- Contributed by听
- Gordon Macmillan
- People in story:听
- GUNNER J.MACMILLAN 49TH L.A.A 90TH BATTERY
- Location of story:听
- ON BOARD SHIP, AND FIRST DAYS IN TUNISIA
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A3828350
- Contributed on:听
- 24 March 2005
FRIDAY 27/11/42
REVEILLE 06.30, QUEUING FOR WASH AND MORE QUEUES FOR BREAKFAST.
HAD LOOK AROUND THE SHIP, BEEN PASSENGER LINER(SPANISH) CAPABLE OF 24 KNOTS AND ABOUT 24,000 TONS, ABOUT 3500 TROOPS ABOARD AND QUEUING UP FOR EVERYTHING, EVEN FOR THE W.C.
SATURDAY 28/11/42
STARTED TO SAIL BETEWEEN 1 AND 2 pm, GOT UP AT 6.30AM AND ON DECK AFTER BREAKFAST, COUNTED ABOUT 30 SHIPS IN TOTAL, INCLUDING 5 DESTROYERS AND 1 CORVETTE,HEADING DUE WEST
SUNDAY 29/11/42
LAST LAND WE SAW WAS WEST COAST OF IRELAND, RUMOUR IS WE ARE BOUND FOR ALGIERS.IN BED AT 7.30PM ,NOTHING TO DO.
MONDAY 30/11/42
ESCORTS DROPPED DEPTH CHARGES,STILL QUEUING FOR EVERYTHING,ORGANISATION STILL LOUSY,BIGGEST WORRY IS KEEPING GANGWAYS CLEAN FOR THE COLONEL WHO IS TOO OLD TO LIVE!
SATURDAY 5/12/42
ARRIVED IN MED, KEEPING CLOSE TO SPAIN
JUST BEEN TOLD WE ARE GOING TO ALGIERS AND JOINING 1ST ARMY
SUNDAY 6/12/42
LANDED AT ALGIERS, 8.15 AM,EVERYONE QUITE EXCITED, POPULATION LOOK HALF STARVED BUT GLAD TO SEE US, MAKE A FORCED MARCH, APPROX 10 MILES, AND EVERYONE NEAR STARTING A MUTINY, LANDED AT REST CAMP AT 21.00AND BEAT TO THE WILD, FILLED UP WITH ORANGES.
MONDAY 7/12/42
STARTED MARCH TO DEPOT,4 MILES AFTER NIGHT UNDER STARS, EVERYTHING RINGING WET AND ABOUT FROZEN TO DEATH
FRIDAY 18/12/42
JUST RECEIVED ORDERS TO MOVE UP TO THE LINE
SATURDAY 19/12/42
LOADED IN CATTLE TRUCKS, 30 MEN IN EACH,STARTED OUR JOURNEY TO FRONT LINE.
MONDAY 21/12/42
ARRIVED AT 8PM, AT A PLACE CALLED QUED GAP, JUST BEEN BOMBED, SLEPT IN MARKET SQUARE
TUESDAY 22/12/42
LEFT BY LORRY FOR FRONT LINE, ARRIVES AT B.H.Q. AT 8.30PM, SLEPT IN BARN
( THIS TIES UP WITH WAR DIARY ENTRY FOR 22/12/42 " 90- BTY MOVED FORWARD TO A FARM SOUTH OF MEDJEZ EL BAB")
24/12/42
PLENTY OF AIR RAIDS, MOVED OUT TO JOIN DET,SITE NEXT TO YANKEE FIELD ARTILLERY WHO ARE SENDING PLENTY OVER.
GOT FIRST TASTE OF JERRY SHELLING, MOVED OUT DURING NIGHT.
AUTHORS NOTE..................
ALL THIS IS ON A SMALL PAPER MEMO PAD ABOUT 2" X 1 " PROVIDED BY ERNEST NEWTON AND CO, OIL BLENEDERS AND CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS, OF HOLT ST BIRMINGHAM,7,
TEL ASTON CROSS 1355 ,WHY NOT TRY A DRUM XXL 1/10 SHILLINGS A QUART, 38 SHILLINGS(拢1.90) FOR A 10 GALLON DRUM
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