Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1942 - Part 2

18 January 1942

SUNDAY

All ready by noon

and rearing to go.

-Seen Buck OConnor

& Tony Davis 2/10^th they

are advance party &

are taxing over our

position. - also seen

Len Mahoney 2/27^th and Reg

Gobett 2/3 MGs both are

at Julius.

Left Julius at 2030 and

went to Al Maj Dal

Station - entrained

at 2330 and on our way.

19 January 1942

MONDAY

Arrived Haifa 0530

and a pretty decent

trip. - detrained, had

breakfast on station

then away again in

motor transport.

Passed through Beirut

at 1230 after 1 hours

spell, seen race course

and a little of the

town. -

Quite a number of 

free French soldiers

about. - arrived at

barracks 1 mile past

Tripoli at 1700 hrs

20 January 1942

TUESDAY

Awake and up at

revelle 0700 after a

good nights sleep.

Had rain during night

-can see snow on mountains

about 3 miles

away.

These are French Barracks

and quite good.

21 January 1942

WEDNESDAY

Went on a march

today & had a look

at the country which

is very beautiful.

Have a battalion

job run similar

to a canteen, all

[?] belong to

the Bn, - quite a

good & sound scheme

we all think

22 January 1942

THURSDAY

Is this any good 

beds to sleep on,

electric light, hot

showers, but leave

is scarce.

23 January 1942

FRIDAY

Went through Tripoli

on a march today,

appears to be a

fairly decent place,

all the inhabitants

have a much cleaner

appearance than in 

Palestine. - Population

is Lebanese & Wogs.

24 January 1942

SATURDAY

Its started again

route march today

-rain is plentiful

have not been in

the snow yet.
Situation in Far

East not so bright.

25 January 1942

SUNDAY

A change all NCO's

got to Mount Tourbol

to see our section

posts which are not

completed.

Magnificent view

from over 2000ft

above sea level.

Giving a view similar

at [[??]]

a very rough [[??]]

our position.

26 January 1942

MONDAY

All the Coy going

to Tourbol today

to commence work

on positions - will

be far better than

sticking about the

barracks all day.

- - returned at

1700 and after a fair

days effort - will

take a long time.
Far East becoming 

very grave.

27 January 1942

TUESDAY

Tourbol again and

wouldnt mind remaining

out here, the

ride is a little tiring

& rough & too late

when we get started

However no chance of

that - my idea is we

will be leaving Syria

about the 1^st March

28 January 1942

WEDNESDAY

Putting in the day

repairing the road

had a few showers

including one of hail

-although we are

not expert road makers

we done a creditable

job & are hoping for

a better ride in

future.

Cant do a thing right

at the two up, have

lost approx. 200 Syrian

pound since arriving 

here.

29 January 1942

THURSDAY

Finished with Tourbol

for this week and

will continue field

craft training.

30 January 1942

FRIDAY

Doing a few stunts

by platoons and most

of the boys enjoy it.

-Remain out for dinner

& is much like a

picnic. Everything is

so beautiful, quite, &

peaceful that one must

think again to realise

the world is at war.

It is hard to imagine

with all this peaceful

country how human beings

can destroy each other.

31 January 1942

SATURDAY

Another picnic today,

a glorious day with

clear skies and sunshine, 

and good to be

alive - have never

wanted to live so

much all my life.

Everything is marvellous

& beautiful.

1 February 1942

SUNDAY

Going to Snow Mountains

today.

Arrived at Becharee

at 1245 too late to

catch the up road to

Les Cedres open, Remained

in Becharee,

plenty of snow here.

Went hiking about in

it had several snowball 

fights.- A glorious

drive in the most

beautiful country. -

Arrived back in barracks

at 2030 hrs.

2 February 1942

MONDAY

Change in programme

Field Craft training

first 3 days, Tourbol

last 3.

Doing these stunts

is rather good and

well recieved by

all the men. -

Have been Pltn Sgt

since 23rd Dec and

often have been Pltn

Commander, have a

great liking for the

job and wouldnt mind

another stripe.

3 February 1942

TUESDAY

Regards the other

stripe do not think

their is much chance

am Senior Cpl in our

Pltn but have 4 Cpls

my senior in the Coy.

Mebbe I might

fluke the third someday.

4 February 1942

WEDNESDAY

More training -

has been raining

all last night &

is still on, but

still we go out

to our training

area.

5 February 1942

THURSDAY

Off to Mt Tourbol

this point is 481 metres

above sea level &

gives the most glorious

of views.

Cannot see much 

improvement in our

section posts.

Im in charge of

Pltn today.