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| George and more pals - George is in the centre with big grin. |
July 1st 1943
(Battle of Albert, 1916 ; Ypres, 1917 ; Somme began, 1916 - Dominion Day, Canada, 1867.)
Go out on lorry map reading. Very interesting. All have a turn at arriving at different spots. Pictures at night at Kracow.
July 2nd 1943
(New Moon , 12.44 p.m.)
Loading guns and lorries on beach, up to our necks in the sea. Plenty of laughs. Guns up to the axels in sand. Gun drill and cleaning all afternoon. Thank goodness we are going to have a good nights sleep tonight.
July 3rd 1943
(Naval action at Oran , 1940.)
Master parade at four this morning. Get orders to pack our kit by seven o'clock.C.R troops move to aerodrome. We start digging gun post. Flies very bad here, raising lumps on us like eggs. Sleep out in open.
July 4th 1943
(2nd after Trinity - Independence Day (USA) - Sunrise, 3.48 a.m, ; Sunset, 8.19 p.m.)
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Bristol Beaufort Torpedo Bomber |
July 5th 1943
Flies driving us mad, get covered with lumps. Clearing ground from under bush. Measuring up gun pit.
July 6th 1943
Digging gun and Predictor pits. Flies still driving us nuts. Starting to break out in scabs. Food here is good, central cooking T.H.Q.
July 7th 1943
Visited by Major. Mr Bollard comes around, I put in for new mess tins. Mail coming okay from home.
July 8th 1943
Predictor out of action, goes to M.E.M.E for repairs. Weather very hot. Air sentry duties changed to half hours.
July 9th 1943
Sleeping on floor. Kits get very dusty. Kill a large centipede which was climbing up my neck. Water tastes bad with chlorine. It's terrible.
July 10th 1943
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| There was no official army policy for killing centipedes, although banging them to death with a shoe was generally recommended. |
(First Quarter., 4.29 p.m.)
Gun drill. Digging. Night pass to Haifa. Good time with T.J Smith, Sam at the Empire Bar. No guards at night.
July 11th 1943
(3rd after Trinity - Sunrise, 3.55 a.m. ; Sunset, 8.15 p.m.)
Good News. Allies invade Sicily at about three o'clock this morning. Air sentry and rest of afternoon off duty. Andy pays us a visit.
July 12th 1943
Fag issue still the same, old V's. Gun pit shaping up okay. Hands and arms in a mess from midgy bites.
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| 'Victory' Cigarettes - a key food group of WW2 ration packs. |
July 13th 1943
Invasion still going on okay. Visited by our Colonel. Better chap than the old bloke Travers?
July 14th 1943
Still digging gun pits. Hear that the Empire Bar was busted up last night. Fighting between Military Police, Yanks, Royal Artillery, Turks.
July 15th 1943
(Battle of Deville Wood, 1916 - St Swithin's Day.)
Nothing much happening these days. See very little of anyone or anything in this gun post. One hour guard and stand to every night.
July 16th 1943
Payday. R.
July 17th 1943
(Full Moon, 12.21 p.m.)
Digging in morning. Afternoon off duty unless on air sentry. Hear that the Padre is in hospital with malaria.
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| Mosquitos - arch enemies of the Christian Church in 1943. |
July 18th 1943
(4th after Trinity - Sunrise, 4.2 a.m., ; Sunset, 8.9 p.m.)
Tent orderly this morning. Easy job, only about half hours work. Guards and air sentry.
July 19th 1943
Visited by Major. Banking up the sides of the gun pit. Weather very hot.
July 20th 1943
(Battle of the Marne began, 1918.)
Work in morning. Afternoon go on swimming parade to Acre Bay. Colossal swim. Night pass to Haifa. Good picture - Kings Row.
July 21st 1943
Finish gun pit and Predictor. Kill a couple of centipedes about seven inches long under the bed. Hear that we are moving away from here soon.
July 22nd 1943
Detailed for physical training, commando and swimming course at Sidney Smith Barracks. Should be okay, a change from this routine of gun-sites.
July 23rd 1943
(Pozieres Ridge, 1916; Soissonnais, 1918; Ourcq, 1918.)
Lorry takes about twenty of us to Sidney Smith Operational Training Unit Instruction. Very good. One chap is the second best developed man in Europe. Tough physical training. Swimming okay. Back to G.P.
July 24th 1943
(Last Quarter., 4.38 a.m.)
S.S again, physical training again and finish up with swimming races etc. War news very good these day in Italy and Russia.
July 25th 1943
(5th after Trinity - Sunrise, 4.11 a.m ; Sunset, 8.0 p.m.)
Laying on Spitfires with F.A.S and Predictor. Good sport. Predictor goes wonky, goes to R.E.M.E. Guard and air sentry as usual. Weather very hot.
July 26th 1943
Hear that we are going on manoeuvres with Indian Fourth Division at Saida. Jim Oakly and I left on rear party. Should be okay. Hear that Sam Waller is to stay with us too.
July 27th 1943
Packing kits and a hundred and one jobs. Tents left up as we are not going till til tomorrow. Us to T.H.Q the others to Saida.
July 28th 1943
Move out early in morning. Arrive at T.H.Q in trees. Good hut - wireless, beds etc. This is going to be okay. Go to Haifa at night with Sam.
July 29th 1943
Keeping out of the Sergeant's way in morning as he is giving everybody he sees a job. Nabs me about eleven o'clock to do a bit of digging. Finish at twelve with half an hour for tea. Finished for day. This is the life.
July 30th 1943
Picked for twenty four hours guard, starting at six o'clock tonight. Should be a very easy one as there is no officer here. Sarg mounts the guard and we get our kits down his guard room. Plenty of grub and tea.
July 31st 1943
(Battle of Ypres began, 1917 - Annual and November to July Game Certificates and Gun Licences expire - Trinity Law Sittings end.)
Very easy guard, Sam and I go on together. Two hours on and four off. Get a couple of officers chairs and pass the time reading and smoking. Good sleep from nine till seven.
(6th after Trinity - New Moon, 4.6 a.m - Sunrise, 4.22 a.m. ; Sunset, 7.50 p.m. - Annular Eclipse of the Sun, invisible at Greenwich.)
Go down to the Nayahia with Bacon, have a good swim and feed at the Welcome Club. Have another good nights sleep.
August 2nd 1943 Go down to the Nayahia with Bacon, have a good swim and feed at the Welcome Club. Have another good nights sleep.
(Bank Holiday.)
The mob comes back at tea time. Fed up. From their stories I did well by being on rear party. All of us go in tent around T.H.Q. I go back to Johnson’s team.August 3rd 1943
Moving to take up gun position around Kiat Niam? The best hut I have ever been in while in army. Showers and everything for comfort. Just like the Sahara Desert around this spot.
August 4th 1943
(Italy invade British Somaliland, 1940 – Great Britain declared War on Germany, 1914 – H.M. Queen Elizabeth born, 1900.)
Practicing barrage. Drill rest of the day, cleaning up for Brigadier’s inspection. More eyewash.August 5th 1943
Blanching webbing etc. Hell, blanching with a war on, this is some mob. Our new Major is a silly old ***. Crazy ideas. Brigadier comes tomorrow. Glad when this lot is over.
August 6th 1943
(Battle of Sulva begins.)
Brigadier comes, just asks a few questions and buzzes off. Looks at nothing which we have done. Good news in Palestine Post. 8th Army takes Cataria. Russians take Grel.
August 7th 1943
Hear that we are moving from this place to join division in Damascus. Major says it is the real thing this time. I wonder. Flog things to a Jewish woman. Good business.
August 8th 1943
(7th after Trinity – German Air Attacks intensified on Great Britain, 1940 – Battle of Amiens began, 1918 Sunrise, 4.33 a.m ; Sunset, 7.38 p.m.)
Sorting out our kits as we have only got 36lbs of weight for each man. I have to get rid of all my letters from home after carrying them for hundreds of miles.
August 9th 1943
Pack kits and get gun out of pit. Taken off by a new Battery at twelve o’clock, move with gun and tractor to Kiat Niam. Moving with the Regiment. Guard at night.
August 10th 1943
Reville at five o’clock, move out at seven o’clock. Going to Damascus 150 miles. Very slow convoy. Two accidents on the way. Arrive at camp outside Damascus at 9 o’clock. No guards.
August 11th 1943
This is a hell of a camp. Nothing to be seen for miles and miles but red dust. Pitching tents and cleaning up camp guns etc.
August 12th 1943
(Grouse Shooting begins.)
Weather here very hot and very dusty. Morning we are on invasion movements. Loading and unloading on ramps and invasion barges. Tough work.
August 13th 1943
Payday. Paid by in Syrian money once more. Gun drill. Fatigues in afternoon, very hot work. Night pass to Damascus – not much of a place. Return and a good feed.
August 14th 1943
Hear we are moving once again to go to firing camp in Palestine. Packing kit again and get gun and tractor ready for the road once more. Dust storms all day long. Shall be glad to get away from this place.
August 15th 1943
(8th after Trinity – Battle of Hill 70 began, 1917 ; British crossed the Ancre, 1918 – Full Moon, 7.34 p.m. – Sunrise, 4.44 a.m. ; Sunset. 7.24 p.m – A partial eclipse of the Moon, invisible at Greenwich.)
Start out at five o’clock. Only two troops going, do we move quickly! Go through Lake Tiberius and across the Jordan. Arrive at firing camp.
August 16th 1943
(Battle of Langemarck, 1917.)
In tents by the Med at Mycrear? firing camp. Nice place and very clean. Firing in morning and laying practice. No guards.
August 17th 1943
I am No 5 for Sgt Good’s crew. Just my luck. We get a misfire and I have to take it away from gun – riled? when I drop it. Go swimming in afternoon.
August 18th 1943
Fatigues – very easy time filling five buckets up and then finished for the day. Go swimming in afternoon. This is the life.
August 19th 1943
Firing again. Pretty good shooting. I am put on Officers mess. Nice job – night time town police on a Jewish settlement. Go in and out of cafes.
August 20th 1943
Move back to camp at Damascus. Good ride, 150 miles, arrive at night time. Messing about with kit and tents etc.
August 21st 1943
(Battle of Scimitar Hill, 1915 ; Albert, 1918; 2nd Battle of Somme began, 1918 – H.R.H Princess Margaret Rose, born 1930.)
Physical training, cleaning guns etc. Looks like we will get some action. Soon landing on and off invasion barges. Pretty ?
August 22nd 1943
(9th after Trinity – Last Quarter, 4.4 p.m – Sunrise, 4.54 a.m ; Sunset, 7.11 p.m.)
Injections again this afternoon. Making me a dozen up to the present. Dust storms blowing up all day long. Makes life Hell.
August 23rd 1943
(Battle of Mons began, 1914.)
On twenty four hours guard starting at five at night. Inspection lasts for an hour and a half standing in boiling hot sun.
August 24th 1943
Gun drill with new American Bofors. Tough guns, one or two chaps got bashed on the head by E.D.G ? exercises.
August 25th 1943
This camp has been condemned by the Medical Officer. We have got to move out. Everybody glad. Start packing our kit to move out on the morrow.
August 26th 1943
(Battle of Le Cateau, 1914; 2nd Battle of Arras began, 1918.)
Move out at seven o’clock. Go to a place about six miles further on; better spot. Detailed for mine laying and lifting, given by Captain in R.E.S.
August 27th 1943
Start on mine course (footnote 4) dealing with British, German and Italian mines. Pretty interesting. Afternoon Pay Parade – best parade of the two weeks.
August 28th 1943
(Heligoland Naval Victory, 1914.)
Course all the morning. Injections again, makes me about fourteen and plenty more to come in the near future. Go down to Damascus. Good feed and pictures. Fight in the cafes. Good sport.
August 29th 1943
(10 after Trinity – Sunrise, 5.6 a.m. ; Sunset, 6.55 p.m.)
Easy day. No church service as we have no Padres. Our padre went home to England through fever.
August 30th 1943
(Official end of Great War, 1921 ; Battle of Bapaume, 1918.)
Teams of us go out to lay mines. Lay twenty different kinds of mines. Night time the rest of the chaps go to lift them. Some good laughs.
4. The Royal Artillery had the largest proportion of manpower of all the services. Combat support was provided by the Royal Engineers, whose members were known as the Sappers, responsible for mine laying and clearance, building bridges, camps, airfields and roads, and the Royal Corps of Signals.
(Battle of Sulva begins.)
Brigadier comes, just asks a few questions and buzzes off. Looks at nothing which we have done. Good news in Palestine Post. 8th Army takes Cataria. Russians take Grel.
August 7th 1943
Hear that we are moving from this place to join division in Damascus. Major says it is the real thing this time. I wonder. Flog things to a Jewish woman. Good business.
August 8th 1943
(7th after Trinity – German Air Attacks intensified on Great Britain, 1940 – Battle of Amiens began, 1918 Sunrise, 4.33 a.m ; Sunset, 7.38 p.m.)
Sorting out our kits as we have only got 36lbs of weight for each man. I have to get rid of all my letters from home after carrying them for hundreds of miles.
August 9th 1943
Pack kits and get gun out of pit. Taken off by a new Battery at twelve o’clock, move with gun and tractor to Kiat Niam. Moving with the Regiment. Guard at night.
August 10th 1943
Reville at five o’clock, move out at seven o’clock. Going to Damascus 150 miles. Very slow convoy. Two accidents on the way. Arrive at camp outside Damascus at 9 o’clock. No guards.
August 11th 1943
This is a hell of a camp. Nothing to be seen for miles and miles but red dust. Pitching tents and cleaning up camp guns etc.
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| The desert in 1943 - apart from war and camels it wasn't up to much. |
(Grouse Shooting begins.)
Weather here very hot and very dusty. Morning we are on invasion movements. Loading and unloading on ramps and invasion barges. Tough work.
August 13th 1943
Payday. Paid by in Syrian money once more. Gun drill. Fatigues in afternoon, very hot work. Night pass to Damascus – not much of a place. Return and a good feed.
August 14th 1943
Hear we are moving once again to go to firing camp in Palestine. Packing kit again and get gun and tractor ready for the road once more. Dust storms all day long. Shall be glad to get away from this place.
August 15th 1943
(8th after Trinity – Battle of Hill 70 began, 1917 ; British crossed the Ancre, 1918 – Full Moon, 7.34 p.m. – Sunrise, 4.44 a.m. ; Sunset. 7.24 p.m – A partial eclipse of the Moon, invisible at Greenwich.)
Start out at five o’clock. Only two troops going, do we move quickly! Go through Lake Tiberius and across the Jordan. Arrive at firing camp.
August 16th 1943
(Battle of Langemarck, 1917.)
In tents by the Med at Mycrear? firing camp. Nice place and very clean. Firing in morning and laying practice. No guards.
August 17th 1943
I am No 5 for Sgt Good’s crew. Just my luck. We get a misfire and I have to take it away from gun – riled? when I drop it. Go swimming in afternoon.
August 18th 1943
Fatigues – very easy time filling five buckets up and then finished for the day. Go swimming in afternoon. This is the life.
August 19th 1943
Firing again. Pretty good shooting. I am put on Officers mess. Nice job – night time town police on a Jewish settlement. Go in and out of cafes.
August 20th 1943
Move back to camp at Damascus. Good ride, 150 miles, arrive at night time. Messing about with kit and tents etc.
August 21st 1943
(Battle of Scimitar Hill, 1915 ; Albert, 1918; 2nd Battle of Somme began, 1918 – H.R.H Princess Margaret Rose, born 1930.)
Physical training, cleaning guns etc. Looks like we will get some action. Soon landing on and off invasion barges. Pretty ?
August 22nd 1943
(9th after Trinity – Last Quarter, 4.4 p.m – Sunrise, 4.54 a.m ; Sunset, 7.11 p.m.)
Injections again this afternoon. Making me a dozen up to the present. Dust storms blowing up all day long. Makes life Hell.
August 23rd 1943
(Battle of Mons began, 1914.)
On twenty four hours guard starting at five at night. Inspection lasts for an hour and a half standing in boiling hot sun.
August 24th 1943
Gun drill with new American Bofors. Tough guns, one or two chaps got bashed on the head by E.D.G ? exercises.
August 25th 1943
This camp has been condemned by the Medical Officer. We have got to move out. Everybody glad. Start packing our kit to move out on the morrow.
August 26th 1943
(Battle of Le Cateau, 1914; 2nd Battle of Arras began, 1918.)
Move out at seven o’clock. Go to a place about six miles further on; better spot. Detailed for mine laying and lifting, given by Captain in R.E.S.
August 27th 1943
Start on mine course (footnote 4) dealing with British, German and Italian mines. Pretty interesting. Afternoon Pay Parade – best parade of the two weeks.
August 28th 1943
(Heligoland Naval Victory, 1914.)
Course all the morning. Injections again, makes me about fourteen and plenty more to come in the near future. Go down to Damascus. Good feed and pictures. Fight in the cafes. Good sport.
August 29th 1943
(10 after Trinity – Sunrise, 5.6 a.m. ; Sunset, 6.55 p.m.)
Easy day. No church service as we have no Padres. Our padre went home to England through fever.
August 30th 1943
(Official end of Great War, 1921 ; Battle of Bapaume, 1918.)
Teams of us go out to lay mines. Lay twenty different kinds of mines. Night time the rest of the chaps go to lift them. Some good laughs.
4. The Royal Artillery had the largest proportion of manpower of all the services. Combat support was provided by the Royal Engineers, whose members were known as the Sappers, responsible for mine laying and clearance, building bridges, camps, airfields and roads, and the Royal Corps of Signals.
