大象传媒

Material transcribed from the 1944 diary of 鈥�7584301鈥�
Staff Sergeant William Arthur Harrison (1906-1978),
30 Corps Troops Workshop, R.E.M.E.

Section 3: September to November. France, Belgium and Beyond.

Notes:-

See Section 1.

Copy of a 鈥淢emoranda鈥� page at the end, not included, shows some horse race betting activity on several days in November 1944, at which he made 14s 9d profit.

*
September 1944

Fri. 1
Back to old site to issue 33 guns. Still have 60 left. At it all day then left Laigle at 12.30am driving 3 tonner and gun: nice moonlight to start of, but am very tired.

Sat. 2 FM
Arrived at camp at 5.45am after lousy run, raining too. Camp getting up to move off once more! Blimey!! Driving 15cwt this time, but difficult to keep awake. Camp near Amiens 鈥� 91 miles. Arrived safe at 7pm. Soon into bed tonight. Plachy-Buyon.

Sun. 3 13th after Trinity
Slept grand and feel much better. Not much good starting work 鈥� will be moving soon I expect. Invited out to supper tonight 鈥� plenty wines too. Very nice indeed. Five years of war today 鈥� long time. Brussells liberated now.

Memo.
Plachy-Buyon 5 miles outside Amiens. Lovely little village, but sanitary arrangements far behind the times out here.

Mon. 4
Getting plenty eggs and tomatoes. Fine day, had run into Amiens in afternoon, not a bad place but very expensive. Lots of pretty girls 鈥� putting ideas into my head! Not good for me. Roast duck for supper 鈥� delicious!

Tues. 5
Running round plenty getting ready for moving tomorrow. Sent remittance home - 拢8. Grand weather still.

Wed. 6
Moved off first thing, weather rather dull but dry. Made good time to Aras then slow rest of way. Mining district outside Aras 鈥� people lined the streets. Camp between Aras and Lille. Arrived 1.30pm. In village caf茅, drinking beer! But very weak stuff.

Thur. 7
Rain and wind all day, almost gale in afternoon, and very cold. At it all day 鈥� 鈥渇errying鈥�. Cannot get on with guns at all. Caf茅 in evening. Got bottle of Annisette 鈥� loot 鈥� type of gin. Not bad. Fruit much riper now, plums too.

Fri. 8
Still cold and windy, but not much rain. Off again tomorrow into Belgium, busy getting vehicles and guns ready for the road.

Sat. 9 LQ
Moved off at 8.30am. Lovely weather but very cold early on. delightful run all the way 鈥� people give us great welcome. Kisses, fruit and flowers and cigars! Passed through Brussells and city was gaily decorated 鈥� wonderful welcome to troops. Covered 105 miles 鈥� Camp between Brussells and Louvain. Beer in plenty in cafes in village.

Sun. 10 14th after Trinity
Had run out to workshops, got lost but Belgian maquis helped me out. Took him home later, drinks of cognac and he gave me 250 Belgian cigs 鈥� lousy things. Picked up a few passengers and drinks en route to camp and had quite a pleasant day. Village at night to finish. Bombers over in strength today.

Mon. 11
Settled down to work and issued 9 guns! Marvellous. Weather very cold in mornings and nights. Likely to be here for a week. More bombers over 鈥� grand sight. Village again at night, but very quiet.

Tues. 12
Still pretty cold. Camp in wood and not nice at all, though good camouflage. Likely to be here a few days so maybe I鈥檒l get some work done. War news still very good. Village again at night, but didn鈥檛 enjoy it much.

Wed. 13
Getting guns up to date. Run out to workshops in morning but they had pulled out. Enjoyed the run though. Went to Brussells in evening and it wasn鈥檛 too bad, but beer is very weak. Caf茅s doing plenty of trade and business.

Thur. 14
Nothing of any interest. Walked to neighbouring village at night 鈥� 3 miles, had a couple and then back. Rain started later on.

Fri. 15
Much warmer after overnight rain. Brussells again in evening but wasn鈥檛 very struck 鈥� glad to get back. Caf茅s still very busy.

Sat. 16
Brussells once more, but stayed on the outskirts this time and enjoyed it much better. Free drinks and people very friendly. Tried dancing but 鈥� blimey! Talk about crowds 鈥� not in it. Retired after one dance. Clocks put back.

Sun. 17 NM 15th after Trinity
Moving off tomorrow 鈥� beyond Diest. Had run out in morning looking for a W/shop. Found 25 Beach recovery unit who obliged me by fixing up 3 guns. George Jackson head lad 鈥� nice to see him again. Village in evening - raining hard all the time.

Mon. 18
Rain stopped before moving off, thank goodness. Quite a good run of 50 miles to Beverloo. (Beverlo) Plenty fruit given en route and tomatoes from a smashing blonde in Louvain. Went into village at night and had a good time and drink. Elixir 鈥� very nice.

Tues. 19
Weather ok again, but misty early on. Gets dark early too. Busy sorting out guns again 鈥� what a game! Old Mack 鈥� my labourer 鈥� had nightmare last night in ambulance 鈥� fell off top stretcher and broke his nose! Some nightmare. Village at night for short while. Jerry dropping bombs nearby.

Wed. 20
Run out to W/shops in morning. (DIEST) Had chat with Alf Powley 鈥� good old stick. W/s moving tomorrow ready for 100 mile dash into Holland. Had look round town, but goods are cheap in quality. Was driving a 10 tonner with 5.5 behind! Managed ok.

Thur. 21
W/s moved up near us 鈥� staying on wheels. Weather not bad at all, though cold at nights. Wonderful sight of air transports going to Holland with airborne troops. Hundreds of 鈥榚m.

Fri. 22
Weather still holding out, but just. New scheme out for demobbing when jerry is beaten 鈥� should be amongst the first. Extra pay too 鈥� 17/6 per week! Left it late alright. Village in afternoon, in between duty. Called on W/shops too 鈥� still lying idle. Did a little laundry.

Sat. 23
Colder, with showers. Run out to W/shops again, but nothing doing. Plenty work to do 鈥� between showers. More airborne troops. Hundreds of transports towing gliders 鈥� fighters galore. Lovely to see. First airborne troops having rough time. Village at night 鈥� not so good. Crowded.

Sun. 24 16th after Trinity
Main 30 corps cut off! Out to W/s again then to Guard鈥榮 Arm. W/s to get guns welded. Showers all the time. Spent night in tent with gin and lemon 鈥� very nice. Raining hard all evening. Cannot get laundry dry.

Memo.
This district not so good 鈥� never is where jerry puts up defence. Beer very poor, cannot even get merry on it. Hurdy gurdy in Centrale Caf茅 amused me. Piano accordion plays itself! Fascinating to watch.

Mon. 25 FQ
Much better morning, though slight showers. Made good headway with guns (57) then called at 50 W/s in afternoon. Will get some guns fixed up there. Another night in, rain starting late on. Main Corps cut off again. 11th Arm Div sent in, hammered, withdrawn, then 7th Arm Div sent in. Jerry tough.

Tues. 26
Fine day for change. Had shower at pit head baths this morning 鈥� delightful. No sign of moving yet. Airborne troops being withdrawn. Casualties very heavy, though fought wonderfully. Had night in village with Wilson and Youll 鈥� fairly good time 鈥� thanks to cognac. Met Reg Collins 鈥� camp quite near.

Wed. 27
Run out to W/shops in morning and ditched truck! First offence. No damage. Met Reg again and we finished off gin and lemon. Fairly busy day. Rain again in evening, so had night in tent.

October 1944

Mon. 9 LQ

Tues. 10
Nothing much worth reporting. Still in Beeringen, and getting monotonous. Had half day but rain spoiled it. Village at night in Polish Caf茅. Had grand time with Wilson, Youll, Hardy and Lt Booth.

Wed. 11
Fine weather again. Village at night.

Thur. 12
Nothing to report.

Fri 13
Same again. Village again at night, good time with Harry and Ronnie. great people in the Polish caf茅. Canadians billeted there now 鈥� not so good.

Sat. 14
Stayed in camp all day and retired early. Moving on Monday.

Sun. 15 19th after Trinity
Fine morning, but rain for the rest of day. Final visit to caf茅 and had enjoyable time. Canucks tried to spoil it but didn鈥檛 succeed. Ignorant lot of b*s. Said goodbye in early hours and tears too!

Memo.
Had exactly 4 weeks in Beeringen City and got to really like the place and people. Sorry to have to leave tomorrow for Holland.

Mon. 16
Left Beeringen at 10am. After uneventful run arrived at Gr脿ve 3.30pm. Camp in grounds of big house. Sleeping in billets this time 鈥� lovely. Grounds u/s as vehicle park, and my gun park is terrible. Tree stumps all over the place. Air activity at night.

Tues. 17 NM
Got Sgt鈥檚 mess going, which is ok. Plenty rain and mud, everything in a mess. Run out to 30 W/shops 鈥� had chat with Alf. Judging by noise, plenty of action round about.

Wed. 18
Still more rain. W/shops again getting guns repaired. Warfare at deadlock just now. Weather impeding affairs mostly, though jerry fighting hard.

Thur. 19
Rain again 鈥� grounds like a sea of mud on the tracks. Big house has moat around it 鈥� why? Jerry used it at one time. Had good supper with Harry and Ron. Fritters and bully in batter!

Fri. 20
Still kept busy 鈥� exchanged 6 Bofors this morning. Terrible job sorting out guns on this ground. Pay day 鈥� in Guilders. 10 = 18/9. Bottle each of Gin and Grapefruit tonight 鈥� just the job. No rain today! Road cut behind us 鈥� surrounded! My, my.

Sat. 21
Road opened again. Ok now! Really finished sorting out gun park. 鈥淨uad鈥� in bad shape 鈥� axle set back 鈥� steering no good and springs broken. Not surprising. Another rainless day.

Sun. 22 20th after Trinity
Nothing to report of interest. Fine day.

Mon. 23
Still another fine day. W/shops in afternoon 鈥� everyone square-bashing! Work at standstill. Fine weather continues.

Tues. 24 FQ
A lovely day 鈥� quite sunny. Pretty desolate camp here. Nowhere to go 鈥� no one to see 鈥� just eat sleep and work. Had run into Grave this morning to Sgts club. Had tea and bun free. Also had beer and rum. Very nice too. Must try it again.

Wed. 25
Similar happenings

Thur. 26
Nothing of interest. Weather still dry but dull. This camp is a desolate place 鈥� nothing to relieve the monotony , 鈥榗epting work.

November 1944

Wed. 1 All Saints
Weazel incident.

Thur. 2
A really grand day, but that鈥檚 all. Was disappointed in run back to Beeringen after changing money too! Tuff

Fri. 3
Heard ASM Sundin was killed by land mine few days ago. Stepped out of truck on to it!

Sat. 4
In club in morning. Rum still very nice. Chap flashing his jerry pistol about 鈥� off it went! No one in the way. Good drink at night with Harry and Ron in their tent. 2 cognacs and case of beer from madam 鈥� retail price.

Sun. 5 22nd after Trinity
Half day off, spent two hours in bed from 2 to 4pm. Lovely.

Tues. 7 LQ
Beer issue from Naffi! First since August. Tennents Lager 鈥� lovely. Found two non drinkers in mess 鈥� just the job. Very cold and windy day, with rain sleet and hail.

Wed. 8
Improvement in weather, but still very cold. Chat with Alf this afternoon, reckons W/s going to Bourg Leopold, then Achen. Our way too I 鈥榮pose.

Thur. 9
Unit moving next week. Aachen sector. Be glad to get out of this joint.

Fri. 10

Sat. 11

Sun. 12 23rd after Trinity
Weather lousy. had to go back to Beringen at night to S.C.W. Travelled in jeep 鈥� very cold. 4 hours to do 80 miles. Traffic very heavy. Called at Polish caf茅 鈥� grand welcome.

Mon. 13
Stayed at S.C.W. Left 6am 鈥� terribly cold and misty. Driver took wrong road twice, doing extra 40 miles. Almost numb when back at camp 鈥� 9-15. Got into bed to get warm, and stayed until 4pm! Moving in the morning into Belgium.

Tues. 14
Left camp on my own at 9am, and arrived at Winterslag, near Genk, 1-15. Quite a good run 鈥� 100 miles. Camp in avenue with good billets. Snow and rain at night. Walk around village but very quiet. Flying bombs passing over, few and far between.

Wed. 15 NM
Very cold day, dull but dry. Run into Genk for haircut. Village at night for little while. More F.B鈥檚.

Thur. 16
White frost early on, changing to real sunshine. Very nice.

Fri. 17
More rain and flying bombs.

Sat. 18
A really nice day, quite mild and plenty sunshine. Village dance at night but very crowded. American bl***s starting shooting when dance finished but no one hurt. Crazy people.

Sun. 19 24th after Trinity
Another grand day. Had run into Beringen at night to Polish Caf茅. Very good time 鈥� returned about 1am.

Mon. 20
Push going very well on all sectors. F.B.鈥檚 very scarce now. More Rain.

Tues. 21
Cinema at night. 鈥淭om, Dick and Harry鈥�. Passable

Wed. 22
Rain again.

Thur. 23 FQ
Still more rain. Cinema at night 鈥� Xmas in July. Rotten.

Fri. 24
No change in weather.

Entries ceased here.

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