Monday 1^st May 1944.

Saw Dudley Byrne on his way down to Cairo.  Started to rain today.  The weather has gone to blazes.  All the Hadar out of bounds until 20.30 owing to the date.  Pictures with Lottie.  Joan Crawford in “Reunion in France”.  Back to flat for a meal. 

Tuesday 2^nd May 1944.

Cold & wet today.

Wednesday 3^rd May 1944.

Went to Sarafand.  Saw Degania Bky.  Wants shaking up again.  Saw Col Frankland about various matters.  Lunched at the mess.  Went on to Rehavat to see Halli.  Went to a dance given in 3^rd Corps Mess where he lives.  Grand evening.  Met charming little nurse from 22 3^rd G.H. named Jean McDonald.  We sang & drank ourselves silly.

Thursday 4^th May 1944.

Met Josephs at station at mid-day.  Went with Lottie to C.C.  Had drink with Lottie & Josephs at her flat first.  We tried the Diana but didn’t like it.  Too small & hot.

Friday 5^th May 1944.

The Sgts Mess gave a dinner & dance in my honour.  I received a grand cigarette case from the lads.  Made me feel quite weepy.  The dance was a great success.  Everyone was charming to me.

Saturday 6^th May 1944.

Coffee with Lottie & Josephs at 11.00.  Slept in afternoon.  Had dinner at Lottie’s flat.  Joined Josephs, Page, Harrison at the Diana.  Didn’t like it & went on to the Carmelia Ct.  Met Col’s Hull & Harries.  The evening began to warm up & the wine flowed fast & furious.  We all finished up at Harries flat.  Lottie very happy & a wee bit tiddly.  We all enjoyed it immensely.  Finished up at 2.30 am.  I went back to Lottie’s & we completed a perfect evening.  Poor old Josephs was nearly asleep on his feet.

Sunday 7^th May 1944.

Feel like death this morning.  Had lunch at H.Q. mess and then drove to Jerusalem with Josephs & Davis.  We had very nice room at King David Hotel.  Dined at La Regence.  Excellent dinner completed by perfect French brandy.  Quiet evening but most enjoyable.

Monday 8^th May 1944.

D.D.S.T. Conference.  My last appearance!  Paid Thorne the ten quid.  Had lunch with D.D.S.T. at Off Club.  Back in Haifa 18.30.  Went straight to Lottie’s.  We had a quiet evening.  Feeling very sad at thought of leaving.

Thursday 11^th May 1944.

Went to Sarafand with Josephs.  Visited Degaria on way.  Stayed at Off Club.  Colin came in to Tel Aviv for evening.  Josephs went off to dine with a girl.  Colin, Ellis & I had dinner & went on to Martin’s.  Very quiet evening.  Like the dance at the Off Club.

Friday 12^th May 1944.

Went to El Jiya.  Could not get further owing to puncture.  Ct of Enquiry there over loss of flour.  Arr Haifa at 19.00 & went straight to Lottie’s.  We dined at C.C.  Then went back to Col Hull’s mess.  All very tight.  Lottie & I very happy together.  She gave me her photo today.

Saturday 13^th May 1944.

Very tired.  Met Lottie for coffee at 11.00 hrs.  Donald had news his brother killed in action in Italy.  He was a Lt. Col in the infantry.  Lottie stood me dinner at Prass’s.  we went on to C.C. and met Donald & some French people from Beirut.  Finished up in their room for drinks.  We all got a bit squiffy and Lottie a little annoyed because the French woman flirted with me.  All ended very happily.  Slept the sleep of exhaustion.

Sunday 14^th May 1944.

Handed over the unit to Josephs.  Feeling very sad about it all.  Went to tea with Mr. Patt.  He has been so insistent.  Met Lottie at 20.00 & had dinner in her flat.  We did not go out, much too weary.

Monday 15^th May 1944.

Nothing left to do now except pack.  Feeling very sick about life.  Page & Harrison treated Lottie & I to dinner at C.C. a grand evening.  Josephs nearly spoilt it by being a love.  Finished up drinking wine in Greta’s room.  Lottie & I very happy.

Tuesday 16^th May 1944.

Very sad today.  Said cheerio to lots of people.  Met Lottie at 18.00.  We dined at Astoria.  Both nearly in tears.  A bottle of wine helped us along.  She is so very sweet and seems to love me so much.

Wednesday 17^th May 1944.

A terrible morning.  Feel awful in my guts.  Had last lunch with Lottie at Astoria.  She was very brave bless her.  Said au revoir and caught Cairo train.  Hoppy & Josephs saw me off.  Poor Hoppy in tears.  Travelled with Kelly, D.A.D.H. 15 Area.  Saw Halli at Rhovaft.  Went to my bunk early & tried to forget.

Thursday 18^th May 1944.

Arrived Cairo at 09.30.  no transport available.  Went by taxi to Grand Hotel.  Feel awfully depressed.  Lunched alone at St. James.  Reported to A.D.S.T., Col Price, at 17.00.  He was very nice.  Gave me a W/S and made me feel at home.  Quiet dinner in hotel and to bed.

Friday 19^th May 1944.

My first official day.  Started to go through all the back files.  Feel completely lost at the moment.  All very confusing.  Josephs has a frightful name to live down!!  Had a phone call from Vidler.  Met Tommy’s batman in the evening.  Tommy just arrived.  Spent the eve with Col Brown, ACC, and his girl friend.

Saturday 20^th May 1944.

Trying to find my way around.  Feel very lost after being O.C. a unit for so long.  A major in GHQ is just sweet F.A.  Met Tommy in the evening & we sunk a drop of whisky together.

Sunday 21^st May 1944.

Visited ITE & introduced myself.  Met Major Morrison at St. James for lunch.  Drank ourselves silly.  Slept until 19.00.  Met Morrison again & also Derby!  He was very tight.  Went to see “Fiddlers Row”.  Bloody awful but too pissed to care.  Got home at 2.0 am!

Monday 22^nd May 1944.

Arranged to tour 17 Area on Wed.  Shall be glad to do something.  Feel so useless at present.  Went alone to the pictures & saw Judy Garland in “Lily Mars”.  Seems so strange to be alone these days.  Feel a bit blue.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

07/05/1944    16.40  Shenfield       An American aircraft was flying over Shenfield

when 2 machine gun bullets were discharged presumably from the aircraft.  Bullets struck the roof of ‘ Thorpway’ Priests Lane, causing damage to tiles.  N.C.

08/05/1944    16.00  Canvey          Arthur Edward Wm. Berry aged 13, of ‘Green

Island             Ross’ Rainbow Road, Canvey, was playing with a detonator which he had found when it exploded injuring his thumb and second finger of the right hand.  Treated by doctor and First Aid Post and allowed to go home.

09/05/1944    20.15  Thundersley A meteorological balloon with kite covered with

                                                            silver paper fell in field adjoining Wensley Road.

11/05/1944    Unknown  Canvey   A believed British Smoke Float was found on

                                          Island       beach and subsequently handed over to B.D.S.

13/05/1944    11.00  Doddinghurst            1 – Ux.Bs were jettisoned from an American

aircraft which developed engine trouble and fell in field adjoining Park Farm.  N.D.C.  Removed later in day by B.D.S.

17/05/1944    16.15  Canvey          An RAF Target Sleeve from a plane and was

                                    Island             found Waterside Farm.  N.D.C.

20/05/1944    11.25  Downham     14 – Oil Bombs of which 3 were unexploded fell

from an American aircraft into a field 1/4 mile SE of Downham Grange and 1/4 mile W of Brook Hill (M.108/183146).  N.D.C. other than woods catching fire.  The 3 Ux. were subsequently disposed of by RAF B.D.S.

23/05/1944    08.15  Pitsea             A machine gun bullet from a British aircraft

penetrated the roof of “Roseville” Somerset Gard no.  Slight damage to roof.  N.C.

28/05/1944    10.30  Pitsea             A 3 – ton Army lorry (No. L5578724) driven by

Driver James Johnston and accompanied by L/Sgt. Alfred William Allen of 26th Company Leigh, was proceeding along the London Road Pitsea near the ‘Bull’ P.H. from the direction of Southend to London when overtaking a cycle the lorry swerved and overturned on to its offside and at once caught fire.  The local Fire Brigade attended and the fire was quickly put under control.  The lorry was laden with Army equipment small arms and demolition charges.  There were a few explosions and L/Sgt Allen received injuries to his right arms and ankle and was treated at First Aid Post Pitsea.  Road blocked under 1 hour.

28/05/1944    13.40  Great              1 – glass phial 2″ long and 5/8″ dia. hermetically

Wakering       sealed and containing a clear yellow liquid, was found at Brickfield Mill Head.  Date and time of falling unknown.

30/05/1944    17.00  Rayleigh        At time stated Allan Samuel Sidney Kemp aged 8

years N.R.I.C. No. 116/3, son of Sidney Kemp of “Rhonda” Hullbridge Road Rayleigh was slightly injured in the face and chest while tampering with a 9 m/m sten gun bullet at Rayleigh.

31/05/1944    19.30  Rayleigh        James Francis Shepherd (DCFO 50/6) aged 12

years son of Joseph Samuel Shepherd, Fireman of 323 Eastwood Road Rayleigh, was seriously wounded in the left hand after tampering with an unexploded .303 rifle bullet.

Telephone No. GERRARD 9234

Extn 3800.

AIR MINISTRY,

(Casualty Branch)

73-77 OXFORD STREET

LONDON,

W.1.

26^th May 1944.

P.415526/4/44/P.4.Cas.B.4.

Madam,

            I am directed to refer to the letter dated 6^th April 1944 from the Department notifying you that your husband, Sergeant Ernest Wilkinson, Royal Air Force, was reported missing as a result of air operations on the night of 1^st April 1944, and to inform you, with regret, that although no definite news of your husband has come to hand, a report regarding certain of the occupants of the aircraft has been received from the International Red Cross Committee.

This report, quoting German information, states that Flying Officer R.J. Carson was captured on the 1^st April 1944 and two unknown members of the crew of this Halifax aircraft lost their lives on that date.

As there were seven members in the crew, it will be appreciated that it is not possible on the above information to identify the bodies referred to as “unknown” but as your husband is still unaccounted for it is considered that you would wish to be notified of this report.

I am to add an expression of the Department’s sympathy with you in your anxiety, and to assure you that you will be informed of any further news received.

I am, Madam,

Your obedient Servant,

Signature unreadable

for Director of Personal Services.

Mrs. E. Wilkinson,

1068 Bury Road,

Breightmet,

Bolton,

Lancashire.

R.A.F. Station,

Tempsford

Nr. SANDY

Beds.

15^th May 1944

TEM/C.801/399/P.1.

Dear Mrs Wilkinson,

            Please regard this as a personal letter and let me thank you for your letter of 12^th May.  In reply I am afraid we shall have to consider the articles you mention to have been on him, as there is no trace of them at this Station.   

Yours faithfully,

G.J. Holdcroft

S/Ldr.

for Group Captain, Commanding

R.A.F. Station Tempsford.             

Mrs. E. Wilkinson,

1064, Bury Road,

BRIGHTMET,

Bolton,

Lancs.

R.A.F. Station,

Tempsford

Nr. SANDY

Beds.

12^th  May 1944

Ref:- TEM/C.801/399/P.1.

Dear Mrs Wilkinson,

            Please let me thank you for your undated letter.

            The parcel you refer to was forwarded to Central Depository, Colnbrook, Nr. Slough, Bucks. Unopened, for inclusion in your Husband’s effects, which will be retained for a short period.      

Yours sincerely

G.J. Holdcroft

S/Ldr.

for Group Captain, Commanding

R.A.F. Station Tempsford.             

Mrs. E. Wilkinson,

1064, Bury Road,

BREIGHTMET,

BOLTON,

Lancs.

Telephone No. GERRARD 9234

Extn 3800.

AIR MINISTRY,

(Casualty Branch)

73 OXFORD STREET

LONDON,

W.1.

8^th May 1944.

Ref:- P.415526/4/44/P.4.Cas.B.4.

Madam,

            I am directed to refer to your letter dated 2^nd May 1944, and to inform you that regulations do not permit the disclosure of addresses, but should you wish to write to the next of kin of your husband’s crew (list undermentioned) and you’re your letters to this Department under separate cover, unstamped and bearing the above reference number they will be forwarded.

Next of kin.

135098 F/O F.B. Clark.  –                          Father, Mr. F.H. Clark.

J.24230 F/O R.J. Carson –                        Mother, Mrs H. Carson

(Resident in Canada).

1456997 Sgt. E.M. Keep.  –                       Father, Mr. P.G. Keep.

1515655 Sgt. R.G. Thompson.  –                         Wife, Mrs. R.G. Thompson.

R.186516 Sgt. D.W.L. Brown.   –               Father, Mr. H.W. Brown.

(Resident in Canada)

R.132139 Sgt. W.R. McBurne    –              Mother, Mrs. R. McBurne.

(Resident in Canada)

I am to add an expression of the sincere sympathy of the Department with you in your anxiety.

I am, Madam,

Your obedient Servant

Signature unreadable.

for Director of Personal Services.

Mrs. E. Wilkinson,

1068 Bury Road,

Breightmet,

Bolton,

Lancashire.

Telephone No.

COLNBROOK 231/232/233

Central Depositary,

Royal Air Force,

COLNBROOK

Slough, Bucks.

In reply please quote reference:-

CD/FX.48483

6^th May 1944.

2211329 Sgt. Wilkinson. E.

Dear Madam,

The personal effects of the above named as listed on the attached inventory, have been received from the Unit, and are held at the Central Depository in safe custody.

Should you desire these effects to be sent to you and will kindly return to this office, duly signed and witnessed, the enclosed form of indemnity, arrangements will be made accordingly.  A prepaid addressed label is enclosed for your reply.

May I be permitted to express my sympathy with you in this period of anxiety.

Yours faithfully

Signature unreadable

for Squadron Leader, Commanding,

R.A.F. Central Depository.

Mrs. E. Wilkinson,

1068 Bury Road,

Breightmet,

Bolton,

LANCS.

F.X. 48483

PERSONAL EFFECTS OF 2211329 SGT. WILKINSON E.

1 Parcel containing:-                       2 Brushes.

1 Cribbage board.                            1 Money belt.

5 Handkerchiefs                              1 Parcel containing:-

17 Razor blades in tin.                    2 Handkerchiefs

1 Razor strop.                                   1 Letter.

1 Set of darts.                                   1 pr Pants.

1 Small bundle correspondence.  1 Vest.

1 AG. Brooch                                   

1 pr Blackshoes.

May 1944

(Britain)

 The fall of France in June 1940 and the Dunkirk evacuation left Britain and her Commonwealth alone to oppose Germany. When the U.S. entered the war the Allied invasion of mainland Europe, was always the intention of the Allied Forces. Operation Overlord was the code-name for the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944, The joint British and U.S. military planned to begin the invasion on the 1^st May 1944. Eventually, on the 8^th May 1944, the decision was taken to commence D-Day on the 5^th June 1944, weather permitting.

On the 15^th May 1944, more than 130 Allied political Leaders and military officers met at St. Paul’s School in Hammersmith, in west London. The purpose of the meeting was the final joint briefing for D-Day. In attendance were King George VI, British P.M. Winston Churchill, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Gen. Bernard Montgomery, Lt.-Gen. George Patton and LT.-Gen. John Lee.

(Italy)

At the Monte Cassino, the fourth and final battle began at 23:00 hrs on the 11^th May 1944. The battle opened with a massive artillery bombardment of 1060 guns on the British Eighth Army Front and 600 guns on the U.S. Fifth Army Front. The two armies consisted of British, American, Polish, New Zealand, South African and French troops. The U.S. Fifth Army had made little progress, but by daylight their French Expeditionary Corps colleagues had achieved their objectives. Attached to the French Corps were 7,800 fighting men of the Morocco forces. They consisted of the 2^nd Morocco Infantry Division, the 3^rd Algerian Infantry Division and the 4^th Morocco Mountain Division. They joined forces, by crossing over mountainous terrain with the 1^st Free French Division. By the 15^th May 1944 the 2^nd Morocco Division had penetrated the German-held Gustav Line. They fanned out across the mountains toward the British Eighth Army to their right. On the Eighth Army Front, east of Cassino, the British crossed the Garigliano River in two places. They were strongly opposed by German defenders. However, on one of the crossings, engineers of the 8^th Indian Division succeeded in bridging the river. The 1^st Canadian Armoured Brigade was then able to cross the river in readiness for any counter-attack from German tanks.  

On the 12^th May 1944, in the mountains to the west and above the town of Cassino, the Polish 2^nd Corps took the ridge at Monte Calvario (Mount Cavalry). German paratroopers immediately recaptured the area. For the next three days, Polish attacks and German counter-attacks resulted in heavy losses on both sides.  On the 17th May 1944, the Polish 2^nd Corps launched their second attack on Monte Cassino. From their strongly fortified positions the German defenders attacked the Polish troops with a constant artillery and mortar bombardment. With little natural cover for protection, the fighting was fierce and at times hand-to-hand. With the advance of the Allies, the Germans decided to withdraw along Route 6, to the new defensive positions of the Hitler Line owing to their supply line being threatened. On the 18^th May 1944, after linking up with the British, a patrol of Polish troops made it to the heights and raised the Polish flag. The Battle of Monte Cassino had ended with the Allies suffering 55,000 casualties, the Germans 20,000 casualties and over 2,000 civilian deaths.

As a part of the Polish victory at Monte Cassino, a fully grown bear had been recruited into the Polish Military. WOJTEK, a male Syrian brown bear, was adopted as an abandoned cub, by the Polish II Corps army. All his life he only ever experienced human company and when fully grown he was very tame. So tame was he that he would wrestle with the other soldiers and often sleep with them on cold nights. WOJTEK copied the other soldiers by marching alongside on his hind legs. He also learnt to salute when greeted, and carry ammunition in his front legs whilst walking upright. He would mimic the other soldiers by drinking coffee and beer. When the Polish army sailed to Italy, in order for WOJTEK to sail with them, he was enlisted in the Polish army as a private. He took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino by carrying artillery ammunition. The service at Monte Cassino earned him promotion to corporal and had the honour of becoming the official emblem of the company. There is at least one account of a British soldier who recalls seeing a bear carrying ammunition.

—

With the Gustav Line penetrated, units of the British Eighth Army advanced inland on the Hitler Line whilst the U.S. Fifth Army advanced along the coast. An initial follow-up assault by the Eighth Army failed and they decided to take time to reorganise. It took several days for the major task of getting 20,000 vehicles and 2,000 tanks through the Gustav Line. On the 23^rd May 1944 the Polish 2^nd Corps attacked on the right and the 1^st Canadian Infantry Division attacked the Hitler Line in the centre. On the 24^th May 1944 the Canadians breached the line and poured through the gap. On the 25^th May 1944 the Polish broke through the line which then collapsed. The way was clear to advance onto Rome and beyond.

The Battle of Anzio began on the 22^nd January 1944 with an Allied amphibious landing. By midnight substantial troops and vehicles had landed on the unopposed beaches and penetrated 3 miles inland. When the Allies landed on the beaches, commander of the U.S. Fifth Army, Lt.-General Mark Clark had wished to swiftly move inland to capitalise on the surprise. However, commander of the U.S. VI Corps, Major-General John Lucas, to repress any counter-attack, preferred to take time to entrench. Whist Lucas was consolidating, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, the German commander of the Italian Theatre, moved as much of his available forces into a defensive ring around the beach-head. Both ground and weather conditions did not favour either side. Despite sporadic artillery bombardment a state of stalemate was in place until conditions improved. In the meantime Clark had relieved Lucas of his command and replaced him with Major-General Lucian Truscott. On the 23^rd May 1944 at 5:45 am the Allies began a new breakout from Anzio. The fighting on the day was intense with both sides suffering huge casualties. Kessselring was convinced when the Allies broke out the intention was to gain access to Route 6. To hold open Route 6, Kesselring ordered the Herman Göring Panzer Division into position. On the 25^th May 1944 the U.S. VI Corps was hopeful of getting astride Route 6. On the same day Clark ordered the reluctant Truscott to turn north-west toward Rome. On the 26^th May 1944 whilst Truscott’s VI Corps was implementing the change of plan Kesselring had reinforced Route 6. This allowed the German Tenth Army to withdraw from Monte Cassino and head north of Rome which they finally reached on the 30^th May 1944. Clark assigned the U.S. II Corps along the coast to join up with Truscott’s VI Corps and advance on Rome. Clark entered and liberated Rome on the 4^th June 1944 and he held an impromptu press conference. To ensure the event was an American affair he refused entry into the city for British military personnel. In his bid to attain the glory for himself Clark earned the contempt of both British and American generals. He also extended the European war by many months at the cost of many Allied lives. The Allies suffered 43,000casualties and the Germans suffered over 40,000 casualties during the Battle of Anzio. The irony was that two days after the glory seeking conference Clark’s ”advance” was relegated to the back pages of the press. On the 6^th June 1944 the centre stage reporting was focused on the Normandy D-Day Invasion.

(Eastern Front)

In the Ukraine, by early May 1944 the Soviet Union had secured the Dnieper-Carpathian region as the Germans retreated. A significant portion of Soviet troops advanced into the Crimea and   recaptured the southwest town of Sevastopol on the 9^th May 1944. The whole of the Crimea was under the control of the Soviet army on the 13^th May 1944. The remaining Soviet army would confront the Germans during Operation Bagration in June 1944.

(Pacific – Burma)

In August 1943 the Allies created the South East Asia Command (SEAC). American Joseph Stilwell was appointed the deputy supreme Allied commander of SEAC under British Vice-Admiral Mountbatten. He was also an adviser to Chiang Kai-shek, leader of China, and learnt to speak the Chinese language. Chiang Kai-shek was the military leader who also served as the leader of Republic of China. The Burma Campaign of 1944 was conducted along the borders of Burma, China and India. The participants were the British Commonwealth, China and U.S. forces against Imperial Japan and the Indian National Army. 175,000 Chinese attacked the Japanese in northern Burma on the 12^th May 1944.                 

Mitkyina is a town in North Burma and was attacked by the Allies in April 1944.  Stilwell built up a special force, known as Merrill’s Marauders, whose role would be similar to that of the British Chindits. The aim was to commence long-range jungle penetration missions behind Japanese lines. During February 1944 the Marauders marched into Burma. In April 1944 Stilwell ordered three Marauder battalions to launch a gruelling 65 mile jungle outflanking movement toward Mitkyina to support the main advance. The Marauders were seriously depleted from both combat losses and disease, having been deployed since February 1944. Having joined up with two Chinese Infantry regiments the Marauders began to suspect Stilwell’s commitment to their welfare, hence his nickname “Vinegar Joe”. Despite their sacrifices, Stilwell seemed unconcerned about their lack of air-dropped supplies. Losses weren’t replaced and rest and rotation were ignored. On the 17^th May 1944, Mitkyina airport was attacked by the remaining 1,310 Marauders together with two Chinese infantry regiments. The airfield was very quickly captured as it was only lightly defended. Stilwell’s intelligence reports indicated that the town would be just as lightly defended. The town was garrisoned by well-equipped Japanese troops who were being reinforced. When two regiments of Chinese troops attacked the town they were driven back with heavy losses. By the time additional Chinese troops arrived to attack, Japanese defenders numbered 4,600 fanatical Japanese troops. Not having the manpower to overwhelm Mitkyina’s defenders, the Marauders were forced into a stalemate and a siege. The Marauders were going down with tropical diseases owing to the monsoon season being at its height. When front line commanders and surgeons requested the Marauders be evacuated, Stilwell denied the request. He also ordered any Marauder already evacuated to be sent back to serve.Stilwell was forced to send in thousands of Chinese reinforcements and Mitkyina was captured on the 4^th August 1944. He later blamed the length of the siege partly on the British for not responding to his demands to assist. Conversely he had not kept his Allies informed of his forces movements.    

(Pacific)    

The Admiralty Islands are located north-east of New Guinea and had been under Japanese control since 1942.  With the U.S. advance in the region the Admiralty Island Campaign began in February 1944. The United States 1^st Cavalry Division attacked the islands and a furious battle ensued. With the aid of aerial and naval bombardments the last Japanese resistance was on the 18^th May 1944. The Japanese had 4,000 defenders of whom 3,280 were killed and 75 captured. The remainder presumably evacuated to New Guinea. The Americans had a task force of 35,000 of which 326 men were killed, 1,190 wounded and 4 missing.

———————————————-