J.E.R. Clarke Capt.
Q.X.6245
Tel Aviv Dec. 1940
Wednesday 13 November 1940
Left Brisbane together with 2/7 th Engineers. Quick trip to Sydney. Straight through to the wharf and boarded H.M.T. ORION 24000 tons (approx.) on 14 th November. Left the wharf almost immediately and anchored out in harbour. Slipped quietly out into the open sea about 10 P.M.
Thursday 14 November to Thursday 21 November 1940
Sailed south – out of sight of land escorted by the cruiser Adelaide and Lockheed Hudsons of the air force. Accompanied by the Polish boat “Batory” packed with New Zealanders. Sailed right down south of Tasmania – it became bitterly cold and fairly rough. 2 boats – one American and one English had been mined in Bass Straight. Had no work for the first few days and then had a few cases of toothache. Became very annoyed with lack of equipment. It was very difficult to do anything other than extract.
Wednesday 1 January 1941
Up early. Mass in Father Daly’s tent. Received message that car from Gaza available. And so off to Jerusalem. Much of road under construction and once again passed Qastina, Quatra (of the Synagogue) and other now familiar places. Saw a large British convoy on way south – ten ton trucks – six wheeled diesel trucks with all four rear wheels double. They were pulled up on side of road getting a few oranges.
Jerusalem was a marvellous experience. Just this side of the city at the foot of the hills saw a large Italian prison camp. Very high barbed wire fence with high machine gun posts dotted all over it. Went straight through to Bethlehem and then back to city. Saw some lovely filigreed silver work but too broke to buy. Arrived in Bethlehem 11 A.M. Left Dimra about 9 A.M. Left Jerusalem 5.30 P.M. Accompanied by Maj. Row, Maj. Murphy, Padre Daly. Brought Maj. Cameron back. Must write to Bon tomorrow or send the photographs. Saw large Polish and British camps.
Thursday 2 January 1941
Up late – another glorious day. Wrote long letter to Bon & enclosed photographs and alive leaves. Issued with underpants. Said to be moving out on Sunday. All war equipment and officers trunks to go tomorrow. Busy packing warm gear. We expect it to be very cold. Mr. Spender (Minister for Army) inspected large parade nearby. C.O. went to Jerusalem with W.O. Topping for Stationary [sic]. Casey still chasing generator – arrived this afternoon. Little twin cylinder petrol engine and alternator – good for about 15 amps. Morey in his element at last.
Apparently going to neighbourhood of Sollum near Bardia. Said to be within artillery range – hope not. Sorry to leave Palestine without camera but no money. Would not decrease allotment yet. A few months in desert should build up pay-book. Got our puggarees today and put them on with colour patchs [sic]. Looks quite smart. Decided to leave all shoes behind – issue boots very comfortable. Had a bath – very welcome after 3 days – will probably go much longer soon.
Friday 3 January 1941
Very busy all morning packing and loading war equipment. Took the blow lamps, spare forceps etc. out of trunk and into panniers. Everything away by 11.30 A.M. Capt. Yeates on loading party in Gaza. All preparations made for move tomorrow night. We are hoping to wear battle-dress – it will be cold. Our trunks went this morning. I wonder when we shall see them again. We are travelling fairly light with just bare necessities – we may have to carry our own gear. The three padres are off to the ordinance depot at Barbara to get battle suits after six month’s argument. Padre McCleod very pleased. The men have just been paraded and Maj. Cameron is reading the movement order to them. I don’t think it will be postponed this time. Got the snaps of Jerusalem away to Bon and shall post the rosary beads. We are trying hard to finish up the mess stocks and are packing up the wireless set and batteries.
Our last night in Dimra and damned cold. Met 2 dentists this afternoon. Adelaide Dentisr Major Joyner & Capt. Fraser 7 th A.G.H. Joyner came over on Stratheden with Maj. Row. Both now at Deir Suneid. Joyner was at Qastina. Had an auction sale & cleaned up the remnants of the mess. Yeates provided usual side-bets and light patter.
Saturday 4 January 1941
Our last day in Palestine. Had all the tents and baggage packed up by 11 A.M. spent the rest of the day sitting round & waiting. Colonel Ken Frazer arrived – just out from England. His version of bombing same as that published. He told us that the outer defences of Bardia had been taken. Had a bath in the afternoon and were entertained at dinner by 24 th Infantry Brigade. Treated us very well. Casey went to Jerusalem on duty and returned late with bad cold. G.S.C. turned up very punctually at 11 P.M. and we rode of on [sic] in the back of a 3 ton truck. Boarded the train in Gaza and moved out about 1 A.M. Bitterly cold in desert of Sinai but slept fairly well – Major Rowe’s backside a nuisance.
The nurses joined us at Gaza.
We had been comfortable at Dimra and were sorry to leave although keen for some work. Had a very hazy idea of our destination. We left Capt. Yeates & 6 O.R.’s as rear party.
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Sunday 5 January 1941
Saw dawn in the desert of Sinai – passed relics of last war – stacks of barbed wire etc. also a number of palisaded enclosures with camels within. Arrived at El Kantara about 7.30 A.M. Had breakfast in stone hut of N.A.A.F.I. Sausages – beans & potatoes. Sausages fried in cottonseed oil – tasted very queer. Waited for about two hours and then ferried across the canal. On the other side stood fully equipped in dirty street leading to station with Gyppo. market all round us – decided Gyppos filthy crowd. Plenty of hawkers and demands for Backsheesh. Saw two really excellent conjurers (Gully-gully). Waited here about an hour, boarded train & then another wait. Eventually off to Ishmailea alongside canal most of way – Part of Ishmailea very clean & attractive – other parts same as usual. Delightful trip through Nile delta – stopped at Zag a Zig – country all irrigated – old water wheels – amazingly fertile – looked beautiful – no fences – beggars at every stop – passed through dozens of towns & villages – all stunk but some had quite lovely mosques with delicate minarets. Ran very late through outskirts of Alexandria – another long wait and then on across causeway to Amyrea. Met by Whitehead with 2 trucks – disgusting display of hysteria by Q.M. Another long wait on platform. Waited while men ferried up to camp about 4 miles away in trucks. Helped surgical team for 1 st C.C.S. unload their gear into another truck. Dirty Gyppos had defaecated all over station. Eventually reached camp – everything very rough – Q.M. acting part of tough old soldier – boasted he had stolen everything in camp – very embarrassing – complained bitterly and profanely of advance parties orders – do not think he will last the distance. Slept on pine boards laid on cement floor – never slept better.
Friday 3 January 1941
Very busy all morning packing and loading war equipment. Took the blow lamps, spare forceps etc. out of trunk and into panniers. Everything away by 11.30 A.M. Capt. Yeates on loading party in Gaza. All preparations made for move tomorrow night. We are hoping to wear battle-dress – it will be cold. Our trunks went this morning. I wonder when we shall see them again. We are travelling fairly light with just bare necessities – we may have to carry our own gear. The three padres are off to the ordinance depot at Barbara to get battle suits after six month’s argument. Padre McCleod very pleased. The men have just been paraded and Maj. Cameron is reading the movement order to them. I don’t think it will be postponed this time. Got the snaps of Jerusalem away to Bon and shall post the rosary beads. We are trying hard to finish up the mess stocks and are packing up the wireless set and batteries.
Our last night in Dimra and damned cold. Met 2 dentists this afternoon. Adelaide Dentisr Major Joyner & Capt. Fraser 7 th A.G.H. Joyner came over on Stratheden with Maj. Row. Both now at Deir Suneid. Joyner was at Qastina. Had an auction sale & cleaned up the remnants of the mess. Yeates provided usual side-bets and light patter.
Saturday 4 January 1941
Our last day in Palestine. Had all the tents and baggage packed up by 11 A.M. spent the rest of the day sitting round & waiting. Colonel Ken Frazer arrived – just out from England. His version of bombing same as that published. He told us that the outer defences of Bardia had been taken. Had a bath in the afternoon and were entertained at dinner by 24 th Infantry Brigade. Treated us very well. Casey went to Jerusalem on duty and returned late with bad cold. G.S.C. turned up very punctually at 11 P.M. and we rode of on [sic] in the back of a 3 ton truck. Boarded the train in Gaza and moved out about 1 A.M. Bitterly cold in desert of Sinai but slept fairly well – Major Rowe’s backside a nuisance.
The nurses joined us at Gaza.
We had been comfortable at Dimra and were sorry to leave although keen for some work. Had a very hazy idea of our destination. We left Capt. Yeates & 6 O.R.’s as rear party.
Sunday 5 January 1941
Saw dawn in the desert of Sinai – passed relics of last war – stacks of barbed wire etc. also a number of palisaded enclosures with camels within. Arrived at El Kantara about 7.30 A.M. Had breakfast in stone hut of N.A.A.F.I. Sausages – beans & potatoes. Sausages fried in cottonseed oil – tasted very queer. Waited for about two hours and then ferried across the canal. On the other side stood fully equipped in dirty street leading to station with Gyppo. market all round us – decided Gyppos filthy crowd. Plenty of hawkers and demands for Backsheesh. Saw two really excellent conjurers (Gully-gully). Waited here about an hour, boarded train & then another wait. Eventually off to Ishmailea alongside canal most of way – Part of Ishmailea very clean & attractive – other parts same as usual. Delightful trip through Nile delta – stopped at Zag a Zig – country all irrigated – old water wheels – amazingly fertile – looked beautiful – no fences – beggars at every stop – passed through dozens of towns & villages – all stunk but some had quite lovely mosques with delicate minarets. Ran very late through outskirts of Alexandria – another long wait and then on across causeway to Amyrea. Met by Whitehead with 2 trucks – disgusting display of hysteria by Q.M. Another long wait on platform. Waited while men ferried up to camp about 4 miles away in trucks. Helped surgical team for 1 st C.C.S. unload their gear into another truck. Dirty Gyppos had defaecated all over station. Eventually reached camp – everything very rough – Q.M. acting part of tough old soldier – boasted he had stolen everything in camp – very embarrassing – complained bitterly and profanely of advance parties orders – do not think he will last the distance. Slept on pine boards laid on cement floor – never slept better.
Monday 6 January 1941
Flat out all day unloading war equipment – did a wharf labourers job – Casey helped too. Short of transport but got some from the Pioneers. C.O. sitting round with beard waiting for us to find his shaving gear. Found out something of neighbouring units – English brigade – Indian infantry – Indian Hospital – Tank unit. This unit equipped with new 15 ton tanks – 45 M.P.H. over rough country 60 on roads, several machine guns & 2 pound anti-tank gun effective range 9000 yds. Very heavily armoured – some of them stood up to 18 pounders point blank at Sidi Barrani. English units moving down to Sudan – also Indians.
Tuesday 7 January 1941
C.O. and Adj. depart early for front. C.O. as A.D.M.S. & Adj as A.D. of H. to look around – comical secrecy. Major Parks left in charge. Casey on to R.E. dump – Capt. Wainright – very nice chap regular army been here some months – getting all Casey’s electrical gear – most helpful. Whitehead wanted me to go down to hospital vacated by Indians & thieve water tank with 3 ton truck – quite insulting when I refused. I knew Wainright had been watching it. Sergeants very comfortably established without any opposition so I got to work & set up two tents for officers mess – rigged up wireless and fought for tables from Q.M. Got comfortable show going. Padre from pioneers arrived to see us on stolen motor bike (originally Italian). Padre Daly envious.
At night with Daly, Casey, & a calmer Q.M. went to Alexandria in 3 ton truck to see Capt. Hogg at 8 th British Hospital. Bad laryngitis otherwise not too bad. Guided in by British Ambulance to Aust. Club, dropped sergeants & a few men & went to Hotel Cećil to have a bath – 1 st since Palestine – soaked for an hour – had a couple of drinks and then spent 1 hr. waiting for Sergeants. Turned up drunk. Got lost in city on way home. Drove around for about 2 hrs and back in camp 2 A.M.
Wednesday 8 January 1941
Very difficult to get out of bed but feel much cleaner. Wandered round – bought Egyptian Mail & read news – big feast of Courban Bairam starts today. Italians still getting hell. Bardia taken & Tobruk invested. All hoping to be in it soon. Got hold of picks and shovels after 2hrs soothing the Q.M. Got trenches round tents. Dug ours myself. Did some writing. Local A.D.M.S. turned up with news. Now on 12 hrs notice. Expecting sisters with 1 st C.C.S. will be sent back here and we will not take ours up – too rough – even here. Surgical team from one of A.G.H.’s joined us – Major Ross and Captain Johnson and 3 orderlies with operating equipment. Looks as though we will be busy. Whitehead gone off to Cairo about equipment in a hell of a hurry. Casey still away after his electrical material.
Thursday 9 January 1941
Went to Alexandria with Casey, Row, & Sgt Withers. Went shopping with Row & Withers – very little English spoken – had to struggle along in French. Saw marvellous “Primus” shop – wonderful stock – city a very good shopping centre. Spent some time in Cećil on my own waiting for Casey – met Lieut. from Bardia – shrapnel in back – being invalided to Palestine – Bardia apparently was a tough proposition – this chap lost all his baggage – blown up together with his batman – met Colonel Cohen of Red Cross – very wealthy from Melbourne. Had a drink and so back to Amiriya. Casey invited me to Cairo – had a quick lunch and off in back of truck with Wilson & Morey & spare driver. Very rough ride – sat on tin of petrol & busted it. Monotonous road through desert – 100 odd miles – through big camps outside Cairo (Mena) saw the Pyramids – after much searching found Abbassia – enormous English dump – found convoy stranded by Q.M. at No.2 sub-depot. Casey post haste back to Amiriya left me at Hotel Victoria with Wilson & Morey after dinner – Q.M. had made a great mess of things. Went to cabaret ( El Bar Din) and so to bed.
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Friday 10 January 1941
Yeates rang before breakfast – I was told to send convoy back empty & pick up Casey’s electrical gear. Went to Abbassia by taxi to gates. Got hopelessly lost – walked about 4 miles to Sub Depot 2. Sent all convoy back except 2-30 cwt trucks. Saw Lieut. Jones & started picking gear. Took long time and then on to Sub Depot 3 (Major Lambert) another long wait – no lunch – worried about time – referred to R.E. stores – Lieut. Betts not available – marvellous store – everything we wanted – had to leave about 3.30 P.M. as could not wait for authority – sent message to Amiriya by Signals Service. Crossed Nile bridge at 3.45 and made very fast trip (made Amiriya aerodrome by 6 P.M.). Back in camp at 6.30. Casey & Yeates out so waited up. Casey not keen at having to go to Cairo again.
Cairo impressed me as in many ways a fine modern city but saw very little of it – semi black-out at night.
Abbassia a marvellous place – acres and acres of stores – all busy sending material to Sudan. English officers very helpful. Much better organised than Australian shows.
Saturday 11 January 1941
Casey set off early for Cairo – Yeates took sisters into Alexandria. I spent quiet day in camp. Still much argument about equipment with D.D.M.S. (Col. Green) eventually authority to draw on English obtained – seems to be an enormous amt. of gear still to come. Have not done any dental work since leaving boat. Getting sick of w[h]inging & complaining in unit – no work for mess – but still complain too much – really very well treated. Q.M. still very touchy. Staff Sgt. Ross made P.A.D. Sgt. Had a look at slit trenches and dug-outs made by first C.C.S. Saw the Gas capes and hoods just issued to us – also gloves and eye shields. Still on 12 hrs. notice but equipment so deficient that no move likely for some days. Leave party went off to Alex. Green wanted to borrow from unit fund.
Major Parks getting very annoyed at state of unit. Casey arrived back about 8 P.M. with everything he wanted – Lieut. Betts turned out to be Australian so did not argue much. Was about to turn in when Casey complained of toothache – fixed him with aspro’s & whisky. Decided to set up Surgical Pannier as soon as possible. Orderly officer from 5 P.M. Wandered round in freezing wind inspecting pickets. Curran back from Alex very drunk.
Sunday 12 January 1941
Up early and to Mass. Dust storm started to blow up so I secured our tent. It steadily became worse and could not leave tent without goggles & handkerchief over mouth. Issued eye-shields. Called out to help Maj. Row but useless – his tent collapsed so we pegged it over the gear. Dust inches thick everywhere – mud caked round eyes, nose & mouth – even masses of it on teeth. For the first couple of hours suffered acute discomfort but after that too busy to notice – out in it all the time securing other tents – got some sand bags onto truck and made sure of sisters tents and our own – moved Row & MacCleod into our tent and crawled under their mass of canvas to get their gear. Could not see more than two yards – nearly got lost – collected a lot of big stones to help sandbags. Sisters gave Casey and I soft drinks & chocolate – very welcome. Unfortunate to be orderly officer – had no respite. Eased off about 1 – had a tinned lunch and got all the unit out to fix tents – by 4 P.M. wind shifted and very little dust. 3 tents down altogether. Padre Daly picked up two men (Buckley & Duncan) who had been A.W.L. in Alex. – about 7 miles away completely lost.
Monday 13 January 1941
Air clear & cold piercing wind – had spent very comfortable night in valise with hood up. Sisters off again to Alex with Maj. Murphy & Maj. Row. Casey & Parks & Whitehead off to Cairo in car with two trucks. Yeates & myself left in camp. Padre Daly gone to Cairo too & Padre McCleod to Alex. Yeates re-allotted batmen to suit Curran – not a very bright arrangement. Been inspecting the English equipment issued to our officers the other day. Great improvement on the old pattern. Very quiet afternoon – Yeates gave men a lecture on co-operation etc – of doubtful value. Colonel Martin of 2/9 th called - extremely young for his rank – seems a very nice chap. After mess in the evening frantic calls for a stretcher. Curran had accidentally cut off 4 of Kyle-Little’s toes with an axe. At same time orders came for Maj. Ross & Capt. Johnson to move up the line. Pretty busy for a while. Despatched Sgt. Grey on motor bike for ambulance and detailed loading party to get the surgical team away at 2 A.M. next day. Row & Major Murphy & Padre McCleod turned up about 8P.M. laden with comforts for the men including two Primus Lamps. Row does more for the men than any other officer.
Tuesday 14 January 1941
Woke up about 4.30 A.M. with frightful attack of colic and diarrhoea. Kept on running to latrine until day-break. Saw Major Row and Maj. Murphy about myself and took some Mixt. Bisth. co. which improved matters greatly.
Heard all the news at breakfast. Ross and Johnston got away successfully and the crowd had arrived back from Cairo leaving Casey behind them. The tentage is ready at Abbassia but it will take about 12 3ton trucks to lift it. Definitely looks as though we shall be in Amiriya for some time. I would have set my surgery up had I not felt so rotten. Q.M. & Major Parks still at loggerheads. Q.M. becoming unusually quiet. This afternoon I read the new pamphlet on gas protection and slept for a good three hours – feel much better although very sore. About ½ doz. others with same complaint – caused by the dust storm of Sunday. I shall certainly not forget my first desert dust storm. Sisters still in Alex. – they ought to stay there altogether – too rough out here.
Wednesday 15 January 1941
Felt very much better in the morning and decided to set up my dental gear. After a lot of discussion decided on a small room being used as a store room and had it cleared out. Casey wandering round with tooth-ache so got Pannier No.1 into my tent & tryed [sic] to ease it for him – not too successful. Padre Daly busy with Cpl. Morris constructing an oil flash boiler at the cook-house – quite an ingenious arrangement. Ambrose & Morris have been working on it for some days.
Ross Buckley & Parks cleaned up the storeroom beautifully and then knocked off work. I had to dig them up again and it was dark before we had everything there. Found Casey after mess and fixed him up with the aid of a T illey Lamp.
Was agreeably surprised with the portable chair – a beautiful little job. In the late afternoon got two letters from Bon & one from Mother. It was marvellous to hear from them – such good cheerful news – sad about Patch. Annoyed about cables – air mail letters are reaching us sooner by weeks. Truck arrived back from Alex. in a bad way – collision – chassis apparently out of alignment – awkward with transport so scarce.
Thursday 16 January 1941
All set to do some work at last – started to get things going but dust storm blew up – impossible to keep pace with the dust so covered everything and gave up. C.O. & Adj. still preserving great secrecy – have heard nothing of them at all. According to Q.M. a lot of equipment for us left in Palestine. Somebody guilty of very bad organisation. English C.C.S. moved up in our place the other day as we are not fully equipped – seems absurd to have left Palestine without being ready to function. We have missed the bus here and the latest rumours destine us for the Sudan and Abyssinia. I have no leaning for any particular place – one is as bad as another. Certainly sick of this fine dust – everywhere – in everything. Slept all the afternoon with face wrapped up. Casey still very comfortable. Major Parks departed early for Cairo & not back yet – transport very difficult. 2/5 th Fld Amb. have 78 vehicles – we have two. Went for a walk with Major Murphy along the ridge overlooking Lake Mariat late this afternoon. Found some interesting old catacombs in a rocky hillside – obviously ancient tombs – much weathered and very ancient – also remains of two wells of doubtful age.
Friday 17 January 1941
Went to a concert at Pay office at Ikingi Maru last night. Very good show. Most of the sisters came and danced afterwards. Met Capt. Carruthers for the first time. Formerly director of Public Health – Tasmania. Very bright fiery little chap fond of beer.
Had a horrible experience in car on way back – full bladder & car full of sisters – suffered agonies.
Apparently English C.C.S. not moved up yet so still hoping. Decided to get my gear up after talking to Braithwaite (M.O. 2/12 th Btn.) on previous night. Started to clean up after dust storm but received order to be ready to move by 12 noon on the 18 th. Packed up again.
Saturday 18 January 1941 – Thursday 23 January 1941
No entries
Friday 24 January 1941
Still no definite orders. Advance party to take stores by ship. Myself & Capt. Whitehead to go. Lurid pictures painted of journey ahead. Wandered round all day doing odd jobs. On six hours notice & all tents down – living on bully beef & biscuits out of mess tins. Told to be ready to move off with advance party on Saturday. Busy loading gear & getting it into the ship. Casey making frantic appeals to Red Cross for material for dark room. After a miserable dinner at night – bully beef biscuits & sand Casey had a few drinks and decided it was his birthday. He scooted over to the canteen & I found him sitting down with the cooks and Jack Morey buying them all drinks. Got him away and we took the sisters into Alex where they were to stay pending orders. Took four of them – Wilson, Thorpe, Patterson, Finlay to Cabaret. Then back to Windsor. Got gloriously drunk with some Englishmen very decent chaps. One Colonel got very full – struck Capt. Wainwright – Casey & Parks very funny.
Saturday 25 January 1941
Sore head in morning – Case could open only one eye at a time – all agreed had a very good night. Orders to be out by 9 A.M. All packed. Unit to move to staging camp at Amyria. Myself to join boat early. All lying about on our packs and valises – most of tents packed up (all our own). Dust storm blew up so just stayed where we were and absorbed large quantities of Egypt. Contradictory orders arrived. Runo delayed in sailing and I was to join on Sunday. Unit was to stay put pending orders. Unpacked valise again and slept well in spite of the dust. Needed the sleep for my head which was not too comfortable all day. The latrines had been taken down – buckets with seats in old tent pit. Very unpleasant sitting on bucket with no protection from dust. Made a difficult job even harder. By this time we were all very sick of hanging about receiving different orders every few hours.
Sunday 26 January 1941
Up feeling very fit after the previous day’s alcoholic depression. Packed my goods again and swore to sleep in my clothes in the dirt rather than unpack again.
Left Amiryia with Maj. Parks, W.O. Cameron, and Sgt. Brampton about 11 A.M. Called on the sisters at the Windsor – they were having lunch. Too broke for the Windsor so went to a restaurant and had a very good meal for ten piastres. Back to the Windsor & Sister Patterson lent Maj. Parks and myself her bathroom. Had a good bath and so to the docks. Mucked about to get an Embarkation card and had a good store at one of the busiest dock scenes I have ever seen. Found the Runo and went on board. Stowed my gear in wireless man’s cabin and then watched the final stages of the loading. Joined about 4 P.M. by Lieut. Gardner R.A.S.C. a field bakery expert in charge of bread supply for Middle East (so he said). Left the quay promptly at 5 P.M.
Sailed out of Alex through the Mediterranean fleet. A marvellous sight. The Resource (depot ship) at a quay side and in the harbour a submarine depot ship with several subs hugging her sides. Numerous destroyers – some of the Tribal Class and very impressive vessels. Most interesting of all were three battleships – the first I had seen – The Warspite and two others – struck by their tremendous armament and by their beautifully groomed appearance. Several new cruisers of the Gloucester type with two aero-hangers beneath the bridge – very efficient looking. Also saw several units of the French fleet including one battleship. Fine looking ships and I am told very fast. Tied up for the duration. Going through the boom passed a sub on its way in. Game me a wonderful idea of Britain’s strength to see this enormous and formidable array of warships – actually only a comparatively small part of the fleet.
Monday 27 January 1941
Sailed steadily along the coast – very calm and slightly bored until wireless operator reported presence of subs in the neighbourhood. Not too comfortable then. We were unescorted and the ship full of aerial bombs. Forgot about it after a few hours. Very queer crew all from Hull. Skipper efficient but chief, 2 nd and 3 rd mates either in dotage or chronic dipsomaniacs. Old chief engineer a fine old chap – had some long yarns with him and also inspected his leeward engines. Two wireless men – continuous watches of 4 hrs – rotten job – just sit and listen. Scheduled to reach Tobruk 7 A.M. Tuesday morning.
Tuesday 28 January 1941
Wakened from my bunk on the saloon couch by being tossed out – blowing like blazes – ship tossing terribly – wedged myself back in and to sleep again. Lieut. Gardner very sick in morning – myself quite well. Could not get ship close enough in to make Tobruk – Lee shore. Kept bows to seas all day – thrilling experience to me – took huge seas aboard. Intercepted by two destroyers who gave us our exact position and instructions. Gale eased off in afternoon and sighted the wireless masts of Tobruk – by no means perpendicular but easily picked up. Blundered in towards them swinging the lead – got close in and stopped by frantic signals from an armed trawler – we had blundered into the edge of a minefield – my second big fright of the voyage. Trawler then led us into the harbour – an intensely interesting sight – strewn with wrecks – at least a dozen sunk in the harbour. Passed the remains of the cruiser San Giorgio – frightfully battered and burnt – also a large liner about 1500 tons – beached and burnt out. Had a good deal of trouble mooring among the wrecks.
Wednesday 29 January 1941
Out early after a night disturbed by shots – explosions - & cries – felt at last that we were in the show. Strange to hear dogs barking.
Naval people started to bring lighters alongside. All sorts of makeshift barges and launches. A naval commander gave me his launch to go ashore. Wended our way through wrecks to the battered docks. Had a hell of a morning. G.P.M.S. Major Sharby – could not find him. 2/1 st Field.Ambulance. very kind Major Chappell & Col. Cunningham. Located our trucks under Sgt. Grey – No.
E.S.O. or S.T.O. – nobody seemed to know anything – terrific confusion on the wharf. Sgt. Jackson stayed on board & I left W.O. Cameron on the dock to watch any of our stores that came ashore. Spent most of morning from one officer to another – walked miles and began to get bad tempered. Eventually Colonel Cunningham showed me the Italian hospital which we were to occupy. Fine buildings well laid out although slightly battered. I took the trucks up and unloaded them and so back to the docks to await our stores – left Bill Wilson at the hospital. Spent time fishing rifles and bayonets out of the water and lunched at the 2/1 st. Met Italian priest who seemed very happy to be prisoner. Hundreds of prisoners everywhere working and marching off – sometimes two to three hundred Italians with one Aussie to guard them. Small people well clothed and equipped – rifles & bayonets very weak – ammunition lying round everywhere underfoot. Engineers repairing docks etc – using Italian caterpillar tractors. Beautiful little Fiat ambulance lying disabled on the dock. Large underground hospital going under the naval building – had been penetrated by a direct hit. Two high electric dockside cranes wrecked. Our gear started to arrive on lighters. Unloaded by Cypriot labour company. Willing but rough. In midst of it all unit arrived on S.S. Knight of Malta. Had me running round in small circles. Tried to hand over my responsibilities but all got away to hospital as fast as they could – terrible trip – men wet & sick – lot of equipment washed overboard. Stayed at wharf until late – handed over to Whitehead – had something to eat & turned in.
Thursday 30 January 1941
Up early and ordered to set up my gear as soon as possible – found very pleasant rooms beside Casey’s chosen spot. The lads went scrounging furniture and did quite well – marble topped table etc. Went along to store of captured material guarded by English hygiene section under Capt. Webster. Beautiful Dental chair and unit – portable X-Ray. Elevators – burs – forceps – sterilizers – tons of medical gear. Would not give us any without a requisition. Eventually got req. for expendible [sic] stores. Everybody bustling about getting water (pinched beautiful Italian water tanks). Took me a long time to set up – my gear was not off boat for some time. 2/1 st British field ambulance just unpacked & receiving casualties – ordered to move on following day. Various other units occupying other buildings – our problem to shift them. Father Daly off scrounging & came back with armful of bayonets. Yeates sent truck off to scrounge furniture for the mess. Discovered dumps of thousands of cases of Recoaro in the town. Very good mineral water. Our supply very brackish almost emetic – foul tea but good coffee. Boys still busy unloading the Runo.
Forgot to mention that I had a great time on the Runo during the high seas trying to do some gunlaying. Went up on the stern with the chap in charge of the gun crew. The Jackala [Jackal?] had passed us on the way back to Alex. Tried to train the 4” gun on her – very difficult. Then tried the A.A. twelve pounder on a cloud – also damned hard. All along the Libyan coast could see the high flat escarpment rising steeply from the sea. The captain of the ship was in Beirut when war was declared. The French seized his ship and imprisoned him. After about 6 weeks he was released & deported to Alex. They retained his ship.
Friday 31 January 1941
Out early to get my surgery under way. Boys produced a cane suite “for the waiting room”, they said. Was greatly surprised to run into the Director of Dental Servises Colonel Down with Major Chappell and Capt. Jacobs – looking for me. Inspected my surgery site and disapproved of the situation – Jacobs was to set up with me and form a centre. Decided on one of the small buildings in the quadrangle. Got to work shifting my gear and getting the place set up. We were to be ready to work on the 18 th Brigade who were coming up. Tremendous amount. of denture work to be done. On the 2/9-2/10-2/12 Aust Inf Bn.Found time to scrounge furniture for my room with Father Daly & Jacobs came in with us. Chest of drawers – two comfortable chairs – two beds – table – lowboy & two very nice bedside tables. Old Macnally pinched a very good hurricane lamp also a water jug and a weird assortment of glasses. Champagne, wine, liqueur, and whisky glasses.
Did a little wandering round and was amazed at the gear left behind. Found an Italian R.M.O.’s quarters – dozens of artery forceps – field dressings and other gear – methylated spirit burners (I grabbed one) and queer little lanterns to hold a candle. Also dozens of books of their field medical cards. Furniture lying round everywhere. Blankets and an enormous supply of sheets. Very neat iron stretchers with detachable canvas tops.
Mechanics not too happy working together. Some unit in small neighbouring building and one of their officers in our building. Decided to move them at first opportunity. Jacobs turning out very decent chap. Knew John Stable quite well. Down said that Stable and Maiden would come up with the Brigade. Looked forward to seeing John. About 6.30, 3 German planes came over at about 300 feet & machine gunned us. We thought they were our planes & stood in the open & gaped. Got a hell of a fright when we realised what they were. Saturday 1 February 1941
Got up bloody early and in a hell of a hurry. Huns came over at dawn and we had our first full dress air raid. A.A. guns put up a big barrage but nothing fell near us.. Felt pretty scared standing in the shelter waiting to hear the next one drop. Heard five land in the harbour in quick succession. Planes were actually overhead for only about 15 minutes – felt like 15 yrs. Very cold in the shelter. Sent an ambulance down to the docks but no casualties and no damage. some near misses. Found to our cost later that they must have dropped mines also. Started work about 9A.M. and was hard at it when Down arrived back from Durna – he approved our site etc. & seemed pleased to find us working. Did not stay long and vanished in the direction of Bardia. Told Jacobs & I we were lucky to have such an opportunity and that he expected us to produce 45 plates a week each. staggered us somewhat.
Finding Jacob’s Utility very handy. From now on did not go outside the gates for days. Big sick parades of Tommies and Palestinians. Kept us flat out. Moved into our new mess – beautifully furnished.
Sunday 2 February 1941
Tired and up late – intended going up to the church with Father Daly. Big sick parade waiting at the door so did not get the chance – worked hard all day. Contacted the 2/3 rd Fld Coy. an advanced unit of the 18 th Brig. Lot of Dentures to be done for them. Got on the way with them. Everybody still scrounging. Cooks drunk for days and we discovered a barrel of Italian wine in their quarters. On our first night (Wednesday) some of the lads pinched our only case of whisky and cleaned it up. we were savage about it for days. Nothing to drink in the mess beyond gin and a very slim stock of beer. It was about this date that most of the unloading was finished and we set up our mess properly.
Father Daly made parish priest of Tobruk and tickled to death about it. Father Yuhill of the 2/1 st Aus. Amb. helped him and they had three masses. About dusk an air raid sounded & the A.A. guns opened up. A solitary reconnaissance plane came over at tremendous height cruised round for a while and then disappeared. Went to bed with Tin hat – torch – shoes and great coat all laid out ready for action. After listening and jumping at every explosion I eventually got to sleep.
Monday 3 February 1941
Got the biggest fright of my life. Was sound asleep when about 5A.M. was awakened by a terrific explosion. A heavy bomb had landed about 200 yds away. Still half asleep I leapt into great coat, shoes & Tin hat & dived into the shelter. Caught a glimpse of the sky lit up by flashes and flares. Hit the entrance to the shelter at about 60 M.P.H. Pandemonium broke loose. We stood and shivered with cold and a fair amt. of sheer fright. Noise continuous – only one came close again – the blast sent a draught of air through the shelter. Everybody turned up in the shelter. Hogg made marvellous time to the shelter. Lasted until 6 o’clock and was really quite severe. A little damage done in the harbour – one man killed on a ship and another wounded. Not a direct hit. All glad to have had our baptism of fire. One of the batmen very scared would not cross the open ground to the shelter but got under his bunk and would not move. A lot of joking in the shelter but all pretty scared.
Worked all day and inspected the crater made by the bomb that woke us up. Could hear the planes quite distinctly.
Tuesday 4 February 1941
About 7 o’clock another warning – up and into the shelter again. Monday night we had two warnings – one at 10 P.M. and another at 11.30 P.M. so we were annoyed at having another in the morning. However they dropped nothing except a probable mine or two round the harbour. All feeling tired by this time. However – back to work. A patient presented me with a 2 lb block of cake. Last night during one of the alarms some of our lads were still loading in the docks – some neighbouring workers dived into a shelter but our chaps stayed long enough to pinch a case of good English pipe tobacco (Ogden’s Broad cut). They presented me with five pounds of it today. 7 th Div. Engineers got the powerhouse going & started to light the Hospital. Morey promised me light. The intruding unit moved out and we took both buildings. Capt. Thomson of the Engineers got me a beautiful Dago electric motor. Starting to get a fine little surgery going. Another patient gave me an amt. of Italian dental materials including impression plaster.
Wednesday 5 February 1941
Dust storm
Woke to howling wind and dust. Tried to do a little work but had to give up. Spent the day perfecting the black-out in my surgery. Morey got the lights going in the two laboratories. Most of the afternoon spent in mess. Dust frightful – inches deep on everything and bitterly cold wind. Lasted all day and into the night without a break. Father Daly went to Sollum the day before and arrived back this morning with beer & other mess supplies – very welcome. He slept out on the road last night.
We were hauled out of bed about 1.30 A.M. by a decent sort of raid with plenty of fireworks but they were attacking something beyond the town area and did not have a go at us. Last night had an alarm just after mess. Everybody did a very good sprint. During one of these successive alarms Casey trying to keep up with Hogg fell into a shell hole and has not bothered about the shelter since.
Thursday 6 February 1941
Dust storm
Dust not so bad and succeeded in doing a little work. Getting annoyed at constancy of work – no chance even for a bath. Bill Wilson discovered how the hot water system worked and got it going. Succeeded in getting a bath but water not very hot – about 4.30 P.M. Storm eased off in the afternoon and felt much more comfortable. Engineers at work getting quarters ready for the nurses – digging air raid shelter for them. C.O. has sent for them but no word of their arrival. Still no word of the 18 th Brigade.
Friday 7 February 1941
Clear day and spent some time clearing dust out of everything. More work. Our mess quite large. Captain Carruthers of the field hygiene section, Capts. Looeventhal & Meredith (surgical team) and Major Holbrook (Brit.) of a mobile hygiene laboratory. Maj. Ross & Capt. Johnson only with us for a few days & then moved up towards Durna with a Field Amb. Carruthers doing a wonderful job. Got gangs of prisoners cleaning up. Prisoners camp in frightful condition but difficult to do much about it. Getting them away as quickly as possible but still 15000 left. Staff captain told us Brigade expected tomorrow. Cleaned up the surgery for action. Went to sleep to sound of rain.
Saturday 8 February 1941
Rain
Rained all day. Worked again & promised ourselves a holiday on Sunday. Field Bakery going in the neighbourhood – marvellous to get bread again. Major Chappell & Father Yuhill back for a while from Durna Rd. Yuhill stayed to say mass on Sunday. Q.M. has established a base depot of medical stores. Found some excellent Dental Anaesthetic. Still plenty of Palestinians – very bad patients and mouths in frightful condition.
Sunday 9 February 1941
Outside the gates for first time since arriving. Went to mass in Father Daly’s church – pleasant little place – untouched by shells and bombs. Saw wreck of British bomber – brought down by Italians & crashed into a house (Blenheim). Woke Casey up to go with me. Had rained during the night and rained again during day. Came back with Ian Jacobs and buttonholed by C.O. Put porcelain in his tooth and then more patients (Palestinians turned up). Had lunch and then up to officers kit store. Bought British pull-over. Back again and ran into more work – bad alveolar abscess in minor surgical ward. Was to go out to 2/5 th with Ian but had to work. Sent him off in the Hangover. He came back with some very good Dago boots – one pair fitted me beautifully. Len Fane came down with sergeant from up on Durna Rd. 2/7 th Fld. Coy. transferred from corps. to 9 th Div. After mess polished the captured boots and wrote to Bon. Still no mail.
Earlier in day Ian’s corporal damn near shot Jack the batman. Both got a hell of a fright. Won’t play with firearms again.
Monday 10 February 1941
Heard lots of news today. The advance into Tripoli has been held up (not by the Italians) and troops coming up here have been retained including the 18 th Brigade. I finished my work about 11.30 and started my washing. In the middle of it Brigadier Clowes (H.Q. R.A.A. 1 Aus Corps.) walked in with a filling in his hand. I was very embarrassed. Took him over to lunch and worked on him in the afternoon. Took impression for partial. Corps Head Quarters had moved up. In the afternoon later was hung up by a Colonel (Base Commandant). Sick of sight of red tabs.
About 12.30 this morning Hugh McDonald with the rear party of the 2/5 th Amb. turned us out. We bedded the men down at the Dental centre & Jacobs took him out to the Amb. They had hitch hiked their way from Alex. The 18 th Brig or part of it left Alex by sea – was about 4 hrs out and turned back. Heard nothing of them since.
Tuesday 11 February 1941
Up late and did not shave or start work – went over & had a bath and just about getting going when Brig. walked in again. On his way up to Durna where H.Q. was to be est. Fixed him up and worked the rest of the morning. Nothing much doing in the afternoon and was doing some mech. work. Got terrific attack of colic and felt rotten until late in the evening. Very painful. Feeling much better now and have actually succeed [sic] in getting this up to date. Not too sure of accuracy of dates but near enough.
Old Mac. drunk tonight on some pilfered whisky – just came over & made us some coffee. We did not want any but he did. Father Daly gone to bed and Jacobs over at the mess playing poker. Bought a Tommy pullover on Sunday. Just the thing for working. Have decided to buy a pair of their battle pants if I have the money.
Wednesday 12 February 1941
Up early for once in my life. No more dysentery – thank God. Worked all the morning and decided to go for a walk about 12.10 P.M. Palestinian patient. Large abscess on lower left 5. Punctured wound on mandible about 5 days old and communicating with the abscess. Shall treat him myself and see how he goes. While I was off for a walk the Brig. turned up for his teeth – didn’t seem to mind luckily he came back at two P.M. Saw a beautiful 2 barrel A.A. Gun (Italian). Bofors Pattern – beautiful gun & thousands of rounds of ammunition about 1 ½”. Got a couple of shell cases and polished them.
Brigs. plate went in quite well. Went up again this afternoon – boys letting off Italian rifles bullets everywhere – felt damned uncomfortable on the skyline. Beautifully equipped Brit. wireless station. Got full tonight with Q.M., Padre Daly & a Brit. Q.M. Lieut. Mundin – quite a cheery party – I was handicapped by weak bladder. At the moment very drunk but quite happy – any air-raid will not disturb me. Most difficult page to write so-far.
Thursday 13 February 1941
Seem to be keeping up the early rising. Mac turned the light on about 6.45 so I got up and made some coffee. Couldn’t move Jacobs. 2/2 nd Btn. sent a lot of denture work down this morning – flat out.
Jacobs went out to Ambulance before lunch – not back yet. Casey seems to have some to some decision about his teeth.
Worked hard all the afternoon on my own. Went along to the Salvage store with Lieut. Mundin (running 5 th Base Med. stores) collected broaches – Eugenol – Oil of cloves – tricresol and formalin etc. Polished up a few pom pom shell cases and gave one to Major Row. This evening advance party of 1 st C.C.S. arrived – whole business clouded in the usual mystery. Have just been helping Padre Daly do some censoring. Some of the lads write very stupid letters. According to one – we have been raided almost every night since we landed. Still no mail – hope to get some to-morrow
Friday 14 February 1941
Not quite so early this morning but in time for breakfast. Fairly busy morning. Major Ross and Capt. Johnson with us again on their way back. Describe an Italian Pub near Bengasi where they dined and drank (champagne) like lords. Stayed the night and it cost them 17/6. Before they fixed an exchange rate for the line. Very busy morning – took a lot of impressions for 2/4 th Field company. Hope to get a few pistols from them. Would like a 38. Might buy a Sam Browne then.
Engineers being very helpful. Marvellously efficient unit. Very comical Q.M.S. formerly a Jockey. Had ridden in France.
Busy again this afternoon and very glad to get over to the mess for a drink.
Got a letter from Bon. Very disappointed at lunch as I was handed one half of it. Got the other half later – dated 19 th Jan. Hopeful of getting more within next few days. Went over after mess to-night – stoked the boiler and Ian & I had our best bath since Alex. Sisters have not arrived yet. Found some Bushells coffee tonight – pinched some tinned milk – biscuits – wonderful supper.
Saturday 15 February 1941
Worked like blazes all the morning. Another influx of Palestinians, Cypriots, R.A.F., Tommies etc. as well as our own crowd. Decided to take things easily in the afternoon. Started on a couple of odd jobs then McAuliffe and Ambrose and so on to 5.30. Formal mess and feeling hungry so made some coffee. Very good mess. Naval Commander guest of honour – big fat chap with cheerful ruddy face and a beautiful beard. Told some good stories. (R.N.V.R.). Poker school started Jacobs, Meredith, Yeates, Hogg and a newcomer from the 1 st C.C.S. I got mildly drunk with Carruthers. In middle of mess envoy came in from Bengasi. C.C.S. there bombed out – dive bombers and aerial mines. 1000 lb mine (parachute ) went off near C.C.S. Reconnaissance plane had been over here about midday so we all turned in expecting the worst but nothing happened. C.O. & Adj. very worried about black-out. Got Carruthers annoyed. More I see of Carruthers the more I like him. Q.M. & Padre McCloud also worried.
Sunday 16 February 1941
Off up to church and left Jacobs to clean up the sick parade. Quite a few turned up but I could not be bothered with them. Feeling the need of a break badly. Made some coffee and helped Father Daly censoring. Met colonel of engineers at church. Capt. McDonald of engineers outside church with a movie camera. Lunch and then settled down to do some writing. Wrote to Eric, Mother and again to Bon. Shall send her some of those photographs of Arabs we found. English Lieutenant sent over with gunshot wound of mandible – lower right. Piece of shrapnel entered just at lower border and came out through floor of mouth. English D.O. wired him up on floor of truck – quite a good job. He had run into a land mine – put into C.C.S. at Bengasi and bombed out – so on – back to us. Whisky flask stopped one piece of shrapnel and great coat torn to shreds. Shall need rewiring soon if not evacuated. Went along to Capt. Carruthers room after mess and spent a couple of hours talking – very decent chap – hope to see a lot more of him.
Monday 17 February 1941
Right section of 1 st C.C.S. left about 8 A.M. for Bengasi.
One of biggest sick parades so far – once again about 75% Tommies & Palestinians. Decided to see Q.D.M.S. about it. Finished up eventually. Had Staff Sgt from Eng. Field Park who promised to do some scrounging for me. Still keen to own an automatic. Should have one soon. Father Daly has a .38 Biretta and is on the track of a Mauser. Stenhouse offered to arrange a sale for me – offered him 30p.
Heard that Colonel Cunningham of 2/1 st Ambulance killed in raid on Bengasi. Very sorry to hear it – what little I saw of him – liked him very much.
Work not so bad this afternoon. Had a great bath tonight and then wandered round with Father Daly while our room was aired. Made some coffee and Capt. Carruthers wandered in and yarned about his experiences in France & Serbia last time.
Received enlargement from Bon today – very thrilled to get it. About 11.20 now so must turn in. 2/5 th Ambulance received warning order – Jacobs will probably rejoin them in a few days. I shall have plenty to do then.
Tuesday 18 February 1941
7A.M. Very cold – another dust storm blowing up. Storm did not get very bad. big sick parade again. 2/4 th Engineers arrived with some Italian workmen and started installing a sink for me – dust from wall all over the place. Very good workmen. Bought a beautiful Beretta .38 automatic from Stenhouse for ₣2 ½ . Got a bargain – Father Daly bought one in poor condition and without ammo or pouch for 30/-. Ian got old Mauser .32 for ₣1. That makes 4 automatic pistols in the drawer. Am not quite game to wear mine – will see what the others do.
Staff Sgt. Burns of 2/5 th Fld. Park determined to get me another pistol – may be able to make a profit out of it. Also Staff. Sgt. Fichmore. He sent me some beautiful panniers and 1000 good Italian cigarettes. Worked hard all the afternoon and after mess took Carruthers over to Casey. Went back with Carruthers & drank a little beer. Sat up late cleaning and oiling the guns. Father Daly getting quite keen on his gun.
Wednesday 19 February 1941
Old Mac slept in so we wakened late. Off to breakfast and then on to enormous sick parade. Shaved at lunch time. Father Daly aquired [sic] a little Fiat tourer the other day in perfect order – succeeded in getting it registered. Salvage people just waking up – want guns & everything. Our people scared about raids still – C.O. decided to move out into the desert. I intend trying to stay here – one place seems much the same as another to me. Difficulties in desert enormous with such attractive quarters in the town. Much easier for me to work. Frightfully busy again this afternoon until 5.30. Received two letters from Bon which cheered me up wonderfully. Also one from Jim and one from Mother. Very tired tonight. Take a decent sort of a raid to get me out of bed. Patients arrive from Durna and almost to Bardia. Colonel Cunningham buried at Barce. Killed instantly by direct hit. Our harbour very busy – wonderful target – place bristling with heavy ack-ack. Having a quiet night – must send signal through for teeth, Compo & Zelex tomorrow. Should have done so earlier. Ross & Johnson still waiting to go. Ian playing poker again. 16 th Brig. – 60 killed abt. 240 wounded.
Thursday 20 February 1941
Ian – not too good stayed in bed until lunch time – then went out to ambulance. I saw 21 patients this morning – flat out.
Trawler minesweeping in the harbour – struck a mine – 18 men & 4 officers missing – were trying some new device on the mines. 60 men altogether killed since last raid by mines etc. Burrows a bloody awful orderly – will be glad to have Parks back. Once again plenty of Palestinians – also quite a few R.A.F. 2/5 th Ambulance orders indefinite – hope Ian stays for a while yet. Colonel Saxby (A.D.M.S.) came in this afternoon and asked me to fix up a R.A.O.C. man with dentures and also his driver. Gave them appointments. Becoming determined not to move into desert. Spent about 1hr. extracting a molar for Capt. McPherson (Brit.). Took him with Lieut. Harley up to mess after. Very decent chaps.
Colonel Foster of 1 st Brit. C.C.S. with us for a while. Ophthalmologist (Brit.) also with us now. Father Daly went up to Durna today. Have just stoked the furnace & must have a bath.
Furnace went out so found a chip heater. Felt pretty rotten later on and turned in early.
Friday 21 February 1941
Another Dust Storm.
Feeling very miserable this morning. must have a mild dose of flu. Managed to work all the morning alright – luckily the sick parades were small. Italian workman dropped a brick through the washbasin they were installing for me. Seemed to think I might shoot him. Sgt. Willing of the 2/4 th Fld. Coy. in again – nice old chap and very good tradesman. Felt absolutely rotten after lunch but had to work until 3.30. Came over to my room and had a sleep then. Father Daly rayed for suspected gastric ulcer today but negative result. He has not been too good lately. This bloody dust will have us all sick soon. Staff Sgt. More of 2/4 th presented me with ½ lb of very good pipe tobacco (St. Bruno’s). Also Stff. Sgt. Burns assured me that he would get me an automatic and also promised me another 2000 cigarettes. His plate went in quite well. Had mess tonight – collected some pay – paid my account and so to bed – continued my letter to Bon and shall be asleep soon. Just heard from the 2/7 th Field Coy. that the Aussies and the Armoured Division are closing in on Tripoli and have been joined by Free French forces – is it a furphy?
Saturday 22 February 1941
Feeling lousy again. Did a little work and then took some cigarettes over for John Meredith. Ran into Row who gave ½ grm of Ephedrine – felt a new man in about ten minutes. Back to work then. About 11A.M. 3 German reconnaissance planes came over. Ack ack got fairly close so they did not stay long. Everybody expecting to be plastered tonight. The authorities very apprehensive. Two new ships in the harbour now – wonderful target – low clouds and no moon tonight – might keep them away but we are about due for a full scale raid. Received the pipe from Bon this morning – a beauty. Went up to the Advance Base Med. Stores and loaded up with Anaesthetic and a few odds and ends before the Tommies take over. Some of the 2/4 th Engineers moving up. Carruthers away in Barce getting their sanitation under way. We are supposed to be moving into the desert on Monday. Answered Bon’s two letters.
Sunday 23 February 1941
Did not get a chance to go to church. Big sick parade turned up. Jacobs and I had hoped to go to Durna but he had to visit his ambulance. I felt lousy again. Everybody packing up frantically for the move on Monday. I decided to ask the C.O. his decision about me. He was very vague so I suggested I should stay. He promised to mention it to the A.D.M.S.
Capt. Whitehead was evacuated – a bundle of nerves – he sat up all last night fully dressed with his tin-hat on. Best thing to do with him. C.O. at dinner announced that all officers except myself and Jacobs, Park and Yeates were to be ready to leave the following morning. Very pleased with myself at the prospect of continued luxury.
Slept for a while in the afternoon and felt a little better. Still a very heavy cold.
Scrounged a few more rounds of ammunition for my gun. Jacobs sold his and made a profit of 100%.
Monday 24 February 1941
Did very little work this morning – feeling rotten. Exodus of unit started. Murden moved into Padre McCleod’s room and Park down with Yeates. Jacobs and I moved into Maj. Murphy’s. Capt. Meredith came down too. We were all in the middle of our dinner in patients mess when we heard the sound of Ack Ack (6.40). All rushed out and saw a plane caught in a search light with shells bursting all round it and streams of tracers pouring at it. It seemed to be hit and we were all set to cheer when we heard the whine of a diving plane behind us – ran frantically for the shelter and just before getting there heard the whistle of a bomb. Just inside and there was a terrific explosion – shook the shelter & sent a blast of air rushing through it. Soon after more whining whistling and explosions. Flat on my face & could feel the earth shake. Concussion terrific. Most terrifying experience of my life – dive bombing definitely demoralising. Lasted about 45 minutes and then went over to help with the casualties – about 40. Park and Yeats started operating. I watched them for a while & did a few odd jobs to help. One very bad with penetrating wound of rt. lung. Several died (7). Destroyer Daintie blew up.
About 17 men lost and many badly burnt. The Terror sunk between here and Bengasi – all crew saved. Supposed to be 3 brought down. A few chaps killed over at the bakery about 200 yards away – one dropped outside the front gate & the other outside 2 nd gate. Blast blew all the windows in & the doors open. I admitted being scared stiff and everybody else was too.
Tuesday 25 February 1941
Another raid about 5.30 A.M. No bombs dropped – another at 11.30 and yet another about 12.30. Slept fully dressed on Monday night and felt rotten in the morning. Jacobs determined to get out of Tobruk. Decided to do the same myself. Carruthers gave me a lift out to the unit at Fort Palestrino about 4 miles along the Durna Rd. up on the escarpment. Saw the C.O. who said I would be wise to move. Visited the A.A.D. (Advanced Ammo. dump) and the rubbish dump on the point at Tobruk. Got back to the old quarters and decided to stay the night to test my nerves. About 6.50 P.M. a full scale high level raid – two or three raiders at 10 minute intervals for about 1 hr and 50 mins. Dropped some very heavy stuff all in the harbour and slightly damaged a tanker – 2 casualties – one bad.
Slept in clothes again.
Wednesday 26 February 1941
Slept in clothes again and up about 4 A.M. with dysentery – more planes about 6. Jacobs had left the previous day but came back & did a sick parade – then cleared out. I spent the morning doing a few jobs and dosing myself with Bismuth & Opium. Diarrohea [sic] pretty bad. Started to pack up in afternoon but patients arrived. Got them away – packed up and came out to unit with Casey & Lieut. Strong (a patient) who had come in for a bath in the C.O.’s car. Very pleased to get out. Father Daly in very comfortable little dug-out & I joined him. Mess in hut on top of hill – most of officers sleeping there. Mick Hogg next door to us in a dugout labelled “two broke”. Slept marvellously and after some hot coffee in the morning was a new man. Great to be back in decent company again. Disgusted at the ill mannered behaviour of Park & Yeates. Amazing collection of odds & ends in dugout. Coffee beans and grinder – water tanks & a large - too cumbersome table. Nevertheless very cosy and very safe – wonderful to sleep in pyjamas once more. Forgot to mention air alarm in Tobruk about 6.30 A.M. Too nerve-wracking to stay – might have been alright with congenial company. Ross & Buckley stayed to finish of work – also Park to be picked up tomorrow.
Thursday 27 February 1941
Woke about 7.30 A.M. and crawled out about 8 A.M. Shaved & up to breakfast. C.O. allotted me an Italian operating tent – beautiful little thing – dust proof with aluminium floor. Very pleased – off into Tobruk about 11.30 to collect Park & rest of surgical gear. Ross very annoyed with life & I think annoyed with me for leaving – very confident about the shelter. He will recover in time – likes the comfort & frightened of the desert. Lunched with him & Bill Clark. were a few reconnaissance planes over in the morning. Came back & brought some furniture for our dugout. A.D.M.S. gave the operating tent to the 2/5 th ambulance – I was furious – so decided to go into building about ½ mile away with Casey. When field workshop moves out shall have tons of room. Must get going by the morning. Spent considerable time last night talking to a Major from intelligence – most interesting & at home with the history of the country – barley for whisky – Cyrene the origin of the aspidistra. All units moving back – Carruthers to go soon. General exodus – English armoured brigade moving up to hold the line south of Tripoli.
Friday 28 February 1941
Succeeded in getting my gear over to the building in an English Ambulance (M.A.C.). Set up and soon had a few patients. About 12 noon 20 men arrived from El Gazala about 40 miles up the coast. Did not get any lunch until 3 P.M. Not much doing in the afternoon so tried to get things going decently. Rotten sort of dust storm blew up – wind fierce and cold with a few drops of rain in it. Very glad to get down into the dugout after mess. We dine at 5 P.M. as no fires must be alight after sundown. Watched the Hurricane patrol fly out and start to encircle the area. Very comforting to hear them. Capt. Hogg came down to talk later and we discussed air raids and decided they were unlikely after dusk. Jerry came over about 9 P.M. & disproved our theories. Great to be able to watch the fun and be well out of the danger zone. Came overhead a few times but dropped nothing here. Felt very safe in my little hole in the ground. Had some coffee and so to bed.
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