An Englishman at War
Page 14
It was all rather tricky.
After lunch we went ashore to look for an OP and also billets. The first one we looked at was a lighthouse right in the Arab quarter and next to the prison. We actually found ourselves inside the prison, and met the commander in charge, who was an Italian sergeant, as usual covered with ribbons, which probably meant nothing. We certainly had a lovely view from the top, but finding billets there was out of the question.
We then called at Area HQ, which was a most impressive building adorned with marble and marble staircases and columns inside. We found the billeting officer, who was also staff captain. He was not at all helpful and seemed to know nothing. We asked him to take us to the bank, which possessed a high tower and might do as an OP.
We had a look at some flats opposite for our billets. They had been knocked about a good deal, but were most elaborate inside, and one or two of them half furnished. In one flat we found what remained of a nursery, with a child’s cot, and toys all over the place. It was a pathetic sight. At Area HQ we asked about the colonel and Micky Gold who had left Tobruk for Benghazi about a week ago. They had seen them, but could find no information as to their whereabouts now. However we saw his sergeant major, who showed us a wonderful collection of rifles, guns (shooting and otherwise), automatics, swords, rapiers, etc., which had been handed in as a result of a proclamation. I have got my eye on a magnificent pair of German sporting guns. He gave me a firing .22 and two boxes of ammunition, which was most decent of him. The Times naval correspondent came on board for lunch. He has travelled a bit with this ship.
As far as we knew the Armoured Division was about 100 miles south-west of Benghazi. During the afternoon an unidentified aeroplane flew over the harbour and was fired on, but no bombs were dropped. Everybody is expecting an air raid again tonight, and I am afraid that the town is a rather obvious target. We shall have to man our Breda gun. There have been raids here for the last four nights. But still they may not come. Most of the civilian population have left now, and the place is quite dead. At the moment there are very few troops in the town, and I can’t see why the Italians would want to bomb it. They scored a direct hit on the hospital last night, and killed the Australian colonel in charge.
We played bridge again after dinner, and again I won. The doctor and the paymaster had quite a heated argument over a bid!
Monday, 17 February
There was an air raid very early this morning. The alarm went about 5.15, and the all clear at 6.45. I manned the Breda gun on the port side. We actually fired about 12 rounds at a plane, which got in the searchlight but it was miles out of range.
We went on shore pretty early and lunched at the hotel with the naval officers from this ship, and a naval commander from Navy House. It wasn’t a very good lunch, and only service people were lunching there, a very representative crowd from the army, navy and air force. We have fixed up an observation post on the top of the port war signal station; we have also found some excellent billets in the shape of a flat in a block almost next door to the observation post. The block has been pretty badly damaged by a land mine, which landed practically next door a few days ago. We have collected some furniture from some of the other flats, and have made it really quite comfortable. These were the luxury flats of the town, and are beautifully built with marble, which must have been brought all the way from Italy.
On the whole, not a great deal of damage has been done. It’s quite clear that the better class Italians evacuated this place in a great hurry.
After dinner we played bridge. Again I played with the paymaster against the first officer and the doctor, and we won for the sixth night in succession.
Tuesday, 18 February
While we were ashore this afternoon there was another air raid, mostly on the harbour. Their target was the convoy, which arrived in from Alexandria. There were about nine planes, all German, and they dive-bombed on the harbour. We saw the beginning of the dive, then took cover. No damage was done. I heard that two were brought down and three damaged. A pretty formidable barrage was put up.
We got on board about 4.30, and then at 6 o’clock, or just as it was getting dark, they came over again. This time high bombing; which is most unpleasant, as you can hear the planes but can’t see a thing until the bomb falls. I have an idea that some magnetic mines were dropped; also quite a lot of stuff fell on land.
Wednesday, 19 February
We have had five air raids in the last 24 hours but no damage has been done. They almost hit a man-of-war as she was leaving harbour. I was on shore for most of them, and had an excellent view of the one in the afternoon when they did some dive-bombing on the harbour. During the morning we were busy making preparations for the arrival of X Battery, and choosing the position for their guns. During our tour, we came across the old barracks and found the QM and medical store, also the armoury. Never have I seen such equipment, especially the medical stuff. Unfortunately most of it had been opened and also instruments looted. I never thought that I should see such utter waste. The Italians must have been preparing for years before war.
We called at Ordnance and found a most pleasant colonel in charge. He told us that he had a very lucky find during the morning. Locked in a drawer he discovered a map showing the positions of all the petrol dumps in the district. One was practically next door to his ordnance depot, and a great many bombs had fallen round them. That’s what they are probably after.
We keep on bringing their planes down. Yesterday when we went ashore we saw two German pilots who had been brought down by A/A fire; two others had been killed. They looked typical Germans.
Thursday, 20 February
Donny Player, Jack Abdy and I left Benghazi for the front line with a view to collecting some captured Breda guns for our air defence. We took Corporal Matthews and one driver, and set off in a 15-cwt Ford truck.
We didn’t go very far the first day and camped for the night in the desert a few hundred yards off the road. The road was excellent except where it had been blown up by the retreating Italians but it had been quickly repaired. It turned very cold at night, but we made ourselves quite comfortable.
By the noise there appeared to be quite a bit of bombing further up the line. The sunset was lovely – it all rather reminded me of the trip Daddy, Derrick and I made in the South African game reserve.
Friday, 21 February
We made an early start and went forward a further few miles and found HQ of the Armoured Division.
Gerald Grosvenor, our ex-adjutant, was there, and in excellent form, also Guy Peyton, who was chief instructor at the Inns of Court. We all lunched together. They really are a most charming crowd. One could not find two nicer people than Guy and Gerald. They are very similar types.
After lunch Donny and Jack went further on to a salvage dump to try to pick up some Breda guns and ammunition, and I went back to prepare the camp for the night. Just outside a village 12 German bombers came out of the sky and machine-gunned the village, road and a camp at the side. We kept well off the road and flat on our noses.
Jack and Donny were also machine-gunned at the camp. We camped at the same spot.
Saturday, 22 February
We travelled all day and arrived back at Benghazi in the afternoon. We brought back with us two Italian lorries and four Breda guns plus ammunition. Quite an extensive air raid during the evening, and some damage was done to the harbour.
Benghazi is certainly quite an extensive place. Graziani had his palace there, and there is also a Roman Catholic cathedral, which the priest told us was damaged when we raided the place endeavouring to hit the Fiat works next door.
Sunday, 23 February
At midday after lunch at the hotel, Donny Player, Jack Abdy and I left Benghazi to return to Tobruk. We left in three trucks.
Monday, 24 February
We motored all day – about 300 miles from Benghazi. It’s an excellent road. We certainly have a long line of communication, and there is only one road.
Tuesday, 25 February
Woken up at 6 o’clock by the air-raid siren. We all went round to the shelter, but nothing was dropped. The colonel came round after breakfast and told me that I should not go back to C with Henry Trotter, but I should go to A Battery as second-in-command under Stephen Mitchell, and also that I should be promoted acting, unpaid, captain. A Battery are at the moment on the north point of the harbour together with Z Battery.
I was most pleased to be made a captain although it is only acting and unpaid, and it will be grand to be with old Stephen again.
I’m afraid we have lost rather a lot lately. First, the old Terror was sunk the day after we left here, but no lives were lost, and in the raid here at Tobruk they got a direct hit on a destroyer – the Dainty, which blew up immediately. I understand very few were saved. And finally a mine sweeper struck a magnetic mine in the harbour and was a complete loss.
In the raid last night we brought down one German plane and possibly two others. The town got a direct hit, four were killed and 80 went to hospital. One tanker was hit in the harbour, one bomber cut off its engines and dived within 50 feet before letting go its bombs.
The Terror had been attacked by German Junkers 88s on 22 February soon after leaving Benghazi. She was badly damaged, but still afloat. The crew had abandoned ship and then she had been towed back towards Alexandria. Sadly, she never made it, and finally sank off the coast near Derna. The Mediterranean Fleet had had a desperately busy time since the Italians declared war, battling the Italian Fleet, supporting the ground forces in North Africa, and providing escort work for convoys heading to Malta. The Fleet had a mixture of ageing capital ships and more modern destroyers, as well as aircraft carriers like the Illustrious (badly damaged by the Luftwaffe in early January). The indefatigable and hugely experienced Admiral Andrew Cunningham, known as ABC, was commanding the Mediterranean Fleet. He was equally well served by a number of skilled and experienced commanders. At this stage of the war, much of the fleet was still manned by pre-war regular members of the navy, and this level of seamanship counted for a great deal.
Wednesday, 26 February
Now I am a captain (acting and unpaid!) in A Battery and second-in-command to Stephen. Our battery is situated on the north side of the harbour, or I should say the north point.
We spent a very busy day pitching tents, and cleaning old Italian gun pits in which to place our three-pounder gun. We also man an Italian gun, in perfect working order, to protect the boom, a captured Breda gun, and two Hotchkiss guns. There is also a proper ack-ack battery on this point plus searchlights worked by the Wiltshire Yeomanry. I understand that we are going to get a couple of lights for our coastal defence guns. At stand to during the evening, the harbour-master and another naval officer came and took up a position on the point with a view to seeing from which direction the bombers dive onto the harbour. In the last raid one came down to 50 feet and hit an oil tanker. It must have come down with its engines cut off. Nothing happened this evening, and the two naval officers stayed for dinner. The Rome radio announced that two German Armoured Divisions had clashed with our troops west of Benghazi.
Thursday, 27 February
Another long day working on the gun pits, pitching tents and digging slit trenches. We had three alerts but nothing was dropped. Derrick Warwick left here and joined C Battery. Jack Whiting came back from Benghazi and has joined A Battery; he told us that since he left raids have practically ceased at Benghazi since we have no shipping there now.
X Battery have gone up there under Peter Laycock. I had a cable from the family wishing me a Happy New Year. It’s taken over two months! It was confirmed on the wireless that our troops had clashed with German troops west of Benghazi. I suppose they got there by sea, or possibly by air.
Friday, 28 February
Flash Kellett, the colonel, came round today and told us that the Greys were handing in their horses on 28 March and becoming cruiser tanks in a brigade with us and the Warwicks. We hope to be relieved of this job by June latest.
Saturday, 1 March
Another air raid last night. As I was duty officer I went up to our Breda gun. The weather has been absolutely foul. A gale has been blowing, which has created a perpetual sand storm, and it’s been as cold as hell. Last night three of our tents were blown down, Michael’s observation post under the cliffs was swamped and became quite useless, and his boat for going across the harbour broke away, and is now half full of water in the middle of the harbour. So it’s not been a very good day.
After dinner we played strip poker, which was great fun. Poor old Jack Whiting eventually had to stand on the chair without socks or shoes, and only a shirt and trousers, and it was a very cold night! In the middle of it all, the air-raid siren went off.
Sunday, 2 March
At last a mail. Letters from Pat, Ione, Bridget and Diana Pelham. I loved hearing from Pat all about the Christmas holidays, and how they spent Xmas Day. Pat told me in her letter that poor Lady Mickey had died on Xmas Eve. She was a most generous person, and had always been terribly kind to Derrick and myself, especially when the family were away. Holme Park was always a second home to us. It made me feel very sad. I shall have to write to Sir Archie. I now feel a longing to get home and see all the family, and my friends.
On the news tonight we heard that German troops had definitely entered Bulgaria. Apparently Bulgaria has not declared war, but she can no longer be considered as a neutral party. Turkey hopes for peace but has quite plainly made it clear that she won’t stand for any infringement of her independence.
It’s now about 10.30; I am writing this by candlelight, and am just about to turn in. We had some enemy planes over about 7.30, and we have had three warnings altogether. I don’t know what damage has been done, if any.
Wednesday, 5 March
We don’t get any news here, but we gather that German troops have fully established themselves in Bulgaria. There was also a very scary rumour that Germany had sent an ultimatum to Turkey but we have heard no detail or confirmation. The colonel got back from Benghazi where he had been visiting X Battery under Peter Laycock. He told us that they were all most comfortable, and free from air raids. Our fighters had brought one German plane down; the pilot had just arrived out from Germany, and had done a raid on our front line. He flew over Benghazi, and tried to land, thinking that he had got back to Tripoli.
The colonel brought some eggs back with him. Tobruk does not possess a single egg or chicken. We really are most comfortable in our mess, consisting of A and Z Battery officers. We all get on very well and have a most amusing time.
Thursday, 6 March
Today I helped in the calibration of the 6-inch Italian guns, which C Battery have taken over. We have got some gunners to do the thing for us with the help of Ordnance. I had to observe the fall of shot from an OP on the left wing.
Friday, 7 March
Four German pilots have been brought down from Benghazi to an officers’ prison camp here. The harbourmaster, who came in for a drink today, had an interview with them. They could all speak English, all were polite, and very confident that Germany will win the war. Ordnance are gradually getting our 4-inch guns into position. But it’s a very slow job.
The British Expeditionary Force began landing in Greece on 7 March 1941. In all, some 100,000 troops – a mixture of British, New Zealanders, Australians and Poles – would be sent to help the Greeks.
Saturday, 8 March
Daddy told me in his last letter that Uncle Kenneth had died on Xmas Day, which was very sad. He was a grand person.
The men were on fatigues during the morning. After lunch I went in
to Tobruk with Michael to do some scrounging. In a yard we found a small sideboard, ideally suited for our mess, so we quickly had it in the truck, feeling rather guilty, as we heard somebody round the corner. We subsequently heard that the Ordnance sergeants had just left it there five minutes ago for their mess.
Monday, 10 March
We have definitely been registered as a tank regiment: it came out in regimental orders. Also, all officers have to learn, read and send messages in Morse code in a week’s time.
Wednesday, 12 March
The colonel is going on a visit to Crete where we have B and Y Batteries manning coastal guns. We gave him a list of things to bring back from Cairo, as the NAAFI is practically empty, these days, and we almost live entirely on rations.
Friday, 14 March
We had a very big raid last night, which lasted from 2.30 until 5.15. They dropped about 84 bombs on the aerodrome a few miles away, but no damage.
Jack Whiting was duty officer and on the guns. He came rushing down here in the middle of it to tell us that they suspected gas had been dropped. There was certainly a stony, acrid smell but we concluded that it was caused by so much HE. It gave us all rather a nasty shock.
One German plane came very low over the harbour, and appeared to drop mines. Unfortunately our Breda got a stoppage at the critical period and only fired one shot. The patrol boat reported that he flew out to sea at a very low height and appeared to be in difficulties.