大象传媒

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8 September 1943 Received the good news that Italy had capitulated. Hope that this will help to bring the war to a speedy close.

16 December 1943 Once more we pack. This time we are bound for Corsica. Got on the boat and had several days to wait before we set sail. Passed our time by playing cards and sleeping.

22 December 1943 5p.m. A British Mine-Sweeper comes alongside and calls out 鈥楩ollow in my wake, N;-N.E.鈥� and we were off. Just two LST鈥檚 and the Minesweeper composed our convoy. Trip uneventful.
Sighted the coast of Sardinia and it looks a very rugged place.

24 December 1943 Had our Christmas Dinner to day; (Buone). Our own and the American cooks certainly did us well, as we had turkey and all the good things that go with it including a cigar. We also passed through the Straits of Maddaleno and we stayed a few hours although we were not allowed to go ashore.

25 December 1943 Arrived Ajjacio, Corsica, which is the capital. Quite a crowd of people were out to see us unload; spent the night on the quay and it is surprising how one can manage to get a good night鈥檚 sleep even sleeping on the quayside. Went for a walk round the town and met a fellow who was on the same course as me at Harrogate.

27 December 1943 Set out for Bastia. American lorries; Bastia is at the other end of the island about 100 miles away. We certainly made good going as we did the journey in about seven hours. The roads are narrow and go right over the mountains and the scenery is really marvellous being the best I have seen since coming overseas. There are snow-capped mountains with fir trees on either side and streams rushing down. Arrived Bastia about 1700 hours and it took us about an hour to find where 283 Squadron where billeted. At last we found them tucked away in a vinery belonging to a local farmer. Was lucky as we had the Medical Kit with us so I slept on one of the Hospital beds which was a little bit softer than the stone floor. Were not long in the vinery as the C.O. decided that we should be better in tents. The old so and so! Managed to get some of the tents up and moved in. After one night it began to rain and blow and several of the tents were blown down. We moved back again to the barn but the C.O. had made up his mind than we were to go under canvas and under canvas we had to go. He was fixed up all right as he had a flat in Bastia. We had a pyramid tent for the M.I. Room and a marquee for a ward in which we had four beds but it was not a success. Managed to make the tents very comfortable as we had wooden floors, a stove and in the end we got an electric light fixed up. The scenery was simply grand around this place and it was very enjoyable to go for long walks. There was the village of Borgo, which was situated up the mountainside, and it was a very nice walk. The village was the usual dirty place and was very unsanitary.

5 February 1944 New Medical Officer arrives, F/Lt Camm

8 February 1944 F/Lt Wiseman our old Medical Officer left by plane for Algeria.

22 February 1944 Move to a new site not far from the aircrew mess. Medical Officer decides to dispense with the Marquee as a ward. A good job. Go into Bastia about once a week to the pictures, which are organised by the Americans.
There is a YMCA where one can get 鈥榳ads and char鈥�. This has only just been opened.

8 March 1944 Have just been one year overseas and when I think of home it seems a very long time since I left England, and yet when one thinks how many places we have visited the time appears to have passed very quickly.
A football league has been started among the various English Units and 283 have entered a team. After a disastrous first match, which we lost by 13 goals to one, they won all the rest, but we could not finish the whole programme as the Squadron moved. They were in second place when this happened. Had a visit from the No 8 RAF Band.

28 March 1944 Attached to No7 R.S.S. Do not know how I stand here as I am attached to 7 R.S.S. Come under No 1 Base area and am to work at 982 Balloon Squadron Sick Quarters. They have a nice place for Sick Quarters with about 10 beds so we shall not be overworked. Have been doing a bit of gardening and have planted out geraniums etc and also onions, carrots and lettuces. This has been quite a change. Our billet is a bungalow and is situated in Bastia just across the way from the Sick Quarters.

3 April 1944 E.N.S.A. Show in the Regent Cinema. Florence Desmond, Kay Cavendish, Johnny Lockwood etc. This is the best E.N.S.A show I have seen since coming overseas and there was a huge audience every seat being occupied by American and English troops.

8 April 1944 Had a telephone call from the Adjutant telling me to report back to the Squadron. He sent down transport for me.

9 April 1944 On the move again. Left Borgo at 09.20 by Yank truck bound for Ajjacio. We go by the East Coast route as the other route is reserved for priority one traffic. The Americans certainly do move in these trucks and they put the wind up one by the way they take blind corners on such narrow roads. This route has not such nice scenery as the other one over the centre of the island, as it is of a more rugged nature.
We arrived at a tented transit campsite about 1900hrs and get settled. Spent nine days at the camp with nothing to do except go into Ajjacio to the pictures. The town was placed out of bounds for three days owing to clash between the French and the Italians. There were some casualties. Saw then film 鈥� Song of Bernadette鈥� and it is indeed one of the best I have seen.

Section 3

DIARY OF LAC 1497538 WILLIAM ERIC SAVILLE WHILST OVERSEAS
FROM 19 APRIL 1944 TO 18 APRIL 1945

19 April 1944 Sailed from Ajjacio at 1430 hrs; on French boat. When they showed us to our sleeping quarters they were the filthiest I have ever seen and all of us decided to sleep on deck sooner than sleep in those bunks. The conditions were absolutely deplorable, as we had to eat our meals on the deck within smelling range of the latrines, which smelt like sewers. It would not have been so bad if the boat had been crowded, but there was a dining hall which could have seated us all but we were not allowed to use it. The things, which were said about this, do not allow repeating.

20 April 1944. Attacked by torpedo bombers. The plane came in at sea level and although I did not see them myself, was told on very good authority that a torpedo passed down each side of the boat. It was only by the good seamanship of the captain who swung the boat round at the right moment that we managed to get away with it. One feels so helpless in an attack of this kind as one can only keep under cover. The worst part is when it is all over and one begins to wonder whether they will come back again for another go. Luckily for us they did not. Still we went to bed and slept well

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