Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1942 - Part 5

24 March 1942

TUESDAY

At it again, saluting

marching and rifle 

drill.  I [?]  [?]

No further news [?]

leaving here, but i

still think a move

is on soon.

 

25 March 1942

WEDNESDAY

Only two days to go

and I wont be sorry

am fortunate on hav-

ing a good instructor

Lt. Buckley from Dn Coy.
 

26 March 1942

THURSDAY

The last day and

am I pleased, have

never had such a [?]

[?] time in all 

my life.

[?] gave out on a 

tub day, stunt.

Went [?] [?] to

Tripoli in the evening

had a fairly good

night and a good skin

full I [?] and

things.

 

27 March 1942

FRIDAY

Arrived home in the

early hours of this

morning. -

No [?] over after

waking which is most

remarkable.

Put in a very quiet

day

[?] arrived back [?]

[?]

 

28 March  1942

SATURDAY

Out to our diggings

put in the AM digg-

ing. - Done an [?]

assault ]?] in [?]

and using out, [?]

Bangalor [?]

to make gap on [?}

very effective & are

remarkably good.  [?]

Returned to camp [?]

and mounted guard

29 March 1942

SUNDAY

Yet no bad night

and everything going

to [?] [?]

[?] ground at

1800 after a pretty

bad day.

Wrote to [?]

[?] afterwards [?]

out to the thin [?]

[?] Nelson [?] in 

[?], wasn't so

[?]

30 March 1942

MONDAY

Left barracks at 1330

going on a 4 day

stunt, - moved [?]

M. T. ]?] coast N.E.

for approx 20 miles 

bivouacked for night

Commenced attack

[..................?] at [?]

but [?] [?]

former position.

 

 

31 March 1942

TUESDAY

All smoke [?] ready

to move at 0630.

Started advance at

0700 enemy about

500 yards along, went

out to left flank

made [?] assault at

]?] a very stiff [?]

may have been success

but - All just about

[?] rested in and

turned in at 2000 on 

[?] of TER TERMOS

MEMORANDA

 

??

 

1 April 1942

WEDNESDAY

A very easy day, did

it turned out until

0230, went for recce

of our present area

and sited positions

for tomorrows defensive

stunt.

Went out for pistol

instruction on PH [?]

about 20 rounds from

my luger and am not

too bad.

Turned in at 2030

 

 

2 April 1942

THURSDAY

up early and in pos-

tons by 0730, first

[?] enemy's at 0850

attack our right flank,

counter attacked be-

[...........................................?]

[?], quiet necessary

[?] excepting for 2

[?] which were

strafing from 50 ft.

Returned to barracks

[....................?] at 5.15

[................................................?]

 

3 April 1942

FRIDAY

Church parade this

morning - went on

tour [?] CRAC-DE-CHEN

ALIERS,  very interest-

ing and quite an [?]

built in 1099.

[.........................................?]

evening, turned in

at 2100.

 

 

4 April 1942

SATURDAY

Out to diggings

again, done very

little - am

expecting a move

next week, have

no idea where

we shall go.

 

5 April 1942

SUNDAY

The day of rest,

have no place to

go so will lounge

around a little

 

6 April 1942

MONDAY

Going to a [?] [?]

school this morning

will be for one

week.

What a school, 4 hrs

per day and very

good and interesting

work.

The instructor, Pte

Eric Brown 2/24 Bn

who knows all about

it, and is a good

fellow.

 

7 April 1942

TUESDAY

Reporting at 1000 hrs

learnt some disarm-

ing tricks and

sentry stalking.

Coy. is away, so

took the opportunity 

and went into

Tripoli, had a real 

good time.

 

8 April 1942

WEDNESDAY

Turned out at 0730

for breakfast, still

a little anyhow I

had some of the dog

that bit me, and I

felt O.K.

Learnt some good

tips[?] and [?]

and enjoying it

more each day.

 

9 April 1942

THURSDAY

out at 0730 again

this 10 o'clock start-

ing is extra.

[?] thrown and

neck breaks which

are quite easy and

most effective.

[?] a T.A.B. [?]

[?] at 1800.

 

 

10 April 1942

FRIDAY

[?] is a little

sore but will not

prevent me going

on with my [?]

[?]

Learnt all the

nerve centres and

how to apply holds

to them.

[?] to Tripoli with

[?] Slater, got into

a [?] or so and

a very happy time

 

11 April 1942

SATURDAY

The Gen [?] school

is to give a display

in front of the BN

I am M.C. of demon-

stration. all members

of school will do at

least 2 tricks.

finished at 1130 and

believe it went off

extra well. - no

more work for the

day.

[?] in the night