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One problem for Alan Jones was to improve the quality of the tea brewed in Tobruk. The desalination plant had been damaged during the repeated attacks and over-extraction from the bore-holes and wells meant that the water was salty. This was fine for washing and some cooking but for drinking and cups of tea it was unpleasant.

So important was this installation that orders came from on high that is was to be guarded with multiple rings of wire and an armed guard.

By taking parts from the various damaged stills, one working distillery was repaired in a couple of weeks and the output piped to the hospital and the airfield at El Adam along the new pipes they had laid. The small surplus headed for the troops teapots. This was completed just in time for Bob's birthday on 9 May. 鈥淚 was given one of my best parties ever. Looking back now I marvel at our optimism at that time.鈥�

This story was submitted to the people鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of Alan Jones the late Bob Borthwick. It is a transcript of interviews, diaries and permission was given for the material to be edited and published.

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