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The stiff fighting to gain Tunis continues in difficult conditions and sometimes with tragic consequences…

Monday 1st March
Learnt today of death of Ken Hayward and Jack Cochrane, at present unconfirmed. El Aroussa cleared up and situation better. This evening Capt Marriot 7th Iniskillins stuck his head through my tent. Had a long talk with him. Apparently Ben Barrett now Capt in Cameroon Highlanders. Great hearing someone from Cambridge talk.

Tuesday 2nd March
Not much to report today. Still some enemy stuff coming back. This afternoon enemy place flew over HQ and this time the guns had a crack at him. He was smoking and was losing height. I thought he was going to crash, O’Laughlin was at the guns. He held his fire until the last. The plane apparently was not badly damaged and managed to make it over the ridge. Everyone had a go at him.

Wednesday 3rd March
Today I went and had a look at enemy stuff captured at Steamroller Farm. Frank was in charge. The two 88 mm and 2 20mm guns, also 2 Volkswagens and large semi track and small half track were interesting. He has a hell of a monopoly of stuff down there. There is a small cemetery of 10 RB’s at Sidi Ayed.

Thursday 4th March
Skins put in an attack 18.00 on Basha and Pt 286 apparently it got too dark to tackle the latter. They did very well, only having two men slightly wounded. I hear Bill Daly is lost after a most heroic effort to storm Slop Farm after artillery had had a crack at it. Apparently the artillery had not hit the farm, it all landed in front. Great shame. Daly apparently wounded and a German finished him off with 3 shots at point blank range. This from Sgt Nutter via Terry O’Connor. He also told me of McAleen’s exploits with the telephone cable to Gribana. Amazing man, Absolute contempt of the enemy. Read papers from Susan .

Saturday 6th March
A nice even day without much bother. Got summary done by 12.30. German magnetic anti-tank mine came in today. Damned ingenious affair. Mr Howells…quite an expert on enemy stuff thank goodness came and explained to us the affair. Nearly caught Maxie, now a Brigadier, tonight. He looked much the same as usual. At last got my stripes etc sewn on my tunic, about a month after I had the suit which is the best fitting I have ever had in the army. Got a NAFFI issue, beer, cigs, soap, razor blades and chocolate tonight. Negotiations with our friends in the French unit produced some oranges, tomorrow I hope. 10 frs a kilo- we ordered 300kg.

Sunday 7th March
Our friends the French produced an enormous stack of oranges for us. I had to go and thank the Adjudant Chef for his kindness. We issued them with NAFFI stuff. Six per man, most marvellous oranges. Also managed to get a bottle of beer and Smudger Smith’s good tobacco issue — quarter pound of Player’s medium. Weather improving. Wore my new suit today, marvellous feeling.

Tuesday 9th March
Battle still going on up north. Though we have given some ground we are holding them well. Stewart came down this morning and gave us the inside picture. This evening had a job with Jackie Mitchell to take some Arabs for interview at FSP. Called at Division and saw Stewart. Rough ride but got there. Arabs proved quite friendly and I gave them tea and cigs before they left. Got stuck in middle of convoy going back and did not like to get the truck to take me down so walked in…. letters from Susan waiting for me. Still not enlightening about Susan’s mother but fear the worst.

Thursday 11th March
Fighting still going on in the north. In the south Rommel is attacking but has lost 50 tanks so far.

Friday 12th March
Minefield farm attacked by 6 Inniskillins. Inflicted casualties and made a PoW. Changes over, now certain . When we don’t know, but soon.

Saturday 13th March
Ahmed, the Arab employed on the farm here has go into hot water and has got the sack. A terrific scene — fight etc and Ahmed, family, donkeys and fowls depart for farm just next door. His henchman has apparently taken his job, and Ahmed his. Cause of trouble? Supposed to have been his reluctance to work but I think it is more likely explained by the number of eggs the farmer has lost lately and which we have been having for breakfast! All this week we have had them.

Sunday 14th March
We expect to be relieved tonight by 3 IB. Had I.O. up last night for handing over. It has poured with rain all day and I wonder if we shall move. Today Sgt(Mareschal de Logis) Minet came in to say farewell to us.. He is leaving for Oran as he has had rheumatism badly for some time. Before leaving he presented me with the lanyard of the Croix de Guerre. We exchanged photographs and sentiments and I also gave him a souvenir of the Boche, a German set of picquet cards and a cigarette lighter. Rained heavily during pm and move fortunately postponed for us although Ins went.

Monday 15th March
Much tearing about and this afternoon spent packing up — it gets worse. Moved off eventually at 19.00 Between Gafour and Teb Jack Lloyd got a flat in his back tyre so dumped it. The rear wheel of the recce car came off just in front of me and nearly caught me. Eventually arrived at destination neat Testoum and got bedded down at rear of farmhouse by 04.00.

Tuesday 16th March
Up at 08.00 organising office left to Jimmy. Left at 11.00 with Mr Hall Arrive Teb and saw Tom Charlesworth who gave me 2 pairs of socks and a towel also a pair of gloves. Left Teb arrived Le Krib for NAFFI stores. Shut. Had dinner outside and had a walk around place. Saw Arabs having rodeo with a donkey. Got NAFFI stores (and whisky!) and set off for El Aroussa. Picked up two French soldiers. Enquired Stn but Adjutant Chief had already taken all our stuff to our old HQ including pig. So went there. No arrangements had been made for killing the pig, so I had to make hasty arrangements with Baldwin at Division to come down. Also hot water etc. The new Brigade did not make it a lot easier for us and after much tearing around, ably assisted by Md L Gabriel and his boys the pig was duly dispatched and cleaned. Frank Thornton came down with him and gave a hand. Got it all on the truck — wine, dates and pig, after dark and then took Frank and Baldwin back to Division. On way back ran into a lot of fog and eventually got back at 23.00 to find no food and nobody about. Had to wash pig and hang it up outside cookhouse by ourselves. Found three letters waiting from home when I got back explaining Susan’s mothers passing and funeral.

Wednesday 17th March
St Patrick’s day. Cooking pig proceeding. The little room we had occupied had to be vacated so back to the old tent. Turned out very hot today. Received parcel of 200 Senior Service and toilet requisites from Susan, and 200 Players and tobacco from Mum and Dad! NAFFI issue today also went to Division, wrote Susan.

Thursday 18th March
Received 4 ozs No Name from Susan! Wrote Grandad. Went to Division in evening. Pig now declared off. Bloody fools only partly cooked it yesterday and consequently when started cooking today the meat went bad. Anyway, we enjoyed the dates (Washed by Mr Hall in permanganate solution!)

Friday 19th March
This afternoon went to 36 and 142. Saw Bert Bush, Stan Farley(now married and hoping to become a father in May) Jack Jaxlis now L/Cpl i/c recovery tanks. It was damned good to see them all. Mason now at OCTU Wilson and Ken Page still with the boys. The adjt, wondered who the hell I was and I thought I was right up the creek but discovered later that he joined after I had left! Hope to get back to see them later.

Saturday 20th March
This afternoon went down to Teb. Curious whilst waiting for Bill M saw party of Arabs waiting at a house which they all crowded round. They were driven back by the whips and sticks of the local gendarmes (the one I saw at Blue Barn) The Arabs were pretty reticent to do anything about moving.

Sunday 21st March
This evening Captain Greydon came up and we had a service in the big horse shed. A good service liked by all. Great fellow, Greydon, keen on getting discussions going if we get back into a reserve area. I like has approach to the matter and after war conditions.

Monday 22nd March
This morning Capt Lowry brought along Capt Allen , GSO III Cam. And introduced me to him. He was staggered when I said I had already met him at Farnham Dec ’41. Afterwards we got on well and I have now got the support … Cam in this joint. Following his visit I had a long talk with Capt.Lowry on organisation and hope to get things going.

Tuesday 23rd March
Got going on Cam Lectures this morning to Def.Pl. They seem interested. It has now turned out very hot and we are attired in shirt sleeves. It very conveniently gets cool in the evening and early morning. This evening Frank Thornton came in to say cherrio to us. We had a spot of whisky on it, Jack Lloyd also came in. It will be queer losing Frank and Robbie. Al the old 210 are going too. Frank was with us right from the beginning in the old Came(?) Down days.

Thursday 25th March
Continues to warm up Cam lectures going on well. This evening the business of the missing ration pack came to a head and a made an arrangement with Q to fix it but on consulting Bobby (Capt Lowry) he advised against it and we had to unfix everything incl. The CSM. Much soft soap.

Friday 26th March
The balls up I made over the ration pack is settling itself, I think. CSM seemed to be quite calm about it. Hope it clears up. Spoke to Ted Baker on the phone. Went down to A Ech on my new BSA. Goes OK. On route paid a visit to Ted Baker. He looked like a Negro. Shaven head and very brown. Only been out here a fortnight. Good to see him. Down at A Ech happened to bump into Len Page and another chap (Q.M.S clerk, now a Sgt) Stanley Beaumont now RQMS. Had a long talk with him. Must try to see more of them. … Had 2nd anti typhus inoculation this evening. Afterwards tried to fix a French civvies car — Smudger ultimately got it going. Had a long talk with DCA unit here who ultimately entertained me in their shed for a couple of hours on wine and some other pernicious liquor which was quite good.

Sunday 28th March
Garnishing comuflage nets this morning — quite a good class. Got 4 nets done well. I think Dick Brocklesby must be out here now as I see 81 AT are here. Must try and contact him. At teatime this p.m. we saw a cloud of smoke going up near the cactus. Nobody took much notice and ten everyone ran for it. It turned out to be Levin’s truck on fire! Whole top of truck burnt out including rifle! Rounds in the magazine went off. I was going over when I realised that I had seen quite a lot of Z5’s on board that truck. Fortunately they had all been taken off. Levin was the most amazed of all. This evening we were subjected to a severe storm. I have just picked off my bed an enormous toad! This afternoon we got another tortoise, a very fast one which seemed to upset our old one and he betted the smaller newcomer all over the place. It was most amusing until they got to using their jaws.

Monday 29th March
Today was spent packing up our chattels once more. Our truck gets worse. I rode and decided to get Jimmy on a spare bike. We started off at 19.00 . As we started a big rat jumped off the truck and another on the drive. We got to Teb. Before it really got dark. From there onwards it was a devil. My last encounter with this road was the worst I have had and this one was not much better. Just before we got to Thiban I hit a soft muddy verge and the bike shot from under me. Fortunately Jimmy riding just behind me managed to escape hitting me. I was undamaged and so was the bike. We eventually arrived at our destination at 23.00. Had a walk round with Chalky and warmed everyone up with a nip of whiskey I had. Then I lost RL(Capt Lowry) so decided to get some sleep too. Jimmy and I rolled ourselves up in the unerected tent and went to sleep. At about 04.00 RL woke me up and we all started erecting the tent and getting established. At about 06.00 I went round posts etc with RDR and got everyone well camouflaged. There is a terrific improvement in parking and everything this time. The farm is a very big one and obviously a rich owner.

Tuesday 30th March
Settling in most of the day, and trying to do 101 jobs. Capt Lowry very trying too with lots of suggestions etc. Had a bit of a row and won the point.

Wednesday 31st March
Managed to get some eggs for breakfast. The garden here is very good with good vegs and artichokes. Many rabbits in pens, dogs and marvellous horse. They look fine when the let them out for their exercise. The oxen are the best I have seen in this country. The weather is far from good — wind and rain. Went for bath today. Just as I was going saw a motor cyclist coming up the drive who turned out to be none other than L/Cpl Bill Dunster. Jest before he got to me he slipped and landed on his stomach at my feet. Despite his ill arrival he was in the best of spirits and he stayed to dinner with us. He changeth not. Now occupies a flat in Beja.

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