大象传媒

Progress by the Fifth Army, up the west coast of Italy, was extremely slow. When each mountain crest was cleared, another lay behind it.

If Rommel had proved himself to be a supreme leader in attack, Kesselring was equally good in defence also. It was perhaps fitting that there should be a fierce battle at the southernmost tip of Lake Trasamino. Site of a battle between Hannibal and the Romans more than a thousand years previously.

Tom, Mitch and I had been busy repairing vital radar sets and we were returning to base very tired, after working twelve hours without a break. Understandably, we were delighted when we saw a WVS van serving hot drinks to the troops, quite close to the front.

Unfortunately, all the meals had been eaten and all that was left was a huge bowl of fruit and cream trifle. We each had two ample helpings and then found our way back to our truck. When I took the driving wheel I felt quite queasy and certainly not fit to drive. I climbed into the back of our vehicle and found Tom and Mitch already fast asleep. I felt that the only course i could take was to sleep also. Two hours later we awoke, still a little light-headed.

I lifted my mess tin and put it up to my nose. The lovely cream trifle had been generously laced with strong sherry.

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