Diaries of Thomas Currie Derrick, 1942 - Part 8

30 May 1942

SATURDAY

A little [[?]]

work on our section

post more of a

[[hell?]] again

31 May 1942

SUNDAY

A day of all rest

no R C church so

will do a little 
spare drill.
 

Britain sent 1000
bombers over Cologne

last night - had

44 shot down.

Our forces doing well

in Libya & holding 
Fritz O.K.

MEMORANDA

 

1 June 1942

MONDAY

Going on a three day

stunt about 12 miles

out

At bde rifle range

by 1200 had a swim

and dinner - pushed

on about 5 miles and

bivouached for the 

night
 

2 June 1942

TUESDAY

Up at 0600 going

to to a little weapon

training and a PL

stunt.

A Coy attack in the

night which lasted

2½ hrs - had a 

lager and turned in

at 2330

A 1000 planes bombed

ESSEN last night

we lost 35

 

3 JUNE 1942

WEDNESDAY

Turned out at 0700

on the move at 0900

and it is extremely

hot

Done a Coy in attack

at El [[?]] finished

by 1130 then went for a

swim - had dinner

at 1300 then continued

our journey to camp

in the boiling sun.

Arrived camp at [[?]]

distance covered] being

about 13 miles

4 June 1942
THURSDAY

Going to Alma

about 9 miles away

to guard ammo

Arrived there at

1100 hrs -

Duties are 2 on 8

6 off and looks like

being a real holiday

Libyan battle still

going well with

our forces

5 June 1942

FRIDAY

This is just a bit of

alright, went to A.F.N

canteen last night,

had plenty of Aussie

beer.

Nothing to do today

it change two reliefs

Weather now very

hot and muggy 

6 June 1942

SATURDAY

Getting ready to

move this morning

 - Again went to

Canteen with Bill

Whitfield and got

lagered good & proper

Arrived at camp

about 2200 went to

bed and slept like 
a drunk

Moved at 1130 back

to [[?]

 

7 June 1942

SUNDAY 1942

Wouldn't this last

everything went to

church at at 0715

but couldnt dodge

the BN parade.

Slept during

afternoon 

8 June 1942
MONDAY

Out on a four day

stunt - left camp

at 0915 marched

about 12 miles and

bivouaced for night

 - Have Mule transport

for Coy gear

ammo etc.

 

9 June 1942

TUESDAY

Called at 0330 and

a big day before us

on [[?]] march by

0430

At 1315 stopped for

dinner, distance

travelled 11 mile with

several advance

guard stunts done

whilst on journey -
Concluded with an

attack at 1600 - turned

in at 2100 and am

very tired

10 June 1942
WEDNESDAY

0600 Out of bed

ready to move at

0830 marched 6 miles

then by M T to El [[ABDE]]

spent the arvo swimming

and resting.

Moved at 1800 a distance

of 4 miles &

bivouaced for night

once again very tired

 

11 June 1942

THURSDAY

0330 and on our way no brekkie this 

time, done a Bn in

attack at dawn

Exercise completed by

06.30, back to camp had brekkie then

turned in at 0830 

12 June 1942

FRIDAY

Going for another

manoeuvre today

and is it very hot,

a quiet trip out,

but was never

tougher on the home

trip,

had a number

of fall outs.

At 2100 the dawn

attack for tomorrow

was wiped off and 

we are not sorry

 

13 June 1942

SATURDAY

The Bn having a

day off with the exception

of the N C Os

who are going to a

[[TEWT]]

GARRISON AT BIR HAKIM

in LIBYA HAS WITHDRAWN 

14 June 1942

SUNDAY
Nothing to do, but

idle about and

rest

Battle in Libya still

on and result unknown

 

15 June 1942

MONDAY

Surprise orders this

morning, moving to

take order from the

20^th Brigade. I am

moving as advance

party

Arrived at 2/13 Bn posn

near oil tanks received

full details

and rejoined the Coy

 

16 June 1942

TUESDAY

Moving to take over

at 1400 hrs - Marched

some 7 miles arriving

there at 1630 hrs

2/13 have not yet

moved

Met Jim Macnamara

from Berri who is

the 13th had quite a

yarn.

 

17 June 1942

WEDNESDAY

A spot of work today

down tents and fixing

our own area

This posn isnt

far from the sea

and we get a swim

fairly often

Our section on I>P>C.

guard tonight

Position in Desert

getting awkward.