大象传媒

Reminicences of Private SA Chappell no 1891907
I was called up on 15th Dec 1939 Received my papers along with a summons for obstructing the causeway talking to 2 birds on the 'monkey run'!- fined 5 shillings !
Went from thorne south to Derby friend John Smith went further south, arrived at Derby put in private billets near rolls royce, was square bashing on the street with blisters on my feet !
Missed France, on a draft for Norway but cancelled. moved to to Donnington park (now east midland airport) from there to Liverpool and overseas.
On 26000 tonne Strathaird... in 22 troop carrriers in convoy. 1 destroyer escort, subs were after us but sunk a sub ! Zig zagging to divert the subs. 5 weeks at sea calling at Freetown and Capetown. Landed at Port Tenefick (suez canal ) Eygypt then sent to Haifa Palestine in october 1940. sent on to Pireus, Greece where we went reconoitaring the roads with an officer over mount olympus 300 miles from athens. Officer broke ankle. Had to find my way to athens...reported missing at home.
Evacuated from Greece in a 500 tonne boat with no lifejackets and no shells. 200 onboard to crete. Stuka dive bombers waiting at Suda bay. No allied fighters !Stukas lining up to dive bomb us.Living in slit trenches where i got crabs !.got out of crete the day before they dropped paratroopers. Sailed to Alexandria (eygypt) Back to Haifa then to transjordan vally a place called Jisr el Majami 850 feet below sea level. Railhead for the scuffle with vichy french in syria, then back to Haifa.
Called up for the invasion of sicily, invasion troops went in at 6.30 am we went in at 9.30 pm.There were 20 in our mob with Colonel Sief of marks and spencers our CO. Took over the Port of Syrausa.
Next Italy by train to Naples from there to Caserta allied forces HQ as filing clerk for top secret signals.
Then home after 4 years abroad (via Edinburgh releasing bay).. my time was up !

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