CHRISTMAS DAY IN ALGIERS

25TH DECEMBER 1942

Started work at dawn. Finished at dusk. In evening we had a drunk, but I was not sick. Don’t remember getting to bed.

97 Got a 26th

97 Canadian Flight Lieutenant Dallas Schmidt DFC.

Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas

George Cross Island, NWM.HMC round to see how we were. He laughed like hell when he saw us in

98 Presumably taken at Naxxar immediately before Ben and Paddy left for Algiers on 22 December. 31st

Written by Ben Jinks at the back of the photograph illustrated overleaf:

‘The detachment of 227 Sqdn on the roof of our ‘Hotel’. Xmas 1942.98

Left to right:L.A.C Jinks, L.A.C Crouch, L.A.C Miller, L.A.C. Fuller, L.A.C. Robjohns. L.A.C Fitzjohn, L.A.C Hoey. L.A.C. Walton. Cpl Nottingham.

BJb.NWM.HMC

1st being the last meal in Algiers we made the most of it.

2nd tea at the new cookhouse on the drome. winds. Breakfast was not too bad. wish I could get a letter home to this joint. breakfast. I got a new machine this morning. In afternoon we were

On returning at 16.00 to tea 16.00

9th

All cinemas and bars are now closed cold.

99 An epidemic of Infantile Paralysis (Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis) struck Malta between 15 November 1942 and March 1943,

57 servicemen. 82% of the victims were Maltese children mortality rate was high in the military (19.3%) and low among civilians (3.5%), the chief cause of death being respiratory paralysis. Residual disability among survivors was considerable. bless her. struck him and I told him he had accused me witnesses and agreed that the game was dismiss the case and did not want to hear of us gambling again. for over three weeks. During the night there

16th night.

17th night but there was no raid.

18th

23rd

moving to Castel Benito aerodrome. One

100 Castel Benito aerodrome was a Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) military in the southern outskirts of Italian Tripoli, in Libya. It was captured by the British 8th Army on 23 January 1943. Subsequently, it was renamed RAF Castel Benito and was used by several RAF squadrons in the desert war and in the battle for Tunisia.

He asked us how

101 Sir Charles Portal was highest post in the RAF, from 1941-1945.

night.

28th afternoon. night. high for us to see them.

During the night there was one warning

I don’t like him. He has messed us about Castel Benito this evening.

‘

6th was main target. me much discomfort.

8th as from tomorrow.

7th of the station engineer, to give evidence on Brum. Case was remanded until tomorrow.

M.C. tried the case of A.C. Brum. L.A.C. Jones and I gave evidence.

15th evening. Poor show.

102 These six merchant ships brought in enough supplies to stock Malta with food to the end of July 1943. Malta’s siege had been well and truly lifted.

16th trick after the hard work we have done. Have

17th 18th

20th

19th night.

26th

Siren went at 05.50. All clear 06.10 nothing has come. I wish she would write long.

1943

Had a beautiful dream about Olive last night. weather is wonderful. well.

2nd the island. Did some reading at night. In bed

3rd

4th

15th

16th21st

Nothing worth recording has occurred during wet. More rumours are circulating about us get it.

22nd

23rd30th too good. I did a little swimming but it was very cold. On the whole things were not up to much. Arrived back in camp 09.45. Had an inoculation in afternoon. Went to camp cinema in evening. Not so hot. headaches and dizziness. I expect it is through being blown up at Luqa. Received some Sacarines from Mill today.

Received letters from Mill and Win. Received sad news that poor little Keith was dead. We certainly have some bad luck in our family.

Well, the month has gone by very quickly. News is very good from Tunisia. Several army regiments have left the island. No news of us darling wife. God Bless her and keep her safe for me.

1943

2nd

3rd to cinema at night.

4th night.

5th now have a Balloon Barrage over the Grand and Fred.

6th little. I could just go one of Olive’s omelettes.

7th cinema at night.

8th

Endeavoured to write a letter to Olive, but couldn’t get an

25th27th

28th

God Bless Her.

Feeling more comfortable. Managed to get 29th

30th all I look forward to.

1943