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1 April 1945 Left boat at 10 am and went to an Army Transit Camp. We were only there a few hours as at 2 pm we were on our way by lorry. Arrived at No 53 PTC at 7 pm and believe me it is no joke to arrive after dark and have to find your billet and cookhouse and lug kit about.

2 April 1945 Left No 53 PTC by lorry en route for San Severo where 682 Squadron are stationed. Travelled in an open lorry but it was a wizard day for the ride. One of the first things that one notices is the roads, which run for miles without a bend. The main streets of the towns we passed through were fairly clean but in the smaller places they were filthy. It looks as though the inhabitants just throw their garbage into the streets and leave it. Arrived San Severo 5 pm and find we are billeted in a large school and it is quite a nice place. Make our way to 336 Wing Sick Quarters, where we are to work, and meet the fellows. Have something to eat and then go round to the bar for a drink. Decide that they drink too much for me.

3 April 1945 After getting fixed up and going to Orderly room, Accounts, etc went to Sick Quarters and started work. There is certainly plenty to do as they have to attend to the personnel of 336 Wing, 682, 683, 680 Squadrons, 360 MU and all of the Army including a lot of newly arrived para-troopers. Do two days from 8 to 5, then one night duty. Friday, Saturday and Sunday we do drome duty from 7.30 to dark. This is a photographic wing with spits, lightnings and Mosquitoes.

They must certainly be getting a pasting up North Italy, as every day and night there are Forts and Libs going over all the time.

There is an ENSA Cinema, with changes of films several times a week, and also a Toc H canteen where one can obtain the usual ‘wads and char’ and the only other places of recreation are the bars of which each Squadron has its own. Most of the local bars are out of bounds.

18 April 1945 Saw the play ‘Someone at the Door’ and it was very good indeed. There were only seven players including one woman.

Section 4

DIARY OF LAC 1497538 WILLIAM ERIC SAVILLE WHILST OVERSEAS
FROM 22 APRIL TO 7 DECEMBER 1945

22 April 1945 What a day. Cpls Rumsey and Sims and myself decide to go to Mafredonia for the day and have a dip in the sea. Left San Sev about 10 and ‘hitched’ to Foggia. From Foggia we got a lift about five miles along the Mafredonia road and then finished the journey by American Red Cross van. Went and had a drink and got all the ‘gen’ as to where to go for a dip from a F/Sgt . Sea too cold for my liking so did not go in. Then we went and had eggs and chips and after a look around decided to get back. After waiting for about half an hour we got a lift for 10 miles and then got back to Foggia by jeep. It took another couple of hitches to finally get back to San Sev. It was certainly a very nice day although it was rather rough. After a good shower I felt much better for having got away from SQ for the day.

Saw a funeral procession and it is rather a weird affair. First there comes a party of men all dressed in white robes and masks with just two eyeholes for them to see through. They are followed by bearers who carry wreaths mounted on wooden frames, which are about six feet high. Then the priest and the coffin and the rear is brought up by a band which plays mournful music. The person’s status can be gauged by the number of people which follow.

8 May 1945 VE Day. Very little in the way of celebration except that several of the boys get ‘Lit Up’ on the local firewater and pouring petrol on the road and setting fire to it.

13 May 1945 The locals celebrated with religious processions, fairs, sports etc. They carried round huge figures of the Madonna etc.

15 May 1945 Saw J B Priestleys’ play ‘Dangerous Corner’ and it was a good show.

12 June1945 On my way for seven days leave at Sorrento, which is a seaside resort in the Bay of Naples. Left San Severo at 8.30 and arrived at Sorrento at 3p.m. There is some really fine scenery on the way over although the road is nerve wracking. One part is called Suicide Hill and I should think that it is distance of about 20 miles. One sees such notices as this: -
‘ARE YOUR BRAKES OK’
‘OTHERS HAVE THOUGHT SO’
‘ALL VEHICLES IN TOP GEAR’
‘DANGER OVER’
The RAF have taken over several hotels as a Rest Camp. There is no bull, one is allowed to walk around without a hat and as long as one has got some clothes on no one bothers. Sorrento is much cleaner than most Italian towns and the people are much friendlier than in San Severo. The bathing is really wizard and the only thing about is that the sun is too hot. After seven days of it I lost all the skin from my back. While on leave I went into Naples to try and locate our Roland and after making enquiries from MPs found that his Unit had moved to Nola. Decided to go there and see if I could find him. No luck, as when I arrived was told at the Town Major’s Office that his Unit had moved the previous week. Returned to Naples and went to the Malcolm Club for the night but arrived too late to get a bed so had to spend the night in an easy chair. Decided to go back to Sorrento by electric train and then hitch-hike from Castelemarro. Have never been so tightly packed in a train before as we were packed in like sardines in a tin.

21 June 1945 Leave finished and back again to San Severo.

6 July 1945 SMO says we can take his truck and go for a day to Mafredonia. Mac drove and we arrived about 1 pm after calling on the way at the Malcolm Club. Had about three hours by the sea. On the way back called at Foggia Main to pick up a Sanitary ‘wallah’ from AHQ Caserta.

7 July 1945 Truck going to Rodi to take Sgt on leave. Several of the fellows did not want to go. What a trip. Willie driving, and the road is fairly hectic. Just about half way there we had a puncture and of course no tools to change the wheel, so we had to wait for a truck to come along. Luckily a truck came driven by W/Cmd Walker who used to be SMO 336 Wing and we soon had the wheel changed. Had about five hours by the sea and the beach is very nice and it is possible to wade out about 30 yards without getting out of one’s depth. 5 pm — start back again and once again on the halfway mark have another blowout. In a proper fix, as we have no spare. Luckily a truck comes along going to San Severo and Jimmy and Paddy go on it and send back repair gang with spare. After a three hour wait in one of the most desolate parts of the road have to come back in the dark and have several narrow shaves through unlighted horses and carts.

8 July 1945 Day off and nothing to do so spend biggest part of day in bed.

9 July 1945 Get the ‘gen’ that the RAF are going to start a leave scheme to ‘blighty’ 14 days. Shall have to be amongst the first batch or I shall miss it as fellows with only six months to do are not eligible.

21 July 1945 Good news. Am going on 14 days ‘blighty’ leave. To go to 56 PTC tomorrow.

25 July 1945 Left San Severo at 8.30 am by the Sorrento truck arrived at 56 1.30 pm. Get fixed up with billet and bed.

27 July 1945 Still at PTC waiting ‘gen’ to get moving. Nothing to do but lie on bed and go to the flicks at night. Going tomorrow.

28 July 1945 Rise and shine at 4 am. Breakfast 4.30. Leave at 6.30. Train leaves Naples 7.30. We are on the first stage of the journey home and at the pace the train is moving and the number of stops, we are in for a long time. Journey not very interesting and we go via Caserta, Casino, Rome Ferli, Bologna and Rimini. Have a stay of 6 hours at Bologna and allowed to go into the town. Very nice place, but most of the shops are closed as it is Sunday afternoon. Went a tour round the town and visited the NAAFI and had a few ice creams.

30 July 1945 Arrive Milan 6.30 am having taken 47 hours to do the trip of about 600 miles. Go to ‘X’ PTC and billets very good. This is a good thing as it turns out that we are to be here for five days. Hope I have made contact with our Roland. Met a driver who belongs to his ‘mob’ who although he does not know him is going to take a note and try to deliver it for me. Roland comes down with his truck about 7 pm and we go to his billet. He has not altered much being a bit fatter, but recognised him. We went to a village near his billet and stayed until 9.30 as I had to be back by 10 pm.

31 July 1945 Not allowed out of camp.

1 August 1945 Roland comes up several times and we make the arrangement that if I am able to get out I will make my way down to his place and we will have a night out in Milan.

2 August 1945 Allowed out of camp and I have a bit of luck in getting a lorry, which is going all the way to Roland’s place. By the time we arrive in Milan all the shops are closed so I cannot do any shopping. Milan is a very modern place and all the people appear to be well dressed. The Cathedral is one of the finest buildings that I have seen on the Continent. We go the NAAFI and Church Army Canteens and finish up with a drink.

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