大象传媒

Don鈥檚 War Diary 鈥� 2. From Algiers to Tunis 1942
My father, 5834739 Sergeant Donald W.O. Paige, Suffolk Regiment, served with the Irish Brigade (38th Infantry Brigade) throughout their campaigns in North Africa, Italy and Austria. A trained artist he worked as part of a small team as Intelligence Sergeant in Brigade HQ. Having landed at Algiers on November 23rd, they are making their way towards Tunis through very difficult country. The weather was unusually wet, and the troops were not yet well equipped. Algeria and Tunisia were overseas d茅partements of France and theoretically ruled by the fascist Vichy government.

24 November
A perfectly lousy night continual rain all night which washed out most our tents. Had to move during the night. It poured with rain all the morning and our spirits definitely fell. During the morning I decided to find fresh billets as my kit was nearly washed out. However, during the course of the day moves were afoot for moving the lads into the dry, which was good. I was annoyed by the fact that after we had removed our kit from our billet to the loft of the wine store we found it inhabited by the clerical staff. God was I mad! During the FSP produced some Alicante which was very pleasing. Paddy turned up with a flask of Cognac. Had a mouthful, that鈥檚 all.

26 November
Still raining, everywhere afloat. Got our kit transferred to the new billet today. Still bloody annoyed when I see the others in our old billet laughing at us. This afternoon had to take a party wood gathering. Went to a farm down the road and obtained permission to take down some old vines from the stacks at the back of the farm. Had a long conversation with the mechanic and tractor driver at the farm. They told me they had been stripped of all their wine to sell to the Boche for alcohol. He also showed me some small birds he鈥檇 trapped, very much like larks. The trap was like a small gin trap baited with an ugly black insect called 鈥渋nsect de bon鈥�! The mechanic showed me the beetle, which he produced, from an empty shotgun case and baited the trap with it. He told me that on Sunday they shot an enemy aircraft down over Algiers and it came down behind us here. Had a talk to the foreman of the farm and his wife. He mumbles away in his moustache and it is difficult to hear him. Had some dates and Alicante in FSP billet before returning to my billet in the wine store at 20.00.

27 November
Heavy rain during the night and early morning . A pretty lousy night with plenty of draughts. This afternoon just to make things more unbearable we had a route march in battle order. It turned out quite warm and I had retained my thick sweater. God, was I hot! We went about six miles passing Bakari . Coming back once when we were resting by an Arab village, a Frenchman went by in a marvellous gig affair and I greeted him. He nearly fell out en passant. In the billet tonight we had our usual nightcap and stories.

28 November
A much better day from the weather point of view. A curious incident this morning. An Arab was brought up to Mr Room and myself by Cpl Jackson who said something had happened to this bloke whom he had with him. Room and I went over to him. He let drive most volubly and I never caught a word. 鈥淩epetez鈥� I could make out that a soldier had made entry into his house and wanted to sleep with his wife! He was so frightened and his wife and children wept so much he couldn鈥檛 get any sleep. Well Ken Hayward and I went with Room was we found out from the Skins the offender. He had a cock and bull story that he got lost and asked his way. Later he came up and told Ken he was drunk. Col M.F. was informed and had the matter in hand. As an Arab interpreter he was going to make his apologies. We went up and saw an aged Arab, who couldn鈥檛 speak much French, but with the help of two small children was made him understand that the offender had been caught and would be punished. Had a French lesson from Ken Hayward this morning 鈥� not particularly helpful on pronunciation!

29 November
With the arrival of my bike I had to make preparations for its further use and most of this day was spent in cleaning and adjusting. I am damn glad to see it.
This evening I kicked about with the lads. An Arab boy amazed us by kicking a horribly wet football about with bare feet. Into the den as usual but with depleted company, Jack and Sam being away. And so to bed after a long talk with Alec Walker about Cambridge.

30th November
Bike cleaning this morning with Capt Nightingale. This afternoon got a run into Algiers. Bought 2 pipes for 250fr, one for Stanley Evans. After tea we were called out and found that Alec had been hit en derri猫re by a French car and knocked under a lorry. Smashed the front of his bike in. He wasn鈥檛 injured much. The people in the car brought him and the bike back. Their battery ran out so we had to charge it and conversed a long time with them.

1st December
Called out to recce route with Mr. Hall this morning. Marvellous run, 50 miles as far as Camp du Marechal. Saw all ways of transport en route including camels. Bought some oranges and vin rouge in Camp do Marechal. A Corsican helped me buy them from an Arab. Had our lunch with Mr. Hall overlooking a large pan of ground with a viaduct in background. The hills, according to Mr. Hall, are all mud. The colour is very monotonous, form is overpowering.

2nd December
Left camp at 02.00 A good night and we made Hanassonoillien by 5.30. Then for breakfast at a delightful farm. Le Giraud was very decent and gave us all oranges. He had a small donkey there 鈥� burrico. From there we continued to Tizi Ouzon. On the center of the town was an island. We stopped there for a rest well in front of the others. A perky bloke asked Carr for a cigarette in English. For his cheek he got one. After that we dispensed many. We had time for a drop in at the caf茅 for a glass or two of vin rouge. In the caf茅 a fat greasy Arab approached us and told us that he had been to New York and Chicago. Similar to the way in which the chap, an old French Algerian soldier came over to as at Camp du Marechal. The run until dinner time was arduous. Much hill climbing chiefly wooded country. We were rather puzzled about the tress with the bark stripped off up to six feet but by the stacks of cork bark we later passed it was obvious was they were. We stopped at Yakerou for dinner. Cue Ken. We went down into the village, and saw Ken talking to two elderly ladies. I went up and spoke to them in French. To my amazement they said they were Scottish missionaries and had been there 10 years. They were most anxious for us to go to the caf茅 for lunch which I found out Ken had already laid on. The meal fortified by ample aperitifs of wine was good. Beans, olives, cucumber, bread, veal and beans, wine and tea. All on Major Rae! After that the Brigadier and RSM appeared and administered a rocket for not spacing correctly! We then proceeded on a long and arduous run to Bougie which we reached by 17.00 We were able to run the trucks right into the concentration area, an open field. The rest were in a brick works. Ken Hayward and I shared a tent. My little tent was worth its weight in gold. A quiet night.

3rd December

At breakfast in the brickworks we met Frank, Smudger, Sam and Jack. They were living in the brick kiln. Black chasms. At 12.15 a small party consisting of the Brigadier, BM, and I set out. We went through some marvellous country, terrific ravines with the road winding round above a river. This was marvellous. The BM approached me to draw some pictures of it for the War Diary! Mr. Room and I were ordered to proceed after we left S茅pt to find accommodation. We proceeded to St Armand to the Town Clerk and saw the secr茅taire a most aimiable man, an old soldier in an English hospital during the last war. He assisted us most ably in the purchase of wood, bread and wine. He personally recommended brands of wine. The shop assistant was charming. Our billet was an Arab house. Excellent quarters. The neighbour whom I spoke to was a keen Arabophile and spoke excellent French. He was most interested to know what was going on in England and was a keen admirer of T.E. Lawrence. He had the French translation. Our stay in this place was a great success.

4th December
We continued our journey in the morning. Much more flat land on the plateau, all agricultural. Mr. Room came off his bike in a sticky patch. I incurred the Brigadier鈥檚 wrath by waiting until the shovel was vacant! We pushed on with great speed and finally stopped, our first stop since the latrine at Constatine. Capt. Lowry and I did almost a complete tour of the place in search of a mattress for the Brigadier. We were rather stuck for a word for mattress, feeling quite sure it was not 鈥渕aitresse鈥�! We got back just about as the Brigadier etc. were packing up. We all became eunuchs for the time being! We pressed and again Mr. Room and I were detailed to select suitable HQ for the night. We split, he going to Heliopolis north of Geulma and I to Petit West(?). I went to the Mairie and was chaperoned by the Guard Champetre to a building on top of a hill, very decrepit and bug ridden, judging by the Guard Champetre who kept touching the bottom of his trousers with a lighted cigarette and saying 鈥� Il y a beaucoup des pouces鈥� However, when I eventually saw the Maire, a most pleasant man with an even pleasanter wife, he put the school at our disposal and the Salle des Consultations for the officers. Everything was well arranged until I went back and Mr. Room had the better joint. So I went back to put the Maire off with many apologies. He was very nice about it and presented me with five oranges out of his garden. I arrived late at Heliopolis where I found the rest in a factory La Vie. We had the office and the officers the house. It was quite good and good practice for the French. They were more than helpful.

5th December
Before we left Maison La Vie, we were presented with six oranges per man. Marvellous oranges too. Proceeded to Souk el Arhas passing many refugees en route as Souk el Arhas had been subjected to the dual agony of a petrol and ammunition train colliding with a bombardment from Jerry. Everyone pretty nervy. Had lunch and again detailed to go forward to contact Divisional Concentration area with Capt Plumley. Most ghastly ride over mountains, eventually arriving there at dusk. Found our area and went back for grub with Divisional officers. Kitchen is a small shed. A good meal nevertheless. Returned to our area sans illumination, and was sent out at 21.30 to pick up the party. Eventually did so after a drink and coffee from a French soldier on the bridge at Souk el Khemis. Got them in OK after a little trouble. Slept a bit on the veranda. Very cold.

7th December
Up at 06.00 for stand to. Another day trifling about, making and painting signs etc. No sign of moving. Slept once more on that cursed veranda. During the evening I was told to go into the house to tell them that the General wouldn鈥檛 be in until late. When I entered the whole household were gathered round one table (some 12 or so) with one light - a bottle of petrol with a wick. They insisted on me staying and we had an hour or so鈥檚 conversation. I was rather put to it to find words because of my French, but we got on very well. They gave me the low down on the German method of Arabic propaganda 鈥� utensils, clothes etc, to win them over. Apparently the Arabs cheer when Hun planes go over. The old man and woman, the son, the farmers seemed proud of their Maltese descent.

8th December
Today there were many rumours of us definitely moving. Much going and coming. Eventually we did move at 13.00. Webber was on the back of my heavily laden bike, and I found that someone had very kindly lost bottom and top gear for me. We eventually arrived at our new HQ the Tunis side of Beja. After a quick meal, Plumley and I set off to find alternative accommodation for A Echelon. We went some 50 miles without success. It was getting dark when we got in and starting to rain. Trucks were parked on a steep slope covered with trees. A room in the back of the house was for the officers and Lowry, Room and myself gathered in there during the evening. We were joined by Lt Matthei who came from an AA unit in full flight from Teboumba. He gave us an excellent picture of what had happened. It turned out that he was a Trinity Hall man (Lowry says a first in Classics) From then on our conversation was just Cambridge. He knew many people I knew and most surprisingly knew Dr Brooke through his relatives called Mills. It was very enjoyable increased by the fact that he had a water bottle filled with excellent whiskey.

9th December
It rained heavily night 8/9 and transport had difficulty extricating itself. Early in I took over cook with Murphy. Much flap but managed to dish up the goods. Dinner of 5 courses went down well. Moved at 13.00. Terrible ride to road down slippery drive. Still raining. A Ech chaps who arrived early in morning had a bad time. From this farm to Tebousouk was an absolute nightmare. It got dark soon after leaving Thiban and the column was very long. Much rain and wind and the darkness was terrible. The mountain ride was ghastly and I was greatly relieved eventually when we arrived at the DP. We joined forces with the rest and proceeded to our HQ. Unfortunately here was another farm with a waterlogged drive. Bike went dead and I lost the direction.

18-21 December
Established HQ (1) in a small granary. Quite comfortable as things go. Saw John Taggart whilst here. He is now a batman to a Major in the RAF! Same old John, with a marvellous version of his sea trip and adventure at Gibraltar. Many pigs at this farm, largest boar I have every seen. Colossal! Not far from ruined city of Dougga and bits of inscriptions built into the farm. One, a Greek inscription and another Latin, forming a corner of the pig sty in fine post Trajan stylo as far as I can remember about DMS. PAVLVS and VCILLA. Meant to have taken a photo but didn鈥檛. JU 88 shot at us first night.
Left this farm at 19.00. 21 December. Raining once more. Ken Hayward gave us dope on road past Gafour so Jack Cochrane and I planned to breakdown on the way. However, moon and good going, so kept on! Road past Gafour ghastly. My wheel stuck, spent and hour cleaning it. Much rain now. LAD stuck with recce car. Determined to stop at El Aroussa. Teeming with rain when we got there. Left road browned off and stood under Arab shops for some time. Eventually carried on to HQ on side of hill. Digging most of night. Tea up at 04.30.

Thursday 24th December.
Much the same as the other two days. Left this place about 23.00 (should have been 19.00!) Couldn鈥檛 get bike to start after about an hour鈥檚 kicking. Concluded everything by falling in slit trench and twisting leg. Dumped bike and got a life with Mitchell in jeep. He tells me he was in Cambridge when Div there and he knows the Fens well. Great fisherman. Arrived Farm Fourch. Got a place to sleep in a very dirty but dry farm building. Got a small charcoal fire going and made tea 鈥� our Xmas eve. Also got a buckshee box of rations and had a slice of pudding from it and chocolate. Leg very painful. When I got into bed had uncontrollable teeth chattering much to everyone鈥檚 amusement.

Friday 25th December Christmas Day
What a contrast to other Christmas days I have spent in the army and out of it. I could not help thinking all day of what might be going on at home. S.C. took me down to ADS for them to have a look at my leg. Saw Capt Campbell. Laughed over vaccination.. Had a look at it and pronounced OK. Had to start to walk back. Two Tunisian refugees from Medjiz staying at same farm as us gave me a ride back in their cart. Set up office in side of office truck.

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