Lismore to El Alamein THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
DAVID GOODY
Lismore to El Alamein The Diary of an Australian Soldier David Goody Copyright Š 2021 Published by David Goody All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, without the permission from the publisher. A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Australia. ISBN: 978-0-6488228-1-3 Printed in Australia
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Lismore to El Alamein
Private Thomas William Cure NX15442 A. Coy HQ. Guard Battalion Formerly 2/2 Battalion The Australian Army
‘Uncle Tom’, these words still ring in my mind a half century since my childhood.
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Top right Service and Casualty Form Page 1 (National Archives of Australia)
Bottom right Service and Casualty Form Page 2 (National Archives of Australia)
My fondest childhood memories are of my school holidays when I regularly stayed with my maternal grandparents, Audrey and William Tibbs at their home at The Promenade, Camp Hill, Brisbane. I felt and still feel a special connection with Audrey. Part of the fun staying with my grandparents was exploring their home and yard. Amongst their treasures were two photograph albums full of exotic images of the Middle East and North Africa. I was particularly enthralled by the photographs of Australian soldiers at play and at war, and even photographs of German Afrika Korps soldiers doing the same thing. Other more gruesome artifacts included gold plated false teeth and glasses. My grandmother told me they belonged to her brother, known to my family as ‘Uncle Tom’. She spoke of him in reverent tones and with special fondness to his wife Auntie Lil. What followed has been a lifelong interest in Uncle Tom and his life experiences. Gradually over the years snippets of information emerged about him that further intrigued me about him and his mindset. What motivated him to enlist? What shaped his relationship with my grandmother? How did he adjust back to civilian life? The list is endless. A pivotal moment for me was being told that he was estranged from my grandmother for about thirty years. The story goes that Uncle Tom walked up and down The Promenade at Camp Hill in the mid-1950s before entering the property to visit my grandmother and her family unannounced. This was after so many years of separation. I can only begin to imagine the feelings in the family at this unexpected reunion. My mother told me that the motivation for his decision to visit was even more intriguing. Uncle Tom, by this stage in his early fifties, had never married. He had developed a relationship with one of his deceased army mate’s widow, Lil. Lil by all accounts was a very decent and practical lady. She refused to marry him unless he visited his sole sister, Audrey. He clearly adored Lil, he confronted his demons whatever they were and travelled from Sydney to Brisbane for the surprise reunion. I met Auntie Lil once in late 1978 at a nursing home in Lidcombe, Sydney and am grateful to her for her compassion and thoughtfulness. Uncle Tom and Auntie Lil continued their connection with my grandmother, which meant a great deal to her. She slept with a photograph of Uncle Tom by her bed holding a koala taken at Lone Pine in Brisbane until her death. I cherish that photograph which I hold to this day.
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Attestation Form Page 1 (National Archives of Australia)
Attestation Form Page 2 (National Archives of Australia)
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Lismore to El Alamein
Military Awards Form (National Archives of Australia)
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Without dwelling on the events of Uncle Tom’s life that led to the estrangement from my grandmother and his enlistment in the Australian Army in May 1940, his life was hard and I dare say disappointing in a number of aspects. He was born in Capetown, South Africa on 15 November 1903. His family had migrated there from England, I presume to make their fortune. This was in the aftermath of the Boer War. This adventure did not work out and they returned to England. The family then decided to try their luck in Australia. They arrived in Sydney in 1906 and took up a parcel of land in northern New South Wales at Myall Creek near the town of Delungra. They named their farm ‘The Grange’. They brought with them the orphaned cousin of Tom and Audrey, Robert Lochmann. Life on the land was hard. From what I know, they had limited farming experience. Tom and Audrey’s mother had been a school teacher at a girl’s school in London, I was told by my grandmother’s best friend called ‘Aunt Jane’ in 1981 at Inverell, New South Wales that she was a real lady but not suited to life on the land. She gave birth to a daughter named Vera in 1907, Vera unfortunately died not long after. Robert anglicised his surname to Lockman and enlisted in the Australian Army. He served in the Light Horse and sent Tom many postcards of his travels in the Middle East and Egypt. Tom must have treasured these postcards as they were placed in his photograph albums many years later with his own photographs and postcards of these areas from the Second World War. Farming life took its toll on Tom and Audrey’s mother and she had a stroke. Audrey cared for her until she passed away on 21 March 1924, ironically my birthday. At this stage it appears the family fell apart. I am aware of an unfortunate incident between Audrey and her father, which compelled her to leave home and start a new life in Sydney training as a nurse. This may have caused resentment from Tom, as he appears to have stayed to assist in running the farm. In the meantime his father developed a new relationship with a young woman thirty years his junior named Emily. Emily and Tom and Audrey’s father married in 1930, and from the stories I have been told it had devastating consequences for Tom.
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The farm was sold and another farm purchased at Coorabell in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales. This farm in turn was sold and a residential property purchased in George Street, Inverell, New South Wales. I suspect Tom had expected to inherit the farm, but this hope evaporated. He worked various jobs in the Northern Rivers Region until the outset of war. Tom enlisted at Lismore on 12 April 1940. His Australian Military Forces Attestation form records his date of birth as 15 November 1905, whereas his actual date of birth was 15 November 1903. I have no doubt that he had concerns the army would not accept him due to his mature age. His diaries indicate his concerns were well founded, after his arrival in the Middle East he was transferred to a Guard Battalion on account of his age as with a number of other soldiers. This transfer may well have saved his life as he was transferred from a front line infantry battalion to this unit. That said the diaries describe aerial bombing and artillery fire that could have cost him his life on many occasions. On balance and like most volunteers who enlisted in the Australian armed forces at the time, I suspect there were a variety of reasons for Tom enlisting. Whilst he was close to his father, the loss of his expected inheritance must have been a big blow and reciprocated him seeking a new start. He may well have hoped to visit his family in England; the diaries record a regular exchange of letters with them. Perhaps he was also fascinated with the exotic postcards of the Middle East and Egypt send to him by his cousin Robert in the First World War. The diaries show that he made the most of his time overseas to take in the sights. Underpinning all of these motivations, I believe that he felt a strong sense of duty to defend Australia and the British Empire from its enemies. Tom served throughout the Second World War in the Middle East, North Africa, Papua New Guinea and Netherlands East Indies (now known as Indonesia). Unfortunately his diaries and photograph albums only cover his service in the Middle East and North Africa. I suspect he did not continue the diaries after this point.
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Tom was discharged from the Australian Army on 19 November 1945. He appears to have lived in Auburn, Sydney after his discharge until his death and taken comfort in mateship with colleagues from his military service. The mid 1950s were a time of further challenge and also happiness for Tom. His father died in 1955, and he married Auntie Lil in 1957. The death of his father was another bizarre time for the family. My mother and aunt told me that Tom and Audrey’s father was on his deathbed in the Inverell Hospital when he asked a kindhearted wards man/ grounds man to covertly assist him to locate his daughter Audrey. The wards man/ grounds man placed an advertisement in newspapers around the country that came to the attention of Audrey. My mother, aunt and Audrey travelled to Inverell Hospital to see him, however their visits were clandestine so that they would not confront his wife Emily. I was told she was a very controlling woman who did not allow her husband contact with anyone other than herself. Audrey’s father made peace with Audrey shortly before his death. This coupled with Tom’s reconciliation with her allowed both their spirits to be at peace. I have transcribed the diaries precisely as written by Tom. I have not included every photograph and postcard in this book due to the large number. However I have done my best to match those photographs and postcards of most significance to particular dates in the diaries. This aim of this book has been to preserve the contemporaneous notes of an Australian soldier in the Second World War and his perspective on the world events that engulfed him. I trust this introduction gives some perspective on the background of ‘Uncle Tom’ and the lens through which he saw the world. Whilst this book is primarily intended for my extended family, I do hope that it is also of interest to others who share a passion for this period of history. I have footnoted relevant parts of the diaries where I believe the reader will be assisted by further information. Principal sources of this information are Wikipedia and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls.
— David Goody
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Lismore to El Alamein
Tom Cure Auburn, Sydney Approximately 1963
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1940 D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
August
30th
September
5th
Sydney, NSW Departed
Rott Nest Island, WA Last sight of Australia
11th
Indian Ocean First Australian soldier death he witnessed
16th
Bombay, India Arrived, leave
23rd
Gulf of Aden Arrived
29th
Port Suez Arrived
October
1st
Beit Jir Ja, Palestine Arrived at army camp
4th
Beit Jir Ja, Palestine Transferred from the 2/2 Battalion to the 1st Australian Corps Headquarters Guard Battalion, A Company, No 2 Platoon on account of his age
6th
Jerusalem, Palestine Leave
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May 1940 23-N NX15442 Photograph from the Attestation Form (National Archives of Australia)
Right page A.A.C.S. Diary No.01, 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
1940
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
August 29th 1940
Marched out of Greta Camp1 a 9 PM on thursday night to Railway station after the best rain for three months at Greta by train to Darling Harbour thence by ferry to Woolloomooloo Warf on board the Cunard Liner Aquatainia2 at 3.30 AM. took up on “G” Deck very hot near water line in cabin. Tonnage 46,000
Frid 30/8/40
The liner moved off at 5 45am. small boat loads & people on the shore farewelled us as we lined the decks. In an hour & a half we cleared the heads. sorry to leave good old Sydney harbour & bridge behind us but hope to return again some day. Cheerio Sydney.
Sat 31/8/40
Soon after sunrise we rounded Wilsons promontory & Skull Rock. To walk round our Deck “B” five times equals one mile they are wide, we sleep on deck when they are dry. The liner is sister ship to the Lusitania sunk in 1917, she runs very smooth & the fastest ship in the convoy. she is 26 years old. Fine rain falling, plane flew near us from Tasmania to mainland, 9.30 PM. we are in the Great Australian Bight. getting rough, a few are sea sick, but never afficted me
Sun 1/9/40
Still rough sea, clocks are put back half an hour, more sea sick can find my cabin with ease now the first day I was bushed over half the deck looking for it. (ui) Is lined up now. The cruiser Canberra3, escort Aquatania, Mauretania4 are abreast, Empress of Japan5 Arcades6 abreast a destroyer further back we are travelling 15 Knots an hour The aquatania is capable of 28 Knots plenty of two up, crown & anchor7, cards etc played on board for money. 1
An Australian army camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales. It was used for training soldiers of the Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II.
3
HMAS Canberra was a Royal Australian Navy heavy cruiser of the Kent sub-class of County-class cruisers, commissioned in 1928 and sunk on 9 August 1942 in the Battle of Savo Island in the Solomon Islands.
2
RMS Aquitania was a British ocean liner of Cunard Line in service from 1914 to 1950.
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4
RMS Mauretania was completed in May 1939 and was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star Company. She was scrapped in 1966.
5
MS Empress of Japan R was an ocean liner built in 1929-1930 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland for Canadian Pacific Steamships. She was scrapped after an internal fire in 1966.
1940
Mon 2/9/40
Sea still rough, had a catarrh8 attack, we are off the S. Aust coast, raining, clock back half an hour, out of G. A. Bight9. The food is excellent porridge ham & eggs, plenty of bread, butter & Jam etc. we all had a laugh one cake of sea soap from the L. Ms fund10
Tues 3rd/9/40
clocks back half an hour, smooth sea light rain. fined up, went to pictures good programme.
Wed 4/9/40
clocks back half an hour we are now 2 hours behind Sydney time In the mornings we have physical Training & drill in general our boat drill is 11-30 A M. 1 PM. We are anchored off Freemantle, no leave granted to us but other ships get right into wharves the men on them had leave we all count out Brig Mcfarlane11 & abuse the officers, not much duty done, 6 PM. small supply vessels with water etc come alongside many men board same & go to Freemantle & Perth without leave, they had as much right to be there as the others
Thurs 5/9/40
Still in port, we had a good issue from the L M. Fund socks, hankies T. paste, shirts & shorts 4 oz. Tobacco, papers, soap, razor blades pyjama suit. 1.30 PM. pulled out of Freemantle 3.30 PM got the last glimpse of Australia Rott Nest Island 6.30 PM. well out in Indian Ocean
Frid 6/9/40
clock back ½ hr sea smooth, canvas shoes without socks makes feet sore plenty of flying fish darting from the bows of ship 6
S Orcades was a British S passenger ship that VickersArmstrongs Ltd of Barrowin-Furness built as an ocean liner in 1937. She was sunk by German submarine U-172 off South Africa in October 1942.
7
Crown and Anchor is a simple dice game, traditionally played for gambling purposes by sailors in the Royal Navy as well as those in the British merchant and fishing fleets.
8
Catarrh is inflammation of the mucous membranes in one of the airways or cavities of the body, usually with reference to the throat and paranasal sinuses.
11
elieved to be Brigadier B Percy Muir McFarlane NX70274, enlisted 28 August 1940, discharged 8 October 1941, posting at discharge: AIF voyage only.
9
Great Australian Bight
10
elieved to be an acronym B for Lord Mayor’s Fund.
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sat 7/9/40
clock back ½ hr. tobacco costs 1/1 2 oz. at Greta it was 2/- a tin, sea smooth, we are 1000 ms from land we are nearing the tropics, heat increasing, some of the boys are going into shorts & shirts
Sun 8/9/40
we are ninety miles off regular trade route, weather warm, sea smooth, we all go into shorts & shirts on Guard & picket various parts of ship we sleep on deck between shifts clocks back 25 mn, the captain only one who knows which way we are going but we have a good idea. finished duty 5.30 PM.
Mon 9/9/40
It is wonderful sleeping on deck ground sheet quilt & pillow a bit hard but I did not mind, everyone compelled to wear life belts either cork or Kapok, they will keep a man up for 12 hrs, we are nearing the Equator, we can feel the heat increasing, some of the boys got sun burn being on deck too long in the sun.
Tues 10/9/40
It is like cheese from chalk being down below in cabin & then go on deck at night time, this morning hundreds of flying fish to be seen, the water on board is not the best give me some good water either from the tank or spring in Australia, there are hundreds of electric fans throughout the huge liner & they are going full speed, one of the diggers fell overboard but a rope thrown to him, saved him from a watery grave, a convoy will not pull up for anyone that falls overboard that’s their bad luck clocks were put back ½ hr.
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The 2/2 Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army raised for service as part of the allvolunteer Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II. Raised in October 1939, the battalion was deployed to the Middle East and in early 1941 took part in the first ground action undertaken by Australian troops during the war during the Battle of Bardia before helping to capture Tobruk.
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In April, the battalion briefly fought in Greece, before being evacuated after the Allied forces were overwhelmed by German forces. Some members of the battalion took part in the Battle of Crete, after which the battalion undertook garrison duties in Syria. In mid-1942, the 2/2nd undertook defensive duties in Ceylon before returning to Australia.
They subsequently took part in the fighting against the Japanese along the Kokoda Track and then around Buna-Gona. After a period of reorganisation and training in Australia throughout 1943-44, late in the war the battalion was committed to the AitapeWewak campaign before being disbanded in early 1946 after the war.
1940
Wed 11/9/40
Oranges are the rage on board better than water they are 1 ½ each and sweet too, The 2/2 BN12 our own fired eight thousand rounds of ammo into the sea the first time I ever fired out of a 303 rifle it hardly kicked at all we fired 18 rounds apiece, it is hot even in the shade, one man fell down the hold & fell on another man he had facial injuries but the other man had serious injuries, they were moving barrels of beer & stores etc. One digger met an early death on active service at 9 PM. he fell from the crows nest about 70 ft was killed instantly, he had been drinking freely he was 22 yr age smith13 was his name
Thurs 12/9/40
7 am he had a Military funeral four sailors stood Guard alongside of slide in uniform, body covered in Union Jack, firing party, we all stood at attention, the last post & reville sounded, flags half mast up to now 170 hr non stop sea smooth
Frid 13/9/40
Pay day, 3PM escourt “Canberra” paraded alongside convoy before returning to Aussie, she looked a fine sight dashing through the water, on her nearly everything was white, we gave her three hearty cheers it was worth seeing.
Sat 14/9/40
Our new escort HMS Colombo14 is only 2/3rds of the Canberra but our convoy moved faster than before.
(It is believed the soldiers of the 2/2 Battalion on the vessel were reinforcements for the battalion as the battalion itself was in Egypt at this time according to the Australian War Memorial website.)
13
Believed to be Sapper Douglas Francis Mottley Smith VX13390, enlisted 19 March 1940, date of death 11 September 1940, posting on death: 2/2 Field Company.
14
HMS Colombo was a C-class light cruiser built for the Royal Navy during World War 1. She survived both world wars to be scrapped in 1948.
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D I ARY
Sunday 15/9/40
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
sighting small fishing craft with wide sails up told us Bombay15 was not far off, 1 PM our convoy steamed into file until we anchored 2 PM land in sight, water was getting very dirty caused through out flow of river Indus The sea is smooth. 3 PM anchored four miles out of Bombay docks the water being too shallow for our ship she draws 39 ft of water, there are ships of all sizes and shapes. Talk about Indians they came alongside in dirty old boats pulled by tugs and the boys threw handfulls of pennies down to them & talk about a scramble We were given notice to be ready to board a steamer at 7.30 AM next day for shore leave, we were all excited. 15
Now known as Mumbai, India
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Lismore to El Alamein
16
elieved to be Sergeant B Walter Raymond Rosan VX18696, enlisted 29 May 1940, discharged 12 October 1945, posting at discharge: L H Q Pool Amenities.
1940
Mon 16/9/40
9AM Landed at Bombay the first large batch of Aussies to land there we marched through the gates of India & the principle streets a distance of over two miles in shorts & shirts. 10.30 AM we were dismissed & the first thing was to change our money 10 rupees for 1 pound 16 annas for one rupee. Our guide wally Rosan16 AIF took us to the poor parts of the city, a terrible sight of filth & squalor in narrow streets, poverty on every hand, After lunch we took taxi to Malabar Hill, The gardens underneath which was the water supply for the city, a Buddist garden. The Burial place & temple of the parsees, the bodies are devoured by vultures the rich and poor alike. From here we had a fine view of city & harbour, & also around here was the residential of the better class 7PM we arrived back at ship tired out
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Tues 17/9/40
Those who had not leave went over to city, some of the boys stayed over time. A.W.L.17 fined & C.B.18 for same we had a quiet day & bought some fruit off Indians from side of ship with rope & basket it was dear & nothing out of the box.
Wed 18/9/40
8 AM we were transfered from Aqua. by steamer to shore, marched to our new liner, the Orient liner “Orion”19 her tonnage is 23,000, 2 PM we got an awful shock when we were placed down in G Deck in hammock scores of men slung up in a small space & also over the tables we eat off it was confusion for several hours.
Thurs 19/9/40
10 AM we pulled out from wharf in pouring rain & later anchored, 329 sleep in our portion of deck like the Black hole of Calcutta, the food is of poor quality & scanty 1 30 PM we get right away, & it is still raining freely.
Frid 20/9/40
We are well out at sea The Empress of Japan is leading, the other ships either stayed behind or returned to sydney we see none of our escorts, our ship ran right over the top of a buoy we could feel the bump, another ship had get out of our way or she would have been rammed.
Sat 21/9/40
The “Orion” is a modern ship but we had 600 too many on board, the iced water was very nice, the food has improved, but we are limited owing to short time to load at Bombay, we have to be up early to have a shave & wash too many men for small space it was a rushed job.
17
Absent without Leave
18
Confinement to Barracks
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Lismore to El Alamein
19
RMS Orion was an ocean liner launched by the Orient Steam Navigation Company in 1934 and retired from the water in 1963.
1940
We travelled from Bombay to Suez by this ship Orion
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 22nd/9/40
We are in dangerous waters at present The ships are dodging about from one position to another, 6 AM we put our clocks back 1hr our life boats are brought down to position in case we are surprised, we have to be at our boat stations every day except Sunday. at 11 30 AM, we were issued with shorts which we can convert to longs for Mosquitos & shirts On deck sports tug of war, tunnel ball wrestling on greasy pole over pool The Kiwis won tug of war the men averaged 12 ½ stone a very strong team
Mon 23/9/40
clocks back 1 hr, the sea is heavy & has a decaying smell with it, my rifle got rusty, salt water, sea smooth 5 PM entering Gulf of Aden
Tues 24/9/40
9.30 AM Air alarm troops go to cabins our convoy now is “Colombo” cruiser “the Empress of Japan” “Orion” “Ormonde”20 ”Kanimbla”21 armoured merchantman.
Wed 25/9/40
Still in the Gulf of Aden, humidity intense 6 PM our escort returned Red Sea escort takes over
20
RMS Ormonde was an Orient Line vessel launched in 1917. She served as a Troop Transport Ship during both world wars and as a passenger ship between the world wars. After World War 2 she was refitted as a passenger ship and sailed until 1953 when she was scrapped.
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21
HMAS Kanimbla was a passenger ship converted for use as an armed merchant cruiser and landing ship infantry during World War 2. She was launched on 15 December 1935, and scrapped in 1973.
1940
Thurs. 26/9/40
1 AM passed within 5 miles of Italian fortress, 630 AM passing lighthouse also large headland, “Eritrea� & French Somaliland, sea is almost flat. 7.15 AM met fleet merchantmen & oil tankers with escort 23 ships counted, they were attacked after we passed by enemy planes thinking they were us, 12 30 PM passed the twelve Apostles islands & hills off Eritrea
Frid 27/9/40
7.30 AM met convoy of 10 ships, pay day, plenty of dodging about escort left us 6 PM. Slept on A. deck nice & cool.
Sat 28/9/40
clocks back 1 hr saw the sun rise from Red Sea, it was a fine day & we increased our speed 5 PM on Guard it was a windy night
Sun 29th/9/40
6 AM entering gulf of Suez, large view of barren cliffs on African shore. 8 AM anchored at port Suez 1 mile out, several ships at anchor view of flats & Suez Canal with barren hills left background. it was a desolate place
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D I ARY
Mon 30/9/40
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
7.30 AM Kiwis disembarking to barges for shore. we landed & took train Egyptian railway, arrived at El Cantara22 10.00 PM, ferried accross canal, entrained for Beit Jir Ja23 at 4 AM
22
Believed to be El Qantara, Egypt
23
Believed to be Bayt Jirja, Palestine
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Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Troops crossing to ferry from train
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Tues 1/10/40
plenty of sandy country with small vegetation, passed several Date palm plantations, passed frontier between Egypt & Palestine Arrived at Beit Jir Ja 10 AM Base camp it looked a desolate place, anything but pleasant. The heat was trying
Wed 2/10/40
clocks put on 1 hr. The tents we are in are 14 when there should only be 9 men, the day the nights are cool, we camouflage our tents not be discernable from the air, on Kitchen food is very poor
Thurs 3/10/40
We start drilling at Beit Jer Ja 2 PM. route march 6 miles through village & orchards some of the orange groves are new issue 2 prs socks.
Frid 4/10/40
9 AM 70 of us over 35 yrs of age picked for Head quarters Guard Battalion The troops which went on big route march 15 mls got lost somehow took wrong direction returned at 2.30 PM some in lorries knocked up.
Sat 5/10/40
9.15 AM Left Beit Jer Ja camp for Deir Sunied24 camp 4 miles away, we had good reception by Major Horne25, joined H q. Guard BN26. I am in A. Company. it is the 1st Aust Corps H.q. Guard BN.
24
Believed to be Dayr Sunayd, Palestine
25
Believed to be Lieutenant Colonel Cyrill Dennis Horne VX256, enlisted 6 March 1940, discharged 16 November 1945, posting at discharge: 2/1 Guard Regiment.
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26
Headquarters Guard Battalion
overcrowded is warm but so they will fatigue, the
1940
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D I ARY
30
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Sun 6th/10/40
Had my first leave since arriving in palestine, went to Jerusalem we stayed at “Hotel Fast� I changed 3 pounds-10-0 which is 2800 mils palestinian or in other words our pound is worth 800 mils, we lose 5/- in the pound. The country around the Holy City is very stoney & barren. Mosque of Omar Jerusalem
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D I ARY
Mon 7th/10/40
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
At 8.30 AM we had a walking tour of the old city, we saw The Wailing Wall, well known place in Jewish history, part of Solomon’s famous Temple remaining, Jaffa Gate Stephens Gate outside which St Stephen was stoned, Church of St Anne, birthplace of Mary Mother of Jesus Christ the Messiah, David Street very narrow, the famous Mosque of Omar where Abraham offered up his son Isaac, The pool of Bethesda where the man was healed after an infirmity for 38 yrs, pontius pilates House, it was pilate who tried The Son of Man which finished with the crucifixion & resurrection I visited The Sisters of Zion church R.C. it was here that Christ was made to carry the cross to Calvary, further along was the place where Simon of Sirene carried the cross, up to here was the 7th stage of the Cross there being 14 stages altogether. later in the day & evening we went the rounds of the different “cafes” or “bars” “The Elite Café” “The Carlton” “The American Bar” & numerous others.
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1940
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Tues 8/10/40
We returned to camp from leave had lecture on rifle by Lieut Decrespany27
Wed 9/10/40
In the morning we had rifle drill & marching, at 3 PM we went by truck to Gaza beach surfing here is very quiet & smooth, the Mediterranean sea being an inland sea never has big rolling waves or high surf like the pacific ocean which washes our eastern coast of Australia.
Thurs 10/10/40
To day is the first pay day I have had since joining the Guard BN or “old & bold” as they are well known, & also over here the local population commonly known as “Wogs” run laundrys for the troops, & to day I started to put my clothes in to be washed by them.
Frid 11/10/40
I am in No 2 platoon A Coy. Lieut C. Taylor28 is platoon C.O. Captain prior is the C O of the company, to day we started on Guard drill in which we have to specialise. I wrote a letter to Father air mail
Sat 12/10/40
I had an attack of sand fly fever29 & had to go to the R.A.P.30 he ordered me to go to bed & don’t eat much.
Sun 13/10/40
I am still in bed with the fever. you go off your food & it leaves you very weak.
27
Believed to be Captain Philip George Champion De Crespigny VX14856, enlisted 13 May 1940, discharged 15 June 1945, posting at discharge: 3 Army Ordnance Depot.
28
Believed to be Captain Charles Taylor VX3628, enlisted 21 October 1939, discharged 26 October 1945, posting at discharge: 2/1 Guard Regiment.
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29
Pappataci fever (also known as sandfly fever) is a vector-borne febrile arboviral infection caused by three serotypes of Phlebovirus. It occurs in subtropical regions of the Eastern Hemisphere.
30
Regimental Aid Post
1940
Mon 14/10/40
I had to go on parade but I felt weak in the back. we witnessed an Arab wedding party most of them on foot & dressed in all the colours imaginable, The bride was riding a camel covered with a large red carpet & trappings it look nice in the distance there was also plenty of singing & whistle pipe playing
Tues 15/10/40
The same old routine parade etc. etc nothing unusual
Wed 16/10/40
Lieut Taylor explains to the working & mechanism of the Bren a light machine gun, very accurate shooting At night went to a concert run by Jews.
Thurs 17/10/40
We receive our colour patches for the Guard BN Black Triangle It will be noted over here the cinemas are nearly all controlled by Jews or “yehudys” as the “wogs” called them, wherever money is to be made without effort there they are.
Frid 18/10/40
nothing to put down of consequence only that money over in the Middle East is called “felloose”
Sat 19/10/40
all day to day we were engaged putting up new tents for men who came into camp or who are coming tomorrow or monday
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35
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 20/10/40
I went on leave to Tel-Aviv31 & Jaffa for the day it will be noticed that Tel-Aviv is the only city in the world wholly Jewish, its population at the present time is around 170,000 the main street is Allenby Road, which runs from Jaffa, closely joining right through the new city up to the waterfront, Jaffa itself is an Arab city of old Bible times dating back before Christ, but most of the city is filthy & dusty etc:
Mon 21/10/40
usual parade ground grind
tues 22/10/40
The same old bit of string
Wed 23/10/40
I got my boots I sent away to be repaired by a military mob as I have received a bayonet from the G.M. store, I go on Guard to night.
Thurs 24/10/40
We camp in the Guard room & we are posted at different posts throughout the night, & following day 24hr Guard.
Frid 24/10/40
Went as escort to Jerusalem gaol which is situated on Mt Zion while we were there a Greek Catholic funeral came past the cemetery being next to the gaol.
31
Now Tel Aviv, Israel
36
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Sat 25/10/40
We received an issue of shorts & shirts also 2 pcts of cigarettes C.F32
Sun 26/10/40
We had a church parade but the rest of the day was quiet
Mon 27/10/40
nothing unusual
Tues 28/10/40
Received oil bottle for rifle from q.M.33 store I am on duty as piquet.34
Wed 29/10/40
Went to Jerusalem on two days leave, went to the Y.M.C.A building & tower & from here had a fine view of the old & the new city.
32
Believed to be Comforts Fund
33
Quartermaster
34
A soldier, or small unit of soldiers, placed on a line forward of a position to provide warning of an enemy advance.
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37
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Rachael’s tomb, on the road to Bethlehem
38
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Thurs 30/10/40
Going through the Jaffa Gate into the old city which has a high wall surrounding it we go down Christian street and come to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it was here that Christ was buried it being the 14th stage of the cross, inside a large glass case is an image to the Virgin Mary, Gold hearts, & precious stones etc around it are valued at over 3 million pounds sterling. I also saw the Tombs of Joseph of Arimathia & Nicodemus. The Chapel of Mary Magdalene The old stone on which Christ was scourged, The cave of St Helen where she found the three crosses, The Crusaders Bascilica The second pillar where Christ had the crown of thorns put on his head. The stone of Unction where Joseph layed him on washed Him with olive oil & embalmed Him. on coming out I noticed Davids tower in the distance. In the afternoon we motored to the Mount of Olives, on the way was the Jewish University under construction, & the war cemetery, it looked very nice. The Mount of Olives is 2500ft above sea level, on here was the place where Christ ascended into Heavan, & also some distance away was where Judas Iscariot hung himself after he had sold his Lord for 30 pieces of silver. We next went by car to Bethlehem a distance of 6 mls from Jerusalem on the way being a military camp Rachel’s Tomb, & Shepherds Bush we visited the Manger where Christ was born, for three days before their flight into Eqypt, over these caves a R.C. church is standing Went to “Zion” Cinema “Babes in arms”35 Micky Rooney & Judy Garland
35
Babes in Arms is the 1939 American film version of the 1937 Broadway musical of the same name. The film version stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. The film concerns a group of youngsters trying to put on a show to prove their vaudevillian parents wrong and make it to Broadway.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
39
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Frid 1/11/40
returned to camp, went on parade issue of shorts, underpants, & undervests
Sat 2/11/40
Training as usual
Sun 3/11/40
received a letter from Father also one from H. Riddle Lismore the first I have received since I left Australia
Mon 4/11/40
Inspection of clothes equipment & rifle Lieut Col36 from Gaza followed by Guard competition
Tues 5/11/40
light showers fell to day we had to wear ground sheets we then went on route march
Wed 6/11/40
we were inspected in our giggle K.D.37 trousers & coats, received a letter from M.J. Strain Hogarth Range near Mallanganee38
Thurs 7/11/40
came off Guard 5PM I am getting shirts altered
Frid 8/11/40
We leave Deir Sunied for Gaza ridge, on guard at Ack Ack post a new vickers gun was installed I also received my new webbing equipment with pouches for Bren magazine spares & ammunition
Sat 9/11/40
Machine gun dismantled & reassembled Guard is 2.hr on 4.hr off I wrote to Father also M W Strain
36
Lieutenant Colonel
37
Khaki Drill
38
New South Wales
40
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
41
D I ARY
42
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 10/11/40
We left the ridge for Gaza township, Bren ack ack post situated over officers quarters, it started to rain so we camped below.
Mon 11/11/40
I visited supposed Tomb of Samson the strong man in old bible times.
Tues 12/11/40
I spent a quiet day.
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Wed 13/11/40
went down main street of Gaza & bought 2 watch chains chrome & put them together to carry my Identification Discs 100 mils.
Thurs 14/11/40
First trainload of soldiers to return to Australia Medically unfit for further military Service from No 1 AG Hospital39, passed through Gaza this morning for El Cantara, general rain set in here to day
Frid 15/11/40
My birthday first one over here I had a Turkish bath in a old Roman bath 750 yr old 100 mils.
Sat 16/11/40
ack ack duty then laid on bunk
Sun 17/11/40
The same old job.
Mon 18/11/40
The weather has fined up
Tues 19/11/40
Nothing to put down, only had a tooth filled at Kilo 8940 & I also received a letter from Father
Wed 20/11/40
On the post during this time
Thurs 21/11/40
I wrote two letters one to Uncle william Guildford, surry, England & to Harold Riddle Lismore
Frid 22/11/40
pay day still fine weather
39
The 1st Australian General Hospital
40
Australian Army camp
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
43
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sat 23/11/40 Sun 24/11/40
4 trains passed through Gaza to day carrying part of the 7 Division.41 Went to a Moslem celebration Mohammeds birthday, the priest was reading the Koran, preaching & then music by tambourines & drums, we were given cups of black coffee cigarettes and Lemon squash very nice, their rejoicing went on 4 successive nights
Mon 25/11/40
Some more of the 7th Division passed through the town. an arab boy Shavan took us to celebration he was very friendly
Tues 26/11/40
wrote letter to Father more troops come from El Cantara.
Wed 27/11/40
Nothing out of the way to day
Thurs 28/11/40
We leave Gaza & returned to Kilo 89 issued with pr boots & laces I sent a small parcel to Father
Frid 29/11/40
heavy rain set in last night & this morning, it was cold & miserable. I am on kitchen fatigue
41
An infantry division of the Australian Army. It was formed in February 1940 to serve in World War 2, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. The division is sometimes known by the nickname ‘The Silent Seventh’, due to a perception that its achievements were unrecognized, in comparison to the other Australian Divisions.
44
Lismore to El Alamein
The 7th Division along with the 6th and 9th Australian Divisions were the only divisions to serve in both the Middle East and the South West Pacific Area. It was disbanded in 1946, following the end of the war.
1940
Sat 30/11/40
route march to deir Sunied & return, went to Beit Jir Ja to see boys of the 2/2 BN I received a letter from Father
Sun 1/12/40
I have been mess orderly for the day peeling spuds laying tables serving etc etc
Mon 2/12/40
Went on a piquet at AG Hospital where two men were under arrest but they were too ill to run away heavy showers of rain fell
Tues 3/12/40
Same old parade ground etc
Wed 4/12/40
More rain has fallen, we are learning to march fast & then slow
Thurs 5/12/40
went to R.A.P.42 cold in stomach & I have been taking medicine
Frid 6/12/40
I am back again on the job loading Bren43 ordinary tripod & ac ac. mounting, also tripod practice for vickers machine gun.
42
Regimental Aid Post
43
The Bren gun, usually called simply the Bren, are a series of light machine guns made by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
45
D I ARY
Sat 7/12/40
46
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Mounting of Vickers, No 2 carry barrel, we then had marching doing rifle practice while on same No 2 mess orderly I had afternoon off
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Sun 8/12/40
we had church parade I was on camp piquet
Mon 9/12/40
I went on leave to Tel Aviv I arrived back at 8.30PM.
Tues 10/12/40
We shift camp & move about three hundred yards away towards the A G. Hospital, I had my First Aid Class under the supervision of Cpl Noon Dr. Brandt44 is the Medical Officer
Wed 11/12/40
To day we are erecting tents for officers. pay day.
Thurs 12/12/40
another busy day shifting RAP & all its contents etc. etc.
Frid 13/12/40
we are camouflagueing tents from view of aircraft, further instruction in first aid & stretchering bearing
Sat 14/12/40
No 1 Mess orderly, on Battn parade in uniform & full war kit.
44
Believed to be Major Donald Sutherland Brandt NX12289, enlisted 6 May 1940, discharged 29 April 1947, posting at discharge: 2/3 Field Ambulance.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
47
D I ARY
48
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 15/12/40
Church parade, went to gaza bought tobacco tin & fountain pen, also had a Turkish bath had lunch at the “Dinkum Inn”
Mon 16/12/40
Battalion parade from 9 A M until 12.30 dressed in full uniform & full war kit ground sheet overcoat we had parade ground drill, we had biscuits instead of bread bully beef figs & rice for tea.
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Tues 17/12/40
2nd/8 field reg.45 arrived at camp next to us, we had field manoeuvers vickers on mounting & ac ac post lecture the origin of the rifle, first used at Mecca Arabia in 690 AD. our own rifles are Mark 111 L Enfield
Wed 18/12/40
short route march to warm up Bren holding, aiming & firing we had arms drill, practise in respirator at the alert. pay day.
Thurs 19/12/40
It was cold to day, we were dressed in giggle trousers & pull over Bren Gun, stripping & reassembling, how to handle a rifle sentry drill.
Frid 20/12/40
Went to A G H. to get my eyes tested by Capt. K.B. Armstrong46 further lesson in First Aid, how to fix a body bandage Triangular & the roller bandage 3.in 2.in. 1in.
Sat 21/12/40
Shortest day in part of the world to day is the coldest so far since we arrived, we had a route march.
Sun 22/12/40
fairly heavy rain set in I spent most of day in bed.
Mon 23/12/40
parade as usual, Bren etc rifle drill on Guard to night.
45
The 2/8th Field Regiment was an Australian Army field artillery regiment that was raised for service during the Second World War as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force. Comprised mainly of soldiers from the states of Victoria and Tasmania, the regiment was one of three field artillery regiments that
were assigned to the Australian 9th Division during the war, and during its war service it saw action in North Africa in 1941-42 before returning to Australia in 1943. The regiment did not see action again until mid-1945 when it was committed to the Borneo campaign. It was disbanded in 1946 at the conclusion of hostilities.
46
Believed to be Lieutenant Colonel Keith Boyce Armstrong 2147976 (NX19), enlisted 5 December 1939, discharged 3 December 1945, posting at discharge: 2/1 Australian General Hospital.
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49
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Officers & Sergeants serving up Xmas dinner to O.R.S. Kilo 89 1940
50
Tues 24/12/40
Received xmas parcel from Lord Mayor’s Fund, The sun rose at 10 to 8 AM over the Hebron Hills at night we went to Jewish concert xmas eve went to sleep 3 AM owing to most of the men being drunk etc.
Wed 25/12/40
Xmas Day, Church parade out in the open air, we had a good dinner turkey, pork, vegetables, pudding half bottle Ale cigarettes, went to see boys of the 2/2 BN on Guard duty at A G. Hospital
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
Major Horne serving out meals for men
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51
D I ARY
52
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Thurs 26/12/40
Boxing day, had a spell fine weather
Frid 27/12/40
No 1 Mess orderly, all leave cancelled concert & vaudaville, band all girls, full house, good performance
Sat 28/12/40
field manourves, windy weather Dental inspection, & foot bath
Sun 29/12/40
Church parade afternoon free
Mon 30/12/40
Walked from Kilo 89 to Gaza airport 4 ms. we take over Guard from the 2/2 Battn. on duty 1.15 pm
Tues 31/12/40
There was a cold wind blowing I went to see Lieut Webster about batman job, off duty today. from here we can hear the sea roaring which is five miles away.
Lismore to El Alamein
1940
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53
D I ARY
54
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
1941
February
March
3rd
Jerusalem, Palestine While on leave saw the Prime Minister of Australia Robert Gordon Menzies and Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey, Commander of the 1st Australian Corps.
June
2nd
Tobruk, Libya First experience of war
August
16th
September
21st
Tobruk, Libya Bombing, cheated death
Gaza, Palestine Left for deployment
Mursa Matruh, Egypt Preparation for deployment
Alexandria, Egypt Arrived
Bardia, Libya Guard duties
23rd
Beit Jir Ja, Palestine Arrived at army camp
15th
Amariya, Egypt Arrived at military camp after retreat
October
6th
December
8th
16th
Alexandria, Egypt Unofficial leave
31st
Mursa Matruh, Egypt Preparation for deployment
Tobruk, Libya Left
22nd
28th
May
Tobruk, Libya Arrived at battle zone
21st
23rd
April
1st
Beit Jir Ja, Palestine Inspection by General Thomas Blamey
Beit Jir Ja, Palestine Received news Japan enters the war
Left Diary No. 02, 2 June 1941 to 13 May 1942 THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
55
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Wed Jan.1st 1941
Lieut Taylor shouts 20 bottles of beer for us it being New year’s day we are putting up more tents wrote letter to Father air mail.
Thurs 2/1/41
very nice weather, we went to a concert, Jewish, in airplane hangar, it was the best concert since arriving here from Australia among those present was General Sir Thomas Blamey47, percy Spender48 war minister & General Sturdee49 Chief of General Staff
Frid 3/1/41
The plane which conveyed Blamey & Spender to Egypt made a splendid landing and also a splendid take off.
47
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED (24 January 1884 – 27 May 1951) was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to attain the rank of field marshal.
56
Lismore to El Alamein
48
ir Percy Claude Spender S KCVO KBE QC (5 October 1897 – 3 May 1985), was an Australian politician, diplomat and judge.
49
Lieutenant General Sir Vernon Ashton Hobart Sturdee KBE, CB, DSO (16 April 1890 – 25 May 1966) was an Australian Army commander who served two terms as Chief of the General Staff.
1941
Spenders Plane leaving Gaza Airport
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57
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sat 4/1/41
more Guard to day, piquet at musical programme, very good
Sun 5/1/41
on Guard at back gate cinema “I met him in Paris”50 New roster for Guard
Mon 6/1/41
New roster started at 6 PM. I put in for a transfer to be a batman but it was not approved by Major Horne they will not have men leave the Guard BN to become batmen Cinema “The lives of a Bengal Lancer”51 a picture depicting scenes in India & Afghanistan
Tues 7/1/41
On Guard to day.
Wed 8/1/41
On guard 10 to 12 noon
Thurs 9/1/41
duty 8 to 10 AM pay day. We went to cinema Australian serial sports racing football a good selection. General Blamey there
Friday 10/1/41
went to A.G.H. eye test, & Gaza had Turkish bath bought “Greta” brooch Palestine shield. Cinema “the meeting of Stanley & Livingstone”52 it showed the hardships & privation stanly had before he got there. Bronko Thompson & Rocky Henderson leave airport & try to get to Egypt but they did not go very far
50
I Met Him in Paris is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Wesley Ruggles, written by Claude Binyon, and starring Claudette Colbert, Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young.
58
Lismore to El Alamein
51
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer is a 1935 American epic-adventure-drama film that used the title of the 1930 autobiography of the British former solder, Francis Yeats-Brown.
52
Stanley and Livingstone is a 1939 film directed by Henry King and Otto Brower. It is loosely based on the true story of Welsh reporter Sir Henry M. Stanley’s quest to find Dr David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary presumed lost in Africa, who finally met on November 10, 1871.
1941
Sat 11/1/41
through some of the men not keeping their end of the stick a new roster was made out & it made it harder for the rest Cinema Dr Lows “wooden troupe” worked by wire over head & their movements were directed according to music. General Blamey was present
Sun 12/1/41
Ted Corney53 & myself went out 3 m. to see the old trenches used in the last war. the weather is getting very dusty & chilly
Mon 13/1/41
On Guard early this morning still dusty & cold, Jews & arabs are laying down runway for planes it is a big job digging out one place & filling up another.
Tues 14/1/41
Showers fell this morning 8 new men came in to swell the Guard making it full strength
Wed 15/1/41
I finished duty to day went to cinema “A Dark Journey”54 depicting a spy in the last war
Thurs 16/1/41
nothing unusual to day
53
Believed to be Sapper Edward Thomas Corney QX24450, enlisted 23 August 1940, discharged 16 March 1945, posting at discharge: 1 Aust Mech Equipt Platoon.
54
Dark Journey is a 1937 British spy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh. Written by Lajos Biro and Arthur Wimperis, the film is about two secret agents on opposite sides during World War 1 who meet and fall in love in neutral Stockholm.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
59
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Frid 17/1/41
went to Tel Aviv on leave bought money belt 150 ms. I had a good day returned & went on guard, heard enemy planes coming from Canal area, alarm
Sat 18/1/41
on duty to day, went to concert at cinema, mostly Jewish girls and men, I was on piquet it is very cold & miserable.
Sun 19/1/41
weather was showery & windy on piquet cinema “One in a Million”55 feathering Sonja Henie as the world’s champion woman skater
Mon 20/1/41
To day we are digging Slit trenches because of air Raid alarm
Tue 21/1/41
Went to A.G.H. to get my eyes examined by specialist.
Wed 22/1/41
I had drops put in my eyes & then I had them tested cinema “Babes in arms” Micky Rooney & Judy Garland to me they are the best two on the pictures from Hollywood, at half time an air alarm sounded the cinema was in darkness but the picture was finished later in the evening.
Thurs 23/1/41
pay day received letter from H. Riddle Lismore. on Guard.
55
One in a Million is a 1936 American film which marked the Hollywood debut of Sonja Henie. It features footage from the 1936 Winter Olympic Games.
60
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Frid 24/1/41
bought arab knife & sheath used by wogs at Beersheerba56.
Sat 25/1/41
Inspection of Guard followed by route march 5 miles
Sun 26/1/41
Anniversary of Foundation day57. Got a prescription for Spectacles from Capt. Armstrong. picture piquet at cinema “The Secret of Dr Kildare”58.
Mon 27/1/41
On Guard to day concert “Mothers approval”
Tues 28/1/41
on duty, it was windy, dusty followed by showery weather
Wed 29/1/41
we had a route march I am on Guard to night Lieut Dunne leaves & Lieut Taylor returns Taylor was away owing to an affair with Cpl Warren. men who have left the platoon & gone to other special work are pte Devine alf Saxby59, Kennedy & Cpl warren went to another platoon
56
The Battle of Beersheba was fought on 31 October 1917, when the British Empire’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) attacked and captured the Yildirim Army Group garrison at Beersheba, beginning the Southern Palestine Offensive of the Sinai and Palestinian campaign of World War 1. The Australian Mounted Division was part of the EEF
57
Australia Day
58
The Secret of Dr. Kildare is a 1939 American film directed by Harold S. Bucquet and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
59
Believed to be Private Alfred John Saxby WX1047, enlisted 23 November 1939, discharged 12 December 1943, posting at discharge: 1 Ord Wkshop Coy.
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61
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
B.Parker, W.Henderson, Kennedy J.Burns
62
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Thurs 30/1/41
pay day, route march on Guard 4 to 6 AM
Frid 31/1/41
I was in bed most of the day with a Catarrh attack on duty
Sat 1/2/41
Went to Jerusalem on 2 days leave with E. Grocott60 the cook had a good look over the Y.M.C.A. building it cost 500,000 pounds to build to the top of the tower is 200 ft in which is a Carillion or bells which cost 1,000 pounds donated by wealthy American Lady, the organ here cost 13,000 pounds there is also a cinema.
60
Believed to be Private Ernest Grocott VX6706, enlisted 31 October 1939, discharged 13 August 1945, posting at discharge: 17 Supply Depot Company AASC.
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63
D I ARY
Sun 2/2/41
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
These are some of the places we saw in the old city “The Garden of Gethsemane” in which are very old olive trees, alongside is the Church of all nations in which the windows are of alabaster & numerous colours, Damascus Gate Stephens Gate & “The Golden Gate” which was closed at the crucifixion & will not be opened until “The Second Coming of Christ” The first wall around the Old Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus. We next took a motor tour down to the Dead Sea on the way we came to Bethany the home of Mary & Martha, it is a wog village, the country from here to the river Jordan is barren & the water in the river was a dirty colour, we come to Jericho around which are grown bananas & oranges The Scots Greys61 had their camp here Jericho is 3800 ft lower than Jerusalem there are date palms & Sycamore trees here also, outside village is the “famous walls of Jericho” in Bible times, Joshua blew a horn & the walls fell down. from here we had a good view of the Mount of Temptation it was here that Christ was tempted of the Satan but never yielded. I also saw Elias’s fountain The water used to be bitter but Joshua put something into it & it became fresh. Away in the distance can be seen the mountains from which Moses overlooked “the promised Land” but never entered, at the foot of these mountains was the place of “the cities of the plain” Sodom & Gomorrah which were burnt & near here Lots wife was turned into a pillar of Salt On the road down to Kallia we attained a speed of 85 mls an hour or 140 kilos. The Dead Sea is 1300 ft. below sea level, I went into the water & immediately I came to the surface, the salt content is very high, you must keep your eyes & mouth shut, there is no living organism in the sea. on the way back we came to Solomons quarries close to the old Jerusalem I bought pr. spectacles for reading at the Eagle eye optical shop Jaffa road 1000 mils 20/- our money there are two factories alongside of Dead Sea one is a salt factory & the other is a phosphate factory
64
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Road from Jerusalem to Jericho
61
The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards) to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
65
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Jim Carey Cpl Fowler T.W. Cure R. Brown-Parker Cpl C. Delamothe Gaza Airport. Feb 1941
66
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Mon 3/2/41
At “The Australian Club” Hotel least us diggers on leave welcomed Mr Gordon Menzies prime minister of Australia, Sir Thomas Blamey and the Commissioner for palestine there were flashlight photos taken of us all on top of buses & on the ground. we returned to Gaza airport after having spent two days of educational & interesting leave. Received a letter from Father went to Cinema “Man about Town”62
62
Man About Town is a 1939 musical comedy starring Jack Benny and Dorothy Lamour. The screenplay concerns a producer who tries to get his leading lady to take him seriously romantically by pursuing other women.
.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
67
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
At Tel-Aviv
68
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Tues 4/2/41
I am on Guard all day.
Wed 5/2/41
As a Guard platoon we made a good present before Mr. Menzies General Blamey, photos were taken of us by Lieut Taylor & Cpl Delamotte63. Cinema “You & Me�64 George raft wrote a letter to Father 63
Believed to be Corporal Charles George Delamothe NX11530, enlisted 28 March 1940, discharged 5 April 1944, posting at discharge: 2/2 Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion.
64
You and Me is a 1938 American crime film noir directed by Fritz Lang starring Sylvia Sidney and George Raft. They play a pair of criminals on parole and working in a department store full of similar cases.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
69
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Thurs 6/2/41
pay day comforts fund 1 oz tobacco papers & 3 razor blades, cinema very fine pictures of life & progress in New Guinea since the British took in papua in 1920
Frid 7/2/41
cinema Wallace Beary in “Sergeant Madden”65
Sat 8/2/41
on duty, put in photos, had Turkish bath 100 ms. very nice
Sun 9/2/41
cinema “The adventures of Sherlock Homes”66 also showing the return of Mr P Spender to aussie & the boxing bout Ron Richards67 & Barth68, Sydney
65
Sergeant Madden is a 1939 film noir forerunner directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Wallace Beery.
66
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (released theatrically as Sherlock Holmes in the United Kingdom) is a 1939 mystery-adventure film released by Twentieth Century Fox.
70
Lismore to El Alamein
67
Ron Richards (8 May 1910 – 14 January 1967 (aged 56)) born Ranold/ Randell William Richards in Ipswich, Queensland was an indigenous Australian professional middle/light heavyweight boxer of the 1930s and 1940s who won the Queensland State (Australia) heavyweight title, Australian middleweight title, Australian heavyweight title, Australian light heavyweight title, and British Empire middleweight title.
1941
Mon 10/2/41
on Guard cinema “The Wizard of Oz”69 Judy Garland & Wilbur Morgan
Tues 11/2/41
On duty to day
Wed 12/2/41
On Guard to day
Thurs 13/2/41
wrote to Father with an account of palestine its features & customs of the people I also wrote to H. Riddle the same
Frid 14/2/41
nothing to put down to day
68
Carmine R. DiBartholomeo, better known as Carmen Barth (September 13, 1912 – September 17, 1985), was a male American boxer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics. In 1932 he won the gold medal in the middleweight class after winning the final against Amado Azar.
69
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, currently distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sat 15/2/41
on duty to day cinema “The Citadel”70
Sun 16/2/41
on Guard to day
Mon 17/2/41
we are having beautiful spring weather at present although it is winter time cinema “A Damsel in Distress”71
Tues 18/2/41 Wed 19/2/41 Thurs 20/2/41 Frid 21/2/41
Six new men arrive making full strength
Sat 22/2/41
Local sports meeting some very good sprinting, broad jump 18ft 10 in, shott putt 31ft 11in high jump 4ft 10in concert at night local talent full house fair performance
70
The Citadel is a 1938 British drama film based on the novel of the same name by A.J. Cronin, first published in 1937.
72
Lismore to El Alamein
71
A Damsel in Distress is a 1937 English-themed Hollywood musical comedy starring Fred Astaire, Joan Fontaine, George Burns, and Gracie Allen.
1941
Sun 23/2/41
it was a hot & sultry day
Mon 24/2/41
a route march, we had a good view of Gaza plantations, Bedouin Camp & Sea port of Gaza.
Tues 25/2/41
sent two letters by boat mail to Father foreign stamps & photos cinema “Balalaika”72 Nelson Eddy in Russian musical comedy he is a fine singer
Wed 26/2/41
dry weather still continues Spring day, we are starting to wear shorts shirts & long stockings
Thurs 27/2/41
pay day Moslems go fasting & praying for rain in Gaza
Frid 28/2/41
Light machine gun & Bren instruction, forward & backward movements, taking positions in ac ac mounting. Cinema “The princess comes across”73 a detective story she comes from Sweden to New York. Steady rain falling
Sat 1/3/41
we went for a short route march. we are taking up position at Machine Gun, it was raining nearly all day, & it was cold also
72
Balalaika is a 1939 American musical romance film based on the 1936 London stage musical of the same name.
73
The Princess Comes Across is a 1936 mystery/comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, the second of the four times they were paired together. Lombard, playing an actress from Brooklyn pretending to be a Swedish princess, does a “film-length takeoff” on MGM’s Swedish star Greta Garbo.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
73
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 2/3/41
I was on duty to day it was wet & miserable
Mon 3/3/41
cold windy day, I am starting to read “He fell in love with his wife” by Rev E.P Rowe.
Tues 4/3/41
on Guard all day it was cold & showery
Wed 5/3/41
a fine sunny day M. gun74 drill taking gun to pieces, we went to cinema but screen too small
Thurs 6/3/41
Received letter from Father, it was a fine day, on picture piquet Laurel & Hardy in “The Foreign Legion”75 & also “The Flying Deuces”76
Frid 7/3/41
Received letter from Father by boat on Guard to day. Cinema “South of Java”
Sat 8/3/41
On duty to day, in the wog. laundry 21 blankets & other stolen articles were found there is also a wireless set missing.
Sun 9/3/41
on Guard all day till tonight
74
Machine Gun
75
Believed to be the film Beau Hunks, a 1931 American Pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film, directed by James W. Horne.
74
Lismore to El Alamein
76
The Flying Deuces, also known as the Flying Aces, is a 1939 comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy, in which the duo join the French Foreign Legion. It is a partial remake of their 1931 short film Beau Hunks.
1941
Mon 10/3/41
Wrote to Father by air mail The Jews are busy putting down new road using tractors & scoops. Cinema “When the rain came”77
Tues 11/3/41
Machine gun instruction Cinema Micky Rooney & Judy Garland in “Andy Hardy”
Wed 12/3/41
cloudy day on duty 12 to 2.
Thurs 13/3/41
Sent “Palestine Guide” to Father by boat mail cinema “Two girls on Broadway”78 on Guard
Frid 14/3/41
it was warm & dusty we had nice cool showers picture piquet cinema “Mullets Gold”
Sat 15/3/41
still dusty weather questionaire on vickers machine gun
Sun 16/3/41
The day was cool & showery on duty ac ac went to cinema
Mon 17/3/41
At the Cinema a very good picture true to life, “A man to Remember”79 Anne Shirley & Edward Ellis featuring Dr Abbott in Westport U.S.A.
77
Believed to be the film The Rains Came, a 1939 20th Century Fox film based on an American novel by Louis Bromfield (published in 1937 by Harper & Brothers).
78
Two Girls on Broadway is a 1940 musical film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lana Turner and Joan Blondell.
79
A Man to Remember is a 1938 American drama film directed by Garson Kanin, his first film credit as a director. The story tells of a saintly small town doctor working under difficult circumstances somewhere in the United States after World War 1.
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75
D I ARY
76
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Tues 18/3/41
Nice spring day, duty ac ac. went to Cinema at night
Wed 19/3/41
on Guard nice fine day.
Thurs 20/3/41
pay day, all leave cancelled we are expecting a move received letter from Father
Frid 21/3/41
Left a gaza airport 5 PM for Gaza railway station by lorry we leave Gaza at 9-30 PM in old cattle trucks mind you, arrived at El-Cantara at 4am we left there a 8 AM
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
At Gaza Airport
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
77
D I ARY
78
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Sat 22/3/41
for Mursa Matruh80 in Western desert we went through Ismailia, zag Azig, Tanda Tel el Kebir a cemetery from last war We are now passing through beautiful country “The Nile Delta“ also a fine bridge over “The Nile” same - similar to Hawkesbury bridge81.
80
Egypt
81
The Hawkesbury River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the Main Northern railway line over the Hawkesbury River, connecting just north of the town of Brooklyn, Hornsby Shire on the northern outskirts of Sydney with Cogra Bay, Central Coast Council, both in New South Wales, Australia. THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
79
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Sun 23/3/41
arrived at Mursa Matruh 9 AM after passing through miles of Desert The town itself has been ruined through shells & bombs the harbour is small our breakfast was bully beef & biscuits, we filled our water bottles they have to last 24 hrs
Mon 24/3/41
We had a route march 9 miles having a good look at the town it was practically deserted
Tues 25/3/41
We are ready to move, our convoy being 600 vehicles, we passed through poor wretched country coming to “Sidi Birrani”82 the town was a total wreck, we camp near Buq buq, a heavy dew fell here tonight
Wed 26/3/41
We passed through Sollum83 it was mostly deserted & partly destroyed, it has a small harbor there is a fine road up “Hellfire” or “Hallfaya pass” which leads to “Fort Capuzzo”84 near the frontier of Egypt & Lybia85, on the main road past Bardia on to Tobruk could be seen hundreds of Trucks cars & a large number of Italian planes smashed up. we camp in waddy86 ten miles from Tobruk it was a good defensive position.
Thurs 27/3/41
After going as far as the P.O.W. compound where we saw hundreds of Italians being taken by lorries to the boat for transfer to India we returned to Sollum87, where we had the best wash for six days in which period we travelled 1400 ms weather is cool
82
85
83
86
84
87
Sidi Barrani, Egypt Egypt Fort Capuzzo was a fort in the colony of Libya, near the Libyan-Egyptian border, next to the Italian Frontier Wire.
80
Lismore to El Alamein
Libya Wadi, refers to a valley. Egypt
1941
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
81
D I ARY
Frid 28/3/41
82
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
We camped in an old house washed our clothes had a shave & we got ready, & moved off to Bardia where we are going to have Guard duties, we pass a lot of Indian troops going up to Tobruk. we all had a look around Bardia the shops were all empty, house the same & rubbish everywhere. some of the boys found some Coniac “Brandy” it went right to their heads, we hardly slept all night with the noise they made Bardia has a pretty inlet, it should be a nice health resort, & surfing.
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Sat 29/3/41
Four men from each platoon start duties at different Depots. went to the surf in an inlet close to town it was a change after the dust
Sun 30/3/41
Wrote a letter to Father, the flies are getting bad, the weather is warming up fast & we secure a Italian water tank good order
Mon 31/3/41
Started duty at the Bardia pumping station it is a value able point, supplies water to both Bardia & Sollum, had a warm shower in cave the first since leaving Kilo 89
Tues 1/4/41
at our camp are plenty of fleas & flies, had plenty of shots out of Italian rifles. many dugouts
Wed 2/4/41
returned to Bardia township quarters are in a large building some of the furniture is very good it used to be the residence of Italian public service men.
Thurs 3/4/41
pay day. it is a nice spring day
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
83
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Frid 4/4/41
Went on duty at Ammunition dump for two days flies galore
Sat 5/4/41
we are on our Job.
Sun 6/4/41
We returned to town went surfing called unexpectedly. at 8 PM went out on short notice 12 Kilos to Guard a Wellington heavy Bomber88 R1251 L89 which had engine trouble & crashed the loss of her is about 20,0000 pounds the worst dust I have seen came upon at 2 AM, I was nearly blind it was awful, sleep was out of the question we were camped under the wing
Mon 7/4/41
RAF men came & took off the planes the most valuable parts The dust storm still continues another convoy go by towards Tobruk & further on. I slept in plane
Tues 8/4/41
We are still at the plane, dozens of British Tommies go by helter skelter toward Mursa Matruh because the Germans are advancing very fast from Benghazi90 towards Tobruk, most of the men have practically nothing to fight armoured brigades & air support. We returned to our quarters at Bardia, the plane was destroyed by RAF men, by throwing a flare into the fuselage, the dust storm is still raging, I had a shower
Wed 9/4/41
We are filling vickers machine gun belts, the dust storm has ceased our universal kits91 have to be packed & sent away it may be months before we see same again they are taken down to warf.
88
The Vickers Wellington is a British twin-engined, long range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, led by Vickers-Armstrongs’ chief designer Rex Pierson.
89
Belonged to British Royal Air Force 148 Squadron. Engine cut and crash landed near Sollum. Destroyed by crew of Sgt J.G. BroadSmith who survived unhurt.
90
Libya
91
Army kit bag made of canvas.
84
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Food dump. Cpl C. Delamothe behind Breda gun, Jimi Carey sitting on stone
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
85
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Thurs 10/4/41
We are packed up ready to move back to Mursa Matruh, we heard the Germans were checked in their advance, our kit bags are intended for Alexandria
Frid 11/4/41
Good Friday but not too good for us, word came through that the Germans are only 30 ms92 away coming across the desert with tanks, armoured cars, etc 9PM The Durham light infantry93 have come into the town with a few light automatic guns & Brens there is an air raid over Sollum the enemy dropped 26 Bombs but only destroyed the pier, we are all ready 1115 PM we move out of Bardia very slow & all lights out, we are the last except the engineers etc.
Sat 12/4/41
Still travelling towards Mursa Matruh passing through a sandstorm at Sidi Birranni, a awful trip we arrived at our destination at 6.30 PM tired & sore everything was smothered in dust
Easter Sun 13/4/41
We were late having breakfast & then we had a spell most of day late in the afternoon we had a dip in surf
Mon 14/4/41
To day was windy & dusty we had the first fresh meat since leaving palestine, it was a change.
Tues 15/4/41
We left Mersa Matruh at 5 AM marched nearly three miles to railway station, left by train 6 AM for Amariya94 arrived at 2 PM. went by truck to camp 2 ms it is a very dusty camp.
Wed 16/4/41
Went by train to Alexandria unofficially, I had a Turkish bath 20 ms it was great after being in the desert we also had the best meal since leaving Airport Gaza.
92
94
93
95
Miles The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968.
86
Lismore to El Alamein
El Amiriya, Egypt Absent without leave
96
Ikingi Maryut, Egypt is an area in the Western Desert, outside Alexandria which was the site of an Allied staging camp during World War II.
1941
Thurs 17/4/41
6 AM returned to camp by taxi I was charged with being A.W.L.95 with 23 others & duly fined but I have no regrets, we should been given leave as soon as we arrived not stand over us as if we were criminals we deserved leave. In the afternoon we went on road check duty at I Kingi Mariut96, there is a violent dust storm raging at times we can’t see the road ten yards ahead it was a red hue, Desert Home is where we are, opposite the Egyptian police station
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87
D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Frid 18/4/41
To day turned out to nice & fine I was on duty nearly all day
Sat 19/4/41
it was also fine, I went down for a cold shower, more dust washed away
Sun 20/4/41
had another cold shower, met Kevin Tory97 who I knew in the 2/2 BN he is now in the Kit bag store service carrying Kit bags out to the camps etc
Mon 21/4/41
I met another man of the 2/2 Sproggo Suepraine fine day.
Tues 22/4/41
received shorts & shirts.
Wed 23/4/41
We leave I Kingi Maruit & proceed to the salt pan situated at the Junction of the Mersa Matruh & Alex Roads, we have a similar Job.
Thurs 24/4/41
Went to Alexandria on leave, had a hot shower, very nice, had good meals at Greek café 6 a.e. cinema “The Devil was a sissy”98 returned by Taxi, beer here is 3 ½ a.e. a glass.
Frid 25/4/41
This is Anzac day. to day was fine
Sat 26/4/41
on duty we are doing 2 hrs on & 4 off we are two men short, there is likely to be another dust storm.
97
Believed to be Lance Corporal Kevin Edward Tory NX15387, enlisted 17 May 1940, discharged 11 April 1946, posting at discharge: AIF ME Ret Store.
88
Lismore to El Alamein
98
The Devil is a Sissy is a 1936 American MGM comedy-drama directed by W.S. Van Dyke and Rowland Brown.
1941
Sun 27/4/41
The dust is in full swing but it did not affect us much because of the Salt pan, No 6 section came to do duty with us because of the shortage of men.
Mon 28/4/41
it was a fine day, we are digging slit trenches & fixing our tents
Tues 29/4/41
The food is getting short & some of the men went for miles to get some
Wed 30/4/41
The men go out again for food many vehicles travelling to & fro on the Alex to Cairo road we have to check all vehicles & the leading vehicle in a convoy.
Thurs 1/5/41
Much traffic on road, received some clothes at Amaryia, there was an air raid at Alexandria a few land mines were dropped, no plane was shot down, it was a fine sight to see the searchlights, about thirty playing around the bomber, also the flaming onions sent up by the ac ac99 batteries
Frid 2/5/41
received a pullover, under clothes towel kit bag & pr. boots etc.
Sat 3/5/41
Wrote letter to Father air Mail on duty as usual
Sun 4/5/41
We are starting to get leave at last, it is like the army all over, they are pretty slow.
99
Anti-aircraft gunfire
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Mon 5/5/41
Went on leave to Alexandria went into surf down at Stanley beach procured post cards of town & harbour At the “Rio” cinema “Charlie Chaplain” in “The Great Dictator”100, it was a packed house of soldiers & sailors 8 ½ ac.
Tues 6/5/41
a sand storm is blowing accross the water, there was a hot wind too which made it miserable I sent 2 letters surface mail to Father
Wed 7/5/41
on duty most of the time
Thurs 8/5/41
issued new hat, vest, underpants, stockings South African provos101 take on duty.
Frid 9/5/41
A sweltering hot day. It is hottest we have had so far 114 ds.102 many men go on leave to Alex.
Sat 10/5/41
it was another hot day I am doing four shifts to day.
Sun 11/5/41
a cool day. met W. Moorman103 2/2 BN one lorry of the South African convoy ran off road into water.
Mon 12/5/41
on duty this morning, all leave to Alex cancelled, many men are coming to Amriya Staging camp from Greece & Crete & Abyssinia.
100
The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin, following the tradition of many of his other films. Having been the only Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was Chaplin’s first true sound film.
90
Lismore to El Alamein
101
Provost (military police)
102
Degrees Fahrenheit, 45.5 degrees Celsius.
103
Believed to be Private Walter Desmond Moorman NX15409, enlisted 17 May 1940, date of death 31 October 1942, posting on death: 2/42 Australian Infantry Battalion.
1941
Tues 13/5/41
it was a nice cool day I had some clothes washed by wog.
Wed 14/5/41
The wogs had a soft drink & chocolate stall near our post & Lieut Taylor knocked it down & kicked the contents all over the place it was amusing, we had chocolates buckshee for two days
Thurs 15/5/41
pay day, some of the men in our camp went on leave unofficially
Frid 16/5/41
I do the shifts of both Simms104 & Braziers105, Lieut Taylor goes on two days leave & Capt Copeland106 takes charge in mean time. I went to Alex had hot shower & had my tea at the Fleet club
Sat 17/5/41
I feel a bit sore after being knocked down by car in Alex yesterday leave has be granted to us again three men at a time, an extra man is at our post armed with a loaded rifle to enforce drivers to pull up & be checked by us.
Sun 18/5/41
on duty to day etc.
Mon 19/5/41
I met W.Harley107 from Bonalbo N.S.W. he is now in the transport as driver. H. Simms stops English Brigadier by putting bullet into petrol tank I had a tooth filled at staging camp.
104
Believed to be Private Robert James Simms NX8495, enlisted 8 November 1939, discharged 9 July 1943, posting at discharge: HQ Guard Battalion.
106
Believed to be Major George Fulton Copeland NX35091, enlisted 22 July 1940, date of death 1 November 1942, posting on death: 3 Anti Tank Regiment.
107
Believed to be Corporal William Henry Harley NX46807, enlisted 16 July 1940, discharged 16 October 1945, posting at discharge: 2/1 Field Workshop.
105
Believed to be Private Arthur John Brazier VX38040, enlisted 23 July 1940, discharged 3 July 1942, posting at discharge: Gn Bn.
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D I ARY
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Tues 20/5/41
I was on cook house fatique it was a dirty greasy job
Wed 21/5/41
Went to Alexandria on leave had lunch at United Services Club. I stayed at the Australian Club Atlantic Hotel, two blocks from water front good meals & accommodation hot & cold showers, at Royal cinema Nelson Eddy in “Balalaika” depicting Russian life, some good singing. I went to kit store & got some articles from kit bag first time since leaving Bardia
Thurs 22/5/41
It was a nice day, I returned to camp after lunch at the club.
Frid 23/5/41
nothing unusual occurred
Sat 24/5/41
a very hot day 112 dgs. Fowler, Burns & parker108 return from palestine
108
Believed to be Private Robin Alfred Brown Parker NX24645, enlisted 31 May 1940, discharged 5 April 1944, posting at discharge: 2/4 Dental Unit.
92
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
H. Easy Les. Cole Jim Carey
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93
D I ARY
94
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Sun 25/5/41
It was a nice cool day, on duty in the evening.
Mon 26/5/41
Banja patterson & J. Lucas leave us & go to Cairo, Burns & parker take their place all military clothes are taken off the wogs by the M. police109.
Tues 27/5/41
a cool day. on duty to day.
Wed 28/5/41
I had a dip in the Mediterranean the water was choppy & there was an undertow, one of the Aussie provos put another provo under open arrest both were L. Cpls110 it was unusual, many A.W.L.s were brought back to Amriya
Thurs 29/5/41
German airman fly over Alex but the Egyptian searchlights fail to pick them up, you cannot depend on them too much fifth column111
Frid 30/5/41
We leave our post at the Salt pan & return to Amriya staging camp, I shaved off my moustache we pack up & march to railway station most of the platoon was drunk, we leave by train for Mursa Matruh at 11 45PM.
Sat 31/5/41
We arrived there after a tedious journey of 18 hrs a distance of 200 ms it was the slowest train trip I ever have taken averaging 11 ms per hour. we are camped in billets
109
Military police
110
Lance Corporals
111
A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favour of an enemy group or nation.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
95
D I ARY
Sun 1/6/41
N o .01 29 August 1940 – 1 June 1941
Had a nice warm surf last evening we were on parade at 8.30 AM. we march off at about 10 AM for the wharf, at 1 PM we leave Mersa Matruh on H.M.A.S. Destroyer Vendetta112 for Tobruk, this vessel was launched in 1917 she has seen a lot of service & it will be recalled that the body of the former prime Minister of Australia Mr J.A. Lyons was taken from Sydney to Tasmania for burial in 1939 by this destroyer. we are travelling at 19 Knots an hour. the trip is nice so far, we had bully beef & biscuits cheese, cup of tea mixed with some pears etc arrived at Tobruk harbour at 11 PM We went by truck to staging camp near surf a distance of about five miles, the road was in a frightful state, we arrived 2 AM tired out & sore.
112
HMAS Vendetta (D69/I69) (formerly HMS Vendetta (FA3/F29/D69)) was a V class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
96
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Mon 2/6/41
(Diary 2) This is a continuation of my diary, after cleaning the dust off my rifle & getting ready for breakfast, enemy planes came over in two formations four bombers & six fighters in each, there was a rush for the slit trenches, there was plenty of ac ac fire, mines were dropped near the harbour, I had a nice dip in the surf. we are standing by waiting for a truck to convey us to 24th Brigade H. qtr.113 we have some more bully beef cheese, jam & biscuits so so. at 1 30 PM we move off passed through Tobruk township & harbour up the Bardia road we arrived at our destination 4 PM which was nothing more than sanger’s114 walls of stone around you they were once used by the Italians. there is another air raid over Tobruk dive bombers seemed to be everywhere & the ac ac was lively.
Tues 3/6/41
I woke feeling tired, & the big guns in the front line were still going strong after several hours which were situated about 6 ms. away, from where we are camped we have to walk over half a mile to get our meals the Kitchen is in a dugout, another air raid is on, the days are getting long it is not dark until after 9 PM
113
The 24th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed on 1 July 1940 as part of the Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II. Originally formed as part of the 8th Australian Division the brigade was subsequently transferred to the newly created 9th Australian Division in December.
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Lismore to El Alamein
The brigade served during the Western Desert Campaign, forming part of the Allied garrison during the Siege of Tobruk. Later, the brigade was withdrawn to Syria for occupation duties, but later took part in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. In early 1943, the brigade was returned to Australia to fight the Japanese in the Pacific.
In 1943-1944, the brigade fought in New Guinea, taking part in the landing at Lae and the Huon Peninsula campaign. Its final campaign came late in the war, when it took part in the Labuan landings and the Battle of North-Borneo in mid-1945. After the war, the brigade was disbanded in early 1946.
1941
114
A sangar or sanger is a temporary fortified position with a breastwork originally constructed of stones, and now built of sandbags, gabions or similar materials. Sangars are normally constructed in terrain where the digging of trenches would not be practicable.
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D I ARY
100
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Wed 4/6/41
We shift our cook house up on a hill, the guns are still booming Brown Parker & I fix up our sanger with frames & Iti115 sheets, it is getting dusty, we wash our clothes.
Thurs 5/6/41
another dust storm, more bombs dropped near harbour, also more planes fly over us, I went on duty at 12 to 3 AM. which is half a mile from here
Frid 6/6/41
To day is cloudy & cold likely rain plenty of air raids over large area to night the enemy planes threw out flares & incendiary bombs which lit up the whole country side & then the bombs fell hard & fast the ac ac fire was intense
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Sat 7/6/41
more planes & more gun fire we went over to the Tobruk cemetery for soldiers, there are a lot of the 2/1 pioneers116 buried here, that unit used to be in camp at Greta N.S. Wales the same time as I was there. funerals are a matter of course, up to ten a day here you don’t know who will be next with planes over the top dropping eggs & explosives here & there it is a warm place. we heard the wireless news the first for several weeks, it is fairly quiet few planes about
115
Italian
116
The 2/1st Pioneer Battalion was a pioneer battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in early 1940, the battalion
served throughout the war, seeing action in North Africa, particularly around Tobruk in 1941, before being brought back to Australia in 1942. It later took part in the fighting against the Japanese in
New Guinea in 1942-43, and then to Borneo in 1945. It was disbanded in early 1946. The battalion undertook both infantry and engineer tasks.
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Sun 8/6/41
It was chilly this morning on duty 3 to 5 AM with R. Simms he later went to hospital with crook back, the flies are annoying, wireless news that British forces march into Syria Alex117 was bombed again several killed
Mon 9/6/41
we have fairly heavy dews nearly every night & cool with it, more news of progress in Syria.
Tues 10/6/41
another enemy plane comes over, we move to Brigade Headquarters arriving at 7 PM. have to stand to for one hour night & morning to be ready for enemy parachutists. I slept in dugout with Fred Jackson
Wed 11/6/41
On duty 5 to 7 AM had to call men to stand to 5.30 to 7.30 AM made my own sanger up with stretcher & covering over top. church parade
Thurs 12/6/41
a lively air raid over Tobruk five bombers swooped down, one was shot down, we all cheered, to day was dusty & washing water was scarce. I also had a catarrh attack
Frid 13/6/41
It is a windy day, very dusty we have not received any mail yet.
Sat 14/6/41
Although I had felt very tired I had a good breakfast consisting of porridge bacon & Jam etc.
Sun 15/6/41
The only mail received by the platoon so far was a parcel for W. Trickett118, on the wireless fmore progress in Syria
Mon 16/6/41
a beautiful spring day we were issued with 4 pkts cigs soap anti gas ointment
117
Alexandria, Egypt
118
Believed to be Private William Trickett NX9587, enlisted 2 January 1940, discharged 18 December 1942, posting at discharge: HQ Guard Battalion.
102
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Pte Jimmy Burns standing by wrecked Nazi plane 1941
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1941
Tues 17/6/41
Sanitary & Garbage duties issue 1 oz tobacco, papers, we are told to be ready for any move towards the front line, one of our trucks arrived.
Wed 18/6/41
Chilly morning followed by dust storm with high wind, some of the boys have received mail from home, received letter from Edie & will pullinger
Thurs 19/6/41
We returned to our quarters at 7 PM another dusty day
Frid 20/6/41
a cool morning at stand to, we improve our cook house, Brown-parker & I recondition our sanger it is chilly both morning & evening between times mostly dust storms of varying degrees
Sat 21/6/41
More raids on Tobruk & more dust I am on duty tonight 9 to 11 PM
Sun 22/6/41
wrote letter to Father also to Auntie Mrs W. Copestake both of them by air mail. more dust starting up, there are a few enemy planes about, but no damage yet received a letter from Father the first one for three months it was very welcome, I replied to this letter to day.
Mon 23/6/41
Washed some clothes with what water we had, our allowance is thus 1 water bottle full to last 2 days for drinking & shaving washing water 1 gallon per man each day
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Tues 24/6/41
another air raid on Tobruk eight planes, one was shot down a piece of shrapnel from ac ac gun fell within four yards of me near our sanger it was 3 ins long ½ in wide
Wed 25/6/41
The weather here so far is more like spring although it is summer time, no dust storms for two days cigarette & tobacco issue day
Thurs 26/6/41
we fired out of Swatzlo L M G119 a few adjustments had to be made to get automatic firing it is a german gun captured in recent engagements.
Frid 27/6/41
Another dust storm, but otherwise fairly quiet
Sat 28/6/41
sent registered package to Father containing small articles we move to advanced H. quarters120
Sun 29/6/41
I fix up my cubby house, I saw for the first time a Kangaroo rat it had a bushy tail & very fast
Mon 30/6/41
were issued with 3 galls of washing water, also issue two razor blades I also use a piece of glass for sharpening
119
Light machine gun
120
Headquarters
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Lismore to El Alamein
1941
German Dornier plane wrecked near Tobruk 1941
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Tues 1/7/41
another dust storm, enemy planes bomb Tobruk again, & the ac ac was very lively, heard wireless news the Russians were hard pressed & the British forces advance on Beirut, the chief sea port & city of Syria Lebanon against the Vichy French who are allies with Germany
Wed 2/7/41
Nice spring morning, but later on it became the hottest day since our arrival even at night
Thurs 3/7/41
pay day, another dust storm
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Frid 4/7/41
We return to our old quarters, met Walker smith C. Comp used to be 2/2 BN received letter from Uncle Will Guildford England, four months to arrive also one from H. Riddle Lismore air mail 7 weeks to arrive terrible slow. another big air raid on Tobruk 40 planes take part 4 shot down 2 damaged no damage was done in raid
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Sat 5/7/41
Sentry duty in p o.w121 compound one of the worst dust storms raged to day, I had a catarrh attack
Sun 6/7/41
went to get our new camp ready passing near Tobruk an air raid came on we laid flat on ground, but no damage was done. Our new home was in a desolate waddy, we went on later to beach, it was a pleasure to get into the warm surf & rid oneself of desert dust.
Mon 7/7/41
we shift camp to about a mile & a half from the staging camp a distance of six miles, it was a big days work, on duty 9 to 11 PM went to bed tired out
Tues 8/7/41
finished cook house, also put up tent to dine in, went to the sea side near convalescent Hospital the bottom was rough stones, around banks were wire weed, wild sage Hoare hound, it was a nice summer day
Wed 9/7/41
Did some washing cigarette issue 5 pkts & two boxes matches
Thurs 10/7/41
bought cigs envelopes, chocolate etc. went to beach near Hospital near here was the wreckage of a Messersmitt122 shot down by a free Frenchman it made the water oily, the pilot was buried on the beach.
121
Prisoner of war
122
Believed to be a Messerschmitt Bf109 which was a German fighter aircraft.
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Lismore to El Alamein
1941
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Frid 11/7/41
wrote letter to Uncle Will Cure Guildford, also to H. Riddle Lismore, we camouflaged our Tent. sent two shell cases. 3 lbs each.
Sat 12/7/41
received letter from H. Riddle also went to beach, we put boards etc on sanger to stop shrapnel, we motored to fig tree beach, surf was pretty good.
Sun 13/7/41
we do some more work on cook house, the guns we have here are swarzlo, Breda123 & Fiat124
Mon 14/7/41
bought 1 tin Tobacco, 1 tinned beer ½ bottle beer 50 cigs, matches went to Tobruk, the town is badly scarred, I later went to beach
Tues 15/7/41
went to staging camp beach we watch shells falling between us & water point the range 14,000 yds one of the Bardia Bills125.
Wed 16/7/41
cig issue 5 pckts matches, went to fig tree beach126 it was nice
Thurs 17/7/41
Went to beach again considerable activity on Derna Road front the guns firing for over four hours
Frid 18/7/41
We move to day for forward HQ. talk about a place it was at an entrance to waddy plenty of dust & the sangers were awful
123
Believed to be a Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 30, the standard light machine gun of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.
124
Believed to be a FiatRevelli Modello 1935, an Italian machine gun.
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125
“Bardia Bill” was a nickname given first to a battery of Italian medium guns from a position south of Bardia fired on the Australian positions near Salum, before the capture of Bardia by 6th Australian Division. Later in the campaign the same appellation was given to a gun, also Italian, which was used against the Australian forces besieged in Tobruk.
126
The famous Tobruk Fig Tree was named because it marked the entrance to an underground network of caves used by the Australians to treat the wounded. This became known as the Fig Tree Hospital. Located inside the Tobruk defences near the Derna Road, the fig tree was the only feature in an otherwise barren desert.
1941
Italian truck wrecked by bomb
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Sat 19/7/41
more dust to annoy us fixed up my sanger, went to beach at Fig tree.
Sun 20/7/41
more dust rising, bought four pckts cigs, received letter from Morna Jenner, we all had to stand to from 5.30 PM to 8.30 PM in readiness for anything
Mon 21/7/41
on duty 3 to 5 AM we had the tea for some time, soup, meat carrots, peas, peaches & pears & cream, oranges
Tues 22/7/41
on sanitary duties 5 to 7 AM we start to dig pit for Anti T. rifle127
Wed 23/7/41
another stand to 4.30 AM to 7 AM dust storm raging smothering everything finished stand for A.T.R. we get site ready for orderly room
Thurs 24/7/41
The dust storm is worse than ever heard BB.C.128 news at Tommy129 camp
Frid 25/7/41
more dust but has ceased off considerably, bought tin Tobacco toffee & papers
Sat 26/7/41
more dust, we fix up camouflaging eye tent & cook house
127
Believed to be for the Boys anti-tank rifle, a British antitank rifle in use during the Second World War.
128
British Broadcasting Corporation
129
Slang for a common soldier in the British Army.
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Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Sun 27/7/41
Slight dust, washed some clothes heard wireless news Japan enters Indo China & activity at Tobruk.
Mon 28/7/41
heavy dew, no dust, we have no rain here for two months, in fact I have seen none since leaving palestine, the third week in March
Tues 29/7/41
Lieut Taylor changes over with Sgt Langman we are put on digging a sanitary pit.
Wed 30/7/41
stand to 5.30 to 6.30 AM it was a hot summers day little dust
Thurs 31/7/41
slight dust, heard wireless news
Frid 1/8/41
left forward brigade for rear H. Quarters, we were not sorry I can tell you, in the afternoon some of us went to beach near staging camp, it was a treat after lots of dust, we received from ACF130 1 oz Tobacco, tin of boiled lollies chewing sweet & 1 pct cigarettes
Sat 2/8/41
a nice cool breeze blowing in from the sea, we leave for forward H.Qrs
130
Australian Comforts Fund, the aim being to provide free ‘comfort’ items that were not supplied by the services to all Australian servicemen.
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Sun 3/8/41
we went by lorry to within half a mile from the perimeter to bring back prisoners if any arrived at 4 AM plenty of machine gun & other gunfire, left at 700 hrs when mortar shells fell near us, & as we went up the road the shells came closer, I went back to Fig tree sig131 office underground, where more shells were getting near their mark, no prisoners were taken, the 43 BN132 had a bad spin, we arrived back at rear H. qrs 10.30 AM tired out.
Mon 4/8/41
went to Tobruk cemetery to do shovel work, but there was little to do, it was a big day for the grave diggers.
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Signals
132
The 2/43rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in July 1940 in South Australia as part of the 24th Brigade, the battalion was initially part of the 8th Division, until the 24th Brigade was re-allocated to the 9th Division in late 1940. It was with this formation that the 2/43rd saw service in the Middle East in 1941-42, taking part in the fighting at Tobruk
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and in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. It also undertook garrison duties in Syria, before returning to Australia early in 1943 to fight the Japanese in the Pacific. The battalions most significant action around Tobruk came on 3 August 1941 when ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies attacked a German outpost on the right flank of the “Salient”, designated “R7” by the Allied operational staff. The attack was part of an attempt to reduce the German-held Salient, which had developed in the line south-west of
Bianca. In conjunction with the 2/43rd’s attack, the 2/28th Battalion attacked the left flank around posts “S6” and “S7” from the north. Heavy fighting around R7 resulted in 100 Australian casualties, the majority being borne by ‘B’ Company, and the fighting ended in the Australian assault being repulsed followed by a temporary truce for both sides to collect casualties. During the truce, German sappers led the Australian stretcher bearers through the Germanlaid minefields.
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Tues 5/8/41
enemy planes fly in from the sea but there was no raid we are going out to build new sangers
Wed 6/8/41
we leave for our new posse after pulling things to pieces, got our new sanger ready, under a old bridge, facing the harbour on duty 9 to 11 PM we are tired out
Thurs 7/8/41
we fixed up the cook house & also put in sanitary pit, while on duty 11 PM an enemy plane dropped a bomb in the vicinity of the cook house, it was the closet yet the noise was terrific spark & stones flying in all directions.
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Frid 8/8/41
got out of bed tired out, went to have a swim in part of Harbour it was good, but made me tired
Sat 9/8/41
Went to R.A.P with left ear running, I later went to harbour but kept my ears dry, there was plenty of enemy bombers around to night
Sun 10/8/41
went again to M.D.S.133 for ear treatment, I met H. Jones 2/2 BN & now of the engineers, went to tunnels to be a witness in cpl picks case but I was not called, on the road back there was a fierce air raid over Tobruk we laid on the ground, things were lively for a while, over 100 parachute shells went up & kept the enemy up higher. bought 1 Tin Tobacco, matches 133
Main Dressing Station
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Mon 11/8/41
wrote letter to Morna Jenner went to M D S for ear syringing at the forward Brigade had TAB needle for Tetanus, washed some clothes, had a dip in harbour, night off
Tues 12/8/41
cleaned out respirators, we air our blankets every morning must be in by 0800 hrs in the harbour again B Parker shews me how to backstroke it is hard work, had some nice stew & pastry at Tommies quarters.
Wed 13/8/41
another raid over Tobruk to day Lieut Taylor left us after being CO of No 2 platoon for 12 months he returned by boat to Mursa Matruh last night, he is succeeded by Lieut Donnelly from the artillery.
Thurs 14/8/41
pay day. went to the harbour for a swim, George staines, Tommy shows me different strokes in swimming he is a strong swimmer, on duty to night the ac ac put up a great Barrage in air raid over Tobruk
Frid 15/8/41
to day is like spring with a cool breeze, another air raid four enemy planes shot down.
Sat 16/8/41
0900 hrs an aerial bomber fell about 100 yds from our sanger, but did no damage, the noise was deafening & part of bomb struck our sangar but it was built of stone, it was about the closest so far, the air was full of dust & smoke, I went to the beach later in day.
Sun 17/8/41
We leave bomb happy valley & go on the Bardia road past the turning in near M.D.S. & renovate sanger.
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Mon 18/8/41
I altered my sanger, put in sanitary pit, very hot to day to work.
Tues 19/8/41
Brown parker & I shift to forward H. quarters in an Italian Diezel truck talk about rough arrived about 7 PM.
Wed 20/8/41
Our new home is a weatherboard hut, the first building to live in for a long time, it is situated six miles from Tobruk, on the Bardia road past the p.o.w., we have to stand to morning & night, finished duty 9 AM. canteen issue 1 Tin Tob. 1 Tin Cigs 5 pckts cigs matches, received letter from Father it took six weeks to arrive. air mail
Thurs 21/8/41
enemy planes bomb Tobruk some came back near our post Brown parker & I tried to fire the old Fiat gun but she jammed that’s that. wrote letter to Father, another air raid to night.
Frid 22/8/41
On duty to day, armourer came & fixed Fiat gun but could not guarantee it, another raid 21 planes
Sat 23/8/41
stand to 5.30 to 6.30 AM Fiat gun was removed & a Breda aircraft gun put in its place it is belt fed like the Vickers.
Sun 24/8/41
nice spring day, Les Cole134 starts as cooks offsider, another raid on Tobruk, our Breda performs well
134
Believed to be Private Leslie Oswald Cole NX11669, enlisted 29 March 1940, discharged 20 December 1944, posting at discharge: 2/1 Aust H Q Grd Bn.
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German Stuka brought down near Tobruk 1941
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1941
Mon 25/8/41
The polish troops are slowly working in, the food lorries are being driven by them already. British Tommies are putting in a Beaufor ac ac gun135 near our own post, so far it has shot down 18 enemy planes to its credit.
Tues 26/8/41
Went to the beach with J Burke a distance of four miles it took over 1 hr. to get there, the water was nice & warm, it was a hot day & we tired out. E Grocott cooks offsider.
Wed 27/8/41
pay day, nice & fresh issue of cigs & matches, air raid Tobruk 30 planes
Thurs 28/8/41
Enemy shells fall in wadi less than a mile away, I had a catarrh attack. to day is the first anniversary of the H.q. Guard BN
Frid 29/8/41
The Tommies shift their Bofor gun & put a dummy in place
Sat 30/8/41
It is twelve months since I left Sydney Harbour. at 0100 hrs an enemy plane was shot down by ac ac fire & totally destroyed, the pilot was captured, two men killed all Germans it was a lucky shot, nice & warm.
Sun 31/8/41
it was very hot to day, I bought a bottle of orange drink 4 ½ acc.
135
The Bofors 40 mm gun, often referred to as the Bofors gun, is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors. It was one of the most popular medium-weight anti-aircraft systems during World War II, used by most of the western Allies as well some captured systems being used by the Axis powers. THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
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Mon 1/9/41
to day was the biggest number of enemy planes I have seen come over & attack Tobruk there being about 70 planes, dust was everywhere
Tues 2/9/41
it was chilly this morning, we will have to wear slacks at night time, we take our gun down & clean it, but there was too much dust about another air raid over Tobruk tonight
Wed 3/9/41
light showers fell early to day it was very cold, issue Tob & cigs secured cherry wood pipe.
Thurs 4/9/41
another dusty day, our gun is out of commission for awhile. our canteen issue 1 tin Tob. papers, tooth paste 1 tin cigs & lollies, it was a dusty day
Frid 5/9/41
Cool morning stand to only an occasional enemy plane comes over
Sat 6/9/41
things are fairly quiet, two small raids near Tobruk
Sun 7/9/41
very few planes about, but the artillery was very active.
Mon 8/9/41
one solitary plane comes right over us, we could hear the bombs screaming through the air, but they fell about a mile away near M.D.S.
Tues 9/9/41
The same came over again & dropped some more eggs closer this time he used to come at meal times
Wed 10/9/41
We all had to stand to, between 5 & 7 PM to by ready to fire simultaneously on the plane if he appeared but he never turned up.
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Aust. Gen Hospital wrecked by bomb Tobruk 1941
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Thurs 11/9/41
pay day. we shift our gun into new pit, very dusty job, stand to as usual.
Frid 12/9/41
Cpl Delamothe came & took place of Brown-parker, we finish gun pit
Sat 13/9/41
received letter from Father, we all had our photos’ taken with Brigade
Sun 14/9/41
got egg cups & salt shaker from G Gray plenty of activity around Jack post a lot of shelling going on
Mon 15/9/41
More heavy gun fire, to day all clocks are put back one hour
Tues 16/9/41
posted parcel to Father containing egg cups & Iti red devil hand grenades136 saw a Tommy gun137 for first time also a German automatic138, I had my hair cut right off, received canteen orders from Mallanganee patriotic fund 5 /- it was very thoughtful of them
Wed 17/9/41
Cig issue, wrote letter to Father also one to sec. Mallanganee. we had an issue of rum the first
Thurs 18/9/41
Another dust storm is on, I am having a soft drink of Natural orange squash “Jaforq” with water 10 ac.
Frid 19/9/41
Cloudy day, no dust, we shift to our new place on the flat & we are in a dugout five of us, No.1 platoon men we here previous it was well built.
Sat 20/9/41
six of us were detailed to do fatique duty, plenty of dust flying about my wristwatch has stopped I blame the dust, Lieut Donnelly & Les Cole got bushed both were trying to find the eye office 136
The SRCM Mod. 35 is a hand grenade that was first issued to the Royal Italian Army in 1935, serving through World War II and into the 1980s. Nicknamed “Red Devils” by the British in 1941-1942 during the North African Campaign after the red colour of the most common type.
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137
Thompson submachine gun
138
Believed to be the MP40 submachine gun
1941
Sun 21/9/41
I was bushed for some time also trying to find my dugout the country seems to be all the same E Grocott got sick through drinking too much rum. We leave our dugout & got by lorry to the Tobruk harbour arriving 9 PM we leave by destroyer “Hotspur”139 we were escorted by two cruisers, the speed was around 30 Knots & the water used to wash over the deck, we had to look out
139
HMS Hotspur was an H-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s.
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Mon 22/9/41
We arrived at Alexandria at noon many fine ships were in the harbour including 6 vichy French cruisers & Destroyers who were held by Britain we took lorry to Amariya stayed a couple of hours & then left the railway station at 7 PM for El Cantara.
Tues 23/9/41
arrived at the Suez Canal 6 AM had breakfast, left 11 AM by train for Beit Jir Ja which place we reached at 5 PM. It was a pleasure to have decent bread & butter to eat & a tent to camp in, went to cinema pictures mostly about Australia army etc
Right On Suez Canal
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Wed 24/9/41
arrived at Kilo 89 9.30 AM it was a boon to be out of the western desert I was issued with a new hat, shirt, shorts, tooth paste, beer 35 ms a pot
Thurs 25/9/41
we are getting settled down in our tent, met different boys I knew went to A.G.H to see eric Lytham140 he is a wreck from the Syrian campaign through shell blast
Frid 26/9/41
J. Burns & I went to Gaza & then to Mugazi141 camp to see Ron Thorpe142 it is a very dusty camp, after having tea & some beer we returned at 10 PM
Sat 27/9/41
issue of underpants, singlet, shirt & shorts, no overnight leave yet I suppose it will come some day, went to A.G.H. to see eric Lytham with G. Warke143.
Sun 28/9/41
It was a nice day. Church parade after lunch visited A.G.H.
Mon 29/9/41
went on parade, but told to pack up & return to Brigade H. Qr the rest of our platoon arrive from Tobruk, our tents are small
Tues 30/9/41
I am on Guard to day on water Tower 6 to 8 AM received letter from H. Riddle, some went on leave. Jerusalem
140
142
141
143
Believed to be Private Eric Haydon Lytham NX15698, enlisted 26 May 1940, dischargd 31 July 1942, posting at discharge: 2/33 Battalion. Mughazi, Palestine
Believed to be Private Ronald Thorpe NX24421, enlisted 30 May 1940, date of death 28 September 1943, posting on death: 2/13 Battalion. Believed to be Gunner Cyril George Warke NX19723, enlisted 3 June 1940, discharged 9 September 1945, posting at discharge: 3 Anti Tank Regiment.
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Wed 1/10/41
Got new pugaree144 on hat & had shorts altered
Thurs 2/10/41
The weather is sultry, there is leave on to Tel-Aviv, I was escort to prisoner before BN.
Frid 3/10/41
The mornings are getting cool, we have two eggs, bread butter & Jam for breakfast, more men go to Tel-Aviv, I left here for a three days tour through palestine, we passed through Tela-Kib Gidera, Jewish settlements there is a great improvement to what the Arabs can do. plantations here there & everywhere , arrived at Haifa145 at sundown, through a misunderstanding & restrictions as the army is all over I finished up sleeping under a tree & the next, I got a bad attack of Catarrh.
Sat 4/10/41
This was a bad day to be in a Jewish town or city, it being the Jewish Sabbath, nearly all shops being closed, after getting some snaps, we leave by bus for Nazareth 1 PM passing the oil refinery & Tanks, arrived there after pass over an hours journey, in this village, which is like all other wog. places, Christ worked as a boy in the Carpenters shop run by Joseph his father, an R C. Church has been built over the spot, we also saw different caves & Grottos downstairs, after leaving here & passing a lot of patchy country we came to Tiberias146, I went to bed at 4.30 anything but fit
Sun 5/10/41
We leave Tiberias at 9 AM, saw the flying boat which carries the mail come down on the Sea of Galilee, it was on this inland sea that Christ performed some of his Miracles, we pass over the River Jordan, where it enters the sea, the water being fresh for 200 yds. in the salt water, after going through Afula, we cross the plains of Esdraelon to Magiddo around here is where the Battle of Armageddon is to be fought, through Gedera, where we had lunch, arriving at Tel Aviv 3 PM left there at 9 PM arrived back at Kilo 89 tired & crook.
144
Hat band
145
In present day Israel
146
In present day Israel
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Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Mon 6/10/41
G.O.C147 General Blamey came to inspect the 24 Brigade, I collapsed through the catarrh attack & the heat of the sun on my back, the ambulance took me back to H. quarters.
Tues 7/10/41
I had a day in bed, I improve later taking medicine
Wed 8/10/41
went on parade, followed by route march on Deir Sunied road, I do piquet duties later, nice warm day.
Thurs 9/10/41
received letter from Father another bus load go on three day tour.
Frid 10/10/41
went to see the Troupers at the Cinema, things are very quiet
Sat 11/10/41
some of the boys return from Tel - Aviv swimming carnival March past won by Hill 69
Sun 12/10/41
voluntary church parade I was off duty to day
Mon 13/10/41
Half our platoon went back to Battalion.
Tues 14/10/41
Wrote letter to Father also one to H. Riddle
Wed 15/10/41
we had some rain early to day left brigade H. q for Batt. there is plenty of work in front of us
Thurs 16/10/41
We are duty platoon to day, had Kit inspection, went to Cinema to hear Palestine Symphony Orchestra, some very fine music.
147
General Officer Commanding
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Frid 17/10/41
we had vickers gun instruction followed by tunnel ball etc.
Sat 18/10/41
sent parcel of snaps of Haifa Nazareth & Tiberires148 to Father also xmas cards to H Riddle & W Strain
Sun 19/10/41
Nearly 100 men left here for Aussie & India several I knew, other men were disappointed. moved back to Brigade, on duty to night
Mon 20/10/41
it was a nice spring day went to cinema Gaza Ridge The Great Dictator.
Tues 21/10/41
received letters from Miss Jenner & Mrs S Mclean, showers to day.
Wed 22/10/41
donkey races were on to day six bookmakers were operating about 1200 were there, it was amusing
Thurs 23/10/41
went to see Eric Lytham but he had shifted, we had a look at Gaza cemetery, photos were taken here, 90 Soldiers & 1 nurse have been buried here since this war began, it is nicely kept & nearly filled mostly from last war
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Tiberias, in present day Israel
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Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Nurse Jays grave, Gaza
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Gaza Cemetery
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1941
Frid 24/10/41
A big convoy left here for Egypt & elsewhere, nice spring weather.
Sat 25/10/41
football match Australian Rules between 24th Brig & 28 BN149 28th won 12 Goals to 2 it was the first time I have seen it played.
Sun 26/10/41
I went to BN & met some of the 1st platoon. spears, Bindley parish etc.
Mon 27/10/41
leave has started some of the boys went to Tel-Aviv & Haifa etc.
Tues 28/10/41
had recapitulation on the vickers gun stripping position of holding etc. in the armoury I saw a German parachute gun, it was very compact 2ft long & the magazine holds 37 rounds150.
Wed 29/10/41
paid 5/- for book of the AIF home & abroad sent to Father for xmas, sent order through Brig. received a parcel from Father through Inverell W. F Com151 it took 14 weeks to arrive
149
The 2/28th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. Formed in mid-1940 from Western Australian volunteers, the battalion served in North Africa in 1941-42 as part of the 24th Brigade, which was assigned to the 9th Division. The battalion’s first major engagement came during the Siege of Tobruk, where the battalion carried out defensive duties as part of the garrison for over six months before being withdrawn by sea.
After undertaking occupation duties in Syria and Lebanon, the 2/28th took part in the First Battle of El Alamein in mid-1942 during which it was heavily depleted, and had to be rebuilt prior to its commitment to the Second Battle of El Alamein later in the year. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943-44, where it was committed to capturing Lae, and then clearing the Huon Peninsula, and then retaking Borneo in 1945.
After the war, the battalion was disbanded in early 1946 150
Believed to be a German MP 40 submachine gun.
151
Inverell, New South Wales, Welfare Committee
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Thurs 30/10/41
Went to Tel-Aviv for full day extended leave, cinema Migdalor Leslie Howard in pimpernel smith152 depicting Jewish people escaping over the frontier from Germany it was a full house, we returned to camp by Taxi seven of us.
Frid 31/10/41
issued with a new uniform pr. boots, shaving brush & socks.
Saturday 1/11/41
had a quiet day off duty 8 AM
Sun 2/11/41
Went to Gaza, had my photo taken by Brown-Parker.
152
“Pimpernel” Smith is a British anti-Nazi thriller, produced and directed by its star Leslie Howard, which updates his role in the 1934 The Scarlet Pimpernel from Revolutionary France to pre-Second World War Europe.
138
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Mon 3/11/41
sent small package to Morna Jenner a necklace, we all had our ages checked over, it was very hot to day, we had a sweep, Mel. Cup
Tues 4/11/41
I drew Tranquil star in sweep Skipton was the winner of the 1941 Melbourne Cup. many new men come into Guard BN.
Wed 5/11/41
Cinema Guard BN. band play many items followed by a Gazette of Australia & Tobruk it was a free show.
Thurs 6/11/41
pay day nothing to put in.
Frid 7/11/41
received letter from Edie & Will pullinger, it took 11 weeks to arrive
Sat 8/11/41
It is like summer, although winter month, the officers had a party nurses invited, our boys sampled some of the beer.
Sun 9/11/41
it was quiet, one of the Brigade men was shot in leg tonight
Mon 10/11/41
to day is cloudy, issued with canvas gaiters153 they are too big.
Tues 11/11/41
issued with Tobacco & razor blades
153
Protective cover for the ankle and lower leg
140
Lismore to El Alamein
1941
Wed 12/11/41
more gun instruction, the mornings are getting cool, an army training plane crashed on the flat the pilot was flying too low. he was seriously injured
Thurs 13/11/41
The usual routine
Frid 14/11/41
we had a route march towards Gaza, the 32 Bn154 moved to Khassa
Sat 15/11/41
my birthday to day it passed off quietly, on duty 6 PM it is keeping very dry, no rain has fallen of any consequence for weeks
Sun 16/11/41
church parade, open air, wrote a letter to Morna Jenner
Mon 17/11/41
received a parcel from Lismore Cinema Ginger Rogers in “Fifth Avenue Girl”155
Tues 18/11/41
Nothing unusual
Wed 19/11/41
heavy showers fell to day the water running through tent wrote letter to Mr pullinger Boscombe156.
Thurs 20/11/41
pay day, issued with pugarees had to take our tin hat & respirator on duty. had photo taken by Brown parker.
154
The 2/32nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. Formed in June 1940 from surplus Australian troops who had been sent to the United Kingdom shortly after the Fall of France, the battalion was originally designated the “71st Battalion”, before being redesignated. After completing training in the United Kingdom, the 2/32nd served in North Africa in
1941-1942 as part of the 25th Brigade, which was assigned to the 9th Division, before being assigned to the 24th Brigade. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943-1944 around Lae and on the Huon Peninsula, and in Borneo, landing on Labuan in mid-1945, before being disbanded in 1946.
155 th 5
Ave Girl is a 1939 comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava starring Ginger Rogers and Walter Connolly. The film is about a millionaire who feels neglected by his family and hires a young woman to stir things up.
156
Suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England
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No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Frid 21/11/41
we are having nice weather after rain, there is a big shortage in Tobacco & cigarettes, we are all jubilant over the big push in Lybia. It is a pleasure to have hot showers in the mornings, route march
Sat 22/11/41
Talk about a rush a 1000 tins of Tobacco came in canteen 28 BN 2 tins a man more good news, Lybia
Sun 23/11/41
church parade, over 100 VADs157 arrived here, a barbed wire fence is around their camp, they are well guarded by our BN. received parcel from Morna Jenner this morning issue ground sheet, towel etc. saw five mile foot race 200 competitors winner time 33 ms. 4/s our Brig man Myers shearer. 9th many never finished
Mon 24/11/41
went to Gaza for photo’s. etc.
Tues 25/11/41
received letter from Father, I also replied to this letter, more V.ADs arrive, the boys are getting to know them. Cinema “The man from Dakota”, Wallace Beery158
Wed 26/11/41
parade, followed by route march took washing to laundry, duty.
Thurs 27/11/41
it was a raw day keen wind blowing, some of our boys went on manourves with the sigs.159
Frid 28/11/41
cinema “Vigil of the night” anne Shirley a hospital scene160 wrote letter to Mrs S. McLean
157
The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire.
158
The Man from Dakota is a 1940 film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Wallace Beery and Delores del Rio.
142
Lismore to El Alamein
159
Signallers
160
Vigil in the Night is a 1940 film (produced and distributed by RKO Pictures) based on the 1939 serialised novel Vigil in the Night, by A.J. Cronin.
161
The Earl of Chicago is a 1940 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen and Edmund Gwenn.
1941
Sat 29/11/41
cinema “The Earl of Chicago”161 Robert Montgomery
Sun 30/11/41
Church Parade, it is a beautiful day cinema “Thoroughbreds don’t Cry“ Micky Rooney & Judy Garland162
Mon 1/12/41
several showers of rain followed by cold weather
Tues 2/12/41
we had a route march round the square, we saw the VADs on route march they looked fine in their blue uniforms, I signed a form for extra 1/- sh per day.
Wed 3/12/41
Sent xmas cards to Father, H Riddle & Morna Jenner
Thurs 4/12/41
received a nice cake from Mallanganee pat163 Fund, pay day, got some more snaps
Frid 5/12/41
finished duty, sent 100 photos to Father, received my universal Kit bag with all contents.
Sat 6/12/41
we have early morning run went on leave to Tel-Aviv Allenby cinema “Forty Thousand Horsemen”164 depicting The Australian Light Horse 1917 near Gaza & Beersheba
Sun 7/12/41
went to art Gallery it was a poor show, had a look at the Zoo there was the lion, lepord, Hyeena etc. Cinema Mogabri “Tobacco Road”165
162
Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in their first film together.
163
Patriotic
164
Forty Thousand Horsemen is a 1940 Australian film directed by Charles Chauvel. The film tells the story of the Australian Light Horse (mounted riflemen as distinct from cavalry) which operated in the desert at the Sinai and Palestine Campaign during World War I.
165
Tobacco Road is a 1941 film directed by John Ford and starring Charley Grapewin, Marjorie Rambeau, Gene Tierney, William Tracy, Dana Andrews and Ward Bond.
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Mon 8/12/41
returned to camp, Japan enters the war against America, we go to small rifle range.
Tues 9/12/41
received letter from Uncle Will Guildford surry166.
Wed 10/12/41
finished duty, attended lecture by Med167 officer on Malaria & V.168 Disease
Thurs 11/12/41
The wet season has started, it is getting cold at night time, our N.C.O.s169 have a course of training it was bad luck losing the Repulse & prince of Wales by Japanese170
Frid 12/12/41
fine to day, wireless hard to hear owing to enemy interference.
Sat 13/12/41
route march, cinema “Nurse Cavill”171 also “port of the Seven Seas” Wallace Beery & Maureen O Sullivan172
Sun 14/12/41
I had a spell to day
Mon 15/12/41
more rain starting, issue long underpants, good news on wireless
Tues 16/12/41
we are busy pulling down tents mess, Salvation army tents, the advanced party has left.
166
Surrey, England
167
Medical
168
Venereal
169
Non-commissioned officers
144
Lismore to El Alamein
170
The sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse was a naval engagement in the Second World War, part of the war in the Pacific, that took place off the east coast of present-day Malaysia, which was then known as Malaya, near Kuantan, Pahang, where the Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by land-based bombers and torpedo bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 10 December 1941.
171
Nurse Edith Cavell is a 1939 American film directed by British director Herbert Wilcox about Edith Cavell. The film was nominated at the 1939 Oscars for Best Original Score.
172
Port of Seven Seas is a 1938 drama film starring Wallace Beery and featuring Frank Morgan and Maureen O’Sullivan.
1941
Wed 17/12/41
a nice fine day, we leave Kilo 89 for Khassa camp, we are camped near cinema between two roads on a flat. I had the night in
Thurs 18/12/41
route march, the hot showers are guise, we attended a Brigade parade before General Moreshead GO. C 9th Div173, about 3000 men comprising H.qrs174 28. 32 & 43 BNs on duty 6 P.M.
Frid 19/12/41
I stopped in bed most of day.
Sat 20/12/41
route march, on duty 6 to 8 PM. The last last of the 2/15 BN175 returned from Tobruk.
Sun 21/12/41
finished duty went to bed, had my hair cut, received letter from H.Riddle, also one from cousin Mrs Beatrice Taylor Bournmouth. we all received a parcel from South Australia for xmas. Heavy rain set in to night. cinema “maryland”176 a hunting picture
Mon 22/12/41
more rain this morning
Tues 23/12/41
Heavy rain fell all day. off duty
173
Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Moreshead, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED (18 September 1889 – 26 September 1959) was an Australian soldier, teacher, businessman, and farmer, whose military career spanned both world wars. During the Second World War, he led the Australian and British troops at the Siege of Tobruk (1941) and at the Second Battle of El Alamein, achieving decisive victories over Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps. A strict and demanding officer, his soldiers
nicknamed him “Ming the Merciless”, later simply “Ming”, after the villain in the Flash Gordon comics. 174
Headquarters
175
The 2/15th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Formed in May 1940 primarily from Queensland volunteers, the battalion saw action in North Africa in 1941-1942 as part of the 20th Brigade, which was part of the 7th Division
before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the 2/15th returned to Australia and was reorganised and re-trained for jungle warfare. It took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943-1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. 176
Maryland is a 1940 American drama film directed by Henry King.
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D I ARY
146
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Wed 24/12/41
it was a miserable wet day cinema “The Irish in us”177
Thurs 25/12/41
Xmas day appeared anything but pleasant, went to Haifa178, the roads were heavy, water everywhere, 4 buses were off the road lying on their sides, cars bogged on side of roads arab houses washed away. had xmas dinner at Aust Club Turkey plum pudding & custard 15.0 ms, went to Mt Carmel by bus, a wonderful view from here over town & harbor, cinema EN. Dor “Flight of the raiders” & one was beautiful.
Frid 26/12/41
we stopped at the “New Petra Hotel” Kingsway, more rain fell, went to a free show at the Armon cinema also had soft drinks & Jam rolls The cinema is very nice inside.
Sat 27/12/41
it has fined up we return to camp at 6 PM.
Sun 28/12/41
more rain sets in on duty 6 to 8 PM Cinema “Irene”179 Anna Nagle & Irene Adare it was good Technicolour
Mon 29/12/41
it is the first fine day for five days, cinema “The confession of a Nazi spy180 it was a packed house
Tues 30/12/41
I saw some more of palestine four of us went into the Hebron Hills to get firewood, the wood being olive tree dead & heavy we came out on main road to Jerusalem. travelling about 70 ms. it was a change. received a letter from Morna Jenner, also one from Mrs. W. Tibbs.
Wed 31/12/41
wrote letter the rain has wrote letter also to sec. cinema plaza
Lismore to El Alamein
to Morna Jenner started again. to Pte. “Spud” Taylor Mallanganee p. F.181 “Drake of England”182
1941
The Seven Sisters Gaza to Jerusalem
177
The Irish in Us is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien, and Olivia de Haviland.
178
In present day Israel
179
Irene is a 1940 American musical film produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox.
180
Confessions of a Nazi Spy is a 1939 American spy thriller film and the first blatantly anti-Nazi film produced by a major Hollywood studio.
181
Patriotic Fund
182
Drake of England is a 1935 British drama film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler and Jane Baxter. It depicts the life of Francis Drake and the events leading up to the defeat of the Armada in 1588.
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1942 D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
January
15th
April
15th
May
10th
Tripoli, Lebanon Arrived, guard duty
July
2nd
Mursa Matruh, Egypt Staging camp
5th
El Alamein, Egypt Arrived at battle
Beirut, Lebanon Leave
August
21st
September
9th
Tripoli, Lebanon Received news of the Battle of the Coral Sea off Australia
11th
Tripoli, Lebanon Informed his unit will remain stationed in the Middle East for some time
June
1st
Homs, Syria Received news of Japanese submarines in Sydney Harbour
15th
150 miles from Syria Turkey border. Received news of heavy fighting at Tobruk, Libya
25th
Damascus, Syria Leave
26th
Damascus, Syria Leave cancelled, preparation for deployment 148
Lismore to El Alamein
El Alamein, Egypt Received news Russia is hard pressed in Caucasus and Stalingrad
17th
El Alamein, Egypt Received news of heavy fighting in New Guinea and Stalingrad holds out
22nd
150 miles from Syria Turkey border. Received news Tobruk had fallen to the Axis powers
El Alamein, Egypt Unit visited by General Harold Alexander, Commander in Chief of Middle East Command, Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery, General Officer Commanding British Eighth Army and Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead, General Officer Commanding Australian Forces in the Mediterranean Theatre including the 9th Australian Division
October
24th
El Alamein, Egypt Massive artillery barrage and attack
1942
November
1st
El Alamein, Egypt Artillery, cheated death
9th
El Alamein, Egypt Received news the Americans landed in Algeria and Morocco
13th
El Alamein, Egypt Received news Bardia and Tobruk recaptured
24th
El Alamein, Egypt Received news Russians advancing, 8th Army 30 miles from El Agheila and troops advancing in New Guinea
December
5th
Khassa, Palestine Arrived at army camp
10th
Cairo, Egypt Leave
Kilo 89 24th Brigade Palestine Date unknown
16th
Khassa, Palestine Returned from leave
26th
Cairo, Egypt Leave
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Thurs 1/1/42
a lot were late last night seeing the old year out & the new year in, church parade to cinema it was packed it was very cold
Frid 2/1/42
last night the wind blew gale force, our tent fly being ripped at the top, it was cold but little rain fell which was fortunate for us, we are waiting for a new fly.
Sat 3/1/42
Cold, wet & miserable our tent is not fixed yet, heavy fall of snow fell in Jerusalem.
Sun 4/1/42
Cinema, “an espionage agent”183 Brenda Marshall it was a packed house, again at cinema Betty Grable in “Down Argentine Way”184, in Technicolour a very nice picture, we put the new fly on our tent just in time, heavy rain fell, received two pics & signs from Father.
Mon 5/1/42
The first fine day for fourteen days, it was a great relief from cold & wet, 20 ins. of rain fell in that period & snow fell in Jerusalem on two occasions yesterday & day before
Tues 6/1/42
Wrote letter to Mrs. W. Tibbs Camp Hill Brisbane The cold was intense, I had a warm shower. Cinema Anne Sheridan in “and it all came True”185 she looked splendid.
183
Espionage Agent is a pre-World War II spy melodrama produced by Hal B. Wallis in 1939.
150
Lismore to El Alamein
184
Down Argentine Way is a 1940 American musical film made in Technicolor by Twentieth Century Fox. It made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role for the studio, and introduced American audiences to Carmen Miranda.
185
It All Came True is a 1940 criminal musical comedy film starring Ann Sheridan as a fledgling singer and third-billed Humphrey Bogart as a gangster who hides from the police in a boarding house.
1942
Wed 7/1/42
Wrote letter to Uncle Will, Guildford, we camouflaged tents, some of our boys had their blankets stolen while they were in cinema, it was a low thing to do, wrote a letter to H. Riddle Lismore
Thurs 8/1/42
It has turned out a beautiful spring day not too cold, wrote a letter to Cousin Beatrice MB.Taylor Bournmouth England.
Frid 9/1/42
received a letter from Morna Jenner 325 Bondi Road Bondi Cinema “Andy Hardy meets a Debuntante.”186 Micky Rooney & Judy Garland, they are a great drawcard. It was a packed house
Sat 10/1/42
finished duty 8 AM. the weather has cleared. Cinema “plaza” “Storm over Bengal”187 also scenic views of Rio Janiero also the Entry of Haille Silassie into Addis Ababa
Sun 11/1/42
church parade, a free camp bus service inter camp, has started on Saturdays & sundays I went to Kilo 89 Cinema Kilo “Magmalion”
Mon 12/1/42
on duty to day, the weather is guise catur.
Tues 13/1/42
received a parcel from Inverell W. F. C. 188 we are getting ready to move from here. Cinema Jim Geralds concert party, very good show. it was a packed house
186
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George B. Seitz.
187
Storm Over Bengal is a 1938 adventure film that was nominated at the 11th Academy Awards for Best Score, the nomination was for Cy Feuer. Set during the British Raj, the film’s working title was Bengal Lancer Patrol.
188
Believed to be Welfare Committee
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Wed 14/1/42
We leave Khassa camp for Syria at 7 AM, we were jammed pretty tight in truck, but it was a nice trip to Haifa from which we camped about 15 ms. out Mt Louis near Acre.
Thurs 15/1/42
we start off again still in convoy at 6.30 AM. it was a beautiful trip all along the coast, we could see nearly all the way. we went through Beirut the chief seaport of Syria, it is a scattered city about two miles through, the trams looked antiquated, the mountains of Syria looked splendid with their snow caps, we passed through several large villages on route, & the people seemed very friendly. after passing through a large tunnel we came to Tripoli at which centre is one of the oil refineries & end of pipe line from Frak, we arrived at 5 PM.
Frid 16/1/42
The camp where we are is situated 3 ms. out of Tripoli, at the village of Magdalaya, the road is good & we have a fine view of the snow capped mountains inland. I have started duty at 10 AM.
Sat 17/1/42
We went down to village to try their beer Almaza it is delayed action, any way none of the beer in the Middle East is equal to Aussie Beer, we are only allowed in the village from 6 to 10 PM. & other Batts.189 are not allowed in at all but it occurs. The people themselves are christian arabs or Lebanese, partly French they invite you into their homes. heavy showers of rain fell to day, many of the boys got drunk on the local liquid. it is pay day.
Sun 18/1/42
church parade, the R.C.s190 go to the village church the people being R.C.s. the priest is a married man the only nation which allow it. from here can be seen thousands of acres of olive tree plantations it is a valuable product of Lebanon. wrote letter to Father.
189
Battalions
190
Roman Catholics
152
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Mon 19/1/42
on duty more showers of rain but fines up later, had my washing done at one of the homes. talk about these women here everyone wants to do your washing & the worst of it is they expect a bit of buckshee191, like the rest of the Middle East, but I will say they do a good Job.
Tues 20/1/42
It is cold wet & miserable, we clean the vickers gun, received letter from Father, more showers fell on duty to night 6 to 9 PM.
Wed 21/1/42
Talk about rain it simply poured finished Guard 6 PM had beer & coffee in private house in village
Thurs 22/1/42
It has turned out to be a fine day, we went for a route march to Tripoli & return a distance of 8 ms., there are some very nice buildings in the town which is mostly wog or Arabic, I had a cold shower, my feet are very sore after the march.
Frid 23/1/42
received xmas cards from Aunt Maria, Ede & Will Bournemouth Went to M.D.S.192 to have my feet attended to, more heavy rain had some beer & coffee, village
Sat 24/1/42
Went to Tripoli barracks hot & cold showers very nice wrote letter to Father on duty to night
Sun 25/1/42
on duty all day the weather is fining up, had a pleasant evening in village private house.
Mon 26/1/42
route march towards hills & river distance there & back 4 miles
191
Gift or bribe
192
Main Dressing Station
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D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Tues 27/1/42
a nice fine day scotty Dickson & I went to Bill’s house they put on a fine spread for us followed by local wine Bananas etc.
Wed 28/1/42
got tooth filled in Tripoli several men went on two days leave to Beirouth. went to Tripoli leave 5 PM to 10 PM. Cinema Rozy Broadway Melodies. we have a free cup of tea & biscuits at the A.C.F.193 heavy rain fell to night.
Thurs 29/1/42
pay day showery weather on duty to night
Frid 30/1/42
fine day received letter from Cousin Harold “Spud” Taylor he is in the R.AOC.194. MEF.195
Sat 31/1/42
a nice fine day we took a trip up to the mountains as far as Ehden a distance of 20 ms. from here it was a novelty to me to be among the snow, which in some places was over two feet deep. it was a wonderful panorama looking towards the sea with the numerous villages with their churches & monastries standing out in prominence in the valleys. we had some snow fights & snaps taken. we returned tired, but pleased with trip.
193
Australian Comforts Fund
194
Royal Army Ordnance Corps was a corps of the British Army.
195
Middle East Force
154
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Guard BN 31/1/42 Ehden
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155
D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Sun 1/2/42
on duty to day light showers fell. went to Tripoli Cinema Empire “Dinga Din”196 Doug. Fairbanks Jnr & Grant, a rescue in India from wild tribes
Mon 2/2/42
a route march, had my hair cut native barber the quickest yet 25 piastres on Guard 6 PM.
Tues 3/2/42
light showers fell, got some soxs & mittins from S. army197 the value of Syrian money is thus one Lyre 2/10 100 piastres, 50 ps. 25 ps. one frank. 5 piastres
Wed 4/2/42
route march, went to Tripoli barracks for hot & cold shower by truck, went to private house had some coffee, light rain fell
Thurs 5/2/42
a nice spring day, went for a short route march on Guard 6 to 8 PM.
Frid 6/2/42
on duty all day got washing back from Marys.
Sat 7/2/42
route march. received 1 tin Tobacco & papers, went to Marys & the “victory” cafe
196
Gunga Din is a 1939 RKO adventure film directed by George Stevens and starring Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., loosely based on the poem of the same name by Rudyard Kipling combined with elements of his short story collection Soldiers Three. The film is about three British Sergeants and Gunga Din, their native bhisti (water bearer), who fight the Thuggee, an Indian murder cult, in colonial British India.
156
Lismore to El Alamein
197
Believed to be Salvation Army
1942
Sun 8/2/42
Church parade, went to zghorta in afternoon this village is three times as big as Madglaya.
Mon 9/2/42
a fine day, on duty all day the Guard was turned out to General Maitland Wilson198 & staff went to Joe’s house had beer & coffee
Tues 10/2/42
had my feet examined again I have to wear wider boots got snaps of Burouth from Tochoe it will be remembered that General M. Wilson is head of the 9th army & General Moreshead who was also here is GOC of the 9th Division
Wed 11/2/42
The boys are at present digging slit trenches in case of impending air raids, a fine day.
Thurs 12/2/42
I am on the Job of digging also it is pay day, had a cold shower went on Guard 6 PM.
Frid 13/2/42
The 24th Brigade H.qs. went on Manourves 20 ms. from here on Homs Road I was on Guard so could not go
Sat 14/2/42
fine weather received letter from Mrs. W. Tibbs. Cinema Zghorta. “The Lost Horizon”199
198
Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson, GCB, GBE, DSO (5 September 1881 – 31 December 1964) also known as Jumbo Wilson, was a senior British Army Officer of the 20th century.
199
Lost Horizon is a 1937 American drama-fantasy film directed by Frank Capra.
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157
D I ARY
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Sun 15/2/42
a very quiet day went to Tripoli had a few drinks Cinema “Empire” “Tough Little Guys in Society”200 had eggs & chips with coffee.
Mon 16/2/42
heard the news of the fall of Singapore with regret, with about 2/3 rds of 8.th Division201.
Tues 17/2/42
on duty most of day, I met an old Lebanese 75 used to be in America he still works & can speak English
Wed 18/2/42
we finish slit trenches, it was a cold morning. went to village at night.
Thurs 19/2/42
route march, Jim Jackson leaves us from the R.A.P.202 The Tommies overhaul our rifles
Frid 20/2/42
it is our turn for manouvres we go 20 ms. north of Tripoli on the Homs road passing on route large oil refineries & storage tanks, the oil pipe lines comes to here from Iran it started to rain at 2 PM & it was wet on & off till next morning, vivid lightning & heavy thunder, we had an imaginary position out in the open all night overlooking a foord of a river down below, talk about a night we hardly slept a wink rain & still rain, I was glad when daylight shewed itself, my feet were like blocks of ice, small hail also fell.
200
Little Tough Guys in Society is a 1938 Universal Studios film that starred several of the Dead End Kids.
201
The 8th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army, formed during World War II as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force. The 8th Division was raised from volunteers for overseas service from July 1940 onwards.
158
Lismore to El Alamein
Consisting of three infantry brigades, the intention had been to deploy the division to the Middle East to join the other Australian Divisions, but as the war with Japan loomed in 1941, the division was divided into four separate forces, which were deployed in different parts of the AsiaPacific region. All of these formations were destroyed as fighting forces by the end of February 1942 during the fighting for
Singapore, and in Rabaul, Ambon, and Timor. Most members of the division became prisoners of war, waiting until the war ended in late 1945 to be liberated. One in three died in captivity. 202
Regimental Aid Post
1942
Sat 21/2/42
we returned at B 800 hrs. it was a stupid affair stopping out in such weather, when it was not genuine most of the boys fell asleep to day we heard that the Japs bombed port Darwin.
Sun 22/2/42
showery weather, most of us had a quiet day on duty 6 PM
Mon 23/2/42
more wet weather, there is a rumour there might be a move we are watching closely.
Tues 24/2/42
The day broke nice & fine though nippy, route march had a spell rest of day on piquet 6PM.
Wed 25/2/42
on piquet twice, most of us had a touch of Diarhia, we had a dose of chlorine, which fixed us up, had some beer & coffee, village
Thurs 26/2/42
went to Tripoli had hot & cold shower very nice, we clean out slit trenches for stunt mock air raid alarm, on duty 6 PM
Frid 27/2/42
on Guard to day, went to village & had some local wine
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Sat 28/2/42
imaginary air raid alarm it was a washout went to zghorta in the afternoon, had some beer
Sun 1/3/42
had a quiet day on duty 6 PM Brown parker & H. Simms come on visit
Mon 2/3/42
Spring weather is fast coming in, the wireless news is not the best from the Far East, had some cherry brandy at the Muktars203.
Tues 3/3/42
route march, had hot shower at Tripoli wrote letter to cousin H “Spud” Taylor RAOC.
Wed 4/3/42
route march, things are very quiet generally
Thurs 5/3/42
cloudy weather, eggs are reduced in price from 10 eggs to 14 eggs for 1 pd Syrian 2/10, route march to old Roman Viaduct 2000 yrs old
Frid 6/3/42
On Guard all day, I noticed early this morning the morning star, it was the brightest I have ever seen, wireless news things are in a rotten state in Java.
Sat 7/3/42
route march, stripping of machine gun lock, went to showers at De Gaulle barracks, we went through the mimic air raid alarm, tin hat respirator.
Sun 8/3/42
church parade, rest of day quiet on duty to night 6 PM.
Mon 9/3/42
on Guard all day wireless news the Japs are landing troops in New Guinea, had coffee to night
203
Head of a village
160
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Tues 10/3/42
route march on road to zghorta had a lesson on the Thompson Sub. machine gun, the air is very cool to day, on piquet 6 PM
Wed 11/3/42
on piquet duty to day, went to village for evening
Thurs 12/3/42
went on route march, pay day went to rifle range on Tripli Beirouth road overlooking sea. I had a bad day on range W Clipton scored 119 out of 150 on Guard 6 PM.
Frid 13/3/42
eggs here are now being sold for 16 for 1 pd syrian 2/10, steady rain is falling at present, went to travelling cinema “Ramona”204 depicting Indian life in California it was in Technicolour
Sat 14/3/42
route march, went to Tripoli for hot & cold shower it was a boon, went to bed early. I have a slight cold
Sun 15/3/42
no church parade, crib Tournament J Burke 1st Lieut Donnelly 2nd cricket match Guard BN. verses Brigade. brig. won 92 runs to 71
Mon 16/3/42
Guard duties, we all had TAB. & T205. inoculation needles the first for six months, my arms are getting sore. went to see Jim Geralds concert party, it was a fine show there was a packed house
Tues 17/3/42
St patricks day beautiful weather I am feeling tired after needles
Wed 18/3/42
on piquet duty, I am not the best through needles.
204
Ramona is a 1936 American Technicolor drama film directed by Henry King, based on Helen Hunt Jackson’s 1884 novel Ramona.
205
Believed to be tetanus
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Thurs 19/3/42
it has started to rain, but not cold weather, on Guard 6 PM. heavy rain fell tonight
Frid 20/3/42
it has fined up for a while but started later in the day, some mail has arrived from NSW & Victoria
Sat 21/3/42
It has turned out wet again they called out for anyone for the commandos I was not in the hunt as I cannot swim.
Sun 22/3/42
The weather is cold, wet & miserable, finished Guard, it rained nearly all day.
Mon 23/3/42
More snow on mountains last night, it was very cold, received two papers from H. Riddle & 2 rises from Morna Jenner, more rain fell to day, we could see the snow falling on mountains for first time, received pr. socks from Inverell W. F. Com206. the cold is intense to night
Tues 24/3/42
The day broke nice & fine there is a lot of traffic on the roads
Wed 25/3/42
a nice fine day, route march to zghorta, a very fine view can be obtained on the road looking towards snow covered mountains the Indians are camped near road the sentry carrying a huge Knife instead of rifle.
Thurs 26/3/42
pay day, we put one blanket in went to Tripoli on leave we had aussie beer & then Almaza what a difference, arrived back next morning
Frid 27/3/42
received letter from H Riddle I replied to this letter, I am very tired, but I am on duty to night
Sat 28/3/42
a nice spring day, we had our usual air practise alarm I had my hair cut village barber 25 Piastres
206
Welfare Committee
162
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Sun 29/3/42
Went to Beirut for the day, distance 60 ms. there is plenty of activity on the railway construction between Tripoli & Beirut, the S. African207 Tunnel Corps are putting a Tunnel through it is a big Job estimated to take six months, at the Dog river there is a tablet to Napoleon & another one in memory of the allies 1917 to 18. every item in Beirut has risen 50 P C since the Vichy war. I went on Guard at 10 PM on returning.
207
South African
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No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Mon 30/3/42
to day has turned out very hot we will have summer clothes on soon, I had a nice cold shower but it is hot walking about went to amateur concert, very nice entertainment for the boys.
Tues 31/3/42
went on route march, had a cold shower to cool off, wrote letter to Morna Jenner Bondi.
Wed 1/4/42
we change into shorts & shirt in day time & slacks at night time summer wear, we also get ointment for Mosquito bite.
Thurs 2/4/42
route march, cool morning went on Guard 1800 hrs.
Frid 3/4/42
Good Friday, Church parade several showers fell to day & it was also chilly
Sat 4/4/42
a nice spring day, we had a route march received parcel from Joyce Burrell 500A Anzac pde. Kingsford comprising meats & fruit minties & cream. it was very acceptable
Sun 5/4/42
last night the Lebanese had their Easter Masses & services the church bell being rung 8 to 9 PM 11.30 to 12 PM. & again before 2 AM after which they had a feast, we went to a cprian Kymkana athletic & horse events, aussie beer & local wine was had with goat & mutton
Mon 6/4/42
Nice spring day, there are a lot of flowers out daisies, poppies & a yellow sweet pea, the first I have seen, this country is a botanists paradise, several species of plants the people use to eat we would destroy, wrote letter to Joyce Burrell on Guard at 1800 hrs.
Tues 7/4/42
I am on duty all day, I am writing my diary out afresh, issue soap razor blades, went to zghorta to see “Girls in uniform” a packed house, girl good on card tricks also singing & step dancing
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
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No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
Wed 8/4/42
received letter from cousin “Spud” Taylor, but I do not know where he is, went on route march, four new men came in to day to reinforce the platoon, I am still on my diary, the barley here is coming into ear & the olive trees are budding, so it won’t be long before they will flower.
Thurs 9/4/42
on piquet last night & to day we had to clean up hut, pay day
Frid 10/4/42
route march, we went 100 ms. from here on the Homs road to see machine gun demonstration 2/2 the trip itself was good, from a scenic point of view, but the affair itself was small considering the petrol & ammo used by four L.M. guns firing on target 1100yds. & infantry advancing on post under cover of fire three land mines were fired
Sat 11/4/42
on duty last night, it was cold in the early morning, but very pleasant later on. wireless news was not of the best, the phillipines fall to Japs & loss of cruiser & aircraft carrier, cec Farley has the local boys on with the gloves,
Sun 12/4/42
We went by truck to the “Chevaliers” castle208 situated 40 ms. from Tripoli on the Homs road, it was built in the twelf century, and used by the Crusaders, there is a magnificent view to be obtained from here valleys, creeks, villages & the sea, there is a swimming pool & cells, the entire place is built of stone & covers an area of over one acre, it is situated in Syria proper, we returned tired out
Mon 13/4/42
It is a nice day, we went for a route march, followed with a cold shower, I have got my overnight leave to Beirut after putting in seven times. I am still rewriting my diary
Tues 14/4/42
finished duty 2 PM. & received pay for leave, went to see travelling cinema, a good variety
Wed 15/4/42
we left at 0800 hrs. for Beirut it interesting to see the progress of railway construction, arrived at the “Hotel Metropole” where we stay two days meals here cost 1 Lire each
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
One of the round towers
208
Krak des Chevaliers, also called Crac des Chevaliers, Hosn al-Akrad (literally “Castle of the Kurds”), and formerly Crac de L’Ospital, is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in Syria and one of the most important preserved castles in the world.
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Thurs 16/4/42
168
No.02 2 June 1941 – 13 May 1942
I took a walk around the foreshores & the better residential, there are some very fine buildings & Hotels the “Normandy” stands out on its own from is a fine view of seaport & surrounding hills, we had some trips on the trams, they put me in mind the trams in Brisbane & Alexandria.
Lismore to El Alamein
class the here also of
1942
Frid 17/4/42
The shoe shine boys are a pest outside of our Hotel, they almost mob you, the draft beer in the cafes is alright & of the light wines “Sarafrom” & vin Doux are pretty good, we had a look at the markets, well there was everything there you would think of from a pckt of pins to a bag of oranges clothing etc etc. & the noise was loud, last night I went to Cinema “Grand”. “A Bachelor Mother”209 Ginger Rogers, we arrived back at camp at 5 PM. tired out
209
Bachelor Mother (1939) is an American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn.
With a plot full of mistaken identities, Bachelor Mother is a light-hearted treatment of the otherwise serious issues of child abandonment.
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Sat 18/4/42
on parade, we help put down a cricket pitch. there is a fair amount of labour in same. In Beirut yesterday, there was an air raid alarm practised all shopkeepers had to close their shutters, trams stopped, all private & military vehicles had to pull in on side of street & the populace had to go to air raid shelters wherever available, it was funny to see the Lebanese police rushing from one place to another, the Barrage Balloons were also up near coastline.
Sun 19/4/42
on duty last night & to day, the weather is getting sultry, but there is a breeze blowing from the sea, we are wearing mosquito veils & gloves on Guard at night time & nets over our beds.
Mon 20/4/42
It was a windy day, we went to the surf for the first time this summer, it was a boon the water being in good form not rough
Tues 21/4/42
I have been on Guard since last night, things are fairly quiet
Wed 22/4/42
we went on route march, received letter from Father, I replied to this letter to day, all letters go by boat now, went to cinema De Gaulle barracks “Ship Ahoy”210 Jack Colbert
Thurs 23/4/42
we help put up iron posts & barbed wire around transport lines received letter from Mrs. W. Tibbs, went to beach, cold shower
Frid 24/4/42
I have been on duty since 1800 hrs last night & all day to day.
Sat 25/4/42
“Anzac Day” parade route march on duty 6 PM
210
Ship Ahoy is a 1942 musical-comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Eleanor Powell and Red Skelton.
170
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Sun 26/4/42
still on duty, the weather has turned chilly, received parcel from Inverell W.F. Com.211 went to a Lebanese Memorial service all the village turned out, the church looked very nice with the scores of electric & candle lights Went to Tripoli Rozy Cinema “Girls on probation”212 had some american tinned beer 1 lyre a tin.
Mon 27/4/42
parade followed by route march it was cool early, went to De. Gaulle barracks to see “The Crazy gang” Concert party. they were South African entertainers including four girls it was a very good show.
Tues 28/4/42
we shift the petrol shed to a position near olive trees, had a cold shower, went to surf, it was cold & rough on Guard 1800 hrs.
Wed 29/4/42
on duty most of day. it is a nice spring day we had an issue of 2 oz tob & papers razor blade.
Thurs 30/4/42
we are at present gravelling & cementing Guard room on duty 10 PM it is warm to night we had a surf parade, it is hot to day
Frid 1/5/42
another hot day. on duty all day I had my overcoat washed
Sat 2/5/42
route march. Cleaned gun no air alarm practice on duty 1800 hrs.
Sun 3/5/42
still on Guard went to beach fair crowd present, had a cold shower. went to Tripoli for the evening, had some beer bought some photos etc.
Mon 4/5/42
we had a route march to zghorta showers, but we were hot when we returned still on my diary on piquet to night.
211
Believed to be Inverell Welfare Committee.
212
Girls on Probation is a 1938 American crime film directed by William C. McGann and written by Crane Wilbur.
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Tues 5/5/42
as a piquet we have to clean our quarters, went to Tripoli cinema Rozy that much boomed picture “Gone with the Wind” Clarke Gable Vivien Leigh & Leslie Howard featuring life in Gorgia, US.A in the time of Lincoln, it was the longest picture I have seen 3 ½ hrs 80 ps & 120 Pia
Wed 6/5/42
we are in muck order we are levelling the floor of men’s mess hut to day is very hot, still on Diary open air pictures are here to night but I was on duty 8 to 10 PM.
Thurs 7/5/42
still on Guard, another hot day pay day had cold shower went to Tripoli on leave had some Aussie beer, Cinema Rex “At dawn I die”213 James Cagney, a scene in sing sing prison, secured 30 photos from Brown parker of Beirut & Tripoli
Frid 8/5/42
muck order to day we are still on the gravelling & cementing of the mess hut, I have caught up with my rewriting of my diary. went to beach it was cold & rough
Sat 9/5/42
we do some more work on the mess hut, had games of Bobs & Chinese checkers on duty 2000 hrs.
213
Each Dawn I Die is a 1939 gangster film featuring James Cagney and George Raft in their only movie together as leads.
172
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Sun 10/5/42
a nice spring day after a cold night, I am on duty all day, good news over the air of the naval & air battle in the Coral Sea, the American fleet gave the Japanese fleet a good lacing the Japs losing 18 ships all told, the yanks losses were light, went to Tripoli had plenty of aussie beer & local beer
Mon 11/5/42
we had a route march to zghorta warm showers Lieut Colonel Horne reviewed our platoon & gave us to understand it will be some time before we will see Australia because of the Eastern situation, I was on duty at 1800 hrs
Tues 12/5/42
on duty most of to day, it is nice spring weather, went to village for evening
Wed 13/5/42
we are still working on Mess hut gravelling & cementing etc., had a cold shower I am at present packing up a parcel to Father & I hope that everything inside it will arrive at it its distination safely.
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Thurs 14/5/42
(Diary 3) I have been on duty since last night, I have finished getting parcel ready, went to Tripoli, had a walk through the back narrow streets, it is marvelous how people live in such surroundings, went to “Rozy” Cinema “Down Argentine Way” Betty Grable, secured some snaps from Brown parker
Frid 15/5/42
we do some more gravelling & cementing in the men’s mess hut, sent parcel to Father, comprising photos olive wood etc on duty 1800 hs
Sat 16/5/42
Cricket match No 2 pl versus No 3 pl. No 3 winning, I was on duty most of day
Sun 17/5/42
Went to Beirut for the day, American University heard the Cairo military band give selections, went to races but had no luck but it was a novelty no bookmakers all totalisator, we called at Ratoun on hway back to camp went on Guard at 2000 hrs. tired out
Mon 18/5/42
I am tired out, had a cold shower it freshens one up, the Brigade are getting ready for Dukes visit on duty 1600 hs.
Tues 19/5/42
some of our platoon went on the big parade before the Duke of Gloucester214 the advanced party left for new place Bersamascone 12 ms. from here duty 1800 hrs.
Wed 20/5/42
After a lot of fooling around & waiting two hours we leave for Bersamasene passing through zghorta & other villages it was rough in most places & we had some thrills going round hair pin bends
214
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, KG, KT, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC (Henry William Frederick Albert; 31 March 1900 – 10 June 1974) was the third son and fourth
174
Lismore to El Alamein
child of King George V and Queen Mary. He served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947, the only member of the British royal family to hold the post.
1942
Thurs 21/5/42
It is much colder here than at Mag a laya we are camping on the ground with ground sheets & hessian underneath. it is pay day, went to Tripoli for evening Rozy Cinema “Florian�215 a scene in Austria of an arabian horse, a lot of the boys got drunk. we are 12 ms. from Tripoli
Frid 22/5/42
Route march to village of Bersamasene & return. to day turned out to be very cold on Guard 1800 hs.
Sat 23/5/42
duty finished 1400 hrs. went to village & had a hot shower. 25 ps. at the Cinema Madame X, the climate here is much cooler & healthier than Madglaya we are on a all round roster.
Sun 24/5/42
Empire day216, on duty 1200 to 1600 hrs it was very cold, went to beach near Chekka but the place was too stony
Mon 25/5/42
On Guard 0200 hrs to 0400 hrs., went to a different part of beach near Chekka village & cement works, it was very good few stones, the country from Bersamasene to Chekka, was of a chaulky nature very poor indeed small vegetation on duty 1600 hrs to 1800 hrs.
Tues 26/5/42
The mornings are beautiful & invigorating it was a great improvement being on the clock system it gives us more time off at night time which is essential, wrote a letter to my second cousin Harold Taylor on duty 2000 hrs
Wed 27/5/42
After having a rest we went to Chekka beach it was a boon to all soldiers to have a dip in the briney, they are very busy down at the Cement works a vessel is at present loading cement for an Eastern port.
215
Florian is a 1940 American romantic drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin, and starring Robert Young and Helen Gilbert.
216
After the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January 1901, her birthday, 24 May, was celebrated from 24 May 1902 as Empire Day, though not officially recognised as an annual event until 1916.
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No.03 14 May 1942 – 28 August 1942
Thurs 28/5/42
On duty 0400 to 0600 the days are getting warm went to 2/8 field amb. dental plate repair passing through Bersamesene, Fieh & other village. the road being rough in some places, radio news big tank battle near Tobruk.
Frid 29/5/42
on duty 0800 hrs. to 1000 hrs., went to beach at Chekka it was very nice
Sat 30/5/42
The climate is exquisite to day on duty 0800 hrs. to 1000 hrs. got my dental plate from dentist, had another dip in briney went to Amoun village it was a clean place for the Middle East plenty of vegetation, in and around it, under the church is the Cemetery which is on a hill like a vault & large holes in rock for firing out of, between here & our camp are thousands of olive trees the soil being of good volcanic quality
Sun 31/5/42
The weather here for the last six weeks has been fine, but the roads are dusty, on duty 1000 hrs. to 1200 hrs., went to Chekka beach over a road built by Aussies a splendid view can be obtained overlooking valley & sea front, the water was nice to gamble about in
Mon 1/6/42
We are getting ready for our manourves out of Homs we are camouflaging truck nets, on duty 1400 to 1600 hrs. Radio news 2 Japanese submarines destroyed in Sydney harbour, giant RAF raid at Cologne 1000 planes take part, Germans are beaten in great tank battle near Tobruk.
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Tues 2/6/42
Our kit bags are taken to De Gaulle barracks, also mosquito nets, a warm day the sand flies are getting bad at night time, on duty 1600 hrs to 1800 hrs. q M.217 store last night, went to Chekka beach & came back via the new road the local people are harvesting their barley crops in the old fashioned way cutting with sickle tying in bundles treading the grain out with slide drawn by an ox or mule, & then throwing the straw into the air to winnow it, it is very painful to see them work they would not earn their salt in Australia, we put one blanket & palliase218 in to go on manourves
Wed 3/6/42
preparations are being made for the forth coming manourves, had my hair cut right off followed by a shower
Thurs 4/6/42
came off duty 0600 hrs. all our tents are pulled down & most of the gear has gone to De Gaulle Barracks, went to Tripoli beach by main road, it was refreshing, we returned by a new route, from where we had a splendid view of Tripoli Elmina & Harbour, on duty 2000 hrs to 2200 hrs we are sleeping under trees to night
217
Quartermaster
218
Straw mattress
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Frid 5/6/42
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No.03 14 May 1942 – 28 August 1942
everybody got out of bed at 0400 hrs we move off at 0515 700 vehicles, length of convoy 35 ms we pass through some good alluvial flats near sea side, went through Homs outskirts it is a woggy town, but there is a lot of vegetation around it, we pass on through semi desert country, we are camped alongside of truck, it is very hot on Guard 2200 hrs to 2400 hrs.
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Sat 6/6/42
while on duty it was hard to pick out the different posts it was much the sameness the Brigade went out in convoy to day for road discipline, it is very dusty, here it would be a very cold place in winter, we are camped about 14 ms. from Homs on a flat, the only green growth here is a kind of small succulent weed in bunches, on duty orderly room 1400 to 1600 hrs & 2200 hrs to 0200 hrs
Sun 7/6/42
we are getting accustomed to living in this dry area, we go out on a manourves dispersing on alternate side of road followed by grouping of vihicles in box formation which is done by flag signaling, the dust was terrible, we built a shelter with a tarpaulin, five of us camp here the camp is called “Fleur Gloss� it is getting very cold
Mon 8/6/42
it is still very cold on rising most of us are out soon after 0500 hrs before sunrise, did not go out to day as I was on duty, at the orderly room 1800 hr to 2000 hr I am walking about with a stiff neck through cold.
Tues 9/6/42
revielle is at 0500 hr. it was nice & fresh my neck is improving most of our plt.219 were out to day, I did not go as I was on Guard 1200 to 1400 hs, there are a lot of insects in the sand or soil snakes are the same colour as sand lizards scorpions, & ticks, but very few birds about owing to absence of trees which makes it conspicuous
Wed 10/6/42
this morning it was very cold, but the middle of the day it was desert heat on duty 0600 to 0800 hrs cool during night
Thurs 11/6/42
on Guard 0400 hs to 0500 hs we are resting most of day for to morrow we will be out for two days, it is very hot at noon, but a breeze begins later also some dust, we are living on bully beef onions, cucumbers Jam butter & tea on duty 2200 to 2300 hs.
219
Platoon
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No.03 14 May 1942 – 28 August 1942
Frid 12/6/42
we went out in box formation it was very monotonous going 17 ms. like it the country we went over was nearly all plain crossing the pipe line which carries petrol from Iran to Tripoli, we camped near a waddy 150 ms from the Turkish frontier
Sat 13/6/42
on piquet duty 0200 hs. we left about 1000 hs to return it was terribly dusty got back about 1900 hs.
Sun 14/6/42
went out again on mobile manourves going into box formation & then into harbour “night harbour” it was a general mix up, we were up the best part of the night & the tucker was light
Mon 15/6/42
radio news heavy fighting around Tobruk in Lybia & Sebastopol in the Crimea, we start back for “Fleur Gloss” after camping in a creek bed, got into box formation again another blunder takes wrong turn It is very dusty on duty 2000 to 2200 hs
Tues 16/6/42
pay day, very dusty, we are getting ready to leave tomorrow we had our first wash for four days.
Wed 17/6/42
We leave for a new position after hours of waiting, starting off in box formation after going ten miles we go into night harbour followed by a night move in single file for ten miles in a 1500 yds movement going in circles for 2 ½ hrs.
Thurs 18/6/42
we move off after meeting of commanders doing box formation, closing in followed by position of 150 yds. apart, watched artillery drop shells around Key positions of imaginary enemy, we camped not far from Bedouin camp
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Frid 19/6/42
from night harbor we move out in spread position, from which we move off in column of route past palmyra after hours of waiting, it is typical desert country we pass through, following the pipe line & telephone line for miles, to day is the hottest so far it is almost unbearable, after stopping for a while we find we are in the wrong position so have to move to a new posse, the water here is not the best I can assure you
Sat 20/6/42
last night was very warm & this morning the flies are getting bad which is the indicator of further heat, we have not had any rain for weeks but we hope to have some on our return from these stunts, Radio news the Germans & Italians are close to the perimeter at Tobruk, & have reached the sea on one side, it looks bad, the heat to day is intense, & we eat very little & water is scarce, watched the 9th army manourves slow motion of artillery firing panzer tank formation followed by infantry on piquet 2100 to 2200 hs
Sun 21/6/42
The longest day in the year in this hemisphere, the flies are bad even before sunrise, we shift again, Radio news The position of Tobruk is critical, the enemy are inside the defences, the heat increases had a bathe in spring water also good to drink
Mon 22/6/42
we shift again, see some more manourves by 9th. army220 after moving to another place there are plenty of battle areas here, Radio news it was with regret we heard the fall of Tobruk & 25,000 prisoners owing we believe through overwhelming superiority in all departments & strategy. the heat was intense to day temperature being 117 in the shade & 110 de.
220
The Ninth Army was a field army formation of the British Army during the Second World War, formed on 1 November 1941 by the renaming of Headquarters, British
Troops Palestine and Transjordan. The Ninth Army controlled British and Commonwealth land forces stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.
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No.03 14 May 1942 – 28 August 1942
Tues 23/6/42
we leave “Fleur Gloss” camp at 0500 hrs for Tripoli passing through Homs around which it is like the garden of Eden with irrigation & Tel Kelahh & other villages, we are camped under olive trees on the zghorta road I tell you we appreciate it after being out in the Syrian desert a distance of 58 ms from Homs, we went to Tripoli beach, it was glorious knocking the dust off, on duty 2000 to 2200 hs.
Wed 24/6/42
we had rifle inspection also our clothes I secured leave to Beirut for seven days we leave before 1300 hs I am staying at pension Royale but have our breakfast at the “Metropole” Hotel had some nice cold beer Aziza “Empire” Cinema “that thing they call love” went to bed tired out
Thurs 25/6/42
I go to Damascus with three sergeants by taxi “ten Lyre return”, the air was nice & fresh, there was a great difference as soon as you leave the Lebanese border the country is mountainous, arrived at 1100 we take a guide to shew us around this ancient city of 350,000 people, the following places I saw, The Mosque of the Omay yades Masoleum of Saladin, same of John the Baptist, mosque was built in the times of the Amarites, The Arch of Triumph plenty of Mosaic work in Mosque Azem palace of King is 200 yrs old visitors rooms persian carpets on floor of mosque 500 carpets had a meal at café 120 ac. very good The Street called Straight, many small trades in here Gold smiths, silversmiths brass smiths, Mozaic, St paul’s Church & wall window from which he escaped in a basket, the house Ananias, it was here that paul was brought to it is underground the silk factory, Liqourice factory, plant is underground roots are used made from the best quality in Middle East it is sent to England & America. on returning at 6 PM we went through a cloud mist at 4000 ft. elevation it was just like winter, altogether we had a busy day
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Frid 26/6/42
Had a cold shower bought 23 snaps of Damascus & Homs, our leave has been cancelled it was a shock to most of us, but anything can happen when a war is on, we got back to camp in fast time, our universal Kit bags are ready to be stored but we do not know when we will be leaving, I also bought guide to Syria
Sat 27/6/42
had two cold showers one here & the other at zghorta, our Kit bags have gone to De Gualle barracks there is considerable speculation where we are going to from here
Sun 28/6/42
left Magdlaya at 0000 hs disguised as tommies, told the wogs we were going on fourteen days manourves, passed Tripoli, passed through Homs camped for eight hours on flat at the back of Lebanon range it still has snow on its summit, left at 2000 hs travelled all night going through some very fine country in moonlight.
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1942
Mon 29/6/42
we crossed the frontier between Syria & palestine early this morning, what a difference in the two countries, we follow a back road, came to Sea of Galilee & town of Tiberias before lunch & passed Afula, after dodging in back roads behind Tel Aviv & Jerusalem we camped about a mile from Gaza ridge & airport on the Beersheeba road
Left Arab police at Beersheba
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Tues 30/06/42
left early passed through Beersheba & then followed a dreary journey across the Sinai desert it seemed endless & the heat was intense, a large mountain range was on our right for the last 30 ms, the tarred surface of the road was very thin, we come at last to a sandy flat between the railway line & the Suez Canal near Ismalia221
Wed 1/7/42
we are well and truly in Egypt after crossing the canal on a pontoon bridge along a first class road running between the E.S. Railway & the fresh water canal, which makes the country here is very fine through irrigation without which the country would not be worth anything of any value, after a lot of ups & downs between desert & cultivation we come to Heliopolis a suburb of Cairo it has some fine buildings, we come later to the city of Cairo the Capital of Egypt, there are many fine buildings I hope to get leave here soon, after passing the zoo & the pyramids we turn right for Amryria Mena on the way & the petrol point 6 ms out of Cairo. Talk about vehicles I have never seen so many in all my life there must have been 20,000 met us on road they belonged to the eight army returned from Mersa Matruh, bad driving on the part of the indians they are awful after passing through I Kingi Maru & Amriya staging camp to come to Junction of roads Mersa Matruh & Alexandria near salt pan arrived at our destination at 2030 hs tired out we are not sorry either.
Thurs 2/7/42
we hopped out of bed about 0700 hs after camping in the sand all night, Radio news Germans are 70 ms from Alexandria or 50 ms from where we were camped. there is considerable activity on the road to & from the front anything to stop the Jerries & Itis, we are waiting for further orders, we are camping close Brigade H.Q. forward position, the other sections are gone further back to rear, in our Journey down from Syria we travelled 800 ms the longest I have ever gone by road we had a swim in a tank trap, salty
221
Egypt
186
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Frid 3/7/42
on duty orderly room in an Egyptian Gov building out in the open 1500 to 1600 hr plenty of plane activity, Radio news Rommels advance has been checked, 2/2 machine gunners take up their positions on a ridge near brigade. we changed our Syrian money in Egyptian currency 9 Syrian pounds is the same value as one Egyptian pound, we are ready to move forward to another position on duty 2100 hs to 2200 hs. we have a new Bren gun
Sat 4/7/42
we are out of bed at 0545 it is nice & fresh we get away at 1000 hrs on Mersa Matruh Rd passed through Bogal Arab going 40 ms all told, we saw an air attack followed by a dog fight, we camp for night tired out we can hear the guns firing on the front line
Sun 5/7/42
Camped near railway line, heavy dew followed by hot winds our lips are cracked the Germans are still held back.
Mon 6/7/42
our planes are doing good work hammering at the enemies forward position near Alamein the front line is 8 ms from us we are on the escarpment on left flank, had our photos taken on our truck in slouch hats, there is a dust storm blowing
Tues 7/7/42
The enemy is on one part of Tel Esisa hill our bombers give them another strafing & artillery fire. including manouvers in Syria & coming to Egypt we have travelled 1400 ms, it is very hot in our dugouts the sand blows right in on top of us it annoying smothering everything, we have not received any mail for some time, it will come some day I suppose
Wed 8/7/42
Radio news the Aussies went into action this morning but the position is the same The Russians are being pushed back in the Donetz basin, we are digging in more
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Thurs 9/7/42
we stand to at 0500 hr, received a letter from Cpl222 H. Taylor, the position here now is fairly quiet both side are getting ready for a push
Fri 10/7/42
we leave the escarpment & return to the coastal sector, our men make another drive & took several hundred prisoners had a dip in the ocean or sea it was rough we are over 100 ms from Mersa Matruh.
Sat 11/7/42
We took over from the 26th Brigade223 our men took 1300 prisoners yesterday, we are on duty on the road, our men advanced 5 ms. to El Aweit taking 200 prisoners the Luftwaffe were active dropping a line of bombs near our lines
Sun 12/7/42
it is nice & fresh in the morning, the enemy is still being pushed back, had a dip in the briney, we are limited to a bottle of water a day so we have to be careful
Mon 13/7/42
a heavy mist to start with & then two German fighter planes caused quite excitement by flying low past us & shooting at a S.A.224 truck on road killing one man & wounding another we were taken by surprise, the enemy are putting on counter attacks but fail
Tues 14/7/42
the sand is glary, plenty of our planes around, comforts fund tobacco sheeps tongues etc went for a dip in sea
222
Corporal
223
The 26th Brigade was an Australian Army infantry brigade of World War II. It was raised on 22 July 1940, and formed part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force.
188
Lismore to El Alamein
Initially, it was assigned to the 7th Division, but was later transferred to the 9th Division with which it served throughout the war. The 26th Brigade saw action in North Africa including the Siege of Tobruk, New Guinea and on Tarakan Island. The 26th Brigade was disbanded in Brisbane on 25 January 1946.
224
Believed to be South African
1942
Wed 15/7/42
The mornings here are generally misty & dewy, later warming up, the enemy are repulsed, it is a pleasure to see plenty of our bombers around also fighters they are doing a good job
Thurs 16/7/42
The desert is wearisome, the same old landscape, we are getting an issue of 50 cigs a week also tobacco sometimes, the enemy are again repulsed, we move six miles further forward near El Alamein
Frid 17/7/42
we are camped in dugouts not far from the sea, with a battery not far from us & close to where Jerry went the furthest Capt J Hallifax225 B.H.Q.226 was killed by a shell the enemy make a big air attack on our lines
Sat 18/7/42
Our guns are still barking at the enemy Sent a telegram to Father, we shift again this time to T.A.C. received some more cigarettes, I am camped in an Iti dugout
Sun 19/7/42
Last evening the enemy threw over twenty shell close to our position one man was injured, we have to keep all vehicles off the sky line & patrol there at night time.
Mon 20/7/42
another dust storm raging, our air force destroyed 40 enemy planes on the ground at El Daba, we often see dog fights over our area but are hard distinguish.
Tues 21/7/42
a heavy dew this morning, but the air is nice & fresh, I met Jack Hobday from Delungra
225
Believed to be Captain John Llewellyn Hallifax WX6445, enlisted: 16 July 1940, date of death 17 July 1942, posting on death: HQ 24 Aust Inf Bde.
226
Brigade Head Quarters
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Wed 22/7/42
We were rudely awakened this morning by our artillery putting on a barrage before our troops attack Jerry the noise was terrific one 25 pdr. was ten yards away from my dugout, 2/7 fld reg.227 Jerry replied one shell came over my duva & burst close to gun but did no damage, the battle is on all day planes are hovering around everywhere
Thurs 23/7/42
the enemy are again pushed back Lieut Donnelly & Driver H. Easy are in hospital with wounds & shock from shell hitting a heap of mines near truck, we are on duty an hour shift
227
The 2/7th Field Regiment was an Australian Army field artillery regiment that served during the Second World War. Formed in mid1940 and assigned to the 9th Division, the regiment was deployed to North Africa, where it saw action around Tobruk in 1941 and in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein in 1942.
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Lismore to El Alamein
It also undertook garrison duties in Syria and Egypt. In 1943, the regiment returned to Australia, after which it did no see action again until late in the war when it was committed to the landing at Tarakan in 1945. Following the end of the war, the regiment returned to Australia and was disbanded in January 1946.
1942
H. Easy
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Fri 24/7/42
we go back to rear, No 4 sec. takes over I have a decent dugout, we have to get our own food we expect to be here a week
Sat 25/7/42
last night an enemy plane flew over our area & machined gunned but did no damage, went to the beach it was beautiful done a spot of washing we get more water here than the forward positions.
Sun 26/7/42
we are doing no duties here but we are taking turns doing the cooking, what their is, went to the surf we noticed our photos in the A I F news it came out very well also W. Tibbs van, a dust storm has been blowing all day, we were called out at 2200 hr unexpectedly to go to Tack H Q to take prisoners, the barrage opened up midnight
Mon 27/7/42
we were stranded had no rations or utensils it arrived later about 1/3 of the 2/28 Bn. surrendered at 1015 hrs to day owing to not having tank support228, we are came on a small ridge Ruin ridge about a mile from Tel Eliza station anti tank shell were hitting the ground around us & air raids were not far away
Tues 28/7/42
it was misty this morning but cleared later Lieut Cooke tried to contact 2/28 but his Jeep was blown up, there were a few shells thrown over but it is fairly quiet
Wed 29/7/42
we might get rain plenty of clouds around It is reasonably quiet a few planes are dodging to & fro
228
On 27 July, the battalion was tasked with capturing “Ruin Ridge”. After taking the position in a night attack, the 2/28th was then cut off and surrounded by German infantry and armour. Suffering heavy casualties, the majority of the battalion – around 500 men – was forced to surrender.
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Lismore to El Alamein
A small group, about 90 men, were not captured, and they were later used as a cadre upon which the battalion was re-formed in Palestine.
1942
Thurs 30/7/42
I felt quite fresh after having a cold wash all over, the are a nuisance attacking any sore they can find, wrote a letter to Cpl H Taylor RAOC. a few shells are lobbing on the flat.
Fri 31/7/42
Brig Godfrey229 has been ill with dysentery & only certain men can interview him we got extra water to day.
Sat 1/8/42
another dust storm starts up at 0900 hs a large enemy troop carrying plane almost landed behind our lines but the ack ac opened up & away he went, one of our Kitty hawks was shot down near us but the pilot parachuted to safety.
Sun 2/8/42
there is a plague of flies throughout Egypt, some of the men are getting dysentry through them, the Brig went to M.DS230 what a difference I went to beach near divi231 it was fine no flies or dust.
Mon 3/8/42
we have been waiting a round for hours to return to rear emptying sand bags & collecting iron, filling in slit trenches the flies are vile & the dust is annoying, we arrive at rear after dark & camp on ground near a salt lake.
Tues 4/8/42
we fix up our dugouts but do expect to stay long here we are having our meals with Brigade & in better comfort than at Tack received a letter from Father.
229
Believed to be Brigadier Arthur Harry Langham Godfrey VX25, enlisted: 21 October 1939, date of death 4 November 1942, posting on death: HQ 24 Aust Inf Bde.
231
Believed to be division
230
Believed to be the Main Dressing Station
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Wed 5/8/42
it is fairly quiet here to day, wrote a letter to Father, our bombers went roaring over to drop some more pills on the enemy supply columns, we went to surf but there was too many there to be safe
Thurs 6/8/42
to day is rather warm, went to the beach, several bombs were dropped in our area, but no damage done
Frid 7/8/42
had a bath about sunrise, we have a clean up, & change our clothes as our O C L.Col. Horne is around here & might call one of our Hurricanes232 was shot down by a M.E. 109233 not far from us, a fair number of enemy aircraft around, several bombs being dropped in our locality
Sat 8/8/42
it was very cold this morning enemy planes are round early dropping their eggs Lieut McMillen is O.C. of our pl. while Lieut Donnelly is away.
Sun 9/8/42
went to open air church service conducted by Mr. Tibbs Salvation Army his sermon being “love thy neighbor as thy self”
Mon 10/8/42
The enemy planes are scarce to day owing to several being destroyed on the ground went to beach for a dip, we dig a truck protection.
Tues 11/8/42
Three of us leave rear & go to main through four men leaving & going to palestine went to beach by lorry, the tucker here is not compared to rear, & the flies are more numerous Radio news Russians are still falling back in the Caucasus.
232
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s-40s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for service with the Royal Air Force.
194
Lismore to El Alamein
233
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force.
1942
Wed 12/8/42
things are still quiet on the local front went to beach for a dip, the flies are bad here.
Thurs 13/8/42
Pay day on duty twice, a fair number of our planes are around, it is reported some Americans are in the Alamein front
Frid 14/8/42
many of our planes go over & bomb enemy positions, but few enemy planes, have another dip in the briney
Sat 15/8/42
went to the beach for a dip Radio news two brigades of the 6th Divi just landed back in Australia, good progress made by yanks in the Solomon Islands
Sun 16/8/42
it is nice autumn weather but the flies are a nuisance. I move to the machine gun pit at stone crusher.
Mon 17/8/42
a heavy fog for this time of the year it was miserable, few planes, saw the German tanks come over rise 7 ms away our artillery opened up & drove them back
Tues 18/8/42
most of us have a touch of diarhea some think it is the water, what I think it is caused through flies, went to beach for a dip.
Wed 19/8/42
it is quiet on the local front, few enemy planes around, it is starting to get cold in the mornings, I leave ac ac post & return to No 6 section Radio news big commando raid at Dieppe France tanks were landed.234
Thurs 20/8/42
I am at present living in one of best duvas, it has a curtain to keep the flies out Radio news, we have lost the cruiser “Canberra� close to Solomon Islands235
234
Operation Jubilee, more commonly referred to as the Dieppe Raid, was an Allied assault on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, France on 19 August 1942, during the Second World War.
The main assault lasted for less than six hours until strong German defences and mounting Allied losses forced its commanders to call a retreat.
235
HMAS Canberra was a Royal Australian Navy heavy cruiser of the Kent sub-class of County-class cruisers, commissioned in 1928 and sunk on 9 August 1942 in the Battle of Savo Island in the Solomon Islands.
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Frid 21/8/42
on Guard 0800 to 1000 hs at Brigade H.Q Generals Alexander236, Montgomery237 & Moreshead & their retinue & escort were on a visit to 24 th Brigade H Q, met Norm Buchan238 from Bangalow, did a spot of washing our big guns gave us quite a tune
Sat 22/8/42
it was chilly this morning on duty 0200 hs to 0400 hs Radio news Russians are holding well & Americans are doing good work in the Solomon Islands
Sun 23/8/42
another dip in surf. enemy planes gunned through here but did no damage on Guard 1400 hs to 1600 hs some of us unloaded ammunition into underground rooms
Mon 24/8/42
had my hair cut on duty 1000 to 1200 the flies are getting bad, went to beach again it was very good
236
Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl of Tunis, KG, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CD, PC (10 December 1891 – 16 June 1969), was a senior British Army Officer who served with distinction in the First World War and the Second World War and, afterwards, as Governor General of Canada. In August 1942 he was Commander-in-Chief of Middle East Command.
196
Lismore to El Alamein
237
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL (17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed “Monty” and “The Spartan General”, was a senior British Army Officer who fought in both the First World War and the Second World War. In August 1942 he was commander Eighth Army.
238
Believed to be Signalman Norman Henry Buchan NX39542, enlisted 24 July 1941, discharged 29 March 1946, posting at discharge: 34 Aust W’Less Sec (HY) (AIF).
1942
Tues 25/8/42
we had to stand to 0530 to 0630 hs in case of parachute landings, went to beach a message was read to us from Lt Col. Horne on the second anniversary of the Guard Bn, the artillery put on a blitz one of the shells explodes prematurely pieces flying everywhere.
Wed 26/8/42
a grim battle in the central sector we stand to 0530 to 0700 hs, eclipse of the moon 0600 hs Radio news Duke of Kent239 killed in air crash, I moved back to rear
Thurs 27/8/42
on piquet 0400 to 0500 hr it is quiet here but plenty of dust, went to the beach. it was a quiet night.
Fri 28/8/42
it is two years to day I left Sydney harbour on the Aquitania, also the Guard BN I secured a tent from the 2/3 rd pioneers240 it is a boon out in the desert keeping the dust & flies out
239
Prince George, Duke of Kent, KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO (George Edward Alexander Edmund: 20 December 1902 – 25 August 1942) was a member of the British royal family, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary.
240
The 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion was a pioneer battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II. Formed in 1940, the battalion served in the Middle East where it fought in Syria and Palestine before taking part in the fighting around El Alamein.
In 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and subsequently took part in the fighting against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943-1944. Their final campaign came in mid-1945, when they took part in the Battle of Tarakan during the Borneo campaign. The battalion was disbanded in early 1946.
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N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Sat 29/8/42
(Diary 4) it was a warm day, we shift to a new posse where we should have been at the first place on piquet 2100 to 2230 hr an artillery duel was in progress at this time
Sun 30/8/42
we go to church service conducted by Mr Tibbs S. army241 it was very good, many old hymns things are pretty quiet to day, two of our planes & one Jerry were shot down, heavy artillery exchanges
Mon 31/8/42
several local skirmishes & the troops took several prisoners enemy attacks fail, enemy put a large bombing raid El alamein 12 bombers. plenty of smoke 2 Killed & two wounded
Tues 1/9/42
plenty of air activity the Jerry losing several planes in our area, a full scale battle in southern sector enemy lose 50 tanks
Wed 2/9/42
It was fairly quiet in the sector last night, but main enemy move is 23 ms south of here our forces are holding them, a dust storm yesterday held up air activity
Thurs 3/9/42
3rd anniversary of Britains entry into the war against the axis powers battle still on in southern sector went to service conducted by Mr Tibbs on third year of war
Frid 4/9/42
last night planes fire with tracers, Stalingrad one of throw one million
241
Believed to be Salvation Army
242
The Battle of Stalingrad (23 August 1942 – 2 February 1943) was the largest confrontation of World War II, in which Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in Southern Russia.
198
Lismore to El Alamein
were active many bursts of machine gun there is a lull in the ground fighting, the biggest battles in history Germans men against the city242 dust storm
Marked by fierce close quarters combat and direct assaults on civilians in air raids, it was the largest and bloodiest battle in the history of warfare. After their defeat at Stalingrad, the German High Command had to withdraw vast military forces from the Western Front to replace their losses.
1942
Sat 5/9/42
it was very quiet last night no planes around & no artillery fire I am reading “pilgrims progress”243 N.Z.s push enemy back over 1000 prisoners
Sun 6/9/42
artillery was fairly active last night went to church service conducted by Mr Tibbs. Fred Story244 said good bye to us before returning home to Australia to day. in an air combat it was 50 . 50 Went to S Africans canteen, tobacco boot polish etc
Mon 7/9/42
The mornings are starting to get cool, it is quiet since the enemy have been pushed back to his original positions here
Tues 8/9/42
it was cool early to day, on duty 5 to 6 AM. artillery has been active several of our planes around les Cole & brig saunders go TMDS with sand fly fever
Wed 9/9/42
news Russia is hard pressed in the Caucasus, stalingrad is also in danger we camouflage our desert tents it is warm in middle of the day I shift from rear to food dump about two miles forward we are camped underground
Thurs 10/9/42
things are fairly quiet here we go to forward by truck for meals L Dray went to MWS245. A Hanllon takes his place, we are on 2 hrs off 8 hrs clock system
Frid 11/9/42
The nights are getting cool but warm in day a stuka raid on side of hill of Jesus received letter from Cousin H. Taylor he is a full Sgt246
243
The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan.
245
Believed to be Mobile Works Squadron
246
Sergeant
244
Believed to be Private Fred Thomas Story SX17387, enlisted 14 February 1942, discharged 19 October 1944, posting at discharge: 2/1 HQ Guard Battalion.
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N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Sat 12/9/42
we have tea & toast here every morning, most of the men in H q are at present going to a mine school, setting & de lousing
Sun 13/9/42
on Guard 8 to 10 AM went to church service in rear by Mr Tibbs, went to the beach for a dip, there has been several bombing raids by enemy planes this last few days including anti personal bombs
Mon 14/9/42
yesterday the enemy made several air raids around here last night artillery was active
Tues 15/9/42
enemy air activity raids all day one man killed 3 injured harry Gill sprained his ankle went to MDS
Wed 16/9/42
we help unload the food dump but we have to Guard same until transport for removal
Thurs 17/9/42
leave to Cairo & Alex is in full swing, our cook started to day we leave food dump & return to rear. news heavy fighting in New Guinea, Stalingrad still holds out.
Frid 18/9/42
it is starting to get cold in the mornings. the enemy puts over a few air raids every now & again it was fairly quiet to day
Sat 19/9/42
men are going every day from rear to alex & Cairo on six days leave Sgt Holmes left to day, news the RAF are using 8,000 lb bombs over Germany heavy fighting in northern Suburbs of Stalingrad, inspection to day
Sun 20/9/42
went to church service Mr Tibbs & mr Simonds Lieut Donnelly has returned also H Easy Barry Bosworth air activity very slight
Mon 21/9/42
it is twelve months ago we came out of Tobruk. Lieut Mcmillen has left & Lieut Donnelly came from forward to visit us
Tues 22/9/42
It is cold about sunrise but warms up later, stalingrad still holds out
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Wed 23/9/42
enemy plane drops anti personal bombs the extra 6d a day pay was put in our pay books
Thurs 24/9/42
a heavy sea fog came in on us at 0800 hr it lifted 930 AM pay day, very few planes around it was full moon last night
Frid 25/9/42
things are fairly quiet around here to day
Sat 26/9/42
J.L. strange went on leave to alex. news Stalingrad still hangs on. big convoy reaches Russia after fierce air battle an enemy plane dropped off anti personal bombs in three places around here
Sun 27/9/42
A misty morn E ladlow left for Alex on leave
Mon 28/9/42
last night a heavy barrage was put up by our side about twelve miles from here, to day has turned out to be dusty blowing from inland. It is amazing
Tues 29/9/42
we have a lending library some of the books I have read pilgrim progress. Disraeli, about Japan, Gullivers travels.
Wed 30/9/42
we will be moving from here in a day or so. news heavy fighting still in Stalingrad went to forward, there is a nice tablet in cement block & cross of Grave of Cptn Halifax alamein
Thurs 1/10/42
we load stone for road & later shift camp from 114 Kilo to 88 Kilo alongside sea it is very sandy
Frid 2/10/42
it will be a busy day for us we go and get stone to put on sandy road. on piquet 12 to 2 last night
Sat 3/10/42
after doing some shovel work had a dip in the briney the mail is coming in now but there is none for me yet it looks like rain
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D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Sun 4/10/42
on piquet 6 to 8 AM the mornings are cold. received letter from Father, sent Telegram to Father
Mon 5/10/42
wrote letter to Father, it is very hot I am going to have a dip in the Med.247
Tues 6/10/42
last night we had a rough time when a heavy wind blew tents down & sand blew in everywhere, had issue of comforts 1 tin tob. Matches & papers. near here kilo 57 is a closed cemetery where mostly Aussies are buried
Wed 7/10/42
a heavy dew this morning went for a route march. an enemy plane was brought down, on duty 1800 to 2000 hrs
Thurs 8/10/42
went on route march, & got wet through, my blankets were out to air with the same result
Frid 9/10/42
on duty 1400 to 1600 hrs orderly it is nice clear day although there is sharp blowing off the sea received parcel of papers from Father it is a pleasure to see plenty of our planes go over to enemy lines & pasting them this morning over 100 planes passed over here & again this afternoon over sixty the same mob on a second visit, went to El Alamein for water for kitchen & our own use
Sat 10/10/42
had the night off. I missed out for the fifth time for leave to Cairo but it will come some day. went to a concert this morning it was by the 9th Divi Concert party all men
Sun 11/10/42
went to church service conducted by Mr Tibbs. I will be on duty to night on the M. G.248 post
Mon 12/10/42
had a dip in the briny on duty 4 to 6 PM a lot of traffic towards the front
247
Mediterranean Sea
248
Machine Gun
202
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Tues 13/10/42
we have plenty of reading at present smiths weekly, Bulletins, Heralds etc on duty 4 to 6 AM, plenty of vehicles going up to the front
Wed 14/10/42
after a lot of waiting about we shift from Kilo 88 forward to Kilo 113 & close to the sea front on duty 9 to 11 PM. the ground is very uneven, the guns gave a chorus
Thurs 15/10/42
It is cold in the morning, we have to watch our rifles for rust being close to sea, some men threw explosives into sea & many fish snapper were stunned & bagged
Frid 16/10/42
we are camped between the Hill of Jesus & the sea & in view of no mans land three ms away. one of the worst dust storms came to day I have seen for eighteen months it was followed by rain
Sat 17/10/42
this morning it is very cold a cutting wind artillery did some straffing some more dust
Sun 18/10/42
it was very cold & miserable this morning our big guns barked at Jerry. he was not long in replying but fell short of our guns, the sea has been very rough lately.
Mon 19/10/42
another cold morning our planes 15 came & dropped eggs on Jerry about four ms from here. An enemy reco110 plane flew right over our heads he got a lively reception
Tues 20/10/42
received an old letter from Father received comforts tobacco hanky soap also xmas cards wrote to Father with xmas cards sent xmas cards to H. Riddle & Mrs McLean Uncle Will & Aunt Maria.
Wed 21/10/42
an enemy plane passed here & he just made his lines but we think he crashed. went for a dip in the surf it was very nice. leave to cairo & Alex is suspended for the time being, we think there is a push starting.
249
Believed to be reconnaissance
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203
D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Thurs 22/10/42
pay day to day turned out to be just like summer we go on beach patrol every second night there was heavy bombardment of the coast sounded like the navy opening up
Frid 23/10/42
Brig Godfrey gave us an outline of the massed push against the enemy which starts to night 2200 hrs
Sat 24/10/42
The artillery barrage put on last night was the biggest ever 850 guns our forces advanced two miles our air force gave the enemy a heavy punishment, one of our planes crashed into sea near here he was lost, had a dip in briny we have a bit of instruction on anti tank gun
Sun 25/10/42
The battle is still raging our tanks are superior to Jerrys 200 prisoners have been taken so far & we have advanced about four miles wrote a letter to Mr Strain & sent xmas cards received 5 pckts cig. & matches the first for a long while as we are temporally att. to 30th Corps250
Mon 26/10/42
on duty 0700 hr to 0900 hr we cleaned the Bren gun it was very dirty after last nights firing at Jerry planes our troops are making good progress on this front the enemy losing 16 tanks to our one, at the barrage on friday night each gun fired 1500 rounds the biggest in the Middle East
250
XXX Corps (30 Corps) was a corps of the British Army during the Second World War. The Corps provided extensive service in the North African Campaign at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942, and in the Tunisia Campaign and the Allied Invasion of Sicily in 1943, after which it returned briefly to the United Kingdom; the Corps
204
Lismore to El Alamein
served in the reclamation of France from June 1944 in the Allied invasion of Normandy, and then served in Operation Market Garden, in the Netherlands, and finally in Operation Veritable in Germany until May 1945.
1942
Tues 27/10/42
enemy air activity is increasing but it is small compared to ours they generally come over after our planes have gone home. The morning are nippy & even throughout the day there are few in the surf
Wed 28/10/42
it turned out to be a hot day we had instruction on the anti tank gun, had a dip in the briny, our bombers came over wave after wave to bomb enemy concentrations in the rear including thousands of (ui) T.
Thurs 29/10/42
we had to be ready to go to the POW but it was later cancelled for various reasons, our rear men came up but returned there was a raid on our front line, our troops were held up by a minefield for a while
Frid 30/10/42
it is cold in the morning another stuka raid over. bombers do good work in enemy lines, a dust storm has commenced, I get ready to move to the POW
Sat 31/10/42
a heavy barrage last night at 10 PM Jerry replied but weak the 2/3 pioneers reach the coast but have thin line, we are waiting for further orders we are at 115 Kilo on main roads 2700 yds from front line
Sun 1/11/42
after going back to main we pack up again & go to a new posse but talk about a messup nearly everyone was bushed
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205
D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Mon 2/11/42
we are at Tac251, yesterday was a lively time with Jerry artillery it was all round us Capt Bishop & Major Copeland were killed. Brig Godfrey & Lieut Cook wounded 4 others & the dust was awful, own tank are going in shermins & others hundreds following Jerry up, the barrage was pretty hot for him too, our sigs252 have shifted so we have to wait for further orders we shift close to sig & I office
Tues 3/11/42
received a letter from Father yesterday tanks galore passed here & over 600 prisoners went to POW cage on diamond Rd wrote a letter to Father
Wed 4/11/42
we shift to pow Diamond Rd a few prisoners came in there was a lot of rubbish taken from them as well as some good stuff
Thurs 5/11/42
it was with regret that Brig Godfrey died this morning The enemy is retreating no prisoner went through this cage to day so far it is fairly quiet here now
Frid 6/11/42
paid in money for booklet “Soldiering on” to be sent to Father 5/6 The enemy is in full retreat we move over to near the sea, there is heavy traffic on road to Mersa Matruh, the weather is warm had a dip in the briny
Sat 7/11/42
we were all busy to day fixing up gun positions cook houses etc etc. did a spot of washing. it is nice & quiet around here, a tank battle is in progress the other side of el Fuka. 40,000 prisoners so far taken wrote letter to Sgt H Taylor, put 10 ac in sweep for Melb. Cup.
Sun 8/11/42
it is cold this morning, many hundreds of vehicles passing on main Rd towards Mersa Matruh. I saw the first ship for four months their was a tank battle near El Fuka
251
Believed to be Tactical Headquarters
252
Believed to be signallers
206
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Mon 9/11/42
very cold this morning Americans landed in algeria & Morocco the vichy never lasted long axis forces are back in Lybia 40,000 prisoners so far, received paper from Father
Tues 10/11/42
things are fairly quiet around here to day, plenty of planes going up towards Sollum, sent paper to Father
Wed 11/11/42
Armistice day, I saw the biggest train so far about 80 trucks & followed by a carriage train going up as far as El Daba, received our winter clothing from our Kit bags, some fine fish has been caught here by explosion 24 Bgde H.q. had a review by QM. we are doing duty on the road on front of Hq tack rear, etc etc, had a dip in the Briny
Thurs 12/11/42
simms & Nankervis leave us & go to Divi253 the enemy is back in Lybia in Algeria & Tunis the Americans are making good progress, it is quiet around here at present, a hospital train went to El Daba yesterday.
Frid 13/11/42
we are starting to have route march & swim parades it was with pleasure we heard of the recapture of Bardia & Tobruk. also the yanks are doing well near Tunis & Morocco.
Sat 14/11/42
parade at 0900 hr, route march swim parade, the eight army is 50ms west of Tobruk, section parade 5.30pm
Sun 15/11/42
church parade memorial service to late Brig Godfrey & Capt Bishop its my birthday is very quiet plenty of ambulance planes go overhead.
253
Division
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207
D I ARY
208
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Mon 16/11/42
it looks like rain, the flies are bad the eight army are 72 ms from Tobruk on parade at 8.45 AM. I had a walk around where the enemy used to camp several of the Bgde moved out to be eshalon 4 ms. further up.
Tues 17/11/42
it is very cold this morning last night it looked like rain. had two teeth filled, we erect officers mess tent & Brigs Tent, our forces have entered Derna, light shower of rain fell to night
Wed 18/11/42
arms cleaning, eight army are 75 ms from Benghazi, moving 61 ms in 24 hs
Thurs 19/11/42
on duty 8 to 9AM, went out scrounging through the battle field many tanks knocked out also stukas there were piles of blankets, boots, tents etc & a kind of oak timber we secured for firewood.
Frid 20/11/42
a very cold wind this morning.it turned out a miserable day dust blowing all day
Sat 21/11/42
a few showers fell last night & this morning, the swamp near us is partly covered in water we are on a sand hill near sea
Sun 22/11/42
church parade, had a dip in the briny yesterday it was cold & quite an undertow, wrote airgraph letter to Father for xmas, secured some perilian from Fiat fighter.
Mon 23/11/42
it was cold early had a route march, later a dip in briny on parade 5 30 duty 8 30
Tues 24/11/42
I had a catarrh attack it is miserable, went out scrounging for water we got it near mosque news Russians are still advancing & the eight army are 30 ms from El Agheila & the troops in New Guinea are in one Town
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Wed 25/11/42
it is fairly warm so far had two dips in surf, on duty for one hour, news the Russians are still progressing, the S A254 put on a picture programme, Charlie Chaplin racehorses, New York and Islanders
Thurs 26/11/42
the sky is overcast our job to day was filling in holes in sports ground for arms competition tug of war had a dip in briny, new pr boots
Frid 27/11/42
duty 0200 to 0300 hr it was moonlight after parade we clean up sports ground, went to surf
Sat 28/11/42
It is windy to day, we dressed up in uniform for practice in drill for sports to morrow, the Germans are in Toulon France
Sun 29/11/42
must be good luck well I hope so saw a black cat the first for five months. we put on a ceremonial Guard for the Brig at the skill at arms camp. it was a good display on duty 7 to 8 PM
Mon 30/11/42
we did some cleaning up pulling down tents for salvage had a dip in briny we also fixed up some of our gear.
Tues 1/12/42
to day we are busy pulling down desert shelters etc & at 11 AM we leave for Tel El Eirea we camp near El Alamein turnoff I go back with truck for salvage practically valueless we camp in open
Wed 2/12/42
we leave here at 0600 hrs it was cold we pass through Amryra & passed aerodromes, plenty of traffic on road we camp at 1.30 PM at filling station 60 mls from Cairo near big notice salt & soda alex. we are camped in open.
Thurs 3/12/42
left waddy natreen passing through Cairo, Heliopolis, Tela Kebir it was wonderful country near fresh water canal arrived near Ismalia after crossing canal it was a sandy place 254
Believed to be South Africans
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
209
D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Frid 4/12/42
we left Ismalia at 6 AM crossed the sinai desert stopped at petrol station.
Sat 5/12/42
we arrived at Khassa after Journey of 60 ms it was raining. pay day, it was a pleasure to have a hot & cold Shower again, Cinema Wells Fargo255 on duty 8 PM to 10
Sun 6/12/42
Church parade, fixing up tents afternoon off, but not allowed out of Khassa area. Cinema man at large had night in tent
Mon 7/12/42
parade 0800 hr. route march through Batts, secured Cairo leave, washed my clothes on Guard orderly room 6 to 8 PM.
Tues 8/12/42
we rise at 0600 hrs breakfast at 0645. medical inspection, filled a few slit trenches, on piquet L.A.D. cinema “foreign correspondent”256
Wed 9/12/42
on Guard 0600 to 0800 hrs I am getting things ready for leave, we leave Magdal around 6 PM. passing through Gaza, El Cantara Tela kebice, Zagazig, & others arr
Thurs 10/12/42
arrived at Cairo 20 to 9 I am staying at the Kings Hotel changed some money 95 ps for one palestine pound. went through the Bazaars & marts The Blue Mosque very fine work in carvings & mosaic work visit the Hygiene museum all diseases imaginable it was Educational, had a good meal at Empire Club cinema famoria Micky Rooney & ann Rutherford in “Andy Hardy
255
Wells Fargo is a 1937 American Western film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Joel McCrea, Bob Burns and Frances Dee.
210
Lismore to El Alamein
256
Foreign Correspondent (a.k.a. Imposter and Personal History) is a 1940 American spy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
1942
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211
D I ARY
Frid 11/12/42
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
went out to Pyramids largest Chiops 411 ft high area 13 ac 30 years to build Th Sphinx secured alabaster model of p & S. went to Zoo many animals & birds of all descriptions wax works were very fine notable figures such as King Farouk257 his father De lessofs258 Salidin259, King Solomon260 & many went to music Hall
257
Farouk I (11 February 1920 – 18 March 1965) was the tenth ruler of Egypt from the Muhammed Ali dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and the Sudan, succeeding his father, Fuad I, in 1936.
212
Lismore to El Alamein
258
Ferdinand Marie, Vicomte de Lesseps, GCSA (19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and
Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
1942
259
An-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known as Salah ad Din or Saladin (1137 – 4 March 1193), was the first sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
260
Solomon, also called Jedidiah, was, according to the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Quran, and Hadiths, a fabulously wealthy and wise King of Israel who succeeded his father, King David.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
213
D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Racecourse
214
Lismore to El Alamein
1942
Sat 12/12/42
went to agricultural Museum It was all stages of the cotton industry in Egypt & elsewhere from there I went to the races no bookmakers over here the horses are smaller & not much excitement, had a good meal at N.Z. club el. Sousie Cinema Honolulu261 & 49th Meridian depicting u boat 23 & the escaping crew it was a good show, there were big crowds in city to night
Sun 13/12/42
went on trip down the river Nile, it was nice & fresh, went down as far as Farouks bridge & Barrage262 across, some nice houses & gardens, had a ride on donkey & to the museum of Nile irrigation system, returned by tram at 5 pm. after lunch at E ser. club went to pictures at Heliopolis, mirian leigh & Howard in Waterloo Bridge263 it was good
261
Honolulu is an American musical film that was released by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer in 1939.
262
Believed to be a barrage balloon, which is a large kite balloon used to defend against aircraft attack by raising aloft cables which pose a collision risk, making the attacker’s approach more difficult.
263
Waterloo Bridge is a 1940 remake of the 1931 American drama film also called Waterloo Bridge, adapted from the 1930 play Waterloo Bridge. In an extended flashback narration, it recounts the story of a dancer and an army captain who meet by chance on Waterloo Bridge.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
215
D I ARY
N o .04 29 August 1942 – 25 December 1942
Mon 14/12/42
bought book on Egypt & snaps, went to Heliopolis after lunch went to airport & saw various makes of planes under repair, wellingtons264 Liberators265 & others, there are many fine houses in this suburb it is raining quite a bit tonight
Tues 15/12/42
went to railway museum all types of locos & carriages bought some more snaps left Cairo at 2 30 PM. by train It was very crowded.
Wed 16/12/42
arrived back at Khassa at 0600 hrs tired out, went to Gulires, camp divi for extra clothes on duty 1200 to 1400 hrs at orderly room
Thurs 17/12/42
on duty 600 to 0800 hrs orderly room dental parade 0800 hrs, washed some clothes, plenty of parades at present. received a letter & a canteen order 5/- from R. Flagstaff c/o 500 A Anzac pde Kingsford N.S.W.
Frid 18/12/42
on duty 12 to 2 AM it was very cold we have breakfast at 6.45 AM lunch at 11 30 AM tea 4 30 pm. sent book of Egypt to Father brigade & Batts266 have new colour patches with T in centre267 we have not received ours yet, it is fairly fine weather here at present on duty at orderly room at 2000 hr to 2200 hr at lot of us have colds at present, the showers are good hot & cold.
Sat 19/12/42
on duty 1000 to 1200 hr. it was warm went to hear the AIF HQ concert party it was fair, received a new hat, on duty 3 to 430 PM. No 1 mount Guard 4.45 PM. 24th Bgde has rehearsal near Hill 69. I am not in same so we have to do extra Guard. Cinema (ui) men
264
The Vickers Wellington is a British twin-engined, longrange medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey.
265
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.
216
Lismore to El Alamein
266
Believed to be Battalions
267
Believed to be in recognition of the respective units’ service in the 1941 Tobruk siege.
1942
Sun 20/12/42
we erect tents for VADs for Hockey & basketball, went to Mughazi to see some of the boys it is a new place for the Guard Bn 8ms from Gaza, we were away all the afternoon, sent a box with 48 snaps & other things to Father cinema, received xmas card from Morna Jenner.
Mon 21/12/42
it is cold this morning, we shift one officers tent & put up another the brigade are getting ready for brigade rehearsal. we are doing extra duties while it is on cinema Espionage agent
Tues 22/12/42
the brigade area is almost empty the big divi parade at Gaza airport being on. on duty 0600 to 800 & 14 00 to 1600, on the Guard to 1645 I am rewriting my diary Cinema a little bit of Heaven duty 2200 to 2400 hr
Wed 23/12/42
on parade 0830 hr. went to cinema daylight “Next of Kin” depicting spies in England & the mistake of telling army moves, did some more to my diary Cinema “The Hurrican” South sea Island story
Thurs 24/12/42
on duty 0400 to 600 hr, we gravelled & stoned in front of H.q. sent parcel to Father, secured cash for Cairo all RCs268 off duty go to Bethlehem for midnight Mass, we are having beautiful weather, although it is cold in the early morning
Fri 25/12/42
xmas day some of the boys were merry on duty 0800 to 1000 hr all men off duty church parade, got a xmas hamper, had a warm shower, then others leave for Rishen xmas dinner I am busy getting ready for Cairo leave it is a fine day
268
Believed to be Roman Catholics
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217
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Sat 26/12/42
(Diary 5) arrived in Cairo 825 go to pay office. I am staying at Kings Hotel Garry drive old aquaduct which used to take water from the Nile to old Cairo the place where Moses was hidden in the bull rushes. The Coptic church dead city tomb of the Mamed Coronation Mosque The Blue Mosque Sultan Hassien Mosque Egyptian Bazaar under the coptic church was the place Joseph & mary stayed whilst in Egypt in their flight with Jesus. Cinema Empire libel case
Sun 27/12/42
went for a trip down the river Nile to Delta Barrage it was a nice day & a pleasant trip went to a cabaret but it was good but drink for girls was high
Mon 28/12/42
went to gpo for purches lunch at Empire club went by train to Babalouk station, by Diezel to Maadi it is a better class suburb. S African to k showed the working of the Linotype returned to Cairo. Cinema Metro one of the finest cinemas in the Middle East. it was beautiful. Went to Cabaret Girls put on fancy dancing Cinema Micky Rooney & Judy Garland Babes in Broadway269
Tues 29/12/42
we went to Heliopolis for the day Aerodrome saw the latest Douglas 944270, it carries 24 passengers as well as cargo, full tanks hold 3000 gall petrol each engine hold 50 Galls oil, can cruise for over 12 hr value 50,000 pounds. we were disappointed not having a flight at drome had a good meal at services club Cinema “Diana” in the rear the enemy lines depicting a battle scene in Russia, winter time, went to Cabaret 269
Babes on Broadway is a 1941 American musical film starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland and directed by Busby Berkeley, with Vincent Minnelli directing Garland’s big solo numbers.
218
Lismore to El Alamein
270
Believed to be a Douglas DC-3 which is a propellerdriven airliner which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s/1940s and World War II.
1942
Wed 30/12/42
went to Heliopolis Aerodrome but missed out for a flight Cinema Royal Bob Abbot in Ride em Cowboy271
Thurs 31/12/42
had a drive round in Gavy bought hand bag etc. etc. left Cairo 1430 hr it was fairly crowded
271
Ride ‘Em Cowboy is a 1942 film starring the comedy team of Abbot and Costello.
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219
1943 D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
January
1st
18th
Khassa, Palestine Returned from leave
Rott Nest Island and Fremantle, WA First glimpse of Australia, WA troops disembark
15th
Khassa, Palestine Informed of shift to come
20th
Fremantle, WA News some WA troops scuffle with US troops
20th
Suez, Egypt Arrived at staging camp
25th
South East Tasmania Convoy sights Tasmania
24th
Suez, Egypt Boarded the vessel Queen Mary
27th
Sydney Arrives, leave
28th
Massawa, Eritrea Arrived
February
3rd
Sydney Leaves by northern mail train
9th
2nd
10th
Seychelles Lectures on Japanese Army and tactics
17th
Indian Ocean Lectures about present day conditions in Australia
Lismore to El Alamein
1st
Massawa, Eritrea Convoy leaves
Seychelles Arrived
220
March
Glen Innes, Inverell Arrives home
1943
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
221
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Frid 1/1/43
arrived back at Khassa 0600 hr tired out after parade we get new clothes etc. on Guard 2000 to 2300
Sat 2/1/43
magazine cleaning. on duty 1200 orderly room getting parcel ready some more went on leave Hq concert party it filled in time
Sun 3/1/43
Church parade, we were given a broad hint about going home, got some parcels ready on duty 1800 to 2000.
Mon 4/1/43
it was a dirty day on duty 0800 to 1000, sent one parcel to Father 46 photos 4 trinkets & one book on Syria one parcel to M. Jenner handbag wrote to R Flagstaff c/o 500 A. Anzac parade Kingsford N.S.W. also to 7610690 Sgt Taylor 511 Adv ord-ammn Depot MEF Cyprus Wrote letter to Father sent parcel to Father 46 snaps & trinkets 1 book on Syria & Lebanon sent small handbag to morna Jenner 325 Bondi Rd Bondi
Tues 5/1/43
“The Son of Monte Cristo”272 cinema Gas mask inspection, received a letter from Morna Jenner sent a German Helmet to Father souvenier, it is cold to day cinema “Love Crazy”273 w. powell & Myrna Loy. on duty 2200 to 2400 it is starting to rain
272
The Son of Monte Cristo is a 1940 American blackand-white swashbuckling adventure film from United Artists, produced by Edward Small, directed by Rowland V. Lee, that stars Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders.
222
Lismore to El Alamein
273
Love Crazy is a 1941 screwball comedy pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy as a couple whose marriage is on the verge of being broken by the husband’s old girlfriend and the wife’s disapproving mother.
274
Parachute Battalion is a 1941 war film directed by Leslie Goodwins and stars Robert Preston and Nancy Kelly.
1943
Wed 6/1/43
more rain this morning Comforts fund tobacco, boot polish soap & laces. Vaccination & two needles on duty 1400 hr to 1600 hr cinema. “Parachute Batt”274
Thurs 7/1/43
a cloudy morning we are busy with Kit bags on Reg Guard on duty 1800 to 2000 cinema “Yours Affectionately”275 large crowd
Frid 8/1/43
sea kits are marked, done some washing received a letter from Mrs S McLean everybody is busy to day Cinema “The girl with the red hair”276
Sat 9/1/43
it was a showery day went to the 32 BN mess to the cinema on duty 2000 to 2200 more rain.
Sun 10/1/43
church parade. on duty 1000 to 1200 Kit inspection received a letter from Miss M Jenner Cinema “Heroes of the Hills”277 Cowboys Cinema “Torrid Zone”278 J Cagney & Ann Rutherford plenty of action
275
Affectionately Yours is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Merle Oberon, Dennis Morgan, and Rita Hayworth.
276
Believed to be Lady with Red Hair (1940), an American historical drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Miriam Hopkins, Claude Rains and Richard Ainley.
277
Heroes of the Hills is a 1938 American Western “Three Mesquiteers” B-movie directed by George Sherman.
278
Torrid Zone is a 1940 adventure film directed by William Keighley and starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, and Pat O’Brien
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
223
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Mon 11/1/43
wrote letter to Mrs S McLean Stockton many of the boys receive parcels from home. on duty 200 to 400 it was very cold. on Reg Guard on duty 2200 to 2400 Cinema “Underground”279 featuring a move against Hitlerism
Tues 12/1/43
heavy rain fell last night & this morning received a new overcoat & boots on duty 1400 to 1600 Cinema In the Navy280 Comforts razor blades 3 oz Tobacco cigs. S. soap.
Wed 13/1/43
fined up again on duty 0600 to 0800 the others went on a route march. Cinema “Al Manchu” plenty of action
Thurs 14/1/43
on duty 200 to 400 a fine day route march, done some washing Cinema “Father takes a wife”281 on duty 2200 to 2400
Frid 15/1/43
several showers of rain our Universal Kit bags are taken away clif Jenmann goes for us, we were told, shift soon to come Cinema “Wuthering heights282 On duty 2000 to 2200 light rain.
Sat 16/1/43
everybody all astir rolling blankets etc. overcoat we leave Khassa Camp at noon. Camped at Teli Chaq It was very cold Cinema progress On piquet 200 to 400
Sun 17/1/43
left 0600 hr crossed Sinai desert our bray broke down arrived at Ismalia staging camp it was dusty & windy a cold wind was blowing.
279
Underground is a 1941 war, drama, suspense, espionage, propaganda, noir film about German Nazi Resistance opposing the Nazis in World War II directed by Vincent Sherman.
224
Lismore to El Alamein
280
In the Navy is a 1941 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It was the second service comedy based on the peacetime draft of 1940.
281
Father Takes a Wife is a 1941 American comedy film starring Gloria Swanson and Adolphe Monjou.
282
Wuthering Heights is a 1939 American romantic period drama film directed by William Wyler and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. It is based on the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
1943
Mon 18/1/43
left camp & travelled 40 ms to el Hayed plenty of camps around here on duty 12 to 3 Cinema “They suited each other gazette Australia called
Tues 19/1/43
cool morning parade 9 AM several were drunk it is warming up muster parade 1300 hr no man can leave camp after 1800 hr there are many Tommy camps between Ismalia & Telakablen we leave El hague Camp by truck to train at merash caught train to Suez at 2 pm
Wed 20/1/43
arrived at Suez staging Camp at 7-30 AM tired out 16 to a tent overcrowded. we cannot leave our area Cinema “Broadway Serenade”283 “Jeanette Mcdonald”
Thurs 21/1/43
route march four miles the queen Mary284 82000 standing out well in Harbour we have to go in mess parade Cinema “charter pilot”285
Frid 22/1/43
it is cold in the morning route march five miles about 1500 men are having meals at our kitchen foot inspection mess orderly duties & went to bed early
Sat 23/1/43
cold in morning went on route march had cold shower post our money & two blankets in, cool & cloudy, we are given notice of move tomorrow for boat
283
Broadway Serenade (also known as Serenade) is a 1939 musical drama film distributed by MGM, produced and directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
284
The RMS Queen Mary is a retired British ocean liner that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line – known as Cunard-White Star Line when the vessel entered service.
285
Charter Pilot is a 70-minute 1940 drama film, directed by Eugene Forde and produced by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
225
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Sun 24/1/43
arrived at boat RN Mary We are on main deck, in bunks, there is beautiful work in Queen Mary 8,000 on she is three ms from wharf.
Mon 25/1/43
more troops on to day 11,000 people aboard 4 sittings at meals 2500 each all rush, Aquatania pulls in we move out
Tues 26/1/43
mess parade 0730 h boat drill 0945 h lunch 1210 hs hot salt water bath p.T.286 we are travelling 20 Knots an hour, we have a band on board playing different selections. I am wearing summer clothes now
Wed 27/1/43
we are going (ui) knots an hr. boat drill, anti aircraft rehearsal. medical inspection physical training, we have to wash our clothes in salt water, fresh water is limited we are dodging about waiting for rest of convoy, sea is calm.
Thurs 28/1/43
sea calm, shoal of porpoises. swept & mopped our quarters, it is getting hot we are going towards Aden287 parade 1330 hr We anchor at Massawa seaport of Eritrea, it was here that the Italian troops landed prior to the Abyssinian campaign. the town was well lighted we were allowed to smoke on the open decks.
Frid 29/1/43
water is severely restricted it is a change to go on deck in the early morning, the seas here are dark coloured wings at Tewfik they are brown, & around Australia they are nearly white. 286
Physical Training
287
Yemen
226
Lismore to El Alamein
1943
Sat 30/1/43
clocks are put on one hour slight rain falling boat drill boats were lowered for practice, the Monteray with yanks on board just left us. rifle inspection P.T. we are still at Massawa mostly Americans are here big assembly works & oil depot, our Kit bags are to be stored to make more room & air space
Sun 31/1/43
to day is washing day, the Aquatania is berthed not far from us. there is a concert on the ship every night a good programme to night
Mon 1/2/43
I had a spell on the deck forward, the Isle De France has joined us, 90 tanker we have good prospects of leave soon & we shall not be sorry either
Tues 2/2/43
we are still at Massawa all men at boatstations PT on all decks two concerts every night two bands play every day
Wed 3/2/43
we leave Massawa at 0815 hr in convoy288 with Isle De France289 & Aquatania we a going around 20 knots an hour With K Larkin & Theo Smith The ship rolls a trifle
Thurs 4/2/43
boat station comforts & chocolate PT our convoy consists of queen Mary Aquatania, Isle De France queen of Bermuda290 our escort consists of six destroyers & one Cruiser we have passed through the straits near Aden & well out in the Indian ocean. concert
288
Operation Pamphlet, also called Convoy Pamphlet, was a World War II convoy operation conducted during January and February 1943 to transport the 9th Australian Division home from Egypt. The convoy involved five transports, which were protected from Japanese warships by several Allied naval task forces during the trip across the Indian Ocean and along the Australian coast. The division embarked in late January 1943 and the convoy operation began on 4 February.
No contact was made between Allied and Japanese ships, and the division arrived in Australian ports during late February with no losses from enemy action. 289
The SS Ile de France was a French ocean liner that was built in Saint-Nazaire, France for the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (or CGT, also known as the “French Line”).
The ship was named after the region around Paris known as “L’lle de France”, launched in 1926 and commenced her maiden voyage on June 22, 1927. 290
SS Queen of Bermuda was a British cruise ship operated by the Furness Bermuda Line during the mid 20th century.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
227
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Frid 5/2/43
boat station met Bob Marchant 2/3 pioneers pay day, an escort plane came near us, The ship is rolling we are making good progress. p.T clocks put on one hour, concert
Sat 6/2/43
we are still travelling east boat station lecture on Japan Lieut pearce P.T. concert, clocks are put on one hour. the first flying fish noticed
Sun 7/2/43
The blackout was on till 800 hr voluntary church parade to day, is washing clothes day it is windy, clocks were advanced 30 min at the Housie housie game. some of the prize money was 6 pounds 1/g in full house about 70 players
Mon 8/2/43
blackout was on till 0805 emergency station lecture El-Alamein PT. The Boxing too much interference our Concert
Tues 9/2/43
boat drill lecture re Gay p.T. we reach schelles Isles291 3700 m from Massawa The Islands have plenty of trees very quiet palm trees concert the weather is fine very hot this morning
Wed 10/2/43
These islands are little known very good harbour 2 degrees south of equator lecture on Japanese army & tactics pt we meet 6 ships of Eastern fleet flag ship Warspite292 we are having nice weather received 2 pckts biscuits & to large chocolates from comforts fund. Concert
Thurs 11/2/43
hot & stuffy in the morning nice cool in on decks after blackout boat station gnig & PT in evening meals are light Concert
291
Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelago country in the Indian Ocean.
228
Lismore to El Alamein
292
hr It was nice on the sun deck Lieut pearce on the battle of Tournament is almost a washout speed is around 15 knots,
HMS Warspite was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship built for the Royal Navy during the early 1910s.
1943
Frid 12/2/43
blackout finished at 1730 hr emergency station the band gave us plenty of music. 2/3 pioneers re port side & the 2/43 BN on star board side, lecture on battle of Milne Bay293 New Guinea PT we are going at 19 K an hour
Sat 13/02/43
the sea has quite a swell & the ship rolls slightly Blackout finished a (ui) we are going south south east pay day concert
Sun 14/2/43
washing clothes day. Church parade, it is very windy, we are travelling south concert clocks on 30 min
Mon 15/2/43
Boat stations sea getting rough strong wind our kit bags come up from hold concert
Tues 16/2/43
we are going South East plenty of white horses on sea294 emergency station PT Lieut pearce gave a lecture on life & conditions in Japan. a high wind is blowing sea rough
Wed 17/2/43
cold mornings we notice seagulls which is indication of Land somewhere. boat drill. We were given a talk on present day conditions in Australia, Medical inspection Concert Clocks were put on one hour our boys had a few in & put on a sing song
Thurs 18/2/43
still very windy emergency station it is with great Joy we view the first glimpse of Western Australia, men are quite busy getting ready to disembark met G. Poland295 he is sending me a pearl blister. Clocks advanced one hour Rottnest Island in sight We have a good view of Fremantle drop anchor a 1345 hrs WX296 troop leave ship Concert
293
The Battle of Milne Bay (25 August – 7 September 1942), also known as Operation RE or the Battle of Rabi by the Japanese, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese naval infantry troops, known as Kaigan Tokubetsu Rikusentai
(Special Naval Landing Forces), with two small tanks attacked the Allied airfields at Milne Bay that had been established on the eastern tip of New Guinea. 294
White caps on top of the waves
295
Believed to be Private George Thomas Poland WX14373, enlisted 18 June 1941, discharged 26 February 1946, posting at discharge: 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion.
296
Soldiers who enlisted in Western Australia
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
229
D I ARY
No.05 26 December 1942 – 2 March 1943
Frid 19/2/43
troops from queen of Bermuda come aboard several old boys I knew with them no parade concert
Sat 20/2/43
on water piquet emergency station nice fine weather some of WX men got into scuffle with Yanks they are oiling up Concat we leave Fremantle at 1750 two escort planes
Sun 21/2/43
troops washing day a fine day church parade we are taking it easy concert
Mon 22/2/43
on water piquet emergency station we had particulars about pay, coupons trains & leave etc. a lecture on U.S.A. negroes etc. The weather is misty & cold going South East Concert
Tues 23/2/43
pay day issued with Ration card & coupons emergency station & lecture on air photography by Lieut pearce we are having cold weather, men are wearing KD.S297 concert
Wed 24/2/43
cold morning Boat station Cinema, officers Lounge Next of Kin depicting men giving information to spy agent unknowingly, one new Amsterdam298 leaves us for Melbourne cruiser Adelaide299 leaves us & cruiser Australia300 takes over weather fine concert
Thurs 25/2/43
we are steaming north Cold morning emergency station more details of disembarkation lecture on “aerial torpedoes” 1530 hr we have a glimpse of south eastern portion of Tasmania Cruiser Australia goes to Melbourne an American cruiser takes over concert
297
Khaki drill or KD was the term for a type of fabric and the British military uniforms made from them.
298
The Nieuw Amsterdam was a Dutch ocean liner built in Rotterdam for the Holland America Line.
230
Lismore to El Alamein
299
HMAS Adelaide was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy, named after Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. Laid down in 1915, wartime shortages and design modifications meant the ship was not completed until 1922, earning her the nickname “HMAS Longdelayed”.
300
HMAS Australia (I84/D84/ C01) was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy.
1943
Frid 26/2/43
we are going north warm weather boat station Kit inspection owing to a few thieves, another destroyer comes as escort off the N.S. Wales coast Concert & band are finished
Sat 27/2/43
The coast line came into view, we enter Sydney Heads 1300 hr drop anchor off Double Bay manly ferry were loaded they gave us a great welcome we disembark onto ferry landed at pyrmont, went by train to Walgrove Tram set camp, people gave us a rousing welcome all along the line arrived at camp at 1900 hr The Canteen qM store & Telephone exchange were open until 0330 hr
Sun 28/2/43
around 10,000 men came into Camp last evening thousands of men have gone on leave there was a mess up in leave which made many with a fine welcome to us who have been away over two years went to Sydney per truck & train for the evening saw Morna Jenner’s Father Bondi returned by military train 2338
Mon 1/3/43
after receiving passes we arrive at Rooty Hill whether is fine, arrived at Central station left by Northern mail train 01200 plenty of room had free lunch at Gosford 1340 swarms of grasshoppers Ravensworth Scone tea at Muswellbrook we are going fast people waving all along line.
Tues 2/3/43
after sitting up most of the time we arrived in Glen Innes at 1600 hr arrived home at 800 hr glad to get back.
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
231
FOOT N OTE S 194 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 16 19 20 21 25 27 28 29 34 35 41 43 44 45 46
232
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Lismore to El Alamein
FO OT N OTE S 1941
47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 75 76 77
‘‘Thomas Blamey’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Blamey?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 May 2019). ‘Percy Spender’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Spender?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 May 2019). ‘Vernon Sturdee’, Wikipedia, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Sturdee?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 May 2019). ‘I Met Him in Paris’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Met_Him_in_Paris?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 May 2019). ‘The Lives of a Bengal Lancer’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_a_Bengal_Lancer_(film)?wprov=sfti1 (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘Stanley and Livingstone’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_and_Livingstone?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 30 May 2019). QX24450 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=23541&c=WW2, (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘Dark Journey (film)’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Journey_(film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘One in a Million (film)’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_in_Million_(1936_film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘Battle of Beersheba (1917)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘The Secret of Dr. Kildatre’, Wikipedia, 2018, , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret _of_Dr._Kildare?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 30 May 2019). WX1047 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=737714&c=WW2, (accessed 30 May 2019). VX6706 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=421894&c=WW2, (accessed 30 May 2019). ‘Royal Scots Greys’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Greys?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 7 June 2019). ‘Man About Town (1939 film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_About_Town_(1939_film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 7 June 2019). NX11530 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=130742&c=WW2#R, (accessed 7 June 2019). ‘You and Me (1938 film)’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_and_Me_(1938_film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 7 June 2019). ‘Sergeant Madden’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Madden?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 7 June 2019). ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Sherlock_Holmes_ (film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 7 June 2019). ‘Ron Richards (boxer)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Richards_(boxer)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Carmen Barth’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Barth?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘The Citadel (film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citadel_(film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘A Damsel in Distress (1937 film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Damsel_in_Distress_(1937_film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Balalaika (film)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalaika_(film)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘The Princess Comes Across’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Comes_Across?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Beau Hunks’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Hunks?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘The Flying Deuces’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Deuces?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘The Rains Came’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rains_Came?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019).
THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
233
FOOT N OTE S 1941
78 79 81 84 88 89
93 96 97 98 100 103 104 105 106 107 108 111 112 113 114 116 118 123 124 125 126 127
234
‘Two Girls on Broadway’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Girls_on_Broadway?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘A Man to Remember’, Wikipedia, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_to_Remember?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Hawkesbury River railway bridge’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkesbury_River_railway_bridge?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Fort Capuzzo’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort-Capuzzo?wprov=sfti1,(accessed 8 June 2019). ‘Vickers Wellington’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Wellington?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 10 June 2019). C. Shores & G. Massimello with R. Guest, ’A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940 – 1945 Volume One: North Africa June 1940 – January 1942’, Google Books, 2012, https://books.google.com/books/about/A_History_of_the_Mediterranean_Air_War_1. html?id=98SIDwAAQBAJ, (accessed 10 June 2019). ‘Durham Light Infantry’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Light_Infantry?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘Ikingi Maryut’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikingi_Maryut?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX15387 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=134330&c=WW2#R, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘The Devil is a Sissy’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Is_a_Sissy?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘The Great Dictator’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dictator?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX15409 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=134352&c=WW2#R, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX8495 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=740118&c=WW2#R, (accessed 15 June 2019). VX38040 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=448510&c=WW2#R, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX35091 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=153261&c=WW2#R, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX46807 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=164375&c=WW2, (accessed 15 June 2019). NX24645 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=143236&c=WW2, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘Fifth column’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_column?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘HMS Vendetta (D69)’, Wikipedia, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vendetta_(D69)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 15 June 2019). ‘24th Brigade (Australia)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Brigade_(Australia)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 June 2019). ‘Sangar (fortification)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangar_(fortofication)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 June 2019). ‘2/1st Pioneer Battalion (Australia)’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2/1st_Pioneer_Battalion_(Australia)?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 24 June 2019). NX9587 Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ‘DVA’s Nominal Rolls’, 2019, http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=128921&c=WW2, (accessed 24 June 2019). ‘Breda 30’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breda_30?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 25 June 2019). ‘Fiat-Revelli Modello 1935’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat%E2%80%93Revelli_Modello_1935?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 25 June 2019). ‘Tobruk, Libya. 1942. “Bardia Bill”’, Australian War Memorial,2019, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/040453, (accessed 25 June 2019). ‘The Tobruk Fig Tree’, Rats of Tobruk Association Inc. Official Website, https://www.ratsoftobrukassociation.org.au/the%20tobruk%20fig%20tree.htm, (accessed 25 June 2019). ‘Boys ant-tank rifle’, Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_Ant_tank_rifle?wprov=sfti1, (accessed 25 June 2019).
Lismore to El Alamein
130 132 134 135 136 139 140 142 143 149 152 154 155 157 158 160 161 162 164 165 170 171 172 173 175 176 177 179 180 182
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FOOT N OTE S 194 2
183 184 185 186 187 194 196 198 199 200 201 204 208 209 210 212 213 214 215 216 220 223 225 227 228 229 232
236
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Lismore to El Alamein
233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 242 243 244 250 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 269 270 271
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FOOT N OTE S 194 3
272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 288 289 290 291 292 293 295 297 298 299 300
238
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Lismore to El Alamein
AC K N OWLE DG E M E NT S
This book has been a nearly three year project. It would not have been possible without the love, support and encouragement from my wife, Elena Lomas. Thank you my dear for understanding the importance of this legacy project to me. My brother, Robert Goody, deserves my respect and gratitude. He assisted with the transcription of the diaries and quality control. It proved to be a tedious and at times challenging task considering the age of the diaries and the conditions in which they were written. My goal has been to present the diaries in a form that will encourage current and future generations to benefit from the experiences of an Australian Soldier in the Middle East/ North Africa during the Second World War. This has been possible through the professional expertise of Graphic Designer Jennifer Theis. My heartfelt thanks go to her for her great ideas, patience, attention to detail and expert guidance on developing a manuscript to a book suitable for publishing. I wish to place on record my sincere thanks for all the support my extended family and friends have given to me in following my passion for military history. To that group I include my newfound friends with similar interests in the Rats of Tobruk Association Inc. and the Descendants of the Rats of Tobruk Association Inc. With age and maturity I recognise the tragedy of war, and the testing of the human spirit through such traumatic life experiences. Thank you Uncle Tom for diligently recording your experiences for two and a half years for the benefit of future generations. Many of your observations on human character are as relevant today as they were during those pivotal years of 1940 to 1943.
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This book consolidates the diaries of Thomas William Cure NX15442, an Australian soldier from northern New South Wales. They cover the period from his embarkation in Sydney on 30 August 1940, service in the Middle East and North Africa including the siege of Tobruk and the battles of El Alamein, and his return home on 2 March 1943. The strength of the diaries lies in them being contemporaneous, unfiltered by later experiences and the vagaries of human memory. The transcript of the diaries is as they were written; raw, uncensored and unedited. They portray that during one of the darkest periods in Australian history, ‘keeping calm and carrying on’ was the best way an individual could deal with a situation of this magnitude. It is as relevant today as it was during the Second World War. — David Goody