大象传媒

The following is a faithful transcript of one soldier's memoried, as told to his diary. Lots of people kept wartime diaries, although it's rare to find complete extracts such as this one, which give a flavour of life on the front line and also the distances travelled and places seen, in a time when travel as we know it didn't really exist.

.........................................

Oct 5th

Embarked Liverpool on SS Brontes, 22,000 tons.

Oct 7th

Sailed Monday for Freetown, arrived 11 days later, stayed two and a half days then onto Cape Town. Arrived eight days later, went ashore for 2 days, had a good time, sailed third morning round past Madagascar and mombasa through Gulf of Aden (submarine sunk here) up through Red Sea to Port Suez, arriving after seventeen days. Disembarked six weeks after leaving Liverpool, went by train to Camp Mardi, near Cairo and stayed seven days.

Been into Cairo, many modern buildings, many strange ways surrounding country, very primitive ways, many dirty houses and streets. In the Mardi part, wonderful housing and gardens.

Nov 26th

Moved to Sidi Bish Camp, near Alexandria, had good tents, beds, sheets and lights.

Dec 10th

Started out for desert at 7pm. Travelled, travelling still at 5pm the next afternoon, camped out 37 miles west of Matrue.

Dec 12th

Started on our first job, erecting new pole line route towards Sidi Berani.

Dec 13th

"****" (edited) came over the camp and dropped a few bombs - everyone alright.

Dec 14th

Working from daybreak to sunset, terrible sand storms and very cold at nights and early morning.

Dec 25th

Went looting, no dinner except bully and biscuits

Jan 1st

First lot of mail to reach the section. None for me.

Jan 3rd

Chris and I went as advance party, spending the night of Jan 3rd/4th at Bug Bug. Slept in dug-out, much bombing and shelling but quiet after.
Bardia fell, many thousands of prisoners taken, road blacked with them.

Jan 10th

Recieved first letters from home, from Jock.

Jan 14th

Moved into Gambut, had bad sand storm here and plenty of rain.

Jan 22nd

Tobruk fallen into our hands, town in a bad way, did much repair work from Cupuzza to Tobruk.

Feb 12th

Moved to Derna, lovely town and country, good house to sleep in, the first for four months.

Feb 14th

Moved to Barce through magnificent country. Barce is a quiet place with many arabs and Italian colonists. the Italians were very decent people, very friendly and peaceful but afraid of Arabs who robbed and murdered them. Country very well colonised. Got gifts to send home picked up. Rossaline, Italian prisoner, a willing fellow very content with us.

Feb 21st

Went into hospital at Barce (Dysentry).

Mar 24th

Officer killed by Gerry plane, running at Agedabia.

Apr 3rd

Left Barce 11.20pm for Tobruk, still in hospital, orderly retreat.

Apr 4th

Arrived at Tobruk 4pm, very tired after long trip, got on well with sisters in Tobruk hospital.

To be continued...

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