Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1942 - Part 13

3B
24 JUNE 42 - 21 JULY 42 

S.X. 7964.
CPL. THOMAS. C. DERRICK
A. Coy 2/48 BN A.I.F.
8 PL. 6 SEC.
IN THE EVENT OF MY MEETING WITH
ONE OF THE USUAL WAR ACCIDENTS, would
THE FINDER POST THIS TO 
MRS T C DERRICK
26 MANSFIELD ST
NORTH ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
It is on the 24^th of June 1943 that I
predict this War to finish. I have no

very sound reason, reason or any firm
foundations on which to base my
prediction, only by looking at situations,
and from a small amount of
information, (which could possibly be
willed propaganda) that appears in
the local papers, and radio reports do
I arrive at perhaps my wild guessing
these I will term my hopeful deduction

8 PLATOON A. COY 2/48 BN
 

JUNE 14^th WEDNESDAY

Today is the third anniversary of my
 wedding day, being the second abroad

the first was celebrated on the Eastern 
[[?]] of Tobruk.

Our present location is  IRANIAN PETROLEUM
COMPANY 2½ miles east of TRIPOLI, and 
a task of assisting the SYRIAN [[?]]
[[?]] their job.
Yesterday saw the departure of 4 of the
Bn Officers to Australia,- My Batt
Capt Clutterbuck, Leach, and Tucker. 
The general and popular opinion of the

boys is a quick following by the whole
9^th Div.
JUNE 25^th THURSDAY
Our pontoon taken over by A Coy 2/32 BN,

we are leaving on a fortnights mobile 

training in the morning, the area being

30 miles east of HOMS.

Most of the boys put the arvo in recreationing
the beach being only 1000 yds away
JUNE 26^th FRIDAY
Out at 0300 and on the
move at 0430, traveling being 3 trucks

 per Platoon and should be very comfortable.
- The initial stages were excellent,
passed through HOMS (my first appearance 
in the said town) at 0925,- shortly after
 we were treated to a surprise of an 

alarming and interesting nature,
did not take the road which lead to 
our Brigade training area, but travelled
in the direction of BALEECK
Now this move has the  boys thinking

and some startling and very original

rumors are  in circulation, a good reason
for such talk in the country in the direction

in which we are travelling is
entirely unsuitable for the intended
Brigade manouvres. 
We eventually stopped and  bivouaced
for the arvo about 6 miles north of
BALEECK. On the move again at 2015 hrs.
the convoy is an extremely long one, our
position is 68th from the head of the column.
Soon passed BALBECK which is far
larger and better than I imagined,
travelled all night until 0500 next
morning.
JUNE 27th SATURDAY
found out the lake on
our left is the Galilee sea, here we
had breakfast and most of the boys

4
took advantage of a swim, moved again
at 0630hrs and soon passed through
TIBERIUS which is on the slope of an enormously 
large feature, evidently the
Sea of Galilee is some hundreds of feet
below sea level. The trip continues
to be a good one, and all vehicles
running very well. Bivcouaced midway
between Tel Aviv and Haifa and remained
there the rest of the day.
News from the Desert is not the best
Fritz being within 15 miles of Messa
Matrich, it now looks as though we
are bound for an engagement with
Mr Rommel -- The boys continue to
remain in high spirits and I believe
they would welcome a go in with 
Jerry.
JUNE 28th SUNDAY
Once again out at 0300 hrs
and on the move bt 0430, we are on 
the tail of the convoy this time.
Through Palestine which we know so 
well, and many interesting scenes
were recalled such as "remember the
night we went out [[?]] to Tel Arnm"
- this naturally was a difficult thing
to bring to mind, owing to the happy
fact that it happened on numerous 
occasions. 

and gun positions from u fast War, through country which is the genuired
Some few miles on from (Br Theeba Desert: The lrp was extra good bravell=
we pulled up for the night and uoning altlough inclined to be crentend=
very luety to procure a hold showesing and uneventful,- finally arrived
He county in our eccisty is gine at livouae area 12 miles from 15249
at 1430- Weather hot but not a seere
fine desir land
leat. As further news of Llyar
Asceved a susprise when I fift Hamy
Martenson who is now a leeutenant, he battle and all are beenly cusiting
lis been at Tucz and tellf of a numbthe next communigul
of ship including the Mas ths has the move still has us all beaten &
sent our hopes aoaring abl teyt and bildered, altlough home is slightly
shalps confirm one of our fsshes of heremore poular in thought than the le
you desert, all are defenitily comyne
ears bound.
1
in that it will be on of th tur
TURE LELMERER
a popular incident of the day is
Once again toth earlier
at 0250, but owing to sn menor hild de ten of gant beer; obtainable at
ae dedn't move until onuofff are now the loy benteen on credit. Distance
travelling along a good Tatmae road travelled today 171 mils, making a
cotal of 603 miles from Pripoli
 

Bae D Beg
(be ch dmores in the mall ouers of ch ats of but all never clonking ctite
he will be one of the missing. I
morn, crossed Juez Canal af 0500 prs
the men gohe about it, some wise cract
by means of a relicle pontfon
utot fail to menion that such as ist look ato that im
were informed late last rught nof aur pet. Blacy, what sae, bloodge meas, ams t
hsesdit gt offff
coming last one of action in the
And whelat cliftening ann sateheng
Wertetn Desert
orow) one gets a quier feeling ahen, as a nution legdes sknow Afabei
such a statement is made known to pan place my i greatest confiderce tin
him, I just cant explaint cle kind my section, and hare tno doultroas to
of feeling, depnadely not fore of fearple way cliyoarill all Eack. o de
nor oractly would yoy ffe fit excitshnow aboute Clem Billory and: Alol
ment Pohally a grim dught determen Hilaren tus, whom I can aluays
ation that each and every ond is fallorly on on any difficulty, thy, are
capable of dealing with the grave and my only remaining noregenuls, ss of
serious situation, we all know tht the others saw a little action in
a number of as will slt not come the Darert the remainder have not
ten in
 

lack to sefer places.
And to we continue our gonex to
wards tle Battle area. faff travelling centuall arrived at elmanjea osoolis
Weanesday 1st July
(early but slaved a nearing bairs
All lands immediately sezed che
which we passed chrough pl 1115 hr
opportunity of getting some shut eye
faring a battle of wits with the
Oer anver No Cummings 11 by 8
Woy news condors, and som to say
fu ra suond are the eest not been off t w
(and most rillianous of all Wogs, and for 24 br and is doing a aflended
piece of wor
are shilled particants in the art of
Mand again 1400 brs, to defensre
petty cleaveng and suindli
positions sd west of Alex and com
it short fell at Mona sofr Kilo
merced digging on, with going on
past bairs then on again s our
lettle destination. A H plage tre chroughout the night
telling became very slaw, shif rad be Thursday 2rd July
ing rammed with motor wrles of al Eveyy one out at 0000 lrs, little pro
descriptions, the majority of affer triffe grest was made during the right
belonging to the various] er units oing to the roity nature of the
which were moring thir grars pernl ground, and poor quality cools,