I had a letter from Daddy, Seymour Pears and Ione. Ione asked me to be godfather to her first child. She told me one name it would have would be Stanley. Seymour has been commissioned to the Greys and expects to come out here. Daddy told me in his letter that Uncle Stanley’s home in Regent’s Park had been bombed, and that in spite of his age he had not left London. Derrick now has got a commission in the RASC. Clive, the old dog, has not written to me for simply months.
Wednesday, 11 December
Yesterday we made quite a large-scale attack in Egypt, but a fair amount of success.
The Greeks are still pushing the Italians out of their country.
Stanley’s comments about the battle in Egypt are somewhat understated. In fact, Mussolini’s plans were going very badly awry. The British Mediterranean Fleet had already won one victory against the Italian Navy at Calabria in July, and had then, on 11 November, inflicted a catastrophic strike against the Italian Fleet lying at harbour at Taranto. Using Fleet Air Arm Swordfish flying from an aircraft carrier, the British raid had put out of action three Italian battleships, halving their capital ships in just one strike. On land, the Greeks were unexpectedly pushing back the Italian invaders, a humiliation from which the Italian Army would never recover, while on 9 December, the British Western Desert Force launched an offensive in Egypt, Operation COMPASS. In two days, the 30,000-strong British force captured 38,000 Italians, 237 guns and 73 tanks, and recaptured Sidi Barrani.
Thursday, 12 December
There was a battery commanders’ conference at HQ during the morning, which I attended.
The colonel leaves for the Western Desert to do an attachment with the Rifle Brigade. For our new formation and mechanization we are to be attached to the Rifle Brigade and I understand that each officer will get down there for a short time. It should be very good fun and most interesting. I stayed for lunch at HQ.
Friday, 13 December
During their advance, our forces have captured 20,000 Italians in the Western Desert. It appears that their tactics have been quite brilliant. The Greeks also seem to be pressing the Italians on all fronts. It makes one itch to join in and have a smack at them. But our time will come. Enemy activity over England has eased up for the last few days.
Stanley’s estimation of the number of Italians captured is some way short of the reality, which was double the number cited. By 17 December, when Sollum and Fort Capuzzo were taken, the number of prisoners was more than 70,000.
There were, however, alarm bells ringing for Britain as, on 13 December, Hitler issued a directive for the occupation of the Balkans and the build-up of troops in southern Romania from which he planned the occupation of Thessalonika and, if necessary, all of Greece. This was on the back of the announcement made at the end of November that Hungary, Romania and Slovakia had joined the Axis.
For the British, it was one thing taking on the Italians in Africa, but quite another finding the troops to help the Greeks fight the Germans.
Saturday, 14 December
In the afternoon we had a cricket match. Roger Nelthorpe brought some of his men over to play against us. We easily won. B have got quite a good team, but it’s not so good or so keen as C was. There is one very good player, a fellow called Knight. He was in the last war, and joined up again this time as a trooper. I think he played for Notts County.
Stephen Mitchell came over from RHQ for the weekend. He told me that our headquarters cadre class had been a great success. Derrick Warwick came over with 20 men from Lydda, as we had arranged a concert given by ENSA for the men, which was held in a hall at the Levant Fair. Before the concert we had a most amusing dinner party in the mess. We had a grand joke on old Roger. We arranged with the guard commander to telephone him up during dinner that he must return at once to Agir as there had been a fire. He came rushing back again into the mess falling over everything saying that he must go at once as Agir was on fire!
We then told him that we should arrange for our squadron lorry to take him back and let him go all the way up to the guard room, where the sergeant of the guard presented him with a note which said, ‘We hope the fire is out – from the officers’ mess.’ The old boy took it very well!
We dressed up Smith, my batman, as an Egyptian waiter. He blackened his face, wore a fez and proper garments. When he first appeared, and started to hand round the dishes, the expressions of amazement were most amusing. The concert was quite good, and we entertained the artists on the stage afterwards. We sent some food and drink up from the mess. Derrick and Roger took their men back after the show. It was a most amusing evening and all went very well.
Stephen stayed the night. They took the main support away from my camp bed so that when I got in I crashed to the floor! Much to their delight.
Sunday, 15 December
I have just come in from going round the guard posts. The moon is full and it’s a beautiful night. A pretty strong wind is blowing and the sea is rough. I do often wonder whether at some future date I shall read through this diary, or whether I shall not be there to do so and some other person will read it.
Thursday, 19 December
In the afternoon we played a rugger match against 2 Battery, Mike Laycock’s, on the Stadium Ground. It was only the second game that we had played. Stuart Thompson, who has played a great deal, played and has really got the thing going. When he was with Michael in his battery he got him keen, and now he thinks about nothing else. He has gone crazy on the game. He has bought all his team very smart black rugger vests. Mike Gold played for them. We won 7–3. Which was a jolly good show. It certainly is a grand game. I should love to have gone to the Varsity and tried for a blue. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but the whole time I was very nervous about my knee, and I felt it once badly. It really is a damned nuisance, because I think I am just as fast as I was at Winchester.
The bad knee Stanley refers to had plagued him since his schooldays at Winchester, when he badly damaged the cartilage while playing football. It had never properly healed.
Friday, 20 December
There have been unconfirmed reports that Germany has walked into Italy. We are still pushing on in the Western Desert, and I think we have captured about 30,000 prisoners.
I had a long letter from Mummy and Daddy, and three from Ione Barclay that was. She writes most regularly to me. Mummy’s letter was most interesting. At last she has left London and taken a small house at Sunningdale, almost opposite Craigmyle. I am very relieved that she is out of London. That also means Daddy won’t have to stay the night in town when he comes up to London. There seems to have been trouble with Derrick again. He had a row with Mummy before leaving to join his regiment, and neither of the family have heard of him for a long time. Daddy is rather worried and Derrick told his bank manager that his messing was costing him £5 per week!
Some of the officers have had letters from their wives with detailed accounts of their experiences when the Empress of Britain was sunk. Apparently the first bomb completely knocked out the antiaircraft crew. The colonel went down to his cabin and had to escape through the porthole when his cabin fell in; he was almost knocked out. Rona Trotter was being let down the side when the boat into which she was being lowered was washed away and she had to drop into the sea. She was eventually picked up by a raft and machine-gunned by the enemy bomber. Apparently she behaved wonderfully well and had a wonderful write-up in the papers. I expect that I shall hear more details from Sydney, who has had a letter from his wife.
Saturday, 21 December
I woke up this morning with bad toothache, which lasted all day. A wisdom tooth coming up at the back is the cause of the trouble.
The colonel has got back from Egypt much earlier than expected. He went down to spend some time with the Rifle Brigade, but had to come back when they went up as reserve. He will go back, when they come back again. He and the adjutant, Sydney Morse, came and paid us a visit during the afternoon.
My toothache was bad so I went to bed very early.
Sunday, 22 December
Basil Ringrose came back from umpiring with the 6th Brigade, and assumes command of the battery. Personally, I like him and find him a most charming person. I have thoroughly enjoyed being in sole charge of the battery. Basil told me we should probably be equipped with Italian trucks, which have been captured in Egypt. It is almost certain that we shall be giving up these security duties in the very near future and start real training.
My toothache is still bad. I shall have to make a visit to the dentist.
In the afternoon we had a game of cricket. In the evening we played tennis and badminton in the hangar.
25 December, Christmas Day
We didn’t get up very early. During the morning we had a rugger match against a team brought over by HQ. I was going to play but decided against it, as my bad knee has been giving me trouble. The game was a draw.
The men had their Christmas meal at lunchtime. The officers stood them some port and they all got very tight!
In the afternoon Geoffrey Brooks was going to bring a cricket team, but owing to the Christmas dinner, it did not materialize. There is no doubt about it, Basil is most popular with the men of his battery. The colonel and Sydney came over, and the colonel made rather a pompous speech. To my mind, he made a mistake not accepting a drink from the men. He refused because he was late on his rounds.
Basil Thompson and I drew lots as to who should go into RHQ for Christmas dinner and Basil stayed behind.
Dinner at RHQ was quite fun. I sat between Donny Player and John Walters. It all seemed rather forced. We went back in the open truck. It was a grand night, but cold. We dismissed the truck in Tel Aviv and Thompson and I went and had a drink at the Samakan. We taxied home, and got back to the power station at 3.30. Quite a pleasant Christmas Day, the weather perfect.
A cable arrived from Jean, which pleased me tremendously; also a letter from Bridget Wilkinson and one from Clive. Clive had no news at all. It was the first letter I had received for months, but he said he had been writing regularly.
4
A New Year
Stanley in Palestine, pensively smoking his pipe.
Wednesday, 1 January 1941
ANOTHER YEAR COMMENCES. I do so wonder what this year has in store for us. Where will we all be this time next year? At the moment I am at Port Said acting embarkation staff officer for the Armoured Division, which has just arrived from England. I came down from Palestine for this job with some others from various regiments, including Peter Ward from the Household Cavalry, Tony Bonham from the Greys, Richard Barber from the Cheshire Yeomanry, Hopkinson from the Beds & Herts. We have all had a most interesting and amusing time.
Yesterday I arranged and saw to the disembarkation of the Duchess of Alloa and slept on board. The Tower Hamlets were on board and I saw Mark Clayton who is now a major! Before returning to Palestine we are putting in for a couple of days’ leave in Cairo. The KDG and Northumberland Hussars are in this convoy.
Friday, 3 January
Richard Barber, Charles Ward and I left early in the morning for Cairo. Paul Bestwood had to return to his regiment. It was a long and tiring journey and the train was very late. We met a gunner on the train, only a youngster, who had won the MC in France. We had a most interesting conversation with him, especially about Dunkirk. He eventually arrived in England with only a pair of blue shorts and one shirt.
We are staying at the Continental Hotel.
Saturday, 4 January
In the afternoon we went to the races at the Gezira Club. I ran into Jack Abdy, who has come down on leave. He lunched and came with us. It was tremendous fun, and I ran into heaps of people who have just arrived from England, including Christopher Taylor who is in the KDG. The whole setting and the weather were grand. The band played and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I met Mrs Peyton, wife of Guy Peyton, who is now on the staff of the Armoured Division in the desert, and working with Gerald Grosvenor. She had a job in Cairo, and lives in a flat, which she shares with Hermione Ranfurly. The latter set off with all the other wives to England, got as far as Durban, then flew to Cairo, where she has now got a job. There has been a tremendous fuss about it all, but she has managed to stay. Dan, her husband, is now ADC to Neame, C-in-C in Palestine. I got one winner during the day.
Goddard has now got a commission and wears our badges. He is an Australian Jew, called Gobtlich, and joined this regiment as a trooper. Flash brought him in. Being a refugee he changed his name to Goddard. I didn’t recognize him when I saw him on the racecourse. He has now got a job at HQ Cairo on the intelligence side as he knows many languages. Jack was furious about him wearing our badges.
Sunday, 5 January
I caught the wrong train back to Palestine after a most interesting and enjoyable time. The famous Lady Allen was on the train. She is a widow aged about 40, who has caught and become engaged to a young subaltern in the Staffordshire Yeomanry aged 23. She is a striking-looking woman, with rather an amazing mind.
Monday, 6 January
I arrived at Lydda early in the morning and drove back to Sarafand, and reported to the orderly room. I saw the adjutant and the colonel, also Donny Player. I find now that, since Basil Ringrose has gone, Michael Laycock has taken charge of the battery, and I have been transferred to Z Battery, which is now at Sarafand. I have also to start another cadre class next week for potential NCOs. Old Stephen has gone on a course at Bir Salim. At the moment, there is no other officer attached to Z Battery. I really shall be glad when we are reformed again into squadrons.
Tuesday, 7 January
Sergeant Major Barker is the BSM of Z Battery. I always have liked him and get on well with him. We are still doing the damned security duties. This battery is in charge of Bir Salim and the wireless station. I went to the wireless station in the morning.
In the afternoon I walked over to Lydda with Sydney Morse to see Derrick Warwick. We had tea over there and came back by car. I have had a grand mail from England, including letters from Clive, a tremendous one from him, Ursula Barclay, Nanny, Rona Trotter and Martha Rodwell. Extraordinary the number of married women I seem to correspond with. Two letters from Bridget Wilkinson. Nothing whatsoever from the family, which is rather disturbing.
We have now taken 70,000 prisoners in the Western Desert. A great many are coming up to Palestine. Basra has fallen.
Wednesday, 8 January
A strong rumour went round today that we shall move up onto the frontier. Where will all this end? I often wonder whether I shall get through or not.
Monday, 13 January
The cadre class started today. Gave lectures during the morning and afternoon. Had an excellent airmail. Letters from Daddy, Pat, Rona, Ione and Diana Pelham. Pat writes an excellent letter. I hear that she is growing into such an attractive girl. She has the sweetest nature of any person I have met.
X Battery leave here tomorrow for our new camp at Banjaimara. Y Battery are returning from Cyprus. It will be an excellent thing when we are all structured as a regiment again.
Tuesday, 14 January
I inspected the cadre class at 8.15 and gave them various lectures during the day. No news from the Libya front. London got another bad raid. It’s so very difficult to see the end of the war, even if we knock Italy out. I think personally that Germany will be beaten economically; if she is not, the worst is still to come, as it will take a very long and bloody battle to beat the German Army. At the moment the war is entirely a war of the air, each side endeavouring to find some new invention to combat the night air raids.
After dinner Mike Riviere and I went to a cinema in Sarafand. I am just listening to the news from England. They tell us that our air force is sweeping the Italian air force from the skies.
Wednesday, 15 January
I had a long discussion with Stuart Thompson as to whether the officers of this regiment lack the joie de vivre and companionship which a Yeomanry regiment should have. I am certainly looking forward to the Regiment being
together again when we can really get down to training, and can take an interest in our own men, instead of being switched about from battery to battery.
Thursday, 23 January
Tobruk has fallen, and we have taken another 20,000 Italian prisoners. The Australians actually entered the town. We captured four more Italian generals and an Italian admiral off a destroyer which was in the harbour.
I wish we could be taking part, or doing something more than just sitting at Sarafand. I had quite a full day, three lectures in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Saturday, 25 January
I came in to lunch to news that Mark and Donny should report to Force HQ at Jerusalem to receive instructions for us to fulfil our role of last August – i.e., heavy gunners for coastal defence.
Great speculation as to where we should go. The colonel got back with the news that we were going to man the guns along the Libyan coast at the ports which have just been captured from the Italians and also in Crete. Consternation everywhere! On the first appearance, it looked pretty grim, especially after all the training we have done here, preparing ourselves for the formation of an armoured division; but on the other hand, we could not have done anything definite for about six months and certainly not have got any vehicles on which to train. Now we shall probably go to Benghazi and Tobruk, which will be very much nearer the scene of the action and, hang it all, it’s experience. It will certainly be better than sitting in Palestine doing various guards.
An Englishman at War Page 11
