大象传媒

As it had been rather a long time since the North Africa campaign had concluded at Cap Bon, the 21st / 25th Tank Brigades were still on the outskirts of Bone( Annaba ) in Algeria, not doing a lot but nevertheless in first class order and up to date with training and all the rest of the activities which makes up a good fighting outfit. At least we all thought so, and so it was with no surprise that we learned of orders to depart Africa and wend our way to Italy.

This was not received too well as all of knew that there was a great deal of fighting going on in that vicinity and people were being hurt etc. as we all listened to the nine o鈥檆lock news from the 大象传媒 with Alvar Liddell and his chums.
They were daily telling us of some of the horrors going on in Italy, which didn鈥檛 do anything for our ideas of longevity鈥� or anything else ! We knew however that there were not too many Tank Brigades as heavy as our 鈥渉eavy mob鈥� and so there was an acceptance of the fact that we were needed over in Sunny Italy.

There was the usual to-ing and fro-ing from the Squadron Office and the SSM was seen to be running, at one point towards the Regimental H/Q Office, so we knew it was serious.

Soon we were given our tasks and I found myself on the Rearguard party, to load all of the regimental vehicles onto a transport ship, then find another troopship and join the others in Italy. My joy was short lived when I found myself in a Canadian Built Armoured Car for which I had no knowledge trying to start up and join the queue to be lifted onto the freighter. There was no starter button鈥︹�� at least not one that I could see as I pressed everything on the dashboard with absolutely no joy whatever. All of a sudden a slight movement of a piece of aluminium gave me an idea, on pushing this to one side I beheld a starter button . This I pushed with some delight and listened to an immediate sound of a rather powerful engine shake both me and the Armoured Car !

We had lift off - as they say to-day, and I joined the others in the line up. This loading went on for some three days before we finally embarked on our Mediterranian cruise to the port of Naples. On arrival we noted that we were walking down the side of a sunken ship with less than robust railings to stop us from sliding into the less than clean waters of the port. We were welcomed to Italy by two bare footed urchins who sang 鈥淎mapola:鈥� better than many Opera Stars who have tried it. They were well rewarded for their efforts ! That same day we joined the rest of the regiment at spot between Caserta and Casorio
Where we were asked 鈥� what have you done with the 60 odd Tanks and other vehicles which the C.O. has signed for and is liable to pay if they are not found.鈥�

-- 2 --
Happily the Regimental vehicles were found entering the port of Taranto, many miles to the south and so a driving and commanding party was organised to bring them back to us . All fine and dandy鈥�. Unfortunately we then moved before the Tanks caught up with us and so a certain amount of steam was observed emitting the SSM鈥檚 ears !

We finally caught up with our tanks as we were now settling into a camp in Lucera just North of the massive Foggia airfields and close to the Canadian 1st Division with whom we were to support in the next battle or battles as the case may be ! This was a very good thing as they had some support vehicles which were hot showers and underwear exchange units and so we were allowed to use this facility when the need arose which it seemed to be at every opportunity.!
As we were training with the 2nd brigade, mainly the Seaforths of Vancouver
It was obvious that a great deal of bombing was going on up North as the giant Liberators were taking off first thing in the morning and returning in the evening.

One day as we were watching the return in formation with a disabled plane in the centre of a group of nine planes, obviously being assisted home, he suddenly reared up, hit another plane which in turn hit a third and all three crashed to the ground narrowly missing some more of their squadron. There was nothing we could do for the thirty six men in those planes but send a scout car to mark the remains , a tragic end to a fine day.

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