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Charley Pocock’s War

Compiled from diaries
By Rodney Pocock

CHAPTER I

The 24th August 1939 was a bad day for me, up to then life had been carefree and happy, but from then on life altered beyond my control. It was in addition, Derek's birthday, one, which I shall never forget; today he is also on my mind. I know that Kit will do everything possible for him and her advice will be every bit as good as mine to him, but nevertheless I cannot help feel that I am neglecting him at his most important time of his life, I feel that I have let both Kit and him down through being in the position that I am today. What the result will be only time will tell. I had thought quite a lot about the boy's future and it was my intention that firstly they should have a better education than I had, I had not decided what to put them to, although in my own mind I didn't want them to be soldiers; I cannot say anything against soldiering, but it is a hard life, especially after a good home life, which I consider I had, although I was too young to realise it at the time. However I was lucky and got through the hard period, but if it could be avoided I did not want my boys to go through this unnecessary hardship, then came the 24th August 1939.

I heard the motorcyclist long before he reached my quarter, and knew what it meant, mobilize, it didn't worry me at first because I had done it twice before and everyone knew exactly what to do, I was of the opinion that nothing would come of it as on previous occasions but as the day wore on and orders we received to get ready to move so my spirits got lower and lower and the more worried I became, I was thinking of Kit and the boys; if war was to break out what would happen to them, it wasn't as if they were in their own country, supposing Italy came into the war and made for the Canal what would happen to them. With all these thoughts in my head I had to remain on duty, when I wanted to be home with them, it was Derek's birthday and he was having his party. Eventually orders came down for us to move, I had to go home and tell Kit, and how downright miserable I felt about it all, should I ever see them again was my chief worry. That night we entrained and went off and to make matters worse I had an attack of lumbago, that small train was, I thought, the worst one could experience, but since then I have suffered much worse.

At Suez we were destined to remain for almost 12 months, life was a semi peace and war type, and very early on I missed my home comforts, but fortunately I was able to get home once a fortnight for 48 hours, and how I used to look forward to those visits, I used to live from one fortnight to another. food I missed greatly, although that issued was good; it could in no way compare with what I was used to. The lack of home comforts hit me hard, after so many years of married bliss; the lack of privacy came so very strange. My first bed was on the railway platform, my second on the Pilgrims Quay, the third was in an old store together with about 70 troops and the fourth eventually in the Officers Mess but not before a 12 month had elapsed. The unit was split up all over Suez, and my job was to maintain good discipline was extremely difficult, there was nowhere that I could go to get away from it all, until I met an extraordinarily kind friend in Joe Buhagier, who permitted me to use his club like a Sergeants Mess. This made a world of difference to me in more ways than one, but my 48 hour leaves were what I looked forward to most If the war had continued in this manner, it would have been a good war, but such was not the case, some time in May or June 1940 it was decided to move ail the families, this came as shock to me, and all kinds of thoughts went through my head. It was one of the most unpleasant jobs one could wish for to assist in moving of the families, if I ever see them all again. The scenes at Moascar and Kantara are ones that I am not likely to forget The families were off to Jerusalem and so war became more like war, I could not keep my mind off what was likely to happen to them, and inclined to blame myself for having them in the country, but then aerial warfare commenced, I was pleased once again that they were at least for the present in a safe place, but how I missed my fortnightly trip. I walked back through the Married Quarters during the evening on which the families departed, it was like a cemetery, I looked at my old quarter of which Kit and I had thought so much and had spent so many happy days. So back to Suez, I have many memories of this place, not so much with the town itself; because seldom did I go out, but of the different people I met and the acquaintances I made. A thing I shall always remember was the departure and return of the pilgrims to Mecca in the ship called Lan Zum, which was the old troopship Leicestershire and was eventually sunk in Mid Atlantic.

Our orders for active service arrived on 15th August 1940, the CO and I, as acting Quartermaster, which duties I had been carrying out for some time, attended a conference at Middle East HQ at which we received our orders, and they were to be ready to embark at 12 noon on Saturday 18th August 1940 and proceed to............ and there to make a landing to help the Black Watch. This did not sound at all good I knew that I had my work cut out to get the Battalion ready, but on the journey back my thoughts were with Kit and the boys, this appeared to be the last straw, having suddenly to go into action on Saturday without seeing Kit, however duty is duty, and I had a job which kept my time fully occupied. I had the Battalion ready by the time appointed, the warship to carry us arrived, HMS Terror, and then the order was cancelled, I was relieved, and for once had an evening off. A few days later I was ordered to prepare a meal for the returning Black Watch whom I knew very well because they came out on the same troopship, HMT Nevassa from England. They suffered only a few casualties; I managed to give them a good meal for old time sake. About this time orders came for the families to proceed to South Africa, I managed to get 7 days leave to Jerusalem, with Kit and the boys. I was sorry to see how they where living, it must have a been a rotten time for Kit, but looking back she was doing the best she could under the circumstances. I cannot say I enjoyed myself, it wasn’t a leave on which one could look for enjoyment Our minds were far too full to think of enjoyment It was likely to be the last time that we would see each other and it came to an end all too soon. I returned to Ismailia, the journey being a nightmare, on arrival I walked through the Married Quarter area, the garden of which Kit and were so proud was in a shocking state. After a short while the families moved to South Africa, I was able to get to Kantara to see Kit and the boys, but I could only see her for a short while. Kit gave me a letter on this occasion, which I treasured, but unfortunately had it taken away from me when I was captured, by that time it was well worn and had been a great comfort to me. I had to take my last farewell in the railway carriage and how very down we felt I can still visualize the look on Kits face as we parted.

Chapter 2

The next few days were horrible for me, I had more work to do man was necessary and that kept my mind occupied. But when it was broadcast over the German radio that they knew of the embarkation of the families and intended to sink the ship, I was dumbfounded, I had plenty to do in the daytime but the nights were dreadful, sleep I could not. In the meantime we moved to Cairo, where we were fitted for the desert. Here it was that I got my first letter from Kit, how jubilant I was that she was safe and comfortable. I had no idea what South Africa was like; her letter put me at ease. Our stay in Cairo was very short, I managed to get out a couple of times to the pictures and once to a cabaret, but I wasn't very interested. I was still missing Kit and the boys so much I wasn't used to being in a town on my own.

At the end of October 1940 or the beginning of November we moved up to Sidi Haneish and occupied a portion of the southern face of the Baggush Box. Here I had a very good dugout which was well sandbagged and sheltered from the sand storms. On the whole I was quite comfortable, I had a good safe store and was able to use a fairly good Officers Mess.

We were moved up for the 1940 push to a place about 30 miles south of Sidi Barani, but did not take a very active part except to collect prisoners by the thousand. For one night only there was nothing between us and the Italian lines, it was on this night that HMS Terror shelled Sidi Barani, the vibration was terrific even the sides of my dugout began to cave in. On the 9th December 1940 we were relieved by the 6th Australian Division, the relief was not carried out as smoothly as expected. I was sent back with my echelon to Sidi Haneish, a distance of about 100 miles, starting early in the morning with instructions to prepare for the Battalion who would move at about 1600 hours, everything was prepared, hot meal, etc in time but no battalion arrived. At 2000 hours I got worried and went to Brigade HQ to find out what was wrong, they got in touch with Army HQ who informed us that the relief would not take place until a day or so later. This meant I had got to return to the Battalion post haste knowing full well that they had no rations for the next day. Hurriedly I collected my convoy together again and at 2300 hours off we went, on reaching Matruh one of the water carts developed a puncture. I told the other vehicles to RV outside of the town. I stayed behind with the water cart and consequently got mixed up in an air raid which was not too pleasant, however we got over this difficulty and continued down the Siwar road, to a track which led across the desert Just as we turned off the road the bombers started up again and at that moment one of the lorries burst into flame. Things became a bit tense for a moment or so but we managed to put the flames out and proceed on our 30-mile desert drive with the damaged vehicle in tow.

It was bitter cold wind a head wind, direction finding was very difficult, I had judged that we should be back in position by daybreak, when that came there was no sign of the Battalion. I thought I was lost, but my luck held good and about 0615 hours came across HQ, they were still sleeping but they were rather pleased to see me. The move took place the following day, quite satisfactorily. We stayed at Sidi Haneish a few days’ then moved back to Ameriah, to refit once again. This put a lot of work on my shoulders, whilst others could go into Alexandria for a bit of recreation, I had to remain in camp.

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