大象传媒

The capture of Hideous, Longstop and Tanngouche had smashed the enemy鈥檚 final main line of defence before Tunis. Those of us who had been in North Africa from the start of the campaign savoured the sense of euphoria. We had endured the bitter cold winter nights. The persistent rain. Witnessesd the death of gallant comrades. Been shocked by the sight of mates agonising in bloodstained battledress from wounds in legs, arms or abdomen. The sense of victory was mentally intoxicating.
Yankee Flying Fortresses dominated the airspace as they bombed and harassed the retreating German forces. No more would we consolidate on barren mountain or hilltops bereft of habitation. Former fortified bastions of combination of natural formations and German military ingenuity. Tunis, a capital city with people, cafes, shops and bars was waiting for us to liberate it from Nazi oppressors.
Early of Saturday morning May 8th 1943, we climbed into troop carriers and drove poste-haste to Tunis. The Derbyshire Yeomanry had reached the outskirts of Tunis. By the time we arrived they had rounded up the first of the 250,000 troops.
The Royal Inniskillings were the first infantry battalion to enter Tunis. The welcome we received was overwhelming. Young girls and women threw flowers and blew kisses. Salutations filled the air. 鈥淰iva la Churchill. Viva la De Gaulle. Viva la Francis.鈥� As we marched to take up positions on the perimeter of the city, we took pleasure in seeing hundreds of dishevelled, dejected and defeated captured Germans being shepherd to P.O.W. camps.
While we remained in Tunis the Americans and British units swept onto Bizerta and Cap Bon to complete the total liberation of Tunisia. One of the highlights of our time in Tunis was the day when, Ward, who had been taken prisoner on Tanngouche returned to our company. He was aboard a German vessel taking allied troops to Germany. The Royal Navy outside Bizerta reversing the role of captors to captives in intercepted the vessel.
Our victory in North Africa had one drawback. In accordance with the Geneva Convention, the captured 250,000 enemies had to be fed. In consequence for a few days we were on short rations.
I wondered if the Nazi who wanted to take us prisoner on Tanngouche still said, 鈥淔ini Geneva Convention?鈥�

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