hot because

of the blackout and the dim blue light seemed to increase

the heat. When it comes to going home Scherder rather let

us down as he said it was too late - being well past the 

time that cars were allowed on the road. I think he would

have taken the risk only clouds had obscured the moon

and it really would have been dangerous to drive. Another

thing too was that his car was not insured. For our part

the difficulty was that we did not have overnight leave

and should have been home. Anyway I wanted to go but

the others decided to risk it so Scheiders brother and 

his wife slept in Scherders home and turned their

own and the guest bedroom over to us. Fortunately

they had two double beds and three of us slept in one and

two in the other - all in underclothes. We were to leave at

dawn which was about 5 oclock and Schneider kept

his promise and arrived on time. We had only about

three hours sleep and were up but I am afraid we made

a mess of their bathroom. There are only tin baths in

Palestine as porcelain one are very very expensive

and I remember that either something went wrong

with the shower or the lavatory - there was water every

where for awhile - we made as good a job as possible

of the cleaning but I think from the evidence of the

house the lady was houseproud and probably would

not have been too pleased. We got away six of us very

cramped in a small car the size of a Standard and

got home about 6.30 and crept in without any one

seeing us. After a shave and a shower we acted as

if we had been home on time and it was only a

few days ago that I told Theo about it. He did not

know. Old Priest had an orange orchard as do many

other Jews who either farm or grow citrus of some 

kind. They either live in towns, or in communities

of houses for protection or in a third type of community

- a communal settlement. In these everyone works

for the common cause and gets so much pocket

money per week. They weave their own cloth and

make their own clothes and are self supporting.

Some cook, others weave, others wash. - each

does a job and is no better than the next. They

marry before witnesses - and babies are looked after

in the communal creche. Divorce in these

 

                                          86

communities is very easy and like the Russian

scheme and announcement by one or the other makes

it so. I have seen their communal buildings

from a distance but never visited one. From all

reports they are very happy and quite successful.

The Battalion during our tour in Palestine had to provide

some guards. Some were interesting and some not so.

The first was what was known as the Gaza Guard on

our Headquarters and was not a pleasure. Sol Green

had the first with his company and one of his troops

got onto native liquor and became violent. The same

gentleman had various breakouts and was always a

trial but Sol persisted  with him and he turned up

trumps later on as a cook. Apart from alarums and

excursions from the Divisional Commander the Guard was

generally a holiday. the Div. Cdr used to inspect the

guard and like a schoolmaster which he was was

very finicky about dress and bugle calls. He used

to give the bugler of another guard lessons himself.

By the way his name amongst our Brigade was Ivan

the Terrible Turk later shortened to Ivan the Terrible

or I.T.T. The other brigade called him Mr Chips because

he was headmaster of Cranbrook School (Boys) in Sydney)

Henry got our last tour with his Company and had

Tom Blamey as well to look after. In his own inimitable

style he made a complete holiday of it and enjoyed

himself. there was a little Arab boy who hung around

the Guard - he was about 12 or 14 and a most

endearing little rascal - he twisted Henry around

his little finger and in return used to tip the Guard

off whenever the Generals car was coming. He was also

a wonderful beggar and used to pry money out of

everyone. Including me. Theo told me that his tale

amongst the troops was to show them a roll of notes

about £80 and say he was saving to buy himself

a wife and wanted £120. He very truly said that

he could buy a much better wife for £120 than for £80.

And he eventually got it. I visited Henry one day

when I went to Headquarters and we had a few drinks

 in Spinneys bar which was just around the corner.

This bar is owned by an Englishman who stayed in

Palestine after the last war and he and his company

now control almost the whole of the wholesale

 

                                                   87

grocery and liquor trade. They have earned it as their

shops sell only the best and at fairly reasonable

prices. They specialise in European and American

tinned goods. They also have a small restaurant attached

where we lunched. I was wonderfully cooked by natives

and was really worth the outrageous prices charged.

Our other guards were of a security nature guarding

vulnerable points. - on on the food stores at Majdal

where our guard on taking over discovered a wholesale

theft. It caused a stir and all sorts of enquiries and

the thieves were clever. They opened the stacks and then

repacked the outside. John Wickery was in command

of the platoon who discovered this. The only other guard

which was at all interesting was one on a lonely cape

some miles from Gaza and was placed there to prevent

smuggling of "hasheesh" - a drug which when smoked

gives the smoker wonderful dreams. It was very hard

to get to and the last couple of miles was across sand

dunes. We had to get a camel to transport stores. Strange

to say our men liked this post. Another of my pastimes

was to be President of the Court Martial. I had a good

record for awhile. president of two which had been

conveniently forgotten and never finished. the first

started on the boat when six men were charged with

breaking into the ships Canteen and stealing beer.

Five pleaded guilty and the sixth not guilty and

that started the troubles. Without going into a very

long dry and involved story on procedure I can say

it upset all calculations. We had innumerable

adjournments to consider legal points and to study

the Manual of Military Law. This particular trial

started off on the wrong leg and never recovered. Bad

preparation of the charge by someone who was supposed

to know all about it - causing endless troubles and 

the 'prisoners friend' was not a lawyer though he

nearly was - then the prosecution fell ill and

this caused the adjournment to land - our next

attempt and the prisoners friend was ill - a

further adjournment as it would be necessary to

have a fresh court assembled. Finally I got fed up

with waiting and went to the Div. Legal Officer and

the papers were finally turn up or filed or dropped

or used properly. As the men had been confined to

barracks without leave for 2½ months their punishment

was hard enough. I have no doubts that they were

guilty but the whole procedure of Courts Martial

 

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favors the prisoner and is the fairest trial possible.

One slight slip in procedure can squash the whole

proceedings even after the prisoner has been found 

guilty. All procedure has evolved from traditions and

has been designed to save the dumbest and most stupid

man from his own stupidity and lack of knowledge.

The next one was a driver of another man who had lost

his rifle on a training exercise at [[Sturema?]]. After we

had spent over an hour we had to adjourn for a week

as the most relevant witness who was his companion

in the truck was now at Port Said. Anyway I never

heard another thing about this one. The only one I

ever completed was in Egypt. You might wonder why

the loss of a rifle should make it necessary for a serious

Court Martial - and a Court Martial is very serious

to be called. I explained about how careful we had to be

of arms and the responsibility was placed on the man.

We were warned that if an officer lost his revolver

that he would be sent home. One chap did lose his but

there were extenuating circumstances - he had been

riding a horse and his lanyard broke whilst the

horse was fractious. He could not find it and it

later transpired that an Arab had found it and

sold it in the "Black" market at Beersheba. the 

Palestine Police found it. About a month ∧ before we left we

had a large parade at a camp called Kilo 89 which was

the next nearest to Gaza. Deir Suneid was the only other

one between us and Kilo 89. Since then of course I

expect they have put up camps everywhere. The others

in my time were at Julis, [[Thastina?]], Barbara, and

Gedera. I am only putting this in to give you an idea

of place names. It was a concentration of all Australians

and was addressed by Wavell. It was a few days before

Italy entered the war and from his address I think he

must have known it was inevitable. The review was

like all other reviews - marching and counter marching

due to mistakes in calculation of distances. Anti

Aircraft defence had been looked to and  Wavell

himself was very simple and direct and I think

he impressed the troops. He has only one eye and

is very touchy about anyone looking too hard at

it so we were warned that if Senior officers of Bns

were called up to be presented that we must not show

any knowledge. However he was late arriving and

 

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he only had time to meet Battalion Commanders and

a few others who pushed themselves in as Commanders

of odd units. Another parade we had was at [[Beit Jirga]]

when I.T.T. addressed all officers of the Division in our

picture theatre. He gave a really good address this time

and was to the point - not like one I heard from him

later in Egypt. At this time we were able to hold Battalion

Church Parades and the band played the hymns. Theo

or the Senior Officer read the lesson and Dakers gave

one of his sermons. I regret to say that they never

impressed me and I cant remember any one of them.

He at the start told the troops all about Palestine but

soon wandered off this subject and we had a series

of sermons that to my mind would have disgraced

a schoolboy. I might as well say now that he did

not turn out well and was always in trouble with

Theo or one of us. He has no military mind and refused

to learn. At this time I really feel that he was punch

drunk - literally. Both on the boat and at [[Beit Jirja?]]

he was boxing mad and let the troops hit him

around as a punching ball. We had to arrange 

a fortnight at Kappa Vitkin - the Australian 

Convalescent Depot or I think he would have gone

crackers completely. His greatest desire was to get out

of camp and go sight seeing and as far as his spiritual

duties were concerned was an absolute front. About

once a month we had a Brigade Church parade

and again these were usually a nuisance. They were

to me as I got the arrangements as Field Officer to

often for my liking. After our own church parade

the Bn marched past Theo or any visiting officers

of higher rank who were present. We occasionally

had visitors from Division who came down to us.

Dakers once arranged on one of his trips for the Bishop

of Jerusalem to come on Saturday and conduct

Communion and the Sunday morning Church

Service. His visit was rather funny in many ways.

He arrived very late on the Saturday night and had a

special dinner. His native chaffeur or boy had to be

specially housed. I can't remember why but he by virtue

of his religion whatever it was could not sleep with

our other natives. The Dakers took him in the dark

on a round of visits to the camp entertainments -

canteen reading room - sports room etc. Dakers

 

 
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