Monday 1 March
Lay in a bit this morning had a super b’fast – Fried Bread – egg – and spam – bread and jam – very tasty – During am wrote long letter to MP & E and started one to A but felt so depressed at **** all the little ‘cadeau’ – little only in size – that I gave up writing as a bad job. After lunch visited troop – tea – drink with Gerald and Sandy – dinner – command post to collect ‘griff’ for tomorrow and so to bed.
Tuesday 2 March
Up at 5.30 am and at OP having taken over, at 7 am. Cold this morning but very warm at lunch time – Ian came up in morning. Nothing to see all day and everything very quiet. Party returned to Woggery at 5.30 and I stayed up here until 6.30 when I walked back – did me good. Had dinner avec les officiers francais and long talk on post war world with them afterwards. Dinner v good. Omelette, mutton chop – rice – biscuits and jam – wine and coffee. Bad at 10.30. Bit cold in night and had to relieve m’self at 3 am otherwise everything OK.
Wednesday 3 March
Up at OP at 0630 hours – b’fast and shave. Another lovely day. Ian came up at 10.30 and we recced an alternative position for an OP. Got back at 11.45 and had lunch. After lunch took Lock and Roome up to alternative posn and started them off in alternative posn. Came back to OP which I left at 6.15 and returned to the Woggery – dinner with French – after dinner wrote a couple of pages to Eileen – God how I wish I could have written and write more but the atmosphere was far from right. Blast this flaming war – I want so much to write but the proper chance never seems to come my way. Told I am to remain at OP for another day. Another day when I shall only be able to write a page or two.
Thursday 4 March
Up at 7 am – B’fast of some tasty American bacon (fried). Ian came up and flaunted the fact that he was going riding this afternoon – les Rynears travialant les dome-commune Hier! Walked to alternative ‘Rags’ – and back for good lunch – C.S. and k. pudding and whole spuds – c’est bon. After lunch practiced Le Captaine Legouve with a little ‘rinuglatiun du line’ – tea – and then back to Woggery at 6.45. Dinner avec les francais and bed at 10 ocl.
Friday 5 March
Invasion day by the Yanks. Crocker – Capane Crocker – American Staff who had been doing all the work in the rear came up and shot his Btn (12 guns) into a base point! Incredible chap – amazing Yanks. I asked what their guns were like – answer – Boy, there wicked they shoot right down to a gnats eyebrow! Also a good ‘un was a Yankee corporal who on looking at a dis W/T set. Gee I guess dey must have missed out sometin! Great day – dinner again in evening with French HQ – Extraordinary French indigene soldier who came and sat by me at 6 pm – cadging cigarettes etc – had no idea that Russians, Its and Japs were even in this war!
Saturday 6 March
Relieved at 0930 by Peter Royle. Had b’fast at OP. Arrived back here at 10 ocl and had super wash, very much needed. Also put on new battledress which Charles had got for me plus brown shoes. Spent whole pm writing to A. Essex C.S.s of 16 & 23 March arrived during pm – no letters. Visited Troop at 6 pm and had very pleasant ¾ hour with Sandy from 6.45. 7.30 had excellent dinner in Mess. Trevine and Pavant were there and also Major Hyde – U.S.A. and the Yanks liaison officer. Long chat afterwards and bed at 1015 pm.
Sunday 7 March
Quiet day – b’fast at 8 and spent practically all am writing to A – G – Received her no 15 dated 26 Feb during am – it must have come by air – also sent off Nivea face cream. At 1 ocl met Dick and Jack and we went over to El Aroussa to learn something about the Churchill tank – quite interesting. Arrived back at 5 pm – After tea read for a bit and had drink with Sandy – Ian out with his French buddies. Gerald came in to have an evening meal with us. After Denman, Binley, Jim and Rollo came in for a chat. Bed at 10.
Monday 8 March
Up at 7, left lines at 8.30 and took over from Peter Royle at 9 ocl, very uneventful day at OP. Left at 6 pm and saw Peter Rawson and Cape Lagour before their big (?) patrol went out. Hectic hour at Woggery with lines W/T etc – very fleaish night.
Tuesday 9 March
Pancake day! Another uneventful day – at 11.30 went over to see how diggers at alternative OP were getting on and then had lunch with Cape Legour. After lunch had a few targets though nothing v exciting. Left OP at 5.30 and came back to Battery with Ian were I had dinner with Padouche, and the others. Returned to Waggery at 9.30 and spent night there.
Wednesday10 March
Up at OP at 6.45. Rollo came up to relieve me at 9 ocl – Spent some time in Wog village trying to buy some chapattis from the Wogs – got back at 12 ocl and arrived with the Mail – 2 letters from A her nos 10 and 11 – great show – no ? to Maz – after lunch wrote long letter to A. 2 Frenchmen came to dinner as per usual but I left the party fairly early and had a very good nights sleep. Had lunch with Sandy as everyone else was out.
Thursday 11 March
Completed my map this morning Gerald came round for a drink before lunch. After lunch went up to see Troop and was also inoculated against typhus. After tea wrote to Gerald – Dinner at 7 ocl at which time it started pouring with rain and after dinner had very good game of poker with Rollo, Charles, Peter Rawson and Sandy. Won 5 fr on the Poker and 65 fr side bets off Peter Rawson. Lent Sandy a 100 frs. Went to bed at 10 and read quotations book – to take over Geoff’s OP tomorrow.
Friday 12 March
Not a very pleasant day – got everything laid on to take over Geoff’s OP tomorrow at 6 am – Ian got back at 4 pm in very black mood and changed complete detail with result that 6.15 saw me at Geoff’s OP – order then came through that take-over was to be delayed for a day so back I went to the Woggery to spend another flea ridden night there.
Saturday 13 March
Spent morning looking round our new OP with Ian and then came back here for lunch. After lunch I squared out some drawing paper for a panorama and then wrote 3 quick letters to Eileen, M & P. at 4.30 went back to Woggery where I picked up RA’s crew and sallied forth to take over from Geoff – Spent night at OP.
Sunday 14 March
Occupied OP at 6 am but visibility throughout day was practically nil and there was nothing to do bar sit in our hole and try and keep dry as it was pouring with rain most of the day – Ian phoned up at 4.30 suggesting we spent the night at the Woggery which we did having had a very sticky journey down to get there – chaps slept in a very clean dry place provided by local Arab schoolmaster.
Monday 15 March
Left woggery at 5.30 am but shed a track in the mud soon after starting out – Roome. Adams and I walked to OP (1 ½ miles) + telephones & manned it by 7 ocl but vis again was practically nil til about 9 ocl when it cleared. RA eventually arrived and the only thing of note til Peter Royle came up to relieve me was a French Colonel &Staff who came flocking into OP and asked me to shoot up a farm which I did! Peter R came up at 6 ocl and we were back at the Woggery by 7 ocl. While I was having dinner with the French Ian phoned to say I was going back to England – amazing show. Baister got me back here by 10.30 where I found quite a crowd in the Mess to wish me good luck. Colonel came over and he and I sat talking until about 1.30 am over a glass or two of whiskey.
Tuesday 16 March
What a day! Up bright and early and spent 1 hour with Colonel going through pts to teach the boys back home from the RHQ angle. Sad goodbye to Troop and all here and after an early lunch went off in a 3-tonner with my 4 Sergts – Kerry (10), Arnold (RHQ), Chippen (13) and Tucker (26) – Mervyn came with us on his way to Constantine. Arrived Adv HQ RA at 4.30 and went back from there to the Rest Camp to spend the night there prior to going off to Souk el Arta at 5 am tomorrow to catch the train at Algiers. There were 3 other officers and 14 men besides ourselves. Prior from 64 A/Tk. Clough from 132 and X from 138. Brigadier Weddenburn Maxwell – CRA – gave us a rousing address at 7 pm and we went to bed feeling very excited and talking of this and that at 10 ocl. At 12 ocl the Camp Comdt brought us a message to say that our journey tomorrow was cancelled – no reason. Imagine our thoughts – I lay awake and smoked 2 or 3 cigs before eventually getting to sleep!!
Wednesday 17 March
Up at 7.30, shave and b’fast – our truck didn’t arrive until 4 pm when back we came to this place. From all senses the party is only postponed. I wonder – a very lousy trick if it’s cancelled!
Thursday 18 March
Poured with rain whole bloody day – read letters received yesterday from Eileen (2), Maz (2), Gerald (1), Harvey (1), Aunt Dolly, Aunt Vi, Jack and Brian. Wrote to Aunt Dolly, Aunt Vi, Jack, Harvey, Gerald, Eileen. At 6 ocl went to RHQ for dinner and poker – won 200 fr. Found my tent and blankets wet through so slept in front of 3 tonner – for one reason & another got practically no sleep. In Aunt Vi’s letter heard that John is a prisoner – great shame. Also received pipe and 200 cigs which have been only acknowledged – a super pipe from Eileen *** and 200 Craven A from Gerald & Lois
Friday 19 March
Pouring with rain all morning – went up to woggery area with Ian where I visited Troop. Came back to lunch and found message for me saying that we are to be prepared to move tomorrow. Played poker after lunch and finished letter off to the Mabird. At 6 ocl, having lost 120 francs, message came through to say that I have to be at Sink el Cuba Station with my party by 8 am tomorrow. Left after more farewells at 9 ocl and arrived Sink el Cuba at 2.30. Wonder if it will be put off again.
Saturday 20 March
What a night – slept in warehouse for very few hours – got v excited at thought of seeing A and mes chères parents encore une fois but am sad in a way that I haven’t seen the campaign out – one feels one has done ones bit in stopping and pushing back the Boche and Iti – but –
B’fast cooked by Shippin at 8 am and left here for home at 11.30 in most uncomfortable carriage – more later when train stops rocking! 6 of us in this carriage plus all our equipment including valises etc – despite all and fact that seats are plain best wood we are a very happy party – 4 Gunners in here and 2 Infantry including Bryan Valentine – cricketer. Very comic opera train it stops every now and again so that we can cook and spend our francs etc – Read, slept and ate all day – my Sergeants who are in a carriage labelled – homes 45
Chevaux 8
bring me food when cooked – Bed Xways for 3 tonight – Prior laid his lilo between seats so spent a very comfortable night – a Mae West really makes quite a good pillow! Stations passed today were OVED MOUGRAS – SIDI – SUIK AHRAS – LAVERDURE – DU VIVIER – CONSTANTINE.
Sunday 21 March
Day spent reading, sleeping and eating – passed many interesting places and there were some wonderful views – terrific hills (Tel Atlas Mts) and valleys and some very well stocked airdromes – usual pantomime at about 7 when we put our beds down – Bryan V after his incident with the ‘Groom’ last night, slept with us – had very comfortable night’s sleep – were about 8 miles from Setif when we went to bed – places passed today included – SAINT DONAT – SAINT ARNAUD – CHASSELOUP LAUBAL.
Monday 22 March
Woke at 7 up at 8.30 when I had b’fast (egg, sausage and biscuits) and shave in v muddy water – places passed so far today include – MANSOURA – PORTES de FER, BENI MANCOUR. It’s now 3.50 pm very hot and I’m reading during periods of sleep ‘The Faithful Years’ an excellent book. No more stations of importance passed – bedded down at 7.30 and got to sleep fairly quickly.
Tuesday 23 March
Arrived Hussein Dey (suburb of Algiers) at 3.15 am and marched to Transit Camp 1 – a large football stadium – told we are to embark tomorrow morning. Shaved at station where I had returned to keep an eye on my kit and at 11.30 set off with Prior and Clough and hitch hiked into Algiers where we had a couple of Brekes each and then had a spot of lunch – soup, cold fish – ?? – and vin blanc. After lunch walked back to stadium – v little in shops – turned in at 7 ocl and laid me doon to sleep in the 2/6 seats.
Wednesday24 March
Not a very good day – told we were to move off at 8.30 but that was cancelled – then told we might be ‘called for’ at any minute so were confined to stadium. At 5.30 went down to the Orion and found my kit had been left there and was told that we were going on a different boat – a Greek one. Got back to Stadium at 7 and went out to a local with a Hants survivor who I had met at Forfar and had a couple of quick vin rouges and then back – bed at 8.30 and slept quite well – very hot today.
Thursday 25 March
Up at 6 am – borrowed a truck and picked my kit up from the Orion – also bought some oranges and lemons to bring home – Got on the boat at 11 am and after changing my money had lunch at 1 pm – sharing cabin with Jack Saddleton. After lunch lay on prom deck and went to sleep in v hot sun. Excellent bath after tea – dinner at 6.30 then chat, drink (Soft as ship is dry) and so to bed in pyjamas, and sheets, super. First time I’ve worn pyjamas for 3 months, also first proper bath for 3 months – Ship we are on is the Nea Helles – used to be the ‘Tuscania’ and a sister ship of the ‘Cameronia’!
Friday 26 March
Up at 7.30 after good night’s sleep, b’fast at 8 and then visited Sergts. Practice boat stations at 10 ocl read from 10.30 to lunch-time and after lunch had 40 much needed winks – left Algiers at 6 ocl. Had bath before dinner and just as I was sipping some excellent coffee after dinner the alarm bells went and our AA opened up – didn’t last long and the reports say that a plane nipped overhead and that there was a real Brock’s display from Algiers. Watch officer ‘til midnight so shall have to make up for lost sleep tomorrow – Food v good. Bought 50 for 1/10 – 2 talcum – 2 choc – 10 Razor Blades.
Saturday 27 March
Up at 7.30 am and went round AA guns to see that everything was OK. After b’fast went up to reading room where I finished ‘Unnatural Death’ by Dorothy Sayers. V Good. Now reading ‘Little Ladyship’ by Ian Hay. After lunch had excellent sleep ‘til 5.30 when I went up on deck and visited gun crews. Cashed cheque for £4 this am. Adjt tells me he knew Gerald v well in Essex R when G was 2 i/c. finished ‘L.L’ and also Ian Hay’s.
After dinner a horse race meeting. Paid 6/- for ticket in each race – Drew no 3 in race 3 but it never even started. Won 2/9 for 6d in last race on ‘Constipation’. Couldn’t get to sleep – read ‘til 1 am then sleep.
Sunday 28 March
Good b’fast – corn flakes, kipper, bacon and egg – roll & marm, coffee. Passed Gib at 4 this am – now got 2 Aircraft carriers and 2 or 3 other big ships with us – had my hair cut at 9.15. Notes etc til 10.30 then PT at 11 followed by v pleasant bath – lunch at 1 ocl and after lunch snooze ‘til 4 ocl when I went up and took the evening (?) air and had a cup of char – after tea did a spot of boot polishing and note writing – Dinner at 7 – my watch from 12 til 4 tomorrow am – not so hot – read during this time. Ship beginning to roll just a bit! Good dinner – Fish – Duck and apple sauce – sweet – Gorgonzola and biscuits – fruit – coffee.
Monday 29 March
My watches today were from 12 – 4 am – 12 – 4 pm and 8 – 12 am pas bon. Nothing of interest today – now going NW instead of W. Started new book ‘The End of Andrew Harrison’ by Freeman Willis Crofts – not too bad – Crime Club book – wrote notes this morning. Had a drop of whiskey at 10 pm to celebrate Bill Dugdale’s 21st birthday – bed at 12
Tuesday 30 March
Up at 7.45 – after b’fast finished book and wrote up a few notes – played deck shove ha’penny with S from 11 – 11.30 then had bath and read before lunch – After lunch spent an hour in the sun on the prom deck – then retired to cabin for usual 40 winks and read – suddenly awakened at 3.45 by bells ringing and AA fire – 1 enemy plane flew over convoy – no bombs dropped, went back to bed again! Up at 6 ocl – drink and more notes before dinner at 7. News is good, well done the 8th Army – rumour has it that an enemy force of destroyers was sighted this pm. Anyway we are now going SOUTH. Bed at 9 pm.
Wednesday 31 March
Up at 4 am when I went round guns, slept in lounge ‘til 7.30 – B’fast, still going S – much speculation as to why – general opinion is that we are going back to Gib for a bit more escort – who knows? Played deck shove ha’penny – lunch then slept again til 4.30 – went round guns – walk on deck at 6.15 – picked up more escort – now 10 destroyers and we are now going NW again back to good old England. Should arrive Mon pm. Shove ha’penny after dinner and finished another book ‘Quick Service’ by P.G. Wodehouse – quite amusing – Lights out at 9 ocl.
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 