大象传媒

Whilst in Bone, we went on several treks, including one which led us through a large orange-grove, the oranges of which impeded our progress because they were hanging so low that they were actually hitting us on our heads. Needless to say, they were eagerly gathered up by men and hastily stored in their haversacks, until the Officer-in-charge upfront turned round and severely reprimanded those responsible. He did not spare his words, when he reminded them that when in a foreign country, one acts as an ambassador of his own country and so he will be judged. He continued by reminding them that those oranges did not in fact belong to the British Government, but to the French Government.

On a legitimate basis however, we were able to purchase from a nearby convent a kilo each of lemons, which were boxed and sent to our relatives back home in Britain by the nuns. These were highly prized at home, because either they were unobtainable or in very short supply there at that time.

It was not until 52 years later that the reason why we had been detained for those three weeks in Bone became known to me when as a result of an article in a special supplement of the Sunday Expess of 7th May, 1995, in which appeared two small pictures of myself, I then received much feedback from comrades who had seen them, including newspaper cuttings from June, 1943!

Apparently one of our ships behind us when we had landed at Algiers on 17th January, 1943, had been lost, with all of our 25-pounder guns on board! Apparently panic measures were immediately instituted in order to obtain replacement guns from the home country.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.