大象传媒

This contribution was submitted by Bill Spry to the People's War team in Wales and is added to the site with his permission.

When operating in the jungle we received supplies of food and ammunition by air drop. When a drop was due a code made from strips of white material would be displayed in a clearing. The plane, usually a Dakota, would then make the drop. Most items came down by parachute but some staples such as rice were doubled bagged and they were just pushed out of the plane.

One day I was supervising the collection. The plane came over very much off course and dropped its cargo. A large sack of rice landed inches away from me, making a hole about nine inches deep in the ground. I left the area very quickly.

On another occasion the powers that be gave us a special treat. As well as the usual hard tack and tinned stuff they dropped fresh white bread and cartons of lovely frozen beef steaks. These were just about thawed by the time we go them. As none of this would keep we ate like lords for two days. Sadly they never repeated this bountiful offering.

On another occasion, instead of the usual single Dakota, five of them cam over each dropping a full load of supplies. As we were limited to what we could carry we had to leave most of the stores behind. I do not know if someone made a serious mistake or there were troops in the area we did not know about.

In June 1945 we were informed that our air drops would cease as all Dakotas were required for a major operation elsewhere. Because of this the Division had to return to base camp. Shortly after this I was informed that I was due for Repatriation having served four years and one month overseas.

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