Major Henry Charles David Marshall - Wallet 1 - Booklet 5 - Part 2

 162

when they heard the shells coming and in them falling

the signallers lance was against Cramps head. Had the

knee not been there Cramp would have received the splinter

in the head. During a lull in the afternoon Theo was called

over to the road to see the Brigadier. Whilst he was there the

shelling quickened and for about an hour we got all

their concentrated hatred. So the Brig kept Theo there

until dusk. John Wicking was on the other end of the

phone and we exchanged experiences and ducked and

crouched whenever the shells came. Anything over or

high landed about 100 yards past them so I listened

to his bursts and he listened to mine. Mine were

much closer to the phone than his. Nothing more happened

until dusk - the battle was static waiting for 19 Bde to

give the coup.de-grace next day. At dusk Theo returned

and we decided to move Hqrs. about 400 yards to the

left into the open but into a little hollow which we

hoped would give us protection from view. This we

did and the men dug more slit trenches - they had

realised by now how much cover they received. OReilly

built me mine and laid out my valisse. After making

rounds and seeing that sentries - double ones were in

position I started off back. On the way one of the anti

 tank gunner subalterns asked me if I would like a

whisky or a beer. I compromised and had a neat

whitehorse and then a tin of Barclays Beer. I did

not know until then how tired I was or how much my

nerves had been affected but his invitation was

heaven sent and I felt wonderful. I walked back

and went straight to bed and knew nothing until

next morning. In fact the Italian gunners sent over

six rather exploratory small shells during the night

and I did not hear them arrive. As four were duds

I expect that the explosion of the other two was not

sufficient to wake me. We were awakened at dawn

by our artillery putting on a tremendous barrage

- the noise was wonderful - preparatory to the 19 Bde

attacking. They did and suddenly a dead

silence fell all over the area. You could feel it. We

knew the battle was over and that the A.I.F. had proved 

 163

themselves again. It was not a usual silence but

rather like the silence on Armistice Day in Melbourne. A

complete silence that descends and blankets the world. As

soon as official news came through we were not able to

rest personally. The Battalion was withdrawn and dispersed

for the danger from an attack was not by any means over,

and then the administration had to function. We called

for immediate roll calls of companies and their lists of

missing which had to be checked and when all enquiries

had been made and checked our "Casualty Returns" had

to be made up. Russ Godby's lists in the R.A.P. helped and

we made some nasty discoveries within the next two

days. One was when we sent a burial party to inter the

remains of a man who had been blown to pieces by a

shell in our area and the party who had a particularly

rotten job because he was literally in pieces found an

identification disc which proved he was one of our missing.

He had been wounded and on the way back alone had

collected a shell to himself. After the collation of all

the information we found ourselves with 83 casualties

of all ranks and the heaviest casualties and mortality

among the officers. Green and Timmins had been killed, Webb

Evenson, Davis, Arnold, Rowden, Howard had been wounded 

and M^cCorkell evacuated sick. Later our casualties were

found to be the heaviest in the Bde and the heaviest in

the Division as well. During the morning a flight of Italian

planes passed over and dropped their cargo of bombs about

half a mile behind us. As well as the explosion of the bombs

a minefield was detonated sympathetically and there was

an unholy explosion. The result was a huge curtain

of dust nearly a mile long and rather a wonderful sight

really. About eight oclock the Brigadier paid us a visit

fortunately as I remember correctly after we had shaved

and congratulated us all. He shook me by the hand

and said - Good work, Harry" which pleased me immensely

as for all his faults he has the ability to inspire me to

please him. Earlier from a post near us three Italian

Officers had come out and surrendered. We felt that

they had been missed during the mopping up after

the post had been captured and that they had been 

 164

sheltering in it and because of the accuracy and

frequency of fire from the Italian gunners they may

have been phoning information through. Theo, the Brig

Brock and I went over to inspect the post and have

a look at the indescribable confusion in it. At the

entrance there was one brave Italian a sergeant

who had been killed whilst attacking our troops with

grenades. Inside was all the evidence necessary for a

hurried departure after capitulation. Suitcases - equipment

ammunition - food -all sorts of goods - papers - books - letters

all mixed together in almost impenetrable heaps. Every

where - on the floor in suitcases - in haversacks strewn

about were these little red hand grenades and I can

assure you that we were extremely careful how we

picked our way and stepped. The others told me the

stench was bad and there was no lighting functioning

so our journey was like going through a cavern. Whilst

we were passing down one of the passages we heard

two very heavy explosions and the whole post seemed

to jump about two inches and then settle down again.

The Brig thought that a couple of large shells had

landed on the top of the post and that it was a last

dying kick from the Italian Artillery. When we came

out into the air we found that an Italian plane had

dropped a couple of bombs about 100 yards from the

post and just where we had all been talking five

minutes before. The necessity of our slit trenches and

their effectiveness was again proved. Most troops had 

dived for their holes but one man had got a piece

of bomb in the ankle as he was going in head 

first. They had made craters about 6 feet deep and

anything above ground near at hand bore evidence

that the spread of most of the splinters was about

two feet high. Two rifles were literally chewed to pieces

They had been leaning against something. OReilly

produced some tea and the Brig had a cup - you

probably know his weakness for it. After his visit

Theo and I discussed the position and he issued an

order that the Battalion after dispersal was to shave

and clean up. The troops grumbled a bit but it was

a wise order and they were immensely freshened after it.

165

They were then able to rest and sleep the remainder of

the day. We also discussed the question of obtaining cigs and

some beer for the troops and although we offered to send

someone else I told him I would rather go myself and try

to find a N.A.A.F.I. I set off about ten oclock not knowing

where to look and received all sorts of vague directions.

I made one trip into the desert to a point about 5 miles

from Capuzzo and certainly found a NAAFI after a

lot of searching. It was only what I would call a retail

shop. it did not have enough beer cigs or anything else

for my needs. The only thing I gained was information

from the Sergeant in charge as to where to go. I went

back to Bardia - had a quick lunch and then set

off to Solum. On the way I passed bands of prisoners

being shepherded along by one or two carriers and

concentrating at the foot of the escarpment at the beach

in Solum. From there lorry loads were going away

as fast as they could be loaded and others were

moving to the small quay to be evacuated by sea.

I travelled about another 10 kilometres and eventually

found the NAAFI and was able to buy all the beer

and cigarettes I wanted. I got one packet and a tin

of beer per head. This tinned beer was packed rather

like Brasso and it sooned got that name. It was a

very convenient packing for the desert - in fact

was much better than bottles as tins do not break. I also

bought a bottle of whisky and a couple of tins of

sausages and some tinned fruit and Theo and I

had rather a good meal that night. When I got back

I left the distribution to Fletcher and felt I had

earned a rest. The next day we received orders for

clearing up the area and cleaning out the posts and

the various jobs were farmed out to the companies.

Everything came out and was sorted into heaps. The troops

found all sorts of things - good cameras - Walker was given

a Leica lens and other photographic accessories worth

nearly £60. All sorts of queer clothing-silk underwear

both male and female-lots of scents and hair pomades

eau-de-cologne was a great favourite. Some of the

officers quarters were very comfortable. In a building

which we had been using for a hospital was found 

 166

plenty of evidence of a house of ill fame. The Italians

apparently maintained this and it had official

recognition. My reference to female clothing was due

to finding some in one of the rooms of a post and it

looked as if one of the officers had a mistress or

was entertaining one of the others. OReilly got one a new

"sam browne" and a pistol holster for the automatic I had obtained

a small "Beretta" and he found a few rounds of ammunition

It had one defect in that the back sight had been damaged

and unless you knew it fired high right. Still it was so

much lighter to carry around than our .45 colts. I cant

remember everything that was "souvenired". Some of the things

I refused to take such as soldiers badges etc. It seemed

to me that I would hate anyone taking my badges and

how I feel much happier as I can realise their

feelings. I must tell you that on the way back from

buying the beer I really saw a beaten army. Right

down a track near Solum and into the compound

stretched a line of threes - Italian prisoners without

a break. Imagine then another 15 miles of them

stretching without a break to Bardia. Men in all the

stages of weariness - lots carrying suitcases and tins

and all sorts of personal gear - some helping one

another - a few collapsed and all wearing the dull

apathetic look of sheep. Little did I think I should

be in their shoes six months later. I must also tell

you of the new road up the escarpment from Solum.

It was a beautiful macadam road and a really

marvellous piece of engineering. The escarpment

here was 800 feet high and the road turned and

twisted and gave some marvellous views. During

this time the Padre had to make some trips to the

cemetery Division had established and to take

burial parties. He also had to collect their papers and

personal gear and he really was a nuisance to

Chapman about them as he would not produce

lists and generally acted in a stupid manner.

We forgave him a bit as he was not altogether a

coward during the shelling but Russ Godby very

privately to me consigned him to hell for being

a nuisance in the RAP giving all sorts of the wrong 

167

pep talks to wounded men and generally from inexperience

getting in the way. The next day I saw Russ about my

leg and after looking at it he suggested that we go down

to the Casualty Clearing Station and let another expert

look at it. This we did and the doctor diagnosed it

as "fibrositis" of the big muscle from my knee downwards.

He suggested very tentatively that rest in hospital was

the cure but he expected my answer and had his

orderly bring some elastoplast and he carefully and

tightly bandaged my legfrom under the foot to the

top of the knee with three very strong long straps as

well. It certainly gave me lots of relief. I also paid

a visit to Divisional Headquarters and had a

devil of a time there following directions. I was after

stamps. Headquarters were in a wonderful troglodyte

cave and you could not see where to get in. I was

standing looking very lost when Padre McKie literally

appeared out of the earth and he guided me. The whole

of the clerical staff of rear Div were underground

in clean dust proof silent rooms and free from fear

of bombs. You entered a hole about three feet square

and descended into roomy caverns - a bit gloomy

but quite alright. I bought up practically the

whole stamp supply anyway enough to let each man

have one stamp each for a letter home. There are a

few incidents that stick in my memory but which I

can't place in their correct order. One of our carriers

had gone to D Coy with a message and instead of

moving slowly around they stopped. A mortar bomb An A/T shell hit it

landed just outside it and set it on fire. We received the

report that it had been burnt together with the crew

of three. This last was incorrect and we were very

relieved to hear that Faithfull and his crew had

escaped. Faithfull later had to be evacuated with

shock. Whilst we were resting at Bardia the Italians

were allowed to establish a hospital in a building

near us and treat their wounded. One night the Italian

doctor came over with an orderly who spoke American.

to ask if he could be taken to a store he knew of to

obtain supplies. He had a long talk through his

interpreter and we learnt that he had fought with us

168

against the Germans in the last war. Since then he

had been farming and had been recalled to service

only a few months ago. He showed us photos of his wife

and daughter and we all reciprocated. His orderly

was very fed up. He had been born in America and

had either gone on a visit to Italy to marry or take

his wife and had been caught for service there. He

called Mussolini all sorts of names all of them

unprintable. He carried a waterbottle full of cognac and

insisted we have a drink with them. We had one

and then he suggested another for another reason

and did his best to make us drink. As we had had

a few spots of whisky we drew off after two -

fortunately they were liquer glass size but still

potent and shoved them off home with a promise

to take them in a truck next day. Russ Godby and

I went with them and they led us into a Wadi which 

was honeycombed with little sangles and holes in

rocks in which they had lived - like pigs from the

smell and condition of the place. I think the old chap

really wanted to get his suitcase and that the stores 

were a blind to get us there but I did not mind. 

Whilst they were ferreting around I went for a walk and

got my only wound. I slipped and fell down a

small gully about 10 feet deep. I took some skin

off one hand and when I went back Russ and I

had the greatest difficulty in not bursting out

laughing. They all made a dive for me and

four of them with a lot of noise and many gesticulations

and miming over each other succeeded in cleaning

my hand with alcohol and bandaging it very fully.

The Italian bandages were plentiful but not of the

same quality as ours. When we got back I got Russ

to put iodine on the scratches and a bit of elastoplast

over them. Nevertheless they infected and caused me

a little bother for a week before they cleared up. One

day we heard a mine go off about half a mile away

but took very little notice. We were later very much

sadder as the C.O. of the 2/2 Fd.Coy of Engineers

and is 2 I/C who were walking around had stepped

169

on a mine not properly deloused and had been blown

to bits. I knew Lou Whitford the C.O. very well and

probably introduced you to him at Pucka. We also

paid the troops at Bardia and I loaned my truck

to Chandler (who was paying the Companies) to drive

around. My driver at the time whose name was Laing

did not obey his orders to stay where he was but decided

to turn the truck. He ran right into another minefield

and the front was blown out of it and it had to

be written off as useless. Trucks were hard to get

and I was very annoyed - it was the last straw and

I sacked him. During the battle he got at the rum

in the back of my truck and was very drunk and

caused a lot of bother during the shelling. He came

up to Headquarters and we had to fall on him before

 the shells arrived. He was just drunk enough to be

regimental and stood strictly to attention and gave

his message. He was rather an interesting case. He

had been an officer in the navy last war - was a

wealthy man and owned a station near Echuca

but had lost his wife and taken to drink. I was so

annoyed with him that I ticked him off properly

after losing my truck and it was only two hours

later that I thought sympathetically about him. He

seemed alright but I had Russ Godby vet him

and eventually he was evacuated with shock.

Divisional Headquarters area had been chosen in

an area that the Italians had sown with Thermos

bombs. You probably had descriptions of these in the

papers. They were dropped out of planes and were

shaped something like a thermos flask - hence their

name. The shock of hitting the ground made them

live and released an ingenious piece of mechanism

which left them so that vibration or a touch would

explode them. Earlier cars used to run over them

but they soon lost any value other than a

nuisance one as we learnt how to handle them. 

You exploded them with a rifle or by drawing

a long piece of rope with something on the end of

it and the touch set them off. Therefore we did not

 170

dare travel across country in this area but kept 

to the tracks and also kept a very sharp lookout

I can't remember the exact time we stopped resting at

Bardia but I think it was two days. Anyway the

2nd Liecesters took over the salvaging and cleaning

up the area and the scoured the area first for

dead Italians. It was a bit grim to see them

arrive with their Morris trucks piled high. They

collected an Italian padre and buried them. I

renewed my acquaintance with one of their officers

who had been at the school at Cairo with me. I think

sweet, I have told you all I can of Bardia. You

know as well or better than I that the 2^nd A.I.F

proved itself and Theo and I were satisfied

that the Bn need not bow itself to anyone. I may

have given you the wrong impression of my

feelings - I was frightened but not quite as I expected.

Many time have I thought of how I would react

but it was entirely different as anything I had 

pictured. It seems to me now that any action 

is made up of instants of concentrated fear and then

relief and then just waiting for another instant.

As you got further into the battle the waiting periods

did not try the nerves until the sharp moments

just came as a matter of course. It rather confirmed

my ideas that it is only the unfamiliar that is

frightening. I hope you can understand what I am

trying to express.. All together we had about three

days rest and received as well some more small items

of equipment particularly a few more pairs of field glasses

which by reason of our captures were not so important.

One afternoon Theo was called for a reconnaissance

forward with other C.O's of the Brigade and shortly

before dusk I was to bring the battalion on and

meet them at a rendezvous. Because my truck was

a casualty I had to travel in a Morris which had

a broken windscreen. As night driving under these

conditions was rather hazardous we opened the

windscreen and certainly gave ourselves much

better sight but it was perishingly cold and

that was not so good. It was a great strain 

171

driving as we could not see the narrow road very

well and came across other trucks which had run

off the road and down the steep banks. We could not

stop to help them and they had to get out as best they

could under their own power. I knew we were going

forward to Tobruk but did not know our role and

exactly where we were going. All we knew was that

Tobruk had been encircled and contained once again

by the 7th Armoured Division and that our 16^th & 19^th

Brigades were assisting. About midnight I contacted one

of our Intelligence section who was waiting to turn us

off the road and our journey for the night had finished.

The companies were all sent into their areas and

digging in commenced and we gradually settled down.

In the morning we found we were disposed at the head

of a wadi about a mile from the road and about

three miles from the sea. Keith Travis' Field Company

had preceded us and had already taken about

600-800 prisoners in the broken country near the

sea. They were very desperate men who had escaped

from Bardia and had made their way along the

coast towards Tobruk and had travelled well

over 60 miles without much food or water. We

then had to send out standing patrols at various

points to intercept any more and also had to

adopt a system know as "winkling". Scouring all

the broken ground, wadis and holes in an area

allotted to us and to bring in any prisoners. We

got a few but not many. Still we had to be careful

as they were probably well armed. The balance of

the Battalion not on duty of this sort were allowed

to go for a swim usually by Companies. We established

a small range firing downhill into the Wadi for

testing our Brens and one day we fired two Italian

mortars we had captured. These had a longer range

than our own but had a different method of

charges so experiments were very necessary. They

were satisfactory and the men trained quickly with

their experience and we were able to add these two 

weapons to our supporting fire power. We established the 

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mess at the head of a Wadi on some rocks with a plank

over them. It was very cold here but we did not waste

 any time on food. One day the cook bought a kid from

an Arab and everyone was delighted at the thought of

 a fresh meat stew. The kid had been freshly killed by our

own butcher and everything was deemed to be in order.

A very generous plateful was placed in front of Theo but one

mouthful and he pushed it away. The smell was high

and the taste the same and he got quite lyrical. I

thought from that exhibition I should pass it too

and so did most of the others who attempted it. Russ

Godby and a couple of others stuck to it while we

contented ourselves with bully beef. Our stay here was

very quiet and we seldom heard even the guns from

the defences. One day stands out. Theo made an inspection

of the company areas and spread himself on the

condition and injected a spot of cleanliness all round.

I was able to check my company and was let out of

most of the anger except he told me all about it. The

other points of note were that Theo and I both had

infected fingers and had to have them bathed in

hot water to clean them up. The only other amusing

 point was Russ Godby trying to get out of arranging mass

when a R.C. priest visited him. He finally had to fire

it up and they had to rig up a tarpaulin around

the R.A.P. and have it at 6 am. on a very cold

biting morning. The usual routine followed of Theo

and some of the ^[[?]] Adjutant going forward for reconnaissance

and I waited to bring the Bn forward. The orders came

and the route and we set off to march. It seemed

a long way and was in a raging dust storm. We

marched through Divisional Headquarters and 19^th

Bde Hqrs and then into our position. Actually

we took over from the 11 Bn and part of the 1st Bn

area. We had marched across in dispersed order

and arrived just before dusk and occupied our 

positions around the perimeter defence of Tobruk.

Our frontage was enormous and was literally

a "thin red line". We were in battalion Hqrs

only protected from view by a fold in the ground.

173

but we were at least 4000 yards from the nearest

Italians. Our stay in this position was of a few days

duration and as usual we were all busy with 

preparations for the attack. Our pioneer platoon was

trained by the Engineers in devitalising the Italian

personnel booby trap and in making "bangalore

torpedoes". They in turn taught the rifle coy a 

smattering of it and we felt that all possible in the time

had been done. We had the usual patrols to send out as

well. Just in sight about 800 yards away was a

"hurricane" which had come down for some reason. I

think it had been shot up around the petrol tank.

Anyway some curious gentleman was inspecting it

and pressed some button or other and disturbed

the whole neighborhood when the whole eight guns of

the plane started firing. When we were at the position

at the wadi the shortage of cigarettes was so acute that I persuaded

Theo to let me send the Padre back to Solum for some. It was

a necessity and also gave us an outlet for his energy and

one which we could control. I gave him all the available

cash we had amounting to about £30 Egyptian. This he

converted into cigarettes and they proved such a great

blessing. We sold them at the usual prices and soon our

£30 turned itself over and we continued to send him

back to a N.A.A.F.I. as opportunity offered. During our stay

outside Tobruk it was almost a daily trip and

further developed from using his car to a truck. Each

night the companies share of his purchases which now also

included chocolate went up with the rations and 

the money came back. We did not take over the headquarters

of the 11 Bn but had to establish one further forward and

in a position more suited tactically. As I think I told you

we had evolved a standard layout on the lines of the

clock system with Theo's position as the centre. My own

slit was as far away from him as possible to avoid

any chance of one hit wiping both of us out as possible.

For conferences and to enable administration and reports

to be received in relative safety the Pioneer Platoon

dug what we called a Battle Headquarters. A hole

in the ground about 6' by 4' with sandbags around

174

the edges. The whole was made lightproof with hessian

and sand and we had two blankets as a light trap.

Had we any timber the roof would have been sandbagged

but we had to do without. To make it lightproof it

was also made airproof and after an hour there was

usually a pretty decent fug. We now had attached

to us a company of Cheshires commanded by a Major

Power- a South African who had had a lot of experience

as a Machine Gunner in the last war - had fought with

the white Russians in Serbia and had been in China

as well before settling down in Rhodesia. By the way the

Cheshires were a machine Gun Battalion. One night

we had a party. We had about half a dozen bottles of

Abbots and a cake produced from somewhere. I think

it was Theos and we all four - Chapman, Power, Theo

and I got into this little dugout and scoffed the lot.

We only had two half inch bits of candle so the party was

governed by the length of time these lasted. We also

gave Power's 2 I/C a go later - just before the candles and

the beer finished. We had to keep our B eschelon transport

under Brigade arrangements but we found some caverns

in the desert about a mile away and set up our kitchens

in these. Cooking was therefore uninterrupted and two 

hot meals at dawn and dusk were delivered to the

troops. Millen returned to us here and was full of his

experiences in getting up by sea to Solum from Alex

and thence on. He arrived just after dusk with the

rations and slept at BHQ that night. Before dawn Theo

took him forward and showed him his company area.

During our stay at this position A Coy had to suffer a

form of shelling quite new to us. Sometime before an Italian

cruiser the "San Georgio" had been beached in Tobruk

harbor. Her guns and crew had been landed and the

guns mounted. They quite regularly fired and the

majority of their shells found A Coy. I cannot remember 

any definite casualties although two or three had finally

to be evacuated with shock. The lydite in the shells

covered everything near at hand with a yellowy green

powder and Russ Savige looked rather peculiar

a couple of times. It took some time to wear off. 

 175

One man was blown out of his slit and then back again.

He was opening a tin of green peas when the shell landed.

Everything went up - he came down first, then the dirt,

then his tin hat and finally the tin of peas fell and

spread over the helmet. His language was forcible if not

pedantic. In the course of the preparations, we had to make

a battle observation Post for Brigade Intelligence Section and

the Brigadier if he wanted it. I went out one afternoon

and sited it and the Pioneer Platoon dug and built it

that night. We did not have any transport on this

position but each night and morning our office Truck

and the Mess Truck came up from the kitchen area. It

was here that we first used this latter truck for its designed

purpose. It had no fittings and was just a 3000t truck.

If it was really windy we got inside and ate our meal

which was cooked on a primus but normally we stretched

a tarpaulin we had acquired from the side of the truck

and had our meal picnic fashion. This was not very

satisfactory and we promised ourselves or at least I did

that at the first available opportunity to fit a table and

seats inside the truck. On the left of B Coy was a tomb

apparently of some famous Sheik of the district and

we were ordered not to blow it up as we wanted to in

case we gave offence. We named it Shebas breasts because

it had two small domes on it. It probably served as

an aiming mark for the Italian Artillery. Anyway

Macfarlane one night with a few men put a pick into

the bottom of it and pulled out a stone. It immediately

collapsed and we heard no more about it. There

was another obelisk in the neighborhood which we

named as Cleopatras needle and it was used by us

as a landmark - even if it had been used by the I.

So we needed it to be able to find our position by

it any time. The day of the attack approached and

the tempo of our night activities quickened. The Cheshires

fired some special ammunition which just carried

to the Italian posts and McGeoch took his Italian

mortars and also annoyed them at night. The attack

was delayed a day which gave us three more heavy

tanks. The night before the attack we had a job to do.

176

The plan was for the 16 Bde to break through further

to our left and that as they passed from left to

right along the wire we were to cut another gap

come through after budging the tank ditch and

take over from them. The night before the attack we

had to send out a strong patrol together with six

of the Pioneer Platoon and delouse the area in front

of our projected gap. The Italians had thousands of

little anti personnel mines strewn around the

wire and they went off if anyone touched a trip

string attached to them. They were reasonably easy to

delouse if care was taken. They made a wonderful

job of it and next morning we had no trouble what-

soever in crossing to the wire. That night too with

the rations came a load of mail, parcels and cables.

I got some letters from you, a Christmas cable from

Challis exactly a month old. and a parcel from you

and Goodyear. They were very welcome and all I could

do was read the letters and put the parcels on my

truck. The letters I was able to read by the light in

the dugout. There was another innovation made in

this position. That is a semi-permanent latrine. I had

the Pioneers carpenter cut a box and a kerosene tin

and the lot had a special slit trench. The box went

from thereon everywhere we moved and was one

of the first establishments. It was almost a home comfort.

In the morning of the attack we had to move to our left

about half a mile and then turn right onto our position

for entering the wire. We were a fairly large and varied

force. 7 Bn, two companies of the Cheshires - one extra

until we entered the wire and then they went from us

to another task - Almost half of Keith Travis' field

Company of Engineers with bridging equipment and

Bangalore torpedoes. These are long lengths of Galvanised

pipe about 2" diameter and filled with explosives. You

push them under the barbed wire and then set them

off and the explosion cuts a path through the wire. We

hoped not to use them but had them ready. As well

we made some step ladders for getting into and out

of the tank ditch whilst the bridge was being built.

177

No transport was allowed to come with us so that all

arms and ammunition had to be carried. Altogether

the troops - whether Infantry - Engineers or Machine

Gunners looked rather like walking Christmas trees.

As soon as an entrance and a bridge had been fixed

our transport could come up and enter the defences.

We had made very careful reconnaissance of our route

and were very fortunate for the morning of the attack

was very foggy and you could not see more than

100 yards ahead. Timing to was very necessary and

vital as we had to arrive after the posts in front

of us had been captured - otherwise we would have

been caught very much in the open with no support.

We had a regiment of artillery on our left and in

our march to the left we had to pass in front of

them. At dawn all our artillery -rather before dawn

they started and it was an eerie sensation passing

very close in front of our own guns. Everyone was

quite pleased when we realised that they would

not hit us although we could feel the movement of

air from the discharge and hear the shells passing

over us. The Italian naval guns were also trying

to find this artillery of ours and we could hear their

shells landing half a mile away. They had a

most vicious noise when they exploded and they

had such a terrific velocity that you did not hear

them coming. I was in my usual position of starting

the Bn and attached troops off in their correct

order and whilst doing this I renewed, to our mutual

surprise, my acquaintance with the second company

Commander of the Cheshires - a chap called Sands.

He had been an instructor at the School in Cairo

but had been back with his unit for some months.

He was pleased to see me and to be attached to us

but was very surprised at Australians who went

into an attack talking about racehorses and

their performances. Whether Halliday had staged

this for his benefit or not I don't know but there

was no doubt of his surprise at our casualness.

With breakfast the usual issue of rum had been

178

made and it certainly made everyone warm and

comfortable in the bitter cold. For it gets very very

cold at night in the desert and just as suddenly

warms up. I was glad of my great coat then but

cursed it heartily two hours later when I was

a bath of perspiration. Having started them off I

went to the turning point and stayed there until

all the troops had passed. Detachments of Engineers

and of Powers company of Machine Gunners were

with our companies forward and Sands Company

of M.G.s were attached to D Company for the advance.

As the last troops passed me Keith Travis arrived

with the balance of his Engineers and he asked if

we had finished with Cleopatras needle. When I said

"Yes" he went off to blow it up. Theo was very

worried by the fog as we could not see the progress

of the troops inside the wire. Fortunately everything

was in order and we hit the wire at the right time

and proceeded to enter. Our ladders came in very

useful and whilst the engineers were bridging we

got all the troops across. The advance was a very

heavy tax on the troops having to carry all their

arms and ammunition particularly the M.G.s

who were recent arrivals in Egypt and who were

out of training. Our lads helped them a great

deal and it helped. Even so they arrived absolutely

whacked and the only satisfaction they had was they

had achieved a record carry. On the way Russ

Savige sent a message back asking what he was

to do with a Platoon Sergeant Major of the Cheshires

who was very drunk and was wandering around

giving futile orders. It turned out later that he

had got at the balance of unissued rum and

got himself some dutch courage. It proved very

conclusively that a small dose of rum is necessary

and good but the greatest care must be taken to

prevent such happenings as this. I sent back

a message to put him under arrest and if necessary

to knock him out. Later I told Power quietly of

the situation and left it to him. Later I heard he 

179

was not court martialled and reduced to the ranks.

The 1^st Bn had made very good time in their

attack and we took over the advance from them

a little earlier than was expected. Our forward

companies were under orders not to go forward of

the main Bardin-Tobruk road as across it started

two very big wadis with a lot of posts. In spite of

requests to let us go forward we had to remain as

the main plan allowed for a concentrated artillery

barrage on both next morning at dawn. By midday

we had completed the relief and had time to look

about. We had to clean out Post 75 for use of the

Brigadier and Brigade Headquarters. Whilst all this

was going on we had sent for our transport and

my truck arrived with the others. As there seemed

nothing else to do and there was only desultory

firing I suggested lunch to Theo. He agreed and I 

opened my parcel and with some other things put in

we were able to provide a wonderful al fresco lunch

in the middle of the battle. From memory we started

with asparagus, had bully beef, pickled onions

and something else, fruit salad and cream and

cafe au lait and a piece of cake. All the Englishmen

were surprised and delighted with everything and

continually said they should not be eating our

delicacies. As we pointed out life was a bit

risky so eat while you can. They were particularly

amazed at the taste and size of the pickled

onions you sent me. So was I darling. They were

so big and white and beautiful to eat and

privately I considered myself lucky that they had

come through unbroken. Just at the end the Brig

arrived and from first indications thought we

were wasting time. He started to tick Theo off but

when the position was explained he proved reasonable

and we had enough left to include him as well

as lacing the coffee with rum. He needed it from

his looks. It was a great strain on him and

he looked much better this day than he did

after Bardia. The strain then of commanding

180

unproved troops must have been immense.

After he took over his headquarters we moved ours

some 600 to 800 yards forward. About two oclock

the naval guns we mentioned before started in

our area but we were reasonably protected by

a slight fold in the ground about 800 yards

to the left. The naval guns have such a flat

trajectory that most of their shells hit this crest

and then richoched off and exploding on hitting

the desert about a mile off. We had a couple of

uncomfortable moments when a salvo of about

eight shells landed about 50 yards away. In

fact two of the shells in passing above me made

the tails of my great coat lift by the wind caused

in their passage. They then switched their attention

to trucks moving up along the road by they did

not hit any. At various times during the rest of

daylight they landed a few in our area. They

always arrived by two's and as they had such a

velocity we did not hear them coming until they

exploded. A few seconds after they had exploded

we heard the noise shells make passing through

the air and in this case we had to alter our ideas

based on our previous experience at Bardia

when the sound of the shell in the air travelled

faster than the shell and we knew they were coming.

One lot wounded two men of C. Company and very

late in the afternoon Carstairs and one section

who were clearing out a post were very unlucky.

They heard a couple of explosions and crouched

in the anti tank ditch around the post and

all looking up. One of the next salvo just hit

the cement edge of the ditch and they all received

head and face wounds. Most of them were not serious

but one lad I think lost his eye from it. These

were our only casualties for the action as the guns

were not heard again. Apparently other battalions

had a last reached them and put a stop to their

activities. Post clearing was not a popular

pastime with our troops as after Bardia and