Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1940-1941 - Part 16

6 October 1941

Monday

Same place, bombers

got a little close

within 400 yds, have

not hear report yet

Just heard report

on bombing, o

killed 3 injured 

including Art bland

for berri - About 20 small

bombs dropped in a

line through BH

area.

7 October 1941

Tuesday

Went seen Bill Milde

[[nd?]] him, Jim, and I

went into Tobruk for

a look see. Walked
all about the town

and couldnt find one

building untouched by

Nazi bombers - Place

is deserted except for

[[Milt?]], Salvation Army Room

and Provost — —

Struck it lucky & got

into some chocolates

[[conxt?]] £2 worth between us.

8 OCTOBER 1941

Wednesday

In charge of

party today, just

off Tobruk making 

camouflage nets -

noted at 1100 hrs, and

- B. S.A rooms, and P

Billiards and table

- back to camp at

1630 after a very

decent day.

Expecting to leav

Tobruk anytime no

and looking forward 

to it.

October 1941

Thursday

ther work party

ay, - West of Toby

wadis near beach

doing sansars for

oming troops- 

m  Bradley left us

s morning. It appears

[[movement?]] will not

be relieving us.

We heard it is the

[[RAust?]] Light Infantry

at will relieve us

10 October 1941

Friday

Now here's a mos

Three CPLs including

myself & 12 men are

going some place at

1300 hrs. —

Time now 1430 hrs

have been all over 

Tobruk area, & at 

best we know is a

- area mine spotted

in harbour on the 

north side.

11 October 1941

Saturday

Well wouldnt this 

rotate you - we are 

in the wrong place 

nd are now moving

to south side - Arrived

[[&]]the  [[ANC?]][[he?]] thinks

this place is [[going?]] to

be okey doke.
At 1800 hrs [[Bardia?]]  Bill

sent a few over &

anded a little too

lose to be pleasant.

[[?]]  [[?]] I S Horne
[[?]] [[?]] [[pulled?]][[?]]
[[?]] / [[?]][[?]]

14 October 1941

Tuesday

Aha, a decent day, all 

the dust has gone -

Another quiet night

no ships in - was

entertained by Tomm

over the phone for

2 hrs - Jesse& I had

& Ors  [[fit]] a turn in

return. No mail yet

and no news of leave

Toby yet, but think

its close.

15 October 1941

Wednesday

Put on the mine

potting job and can 

tand quite a lot of 

this.

Had another concert

over the phone last 

night & it was a good

show. No shipping in

for several nights 

now - Bardin Bill

had a good go through

the night, but no

damage done.

12 October 1941

Sunday

Wasn't a bad night

Four air raids but

only dropped bombs

none of which were

on our side.

This is sure a 

great life and could

stand quite a lot.

13 October 1941

Monday

Another good night

Bardia Bill opened

up just as cruisers

& destroyers were 

entering harbour - fired

a dozen rounds - Ben

easrd, - - no damage done

ships Left at 2330 being

in only 1 ¾hrs.

And what a day this

is, a proper dust storm

haven't had it as bad

as this before.

16 October 1941

Thursday

Awake at 0700 after

a busy night, several 

raids from 0400 most

on northern side of

harbour, a number of

flares dropped but no

mines - one trawle

arrived through the

night - Had a good 

day swimming &

yarning to Tommies of

206 Costal Battery

and they are a bloody

good crowd.

17 October 1941

Friday

[[ell?]]Today our [[phonie?]]

eases and we are to

be relieved about 1400.

—Relieved at 1445 by

section from D lot.

Back to Coy at

Food Dump and

waiting to leave

Tobruk - Had 5 letters

from Beryl one from

home and one from Marg
- our advance party

gone from Tobruk

18 October 1941

Saturday

Back to usual

routine & this is 

not as good as

the mine spotting

Lost £12 at two

up last night, must

try and make amends

tonight.

Have had a glorious

tea and again lost

at two up £7 this

time. - Have drawn

from pay book, first

since Dec. 6^th

£10.5.4

19 October 1941 

Sunday

Expecting to leave

any day now, have

everything ready to

hand over, expect to

be relieved by Zevecs

Their advance party 
is already in

-The tide had turned

at two up, and won

£11 in the evening.

20 October 1941

Monday

Getting nearer now

Our relief due in

at 2200 tomorrow

night 

Have been busy moving

souvenirs this

last three days.

Wrote a short letter

to Beryl this morning

-what on a further £4

at two up, getting

near square again now.

21 October 1941

Tuesday

Am in charge of working

party, making camouflage

net at 

Tobruk cross roads

Left party & Jesse 

& I went to see our

mine spotting friends

Had dinner there

returned at 1530,

then back to camp

and a game of two

up with a profit 

of £7.

22 October 1941

Wednesday

Had a busy night

showing in our relief

who are Czechs and

believe we are moving

out tonight.

Had a very interesting

talk with Czech Cpl

Jan Schwarz & learnt

quite a bit of European 

history - move 

at 1930 hrs our truck

ran off road but luckily

no one injured

Air raid as we were

moving - embarked

at 2350 hrs.

23 October 1941

Thursday

Woke this morning &

fire is well out, the

hip is the HMS. Kingston
12202 tons & a nice 

tub it is - 45 ships

in convoy - encounter

Latona 8

Had a good trip all 

the way, arrived Alex

0600 hrs in trucks,

Had tea at Amyreab-

entrained there & off

on a long train

journey - 

24 October 1941

Friday

Been having an extra

good trip so far-

arrived at Kantari

& crossed canal - Had

breakfast & off to

Palestine at 1100 

and still a good

trip, arrived Biets

Jirta 1715, had tea, a 

few beers and into 

bed.

25 October 1941

Saturday

Up early and off once

more in trucks to

Camp Julius, met my

old pal Butch, and 

look like getting 

him back in the

section.

This looks like being

a good easy camp.

Recieved 7 letters

and have just been

informed that tomorrow

I go two days leave to 

Tel Aviv.