大象传媒

letter continued:

I still feel fine and manage to keep cheerful. The latter is easy under the circo. Rations are still O.K. No shortage of water. There are too many wells for the enemy to destroy.
The weather has been queer lately. One day stifling, the next cold. Yesterday and for the last few days a terrible warm wind was blowing. Much worse than a hot sun. Today was very hot, but at 4.30 it simply poured with rain and has been raining intermittently since. One thing the rain will have laid the dust a bit. The drive yesterday was the worst since leaving Egypt. There was a sandstorm blowing and as if that was not enough we had to travel along a track which was about 10 inches deep in soft sand, with a following wind. Much worse than driving through any fog. At times we could not see the vehicle in front, even when we closed to within 6 ft.
This morning Jock and I went climbing up the mountains. We had a wonderful view from the top, could see a wide stretch of the plain, but having no glasses could not see anything of the battle. Of course we were not so much out for the view; we went to see if we could find any loot, without success.
I will leave this my darling and finish it tomorrow, if anything happens. Have just attempted to read this thro. For the life of me I can鈥檛 imagine why you look forward to a long letter as I had great difficulty in reading it myself. However, you must be able to understand it all so it must be O.K. It is a bit late in life to start altering my handwriting.
30-3-43
Just a few more lines. Really the 大象传媒 makes me laugh. Gabes was entered at 11.0 am yesterday by B squadron. Our replenishing echelon went thro at 4.30 pm yet according to the news it was not entered until this morning.
Jerry is on the run well enough now. He did make a bit of a stand today but Old Man Kiwi (NZ鈥檚 name for Freyburg) was up and said 鈥渢hat鈥檚 OK, we鈥檒l soon move them.鈥� A few hours after that we heard gunfire then silence. So I assume the enemy is no longer in possession.
We moved today and are slightly NW of Gabes. Quite close to HQ but I suppose that tomorrow they will be miles away again.
I liked the tripe shouted by that correspondent about the Left Hook. His description of the country was very good, but he was away from the facts on a lot of points. The dust for instance. Evidently he had never travelled with a column in Egypt or Libya. Then the bit about the water. No-one has been short of water any time since we arrived in Tunisia. If they are it is their own fault as there are stacks of wells all over the place.
His description of the scene as the column is on the march was good. It will give you a better idea of conditions than I could. In fact when I get home and try to tell of some of the marches we have done I am quite prepared to be called 鈥楲iar!鈥� This country and the trucks going over it has to be seen to be believed. It is bad enough for us, and tracks are made when we move. God knows what it is like for the cars on patrol.
Had a nice shoot tonight. Just as daylight was fading, planes were heard. Jock and I got on the gun and waited; after a while we spotted 4 210s. They were about 3 miles from us, but perfectly outlined against the sky. We waited for them to get closer as we did so a hell of a barrage went up just where they were. They dived out of it and came towards us, evidently thinking the way was clear. I am afraid they had a shock. First the other gun opened up then Jock. We had a couple of minutes of fun then they were out of range. We did not get any visible results but if those planes got away without a scratch my eyes need testing. One of them flew right into our shells and I am positive we hit him. Unfortunately our gun is not big enough to bring one down unless we have a very lucky hit. Still it was good fun whilst it lasted. It was a lovely sight. All the tracer going up and apparently meeting all around the planes.
This is all for tonight; can see you will have to take a week off to read this, when you receive it.
12-4-43
Afraid I have left this lately but hope you won鈥檛 mind. Quite a lot has happened since I last wrote. I am afraid that some of the events will have to be skipped. As you know the latest push went like clockwork. In fact I think it went much easier than anticipated. Rommel is certainly in a hurry to get away now. I don鈥檛 know what has happened to his Luftwaffe but they do not worry us now. Perhaps because we are miles behind. The regiment is up near Sousse and we are about 50 miles behind them. It is a good thing really as he had started to come unpleasantly close to our echelon especially at night with his anti-personnel bombs. No-one has been injured tho so we must not grumble.
Have had one lot of mail since I last sent a card, dated about 28-3-43, but none for me. However I am hoping for better luck next time.
I think by next Sunday the war out here will be at an end. Not before time either. It鈥檚 funny really. Last November the 1st Army and Yanks were 12 miles from Tunis, we were 2,000 miles. Now we are roughly 50 and they are at least 20.
I have 2 POs for 拢 1 each which I intend to send today. Will make a little extra for you. Have not done anything about any more yet as I am still hoping the 拢 5 will get through. Have not been able to contact an English P.O. and will have to wait until things die down before I can make enquiries about the letter.
We are amongst the olive groves of Tunis at the moment. Rather hard on the farmers but we have to park somewhere. It is lovely country, almost like Blighty.
I saw the first white woman since leaving Cairo, yesterday. We passed thro a village with a few French settlers. It was nice to see them as you can imagine. Not that we could stop and talk but it was a reminder that somewhere civilians do exist.
We are getting plenty of eggs at the moment. The natives are taking biscuits in exchange in addition to a bit of tea. It is nice to have eggs and bacon for a change.
Charlie Cutler is back. Looks O.K. but is evidently rather worried about going up the line. Actually asked me if I could get him on the Gin Palace. Must think I鈥檓 mad as he is the senior and it would mean handing over to him. Not if I can help it. I would be a fool.
Have not added much today but can鈥檛 think of any more at present. Hope to do better tomorrow.
22-4-43
Have not had much time lately for writing but it won鈥檛 matter as you won鈥檛 get this until the show is over.
Had a lovely trip last Sunday. We left the division of the stamps and went West to Kairsamin. Actually went to join the 1st Army. Luckily we did not stay with them; details later.
We had a nice rest for two days. During that time I was too busy cleaning up in general to write and did not feel in the mood. We had plenty of eggs and sold no end of odds and ends which we had picked up on the way, to the natives. They paid 150 francs for a bit of an old ground sheet I had. That is one example. Made us very annoyed to think of all the kit we had left behind in the enemy dumps. If we had picked up a quarter of the shirts and vests we saw we would have been millionaires.
However to get back to my story. We had not had any mail since leaving the old crowd so I got a jeep and went up to a place called El Djenu. That was where Corps P.O. was. Did not need much imagination to think I was in Blighty. The fields were a riot of colour. Poppies and golden daisies making a wonderful show.
We go to the P.O. and found no mail but the Kiwis had just returned some bags so we decided to have a run around and return after it had been sorted. At Djenu there is an old Roman colisseum. Partly ruins but still a great deal of it standing. We went to this and did sightseeing in style, driving around in the jeep. Don鈥檛 know much about the places but I should imagine that it was one of the few good examples of Roman art.
When we returned to the P.O. there was a bit of mail 鈥� a few letters, a bundle of cards and 3 parcels, also a bundle of letter cards for issue. I had a glance through whilst the driver got a drum going but were both out of the picture.
On our way back we decided to have a look at Sousse. Neither of us had seen the place and as we had some mail it did not matter what time we returned. It must have been a lovely place in peacetime but is a bit battered now. Still it was nice to see some form of civilisation again, especially the girls. Main attraction!!
On the way back we stopped at Kairaramin and had a shampoo. Quite a luxury these days. This place is very disappointing. It is just like any other WOG town and somehow I had expected something different. We have had a good look round but could not find any trace of the fires Jerry is supposed to have started.
We finally arrived in camp at 7.0 pm having travelled 200 miles since 9 am. Quite a nice Sunday outing. Naturally we were very welcome to a lot of the chaps.
Whilst in this camp we were by a field with broad beans and peas growing. Tho the WOG owner was on guard almost every vehicle had some of his veg. We have half a sandbag of peas left yet. Believe me it was nice to taste fresh veg as opposed to the tinned variety. Only trouble is that we have no spuds left now to go with them. We don鈥檛 see spuds growing.
The day after my trip we went over the mountains to the 1st Army. Went thro Pichon. The going was awful, narrow tracks winding in and out round the mountainside and for a change there were fords to cross. You can imagine how nice it was to see streams again after all this time on the Blue. Here let me apologise to the 1st Army for my previous remarks. Having seen the ground over which they fought we now realise how tough it has been for them. When our patrols say that the ground is impassable after the stuff we came through it IS impassable.
After travelling all day we kipped down by the side of the road and next morning had to go nearly all the way back. We were to work with the French Algerian Force on the right flank. As it happens we only have to work with them for two days then we go back to our old friends, the 4th Light Armoured Brigade.
10-5-43
As you see I have not added any to this for quite a while. The chief reason being laziness. As I said we were only with our allies for a few days then spent just long enough with the Brigade so that our mail began to come through O.K. and yes you guessed correct, we moved again.
This time we definitely came round to the 1st Army. What an army! The only good things are the rations and canteen. I don鈥檛 know if they resent the fact that we had to come and finish their job off or not. But the majority are anything but helpful.
As I said our mail was messed up and it has only just started to come thro. So far I haven鈥檛 had any letters at all.
The country we are in is really lovely. Corn fields on every side and decent roads to ride on. We are working in the same section as the French but with the 1st Armoured Division.
I see the 11th were in the news again. Seems as if they are kept in reserve until the last moment then sent in to get the honour. Still I don鈥檛 mind as long as the war out here is over soon. It has been quite nice this last two days. News has been very good, both 大象传媒 and our regimental. As you will know we are not getting on so well here. I think the policy is to starve him out. God knows what he hopes to do as he is almost cut off now. I don鈥檛 think he can last much longer. 2 weeks at the most. I wonder how many times I have put that in this novel. Still it looks more like the end now than ever before.
We have not had a shoot at planes since leaving Gabes. All we see these days are our own. In fact we never bother to look up now, taking it for granted that they are ours. The first two days of this attack was lovely. No matter when we looked up the sky was full of planes. All types including Fortresses were up. At one time I counted 100 bombers all going over at once. This was in addition to the fighter escort. Jerry must feel a bit like we did in Tobruk. It is a nice change to think that he is getting his own medicine at last.
We have heard rumours of an evacuation but it is not confirmed yet. God help him if he does try it and I don鈥檛 see what he will do without that fight to the last I suppose.
The new rations are O.K. Every other day we get 1st Army rations. They are done up in tins 14 min for 1 day. I have not seen a complete tin but understand they are made out in breakfast, dinner and tea. The tea, sugar and milk is all mixed together in powder form. Have not used ours yet so cannot pass an opinion on it. Am told that it is not too bad. One very good thing is tinned Duff. Currant, marmalade and various other types of pudding. Also about 7 fags, 1 bar of chocolate and 7 sweets per man, each day. And 2 packets of matches between 3 men. Really very good rations. Will tell you more about them later when we have had a few more issues. Up to press we have only had 1 day鈥檚. Get another one tomorrow.
No more news tonight. God knows when if ever you will receive this. Maybe I鈥檒l have to keep it until I get home.

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