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The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Arthur Cope, R. A. (T. A.) and Richard A. Cope.


It was October 23rd, 1942, and we were on full action stations. It was pitch dark and deadly quiet as we waited and waited. Then suddenly there was a tremendous roar and the skies were lit up as the hundreds of guns fired salvo after salvo in the desert. Yes, we were at El Alamein and as we watched the terrible onslaught that belched from the artillery, we little realised that this was to be 'the beginning of the end' for Field-Marshall Rommell and his army. Admittedly the end was still a long way off and many battles were still to be fought, but at long last the Allied armies were on the offensive.
Our anti-aircraft guns were often in action during the next few weeks as we advanced with the Eighth Army under the leadership of General Sir Bernard Montgomery. What a great commander he was and he inspired all who served under him.
Eventually we arrived at Tripoli and positioned our guns around the harbour to give protection to the ships that could now bring supplies direct to the troops. We were often in action but, for a change, we were not moving every few days.
However, all good things come to an end. Once more our unit was detailed to return to Alexandra - that very long tiring journey from Tripoli, of about 1,200 miles. Shortly after arriving in that city we again boarded a ship for a secret destination. What a surprise we had when we arrived. We were back in Tripoli!
We disembarked and proceeded to a transit camp to await further instructions. A couple of days later I accompanied our commanding officer to H.Q. to await orders. I was there as a high-grade cypher specialist. We chatted with other personnel, including a major from the Royal Engineers. Eventually orders arrived. We were to set sail the following morning.
We landed on the beaches of Salerno in Italy on D-Day-plus-one and immediately came under heavy attack from enemy artillery. We 'dug in' our anti-aircraft guns and prepared to repel any enemy air attacks.
The following day I was standing by my gun when I heard a voice say: "Hello, sergeant. We meet again." It was the major from the Royal Engineers who had been with me in Tripoli only a few days previously. He looked totally dejected and I asked him what was troubling him.
He then told me that at the time we had received orders to embark, he had got similar instructions. He was in charge of a road-making unit and so he immediately got all his heavy equipment loaded on to the landing craft that was to take them to Salerno.
However, at the last minute, the order was rescinded and all the road-making gear had to be unloaded to be replaced by 'more vital' supplies for the American Fifth army, of whom we were now a part. The major, however, had been permitted to make the voyage to the beach, but without his unit.
"What were the vital supplies that had taken precedence over yours?" I asked. His reply certainly shocked me. The major said: "D-Day-plus-one and road making equipment is of paramount importance if we are to advance quickly. But, this has been down-graded in urgency to be replaced by A MOBILE BATH UNIT for the American Army!"
The major convinced me that he was speaking the truth but to this day I often think I must have been dreaming!

Continued.....
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