Major Henry Charles David Marshall - Wallet 2 - Booklet 7 - Part 1

VX 34 MAJOR H.C.D. MARSHALL

A.I.F.

3317

VII

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pilots look over the side. What saved them was the three

Hurricanes who had been cruising around noticed the dust rising

and wandered over to investigate. They immediately took a hand

in the affair and as far as Theo and the Coy were concerned

cleared the way for them. They arrived back very much shaken.

We ourselves had had the circus over us and watched them

sail over towards Mersa Brega about 11 kilos away and our

interpretation of the faint noise and dust was that B Coy were

collecting it in their area. Chapman to Theo's annoyance

won 5/- as he bet that they had been in it. To return to

the air. The squadron at Adgedabir was a weak one but was

composed entirely of Australian pilots. These three got into the

eight Junkers bombers carrying out the attack and got four

of them all of which fell into the sea. One pilot of which more a

little later was almost certain of a fifth but it did not fall into

the sea within his sight and he therefore could not claim it

officially. Unfortunately what our three planes did not see was

an escort of 11 Messerschmidt fighters higher up and whilst they

were occupied in dealing with the Junkers these came down

out of the blue and entered the fight. One of our men was shot

down almost immediately - another got away and the third

a lad named Cerrin of Melbourne was set on fire by an

explosive bullet in the tank and had to crash land. What

annoyed him really (apart from the fact that the first indication

he had of trouble was catching sight of the enemy on his tail

in his rear vision mirror) was the fact that after he had

got out of his plane and was running away they machine

gunned him. He was brought in by B Coy in whose area

he had crashed and as he was bleeding from cuts on the

nose and under the eye they rushed him to Russ Godby

at BHQ. We had just finished lunch when he arrived so

we gave him a whisky and boiled water to clean him up.

The Padre was like a wet hen and rather amused us with

his fussing as if he had not seen a wounded man before.

After cleaning his cuts turned out to be only superficial.

and a couple of bits of plaster put him right. He was

however considerably shaken. We reported to Brigade and

they sent a car for him so he so he left us after a couple of hours.

Incidentally we were very glad to know that he received a

Distinguished Flying Cross for this fight. Keith Walker and 

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the KWG office were in shelter. Since Sol Greens death

Walker had been appointed official Battalion Photographer and

during the attack he spent some time taking snaps of the bombs

leaving the plane. They were low enough for that. Most of his

snaps however when developed later were very hazy and

useless. Not only of this show but other things as well. Theo thinks

now that Walker used the wrong kind of film. The next day

February 20 following the plans made the day before C,D

and HQ Coy moved forward some distance and occupied the

already dug positions previously occupied by the Support

Group of the 7th Armored Division. I cannot remember much

about this position except that C Coy were on the right and

that there was a minimum of digging to be done. Some had

to be done of course as their dispositions did not fit in

with ours. The scarab beetles were particularly bad or rather

numerous here - they caused little or no trouble except that

you trod on them everywhere. If I did not tell you before

they rolled refuse into little balls and manipulated them

to their holes. We utilised a blank space where a tent had

been dug in previously to shelter Theo's car. It only needed

a ramp dug and the result was the car was dug in. All 

the engines of all our trucks had to be dug in at not to

great a slope to protect the vital parts from machine gunning

or bomb splinters. It had to be carefully done at not to great

an angle or the oil ran out of the sump and then when the

engine was started untold damage was done. As the driver

had to do all the digging himself he disliked flat ground

for it meant more earth to be excavated so there were

no complaints if my final dispersion placed the truck

against a slight hill or rise or wadi. Feb 20 and 21

were quiet days but on the 22 we had a busy morning

We had three arrivals at 8.30, 10 am and 2pm and

fortunately no one was hurt. Most of the enemy planes

followed the road fairly closely as it simplified

navigation and as we were dispersed astride it

they always gave us some passing attention. We had

attached to us a platoon of the Brigade Anti Tank Company

and they went under the command of the KDG's to

El Agheila. Unfortunately this patrol was shot up and

the Platoon Commander ^[[ATP??]] name Rowley had the doubtful

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honor of being the first Australian officer in captivity. Anyway

he was the first in the Brigade. On the night of Feb.22/23 the Battalion

 also moved forward towards B Coy at Mersa Brega and dug itself

a new position near a white Italian road house. We were not at

all keen on this road house for it seemed to have a remarkable

attraction for enemy aircraft. Although they never hit it they

always gave the area around it a go in passing. I know and

I think others did too that when passing it along the road in

a car I breathed a sigh of relief as it was a good aiming

mark. February 23 was a quiet day but on Monday the 24

the planes made up for it as we had four raids. On checking up

I find that I have made a mistake about Rowley - that is regarding

dates. The patrol of the KDG's were shot up alright but Rowley

did not go on this one. It was another patrol on the night of Feb

24/25 on which he was captured. Previously we had wrecked the

aerodrome at El Agherla by strewing the surface with empty

petrol drums and some old vehicles. The Germans during

the day had taken away some of these vehicles and substituted

their armored cars. Rowley was last in the column and

the Germans let the KDG's go on. For some reason he turned into

the fort and became a prisoner immediately. Tuesday

Feb 25 was enlivened by 4 more raids but still honors

were even. No damage to us and none we could see to

them. The Brigadier decided to give Theo a rest from the

anxiety and the after effects of his bombing and also the

news of his mothers death which he received on Feb 23. By

the same mail the Brig had news of one of his parents death.

Accordingly he called Theo over to Brigade area for a

rest and left me in charge for four days. The 26th was

a quiet day for us only Reconnaissance planes over

flying high down the road to Bengasi. On the 27th Theo

returned and was I think glad to as the atmosphere at

Brigade particularly with Brock was not very happy. Both this

and the 29th were quiet. I mean no raids. There was

always plenty to do. Our aircraft at Adgedabir were

being used now only for Reconnaissance and they had

brought in news of activity of the enemy in motorised

columns some hundreds of miles away. It was decided

on March 1 to alter the dispositions of the Battalions they

were to move forward again another couple of kilos nearer

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to B Coy and to straddle the road. Theo had been to

Bde for his orders and before he left on his Reconnaissance

of the new area he gave me the Brigadiers orders to go forward

of our area and reconnoitre the ground for a new

position for one, two or three battalions. Ahead of B Coy

and almost in the marsh was a low hill and here we

had established an observation post in daylight manned

by one of our carriers and an artillery officer. I was to

take this Carrier and also call for an artillery officer at

Artillery Headquarters. On the way and for my own protection I

was to call at KDG Hqrs for information about their patrols

as in an armored vehicle prowling around they - their

patrols I mean might and certainly would open fire and

ask questions afterwards. When I got there I found General

Mackay talking to their C.O and adjt so I had some delay

until he had gone and could get the necessary information

from them. Old Ivan stopped and spoke to me on the way

out. I then collected my Artilleryman and we went in

my truck to the O.P exchanging for the carrier. All this

took time and it was late afternoon and we had a

lot of ground to cover. The country was very rocky and

the carrier was slow and we had not completed our

job when darkness set in. We returned homewards

and collected my truck and then I dropped Flynn

at his Headquarters. I mentioned earlier that the Battalion

was moving forward but I did not stress then that I did

not know to where - except it was about 2 kilos nearer

to me than when I started. It was very dark - darkness

descends rapidly in the desert - there is no twilights once

the sun sinks it is completely dark in two or three

minutes. We toured up and down the road looking

for the light but could not find it. After two or three

tries to see a turn off I met Cramp who was laying

the new telephone wires. He told me that BHQ was

about 1000 yards due north from where I was. We turned

the truck and going over the ditch broke the front

axle. So it was not strictly my own and only a

utility truck I sent the driver walking home to B

Eschelon which had remained in its old position. 

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I had none of my gear in it so we abandoned it for the

night and I set off to walk on a compass bearing to BHQ.

I could not find them and tried twice and then finally

lost myself. I was fortunate in catching a telephone wire

which seemed to be going in the right direction so I picked

it up and followed it. I walked for what seemed hours

but probably was only about half an hour - it is very

slow but safe following a telephone wire - when I saw a

movement and challenged. It turned out to be the left

forward section of C Coy and that I was following an

Artillery wire which led from their Hqrs another 2 miles

to the forward guns. I got the position of C Company Hqrs

and woke Miller and used their phone and reported to

Bn my whereabouts. It was about midnight and they had

been wondering what had happened to me. They were not

greatly worried as I had reported through B Coy. So I

started on my only safe way home - a bit bad tempered

but pleased to have some good directions. Then I really

started cursing. For some time Theo had been ticking

Cramp off for laying our wire too tight. This way it is

easily broken if tripped over or run over. This time

he went to the other extreme and laid is so loose that

I pulled in yards and yards at a time before I could

advance and also had to cover much more ground

as it was pegged and caught in camelthorn bushes

and went in all sorts of directions. I finally made

the road and was moving along this when I was

challenged by D Coy on the other side. I went to Coy

Hqrs to check up my position and there got a drink

of beer and something to eat. They assured me that if

I moved down the wire down the road I would come

to the T piece to BHQ. I did this and followed the wire

of the road and eventually said Thank God when I

reached the phone at the end. I was almost speechless

when I found it was A Coy (who by the way had been

back about a week). I was dog tired and very bad

tempered. Russ Savige gave me a bearing for BHQ which

was still two yards further on. I trudged off and

later a truck loomed up. I woke the driver and found

it was my very own truck also lost. He followed me 

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and I eventually, got to BHQ. He moved off in the darkness

to disperse and I'm damned if I could find him again.

As all my sleeping gear was on it I was very fed up.

Anyway I ended a very unpleasant day by sharing a bottle

of beer I got from the mess truck with Harry Halliday and

sleeping in his hole and sharing his blankets. I was up by

daybreak and reported to Brigade that I had to finish the

job. After a hurried breakfast I left at 7 oclock and picked

up my Artillery officer and the Carrier and we set off once

more. As we got further forward I must admit that I did

not like the job any better as we had news that the enemy

was advancing slowly. That meant that at anytime they

might appear and I knew there were no patrols of KDGs

out ahead of us today. I was rather pleased to see one

follow us about an hour later. On our way we saw two

beautiful gazelle. The troops driving the carrier wanted

to use the Bren Gun on them but I would not allow this

as the sound of automatic fire might give a false impression

further back. We tried to hit them with a rifle but had no

success. This was a rotten job I had. Nothing went

right with it. The Carrier went over a dip alright but it

was an old one and something broke. Anyway we had

to complete our job on foot and then walk home. On the

way we were crossing a large white salt pan when a

plane flew over. We both dropped but felt rather like

mountains on the intense white. Fortunately the plane

either did not see us or thought us not worth bothering

about. On the way home we passed a wrecked and burn

out German plane which did our hearts good but could

see no signs of the crew. They may have got away. The desert

just about now was an absolute picture - covered with flowers

Admittedly they were stunted and small but their colorings

were marvellous - mostly pastels. Theo said he counted

18 varieties of common garden flowers growing wild

in a space of 20 yards. The most prolific were Anemones

with about a three inch stem and in the most delicate

shades. I cannot nor can Theo remember all the

rarities. Probably I gave them to you in letters but the

best we can do now is - Anemones, Poppies, [[Mignonette?]]

Heath, Antirihnums, Ranunculi, Marguerites, Orchids, Sweet

 

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The part that I have crossed out was only

padding put in whilst the Germans

were censoring this book. Read this in 

place of the crossed out line. "His

party were no more popular at BHQ as

they seemed to have no knowledge

of dispersal and lack discipline and

drove straight up to the BHQ truck

and then on to Theo's dugout.-

completely destroying all the careful

work we had done in concealing our

headquarters. I arrived and assisted

in rapidly dispersing a lot of staff

cars. Sir Philip Seams VC may have

been a brave man but he was a

very pigheaded man and would not

believe the information we passed on

that German armored vehicles and

armor were nearing us. He said that

he would only believe it when he

saw a German soldier taken from

one and bits of the vehicle. So we

had to send out a tan hunting

patrol as I have described a few

lines down. I can tell you that my

only thought when I heard that he

had been captured was that he

had probably brought it on himself

P.T.O.

by sheer stupidity and that it 

was the best thing that had happened

to the British Army in the Desert.

That thought is without knowing

the true story of his capture.

 

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Peas, Purple Iris and Wallflower. Strange to find all our cultivated

flowers here, The whole of March 2 was quiet as far as raids were

concerned - information was that the enemy was advancing

slowly. The 3rd was also quiet but the reconnaissance planes

information was that the enemy were at El Agheila. On March

4 we had a little bit of excitement in two directions. Sir

Philip Neame V.C. was expected to call on us after taking up

his appointment to command the Desert Army. "Jumbo" Wilson had

relinquished this  to become Governor of Cyrenaika. They were

expected at some certain time or other and to come in the

normal way from the rear. Not necessarily along the road

as no one who could travel off the road used it from choice.

 We received a shock when a telephone message came from

A Coy that a number of cars were approaching at high speed

across the desert from our left. Should they open fire without

question? Theo made the fortunate decision not to and it

turned out to be the inspecting party who had lost themselves.

They were I gather not to popular about A Coy because of the

dust they had made and after receiving directions he arrived

at BHQ. I shall have to wait and get the full story from

Russ Savige when I see him again. My only memory of the

visit was that it was an extremely hot day and that I spent

the whole time of the visit making conversation with one

of the visiting staff.  After he left we had our [[usual?]] [[scares?]]

from the air but we did not receive any particular

attention. My only other memory of this day was that

O'Reilly decided to have a washing day and that I had to

change and have a bath as well in a pint of water. It was

probably funny to others my [[?]] starch method in the desert.

A tankhunting patrol was arranged and two platoons of ours

were motorised, four pioneers were attached and two twentyfive

pounders, some A/T Guns and part of the KDGs to make up.

The idea was to leave at night go about 50 miles forward

and into Tripoli and lie up and catch the enemy

tanks or armored cars on the way. In fact an ambush.

They lay up most of the day but were unfortunately spotted

by a plane late at night. Next morning they were attacked

by planes by machine gun fire and one of our trucks was

destroyed. Not by fire but by explosive bullets. Our

troops rather expected an early morning show and were 

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sheltering away from the trucks. The pioneers were under a

culvert on the road and you can imagine their surprise to

discover that it was wired for demolition and that the explosive

was in position. Having been discovered there was no further

use in the patrol which returned towing the damaged

truck. Some miles from home it failed absolutely and

had to be abandoned. We later sent out and stripped

it of all its worthwhile parts. I inspected the second

30cwt and it looked a mess although not hit in any

vital part. The running board on one side had been

shot away, there were numerous bullet holes through

the bonnet and where the driver sat the back cushion

had been riddled with bullets. He was not sitting there

at the time. It was really marvellous that this truck

had not been hit in any vital part. During the 4th one

of our planes had been out on reconnaissance and had

got a bit too cheeky and flow to low to observe. Some

small arms fire from the ground had holed his tank

and he succeeded in getting as near home as B Coy's area

again and had to crash land in the best piece of ground

he could see. He was an Australian named Rawlinson

I think a Sydney sider but he was a very happy go lucky

chap. He was brought to BHQ and we fed him - by the

way he was unhurt.- and was christened by Halliday

"Hurricane Joe" both from his way or visiting us and

from the plane he flew. We could not send him back

immediately as we were being relieved by the 5th Bn

and going into reserve. I went back to reconnoitre the

new position and was coming back just at dusk when

I met Theo and Brock. The plans had been changed and

I had to lead the Battalion into a position we had

occupied before but by a route I had not before been over. 

I had a helluva time and finally got them in not 

before I had driven my truck into a couple of slit

trenches in the dark. Later I missed by a foot going

into a six foot deep and round circular hole dug for

a Bren A/A position. I went back and reported to Theo

and found they had left me one bottle of beer. They

had a party with Hurricane Joe whilst the relief was

being completed and about midnight we finally left the 

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5th to our positions and went into reserve - the first time we

had turned our backs on the enemy for 75 days. I had had

a couple of talks with Henry the first time I had seen him

since we met on the road to Giovanni Berta. He was full

of his tour at Cirene and how beautiful the place was. On

the 5th we found ourselves in our new position and some

 small adjustments were necessary from our occupying it

in the dark. It was actually a position we had dug and occupied

I think for two hours. In the night of 5/6 the desert changed

color. All the beauty of the flowers and any greenness were

absolutely wiped clear like a slate by a hot wind and

when we got up it was just desert - sandy color and grey.

For us March the 6th, 7th & 8th were all quiet as far as raids

were concerned. On the 6th there was a rumor we were to be

relieved and on the 8th an advance reconnaissance force from

a Battalion which was to relieve us came up. Then we knew

we were really for a trip back. The C.O. of the 17th Bn spent

all the 8th inspecting our positions and obtaining all the

 information we could give him. We particularly warned

him about trucks standing together, movement and

tracks, whether he took it all in or not I do not know

but I know that when a further reconnaissance party

came up on the 9th they were told but took little notice.

A period of six months has elapsed since last I wrote in

this as the first six books were taken away during a

search of my room for censoring and I have just got them

back with the "Gepreft" stamp hereon". To continue about

one oclock on the 9th two of the new Bn's trucks were

standing together with half a dozen men around them

- all this absolutely contrary to our advice and practice"

when two German planes came down the road from

Bengasi on the way home. It was like a drill. As

soon as they saw these two trucks one plane fell

away from the formation they were in - flew the

half mile from the road and dropped a bomb

 into these two trucks as target. It was the best

lesson they could have given the newcomers as

fortunately the bomb missed its target but was

close enough to be very uncomfortable. Fortunately

also there were no casualties. During the day we

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received our final orders for the handing over. Theo was

 to go ahead on leave and I was to bring the Battalion

down to Alexandria. Both he and the Brigadier were

going ahead together and the relief was to take place

at midnight on the 9/10 March. Before I go on to the

actual handing over there are are number of isolated

 things I want to tell you of our stay at Mersa Brega. I

don't know when they occurred chronologically so they

will be haphazard. I cannot remember whether I have

mentioned camelthorn or not before. Its a little dry

bush scattered all over the desert rather prickly and at 

all sorts of intervals from a few yards to hundreds of

yards. I do not know whether camels actually eat it or

not but it gave one a small feeling of invisibility

when stretched out in its very short shadow if you

where caught out in the open with planes overhead.

Rather like the ostrich I fear but it helped I can

assure you. I grew only about a foot high and 

about the same around. I have cursed it heartily

when I have fallen into it. During our stay here I

was able to get the Padre into Bengasi and to other A.A.C.S

stores and we were able to keep the men supplied with

cigarettes, chocolate and toilet preparations very

well as well as surrounding small units. Two

British Tommies walked 12 miles to us for tobacco.

The bush telegraph worked even in the desert. I was

 also able to bring up limited quantities of beer and

whisky for the mess and so we were not without some

luxuries. As I told you before the Italian mineral

water "Recoaro" was no good as soda water. One of the

surprises of our stay was the provision of fresh meat

by the Army Service Corps. After finally paying all our

accounts our trading in the desert realised over £300

profit and that on an original capital of between

£3 and £6 Egyptian. Another surprise for us at Mersa

Brega was the supply by the A.D.C of fresh meat -

a thing we craved for. Not always tender but, very good

It was done by the discovery of large quantities of meat

in the Refrigerating Chambers at Bengasi. These were

soon put into operation again after the capture of the 

 

 

                                                227

tower and as far as I know meat was continually kept there

by us. By this time our B Eschelon - that is our supply

and carrying and cooking part was up near the Battalion.

Instead of dividing this meat we were able to save unit

cooking on the primus stoves and instead deliver at

least one and usually two hot meals at dawn and

dusk - each Company's cooks operating for the second

time for their company. All our tradesmen were up

with B Eschelon and everything functioned as if we were

in a training camp except that our vehicles were

very widely dispersed and to save the engines the

whole radiator was dug into the ground. Thus the

truck was on an incline with the hose into the ground.

It had to be done carefully as too steep and incline

drained all the oil our and damaged the motors. I had

no difficulty after the first air attack in getting the

drivers to dig their trucks in however much ground

they had to shift. Quite a lot has to be dug out for a

30 cwt truck most drivers soon became expert in

utilising any small hill a fold in the ground as

it took less digging than on the flat. Following on

anything about vehicles we were absolutely sold on [[track?]]

dispp discipline - that is no one was allowed to drive

anywhere he pleased and make numerous tracks

to show up from the air and disclose either the

size, the importance or the position of any part of

the Battalion. On instance we made a circular

track around our Battalion Headquarters. Any

car approaching had to keep to this track. The

balance of the distance had to be done on foot.

Otherwise if allowed to drive anyhow right up

to the door and stop the hacks would all show up

to aeroplanes as finishing in one spot denoting

a Headquarters of some sort and therefore worthy of

attention. During the whole of our stay our

Headquarters position was not comprised necessitating

shifting it and better still we were not bombed. This

success was not easy and caused us a lot of hard

work impressing our views even more particularly

on the cars and trucks of other visiting units.

                                             228

This was a good test for the Regimental Polie and even

then Theo, the Adjutant and I were always ticking

someone off for not subscribing to orders and notices.

Either that or travelling too fast and raising a dust

cloud which also gave positions away. We also received

a large batch of over a hundred Reinforcements of a

mixed degree of training. Some of our old hands both

wounded and sick had returned after recuperation.

On the other hand and very much to the other extreme

one was had spent Christmas Day in Melbourne

and consequently was absolutely untrained. On the

way up and the day before they were delivered to us

 they had had their baptism of fire as they were

machine gun straffed from the air. One man was

killed and another slightly wounded. As they were

only a draft in transit they had no picks or shovels

or such equipment and they had to make best

they could do with bayonets and tin hats and

scratch shallow holes for themselves.- after the horse

had bolted of course. Anyway as soon as they

arrived and had reported we dispersed them in

an area for the night - gave them picks and

shovels and made them dig in to our standard

pattern. During the early hours of next morning I drafted

them to the various companies in accordance with

requirements and special capabilities and sent them

off. I recently observed the ticking off Theo gave me for

sending B Coy's men off without arranging to transport

their blankets. It was a bit much for unseasoned

troops to send them off on a 10 kilometre march

loaded with their blankets. Fortunately for them I

was able to arrange a truck to meet them on the

way and recover my mistake. A very amusing

incident occurred during the night with Theo  I dont

think I have told you about it before. If I have well

skip it. When we were sending out our tank hunting

patrols the officers were called in during the night

to receive their orders. In moving from one company

area to another at night in the desert it is best

to follow the phone line. Even with a compass you 

 

 

                                                  229

might miss your destination by passing a hole in the

ground and camouflaged - by not seeing it two yards

away. Any way both officers picked up the wire and

followed it expecting to end up at Signal Headquarters

where the phone exchange was located and from there

to get directions as to the CO's whereabouts. What

actually happened was that the Signallers in laying

the wire attached Theo's own phone between the Coys

and the exchange and tied the wire to one of the poles

holding up his ground sheet. Both officers and

Theo were not so agreeably entertained as they each

met by falling on to Theo in bed and through the

roof of his dugout. The first time was taken for bad

luck but Theo's language in the middle of the

night was blue when it happened a second time

when the second patrol commander arrived half

an hour after the first. His small dugout was completely

ruined as most of one side was trampled down onto

his stretcher or valise. Another incident connected with

Theo was or should be given the title "You can't miss it".

Invariably we found that when receiving directions

as to finding someone that your informant usually

ended up with those words. And invariably some

important but small piece of information was left

out and you did miss it. It hit Theo very badly.

The Brigadier on our last night decided to leave for

Alexandria on leave with Theo before the relief was

completed. During the day the Brigade altered their

position and Theo had not travelled over the new

route as he was busy handing over to the new

Bn. Cdr. Halliday had however been sent there as

Liaison Officer for the day and he knew the route.

When the Brig. phoned giving the altered timings he

only allowed Theo about an hour to get ready and

travel to Brigade. It was just dark then so Halliday

described the route and ended up with the fatal

words "You can't miss it". Theo in his excitement

and urge to get away did not query him and

set off. About a quarter of an hour later Halliday

said. "My God, I did not tell him there was a

 

 

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slight bend in the track where the barrels

which mark it are broken. I hope he does

not keep on along the barrels". It was too late

to do anything about it so we hoped for the best.

Of course Theo made the wrong turn and travelled

gaily on before discovering that he was not on

the track. In trying to locate it by a short cut

his car broke into a slit trench and went axle

deep. He and Passey his batmen spent about

an hour digging it out with Theo cursing like

hell as he was already late. Then they discovered

they were lost and felt worse. Then by a stroke

of wonderful luck they saw a large shape moving

slowly against the skyline about half a mile

a way. It really was wonderfully lucky to see

a truck that distance in the dark. They hared

after it and further luck found that it was one

of Brigade's supply trucks going to Brigade. They

followed it in and to Theo's relief found that

he was not late as the Brig. had finally decided

to await the completion of the relief. All this we

found out a fortnight later when I next saw him

on the subject of losing yourself at night. Russ Godby

provided our star turn at least three nights a

week. I have mentioned before how easy it was

to lose your direction in the desert at night and

it became standard drill before darkness

set in to face your sleeping hole and line it

with a star as well as counting the number or

paces on the way in to the mess. If you had a compass

to took the bearing. Russ soon established a reputation

for leaving the mess truck in the dark about eight

o'clock and arriving at his slit any time between

2 am and the worst 4.30 am. On this particular

night he walked in circles and arrived at

every part of Bn Hqrs at least twice and at

Signal Hqrs three times seeking a direction.

He only had to walk about 400 yards from the

mess truck and in the end was almost afraid

to go home. We used to start him off alright but

 

 

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never knew until next morning whether he had slept

well or not. I know how easily you could pass your

camouflaged hole in the dark. Twice I passed mine

within three yards and missed it. Jack Bishop also

featured in an incident of the same kind. After dark

and quite early in the night he left his office to go

some short distance away. Whether he was over confident

or not I do not know but he lost his way and kept

wandering around all night until at dawn he found

his bearings. He was near an old Turkish castle

about a mile away from Brigade. He was very annoyed.

In writing all this for you darling I have found that

one and then 2 years of prison life has dulled my

memory and in a book I am reading today I find

a passage which puts the case in words much better

than I can so I shall quote it. "In looking back now

I find it extraordinary how little I remember vividly.

Fewer than a dozen clear pictures; there are hundreds

of blurred and misty ones and many others so dim

as to be no more than the swiftly passing shadow

of shadows; but how few are the vivid clearly-drawn

pictures and how trivial! The trivialities that hook

themselves into our minds and remain lasting

memories when more important matters have long faded!

And the few vivid memories I have I am quite unable to

place in chronological order; they are just a jumble

dredged up haphazard from the swimming shoals

darting through the dark places of my mind".

That is what this life has done to me; memory is

dim and I cannot remember things clearly and

only after an effort. There are times when I have

been sorry I have not kept a voluminous day

to day diary but in the aggregate I am not sorry

for I feel it would have been only spasmodic

with large gaps. Therefore I have adopted this

method for you and whilst lots of things

are not so clear as I wish I think that at

not other time will I have the inclination or

the leisure. So you stand the chance by this

way of getting at least 90% of my travels and

adventures and best of all - all at once.

 

 

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The Pioneer Platoon at Mersa Brega justified nobly

the work put into their training and the value set

on them. Apart from the routine jobs of digging Bn

Hqrs. Battle Post, here they really came into their

own as the Battalion Engineers. We had to lay a

minefield in front of B. Coy's position protecting

the space between the marshes and the road. As

the marsh dried up the minefield had to be extended

and they were constantly on the job. In the early

stages we had Italian mines only and even they

ran out of detonators for these. The second in Command

of the Div. Reconnaissance Regiment who was

visiting Brigade asked Theo if there was anything

he could do. When we explained the position he

offered to drive back to [[?]] [[?]] where we

knew there were large stocks from deloused

minefield there. His offer was accepted and he

set off. He did the round trip of over 600 miles

in under 2 days. This allowed the Pioneers to

complete the urgent job and making us feel

safer as I would remind you of the reports of armoured

enemy vehicles moving towards us. Later we

received about 400 British mines and these we

used to thicken up our present minefield and

also to mine the tracks through the marsh and

on our flanks. Very much later - I think in

Greece [[?]] but it could have been Crete we read

^^extracts of the diary of a German officer - in it he

complained of the desert and flies and life in a

tank but worst of all the cunningly concealed

mines the British had left behind at the Mersa

Brega along the tracks and which caused them

great difficulty. These were the mines our Pioneer

Platoon had laid. They further had [[?]] furnish

details for the Tank hunting patrols of which I

have already mentioned. Altogether their work

at Tobruk and here was highly worthy. The

Band instruments which arrived from Sidi

Haneish just as we left Burce where a great

nuisance to me as they kept a truck fully

occupied and loaded and of course could not

 

 

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be used and were an encumbrance. The day before our

relief I received orders to take some representatives of the

Free French company who were operating with our Brigade

on the same reconnaissance as I had done previously

with a view to showing them any suitable country I

had noticed to enable them to establish and Anti Tank

barrier to cover the relief. They  were sent over from Bde

and the party on arrival consisted of an English Captain

Rose and a French Lieutenant in a little baby Fiat.

They arrived in time for lunch and we took them into

the mess truck - fed them and gave them a couple of

drinks for which they were truly thankful. The Englishman

told us that he had been attached to the Free French Coy

as a Liaison Officer as a penalty for a misdeamour on

leave. He said he had in a moment of mental exhiliaration

thrown a a flower at a superior officer without taking it

out of the vase. It was either the desert or this job or

court martial. After lunch we got into the car - I went

into the back sear amongst a lot of miscellaneous

gear and we started off.  Rather abruptly I found

parts of the floor moved and on investigation found

about two dozen live pigeons tied in pairs just

thrown everywhere. It turned out that on the way in

they had bought them from an Arab. We did our

job and after a final drink they left - just on leaving

the Frenchman offered me four birds but I turned

his offer down with thanks. The only other episode I

want to tell you is of one day when I was writing letters

to you and Sting and sitting out of the wind in the

cabin of the Bn Hqrs truck. It was a bad day for air

alarms and I think in the time it took me to write

three letters we had six or seven alarms and I

had to drop everything and dash for a slit trench

about 20 yards away. You had to be slippy as the

margin of time between an alarm from our sentries

and the planes overhead was very small. I think

that is all the incidents I have to tell you about

and I can now get on to the actual relief. As I

told you Theo was to go ahead on leave with the

Brig and I was to bring the Battalion back. He was

called over to Brigade at 9 oclock on March 9 and