大象传媒

The flimsy empty petrol tin had their use. Tin-plate was in demand by the workshop for repairs and miscellaneous fabrications.

The official water ration was one gallon per day for all purposes. This went to the kitchen who would issue what was left after cooking and cups of tea. There was precious little water to spare for washing.

The Company made water filters from empty petrol can. Some small holes punched in the bottom were covered with a piece of cloth and the can then filled with sand. Four soldiers would pool their weekly allowance of washing water. They would take it in turns each day to go first. After a wash and shave the basin was emptied into the filter. Moments later the water flowed back to the basin as clear as crystal. The process could be repeated for 7 days before the smell of the filtered water became intolerable. The water was then relegated to a vehicle radiator and the whole filter, tin and all, was thrown away.

This story was submitted to the people鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of Alan Jones, the late Bill Harvey and Bob Borthwick. It is a transcript of his own diary and several interviews. He gave written permission for the material to be edited and published.

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