- Contributed byÌý
- newcastlecsv
- People in story:Ìý
- Alistair Mackintosh
- Location of story:Ìý
- Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A5530925
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 05 September 2005
I was commissioned into the Kings Own Scottish Borders in 1940 and I joined a battalion in 1941 and then went into Abyssinia.
I was 11 stone when I started in March and I was eventually reduced to 8 stone — skin and bones.
There were very little rations; I remember having to share on tin of corn beef between two people and 1st world war biscuits
We took 1000s of prisoners and we had to feed them, which made it harder. We did liberate Italian rations at one point.
I also remember contracting Malaria and I spent 10 days in hospital at Addisababa. A screen was drawn around the bed and I found out later that they were not expecting me to survive. People were tougher back then and after living in the open, I pulled through.
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