Introduction
The diary covers Signalman Roworth’s service abroad taken from the two text books written at the time. Each day has a scanned photo of the actual entry.
All diary entries are in black, some minor spelling and grammatical errors have been corrected, but these have been kept to a minimum.
Entries in blue are additional facts either historical or about the places or items mentioned.
Pink text has either an observation by me or where I remember the story as told to me later by my Father differs.
For a full description of the term D-Day Dodger see the wikipedia entry and here is one version of the song.
D-Day Dodgers
Sung to the tune of Lily Marlene
Now we're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy, Always drinking vino always on the spree, 8th Army civvies with the Yanks We live in Rome and laugh at tanks, Cos we're the D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy. We landed at Salerno a holiday with pay, Gerry brought the band out to cheer us on the way, He showed us the sights and made us tea We all sang songs, the beer was free, Cos we're the D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy. Naples and Cassino were taken in our stride We didn't go to fight there, we just went for the ride, Anzio and Sangro were a farce, We did damn all but go on pass, Cos we're the D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy. On the way to Florence we had a lovely time, They ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line, Soon to Milano we will go Now he's cleared off beyond the Po, From all the D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy. Once we heard a "blue light" we were going home, Back to dear old Blighty never more to roam. Then someone said "In Burma you'll fight" We said "Damn That - We'll just sit tight" Cos we're the D-Day Dodgers who live in Italy. Oh, Lady Aster listen to us please, Don't stand on the platform talking at your ease, You're the 8th Army's sweetheart and nation's pride But shut your mouth it's far too wide, That's from the D-Day Dodgers, the boys in Italy. Looking around the mountains in the mud and rain, You'll find scattered crosses, some which bear no name. Heart break and toil and suffering gone, The boys beneath them slumber on. Some of the D-Day Dodgers we left in Italy.
June 1943
Friday 11th
Allied shock troops today occupied the Axis stronghold on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria – and introduced a new tactic to modern warfare. It is the first time that a major fortress has been conquered from the air without the help of land forces.
The island, between Tunisia and Sicily, had been battered by Allied bombers continuously for 13 days. British troops and tanks did not land until noon today, 20 minutes after the garrison commander surrendered.
Saturday 12th
The Italian island of Lampedusa falls to the Allies.
Sunday 27th
On this day I was aroused early from my bed in the barracks at Woolwich. We were all excited because this was to be the start of many an experience pleasant & unpleasant. We had full kit including kit bags & marched to the station 30 of us 4 officers. Here we caught the train to Charing Cross & were conveyed through London in transport to a station where a special train was waiting to convey us to the docks. The ones in question were near home, Liverpool dock. On arriving here we lined up on the side of the water & had a hot mug of tea very welcoming. Then we picked our kit up & were given tickets as we filed aboard which allotted us to a certain Mess Table & position on that table. This we finally reached & here everything became chaotic for a while. This was due to contradictory orders being issued what we had to keep with us & to what we had to hand in to pack stores. When we eventually got settled we had tea after which everyone was struggling to erect a hammock in which we had to sleep throughout the voyage. Towards the end of the evening we pulled out into midstream & anchored.
Monday 28th
The early morning was quite hectic. There were far too many people wanting to wash and share only a few basins still it was managed in sea water which is very hard to produce a lather with. Later we had issued sea water soap which did produce a foam lather. That day we were told our mail had to be in by a certain time otherwise it would not go till we docked at the other side. There was a great flurry of writing then taking place. Nothing further exciting happened that day & we climbed into our hammocks at night.
Tuesday 29th
Early today we set sail & went up to Greenock & we saw some marvelous scenery round the Isle of Aran. I was also lucky in cutting cards & managed to get a ticket to see the film that night on board ship. That night we anchored again.
The Voyage
We eventually set sail & we settled down to the ship’s routine& trying to find amusement for ourselves & also space to sit or lie on deck. The vessel was the S.S. Ormonde the smallest ship of the Orient Line it carried 3,496 troops including officers & men. On it we had some good food three meals a day also on board was a bulk issue canteen & for the mess table you could get an issue of sugar fruit (tinned) jam & chocolate etc. which was very good. Fresh water was available in the morning & evenings for a short time & we all used to fill our waterbottles. The weather & sea throughout the trip was glorious & I as a bad sailor could not have wished for any better. The trip itself was very uneventful only twice did the “Frigates” which were escorting us have to drop depth charges. We saw no aircraft of Jerry’s at all & judging by the armaments of the ships he would have got a hot reception. The way everyone amused oneself was chiefly by playing cards & also the game of “Housey House” was always being shouted out. Every afternoon for about half an hour we had P.T. which at times was quite vigorous. Each morning we had a parade at 10:30 hours while the O.C. troops on the ship inspected it. During one of these parades towards the end of the voyage we heard of the job we were to do & where we were going. Before going through the straits of Gib there was organised a sweep on the time we should pass “Europa Pt.” this we passed at night & one of our crowd won it. The next day we docked outside Algiers the famous North African port but no one was allowed ashore. That evening we sailed again along the north african coast & in the morning we heard read out to us General Montgomery’s message to the 8th Army before the invasion of sicily which had that night started. Later we were told we were members of the 8th Army & we were going to be the G.O.R. at Catania one of Sicily’s main ports. We were also given an outline of the general points of the attack. Later we passed the Island of Pantelleria & then after cruising about the Med docked at Malta. Here we anchored while waiting for the attack to be sufficiently far advanced for us to land. One evening we sailed again & the next day had our first glimpse of Sicily.
July 1943
Tuesday 13th
Monday 19th
This was the day we landed we sailed up the eastern coast & on approaching Augusta two fighter bombers dropped a couple of bombs in between our ship & the one to the side of us. We then sailed into the anchorage at Augusta & we transferred to landing craft which took us & our baggage ashore. There somehow we seemed to leave the orderliness of the ship & descend into a chaotic living again. We assembled on shore & piled our kit bags together & a baggage party was detailed & took charge. the rest of us marched about 1½ miles to a lemon grove where groups of us had to select a tree to sleep under. Water was a problem & had to be drawn from various wells in the vicinity we had rations from the boat mainly bully & biscuit & tea brewings & we started to cook our own grub. That night we made our beds in the open & as it was warm we were alright as far as the weather was concerned. On the approach of dusk Jerry’s bombers came over to attack the harbour & we found ourselves in the centre of flying shrapnel from our own A.A. guns which was very unpleasant & dangerous judging by the pieces of metal we picked up next day.
Augusta
Five hundred US bombers rained down 1,000 tons of high explosive onto the Italian capital today in a massive daylight raid. For two and a half hours Rome shuddered under its first air-raid, as 4,000 pound bombs devastated the city’s railyards, airfields, factories and government offices, but pilots were under strict orders to avoid Rome’s famous historical buildings and the Vatican.
Hitler and Mussolini meet in northern Italy to discuss the worsening military situation.
Tuesday 20th
During the day we did a foraging hunt & managed to pick up some tomatoes & also watermelons to help out our rations. What I found very hard at first was to go to the lavatory. Whether this was due to having to crouch down over a hole in a position which I had not been used to & found very awkward to begin with I don’t know. Later in the day Johnny Jock & I dug a hole to shelter us somewhat during the coming night which again proved as hectic as the first one. Jock this night was on guard & did not therefore sleep in the hole with us. Again we survived being hit but felt very uncomfortable & helpless. One other point about sleeping was one had to smear ones face with mosquito cream to keep away malaria & it brought quite a perspiration out on the face. Which was altogether very uncomfortable sleeping. During this day as well we went for a swim in a disused hole which had filled up with water. Bathing costumes were not necessary & I had quite a good swim the water being very warm.
Wednesday 21st
This day passed very similar to the previous ones mainly getting food & cooking it. One unpleasant job we had & that was to go down to the banks of a nearby river & cut down bamboos which grew to a height of 10 feet. These were used for camouflaging the trees under which we slept. There was plenty of air activity during the day but they were always ours we never saw a german plane. At night it was unfortunately my turn for gaurd & after digging the hole further down to sleep in I had to sleep on top of the ground again under a tree which served as a guard room. I got very little sleep as during the period off we were kept awake by the A.A. Nothing extraordinary happened on guard.
Thursday 22nd
Today we moved our location. All our kit except webbing & small packs rifles went by lorry & we walked or rather marched & it was pretty gruelling due to the heat from the sun which we were not used to. Half way there we had a halt by a stream which we immediately stripped off at & got in. On the other side was a big lemon grove with some lovely big ripe lemons in. We finally arrived at our destination rather done up a couple of fellows had to fall out on the way. After much casting of kit up & down a terraced hill to find a suitable spot we finally swettled & were issued with mosquito nets. Two to each one. Johnny & I slept together. We erected these & were soon in bed. During the evening rations were issued in the form of compo rations. These are boxes of tinned food for 12 or 14 men the latter are best having for example beans & bacon for breakfast. M&V & pudding for dinner & sardines or cheese for tea. Of course the inevitable tin of biscuitswhich one is always running up against. Also a bar of chocolate & 7 cigarettes & a few matches & also some lavatory paper. Making the days rations pretty comprehensive. The nights were much more quiet although we still saw the A.A. over the harbour but were in no danger from it. Our days consisted mainly of getting wood for the fires & digging latrines each day we were very fortunate in having a very deep artificial pool at hand which had running water through it & provided irrigation for the grove. In this we swam numerous times during the day again without any bathing costumes on. During our stay here I contracted a violent diarrhoea which later landed me in hospital. I went sick with it & it was getting cured somewhat although at times I felt extremely ill & could not eat or do any work at all. During our stay here though we managecd to hitch hike to a town nearby called Carlentini & had a wander round. Here I had my first tatse of Italian ice cream. I was not very impressed by the town which had narrow streets & a pauper look about the houses. The people on the whole were very friendly & were very ready to talk to one even though we only understood a word here or there. We struck camp eventually on :-
Carlentini
Friday 23rd
The Sicilian capital, Palermo, has fallen to the Americans without a struggle. In a rapid thrust to the north from the Allied-held southern part of the island, US troops overwhelmed the city yesterday, trapping an estimated 45,000 Axis troops who must now surrender or be annihalated.
General Eisenhower, the Allied C-in-C, described the success as “the first page in the story of the liberation of the European continent”. Axis troops are now on the run right across the island. Further south, the Axis-held port of Catania is besieged. It is being softened up with a fierce bombardment from sea and air while the British Eigth Army, under General Montgomery, advances on it from the south, and Canadian troops drive east, against fierce resistance from German panzers, to cut off the city from behind. Meanwhile, the American Seventh Army is today advancing along the island’s northern coast road, pursuing Italian troops towards the volcanic massif of Mount Etna. It is here that Axis forces plan to fight a final rearguard action, to allow the evacuation that has just begun from the port of Messina to be completed. The attack on Palermo – the result of a 60-mile advance in just 58 hours – was so swift that the defenders had no time to demolish dock and railhead facilities which had escaped Allied bombs. The victory also deprives the Axis of one of its chief Mediterranean submarine bases, and has given the Allies access to a new airfield, from which planes can strike at German and Italian positions far behind the battle lines. US Warhawks, for instance, today shot down 17 enemy fighters in a raid over the island of Sardinia, and Flying Fortress bombers plastered the railway marshalling yards at Foggia, on the eastern side of southern Italy. Sunday 25th JulyMussolini, Fascist dictator of Italy for 21 years, has fallen from power. King Victor Emmanuel has assumed command of the Italian armed forces, and the anti-Fascist Marchal Badoglio has been appointed Prime Minister and Chief of Government. This dramatic news, broadcast by Rome radio tonight, comes at a time when Italian soldiers in Sicily are surrendering in their thousands, and it is obvious that the Allied invasion of Italy itself will not be long delayed. Both the King and the Marshal appealed to the Italian people for loyalty and said that the war would continue, but it is expected that the Duce’s downfall will soon be followed by Italy’s surrender. Mussolini has made no public appearences for weeks; none of the recent events has brought him into the open. He neither visited bombed cities nor rallied his followers when the Allied invasion of Sicily rendered all his pledges worthless. The news of his resignation did not come as a surprise in London, in view of the obvious difficulties of his regime and the vain appeals for help which the Fascist leaders have recently made to Germany. At the same time it is being received with the greatest satisfaction as the first sign of the inevitable collapse of Fascism and, after it, of Nazism.
Monday 26th
In Rome Badoglio declares martial law to prevent civil war.
Tuesday 27th
In Rome Badoglio asks the Allies for peace terms as demonstrations celebrate Mussolini’s downfall.
Wednesday 28th
The Fascist Party is abolished in Rome.
Thursday 29th
Political prisoners are released; Eisenhower offers “peace with honour” if Italy ends aid to Germany.
August 1943
Monday 2nd
The Allies break through the final Axis defence lines on Sicily.
Thursday 5th
This day we moved to near Lentini which is more inland & nearer Catania our final objective. We did not get there till evening being part of the rear party. Johnny & I immediately after a meal set to work erecting our net & camouflaging it. That night the diarrhoea was very bad indeed.
Lentini
Friday 6th
I woke up & felt really weak & ill & when I went on parade the officer told me I could go & lie down, which was all I could do anyway. “The Professor” one of the R.A. fellows had also diarrhoea badly & they arranged for the transport to an M.O. in the afternoon. This took the form of a jeep & with the bumping on the roads I felt pretty sore in the stomachwhen I arrived. He just gave us a dose of the old castor oil & told us to eat nothing until the following day & keep off all fruit with skins & pips including tomatoes. That night I felt pretty bad & also sore about the behind. During the evening “Dusty” was taken very ill with the complaint & was sick as well he was carted off immediately to hospital. That night I was in the net on my own Johnny was on guard. I must say all the fellows had been very decent to me while I had been ill & it meant the fatigues came round a lot quicker.
Saturday 7th
This was a very memorable day for me & the beginning of what proved to be a very tiresome journey. I went sick for treatment again but we went this time to a nearer M.O. in “Lentini”. I took no kit with me never imagining I would need it. The M.O. saw me & looked at my sit upon & said I had external piles. This shook me somewhat & he said I would have to go into hospital & have them removed. I therefore made my way from there to the I C.C.S nearby & the lads who were going back said they would send my small kit on to me. Well I got to this place & after hanging around in a marbled floored passage. A bunch of us went into a room & were interviewed by an officer who verified the M.O. diagnosis & put on my card “Evacuate Sitting”. We then went into the passage again & ate dinner of which I had little. I also managed to ring up & asked for my kit to be sent by D.R. Due to it not coming early I did not go with the first lot evacuated who I believe stopped in Sicily. I went eventually & was told I would be going by air. This shook me again for the second time in the day. We went by lory to the airfield & our names were taken & we clambered aboard a D.C.3 which I noticed had no Red Cross markings on & off we went to N. Africa & I flew over Pantelleriathis time. We landed a El Aouina (Tunis) & went to an R.A.F. General Hospital. Here we were interviewed & the M.O. decided not to lop off the piles & I was put in a Medical ward.
In Hospital
Things passed much the same each day we were roused very early & went to sleep very early. To begin with I was only allowed fluids to drink & felt very hungry I was also getting medicine and ointment for the piles although they never really pained me at all. Everything was quite pleasent & I was sleeping between sheets in lovely well sprung beds. I had just got onto solid food & was feeling a lot betterwhen they decided to evacuate all the army personel & on Friday 13th we went down to the aerodrome again & into the D.C.2’s & were flown from there along the coast west to Philippeville. Here we were taken to the 67 General Hospital & our ward here was a big marque but very comfortable. I had quite a good time & did a little work being an up patient by now & helped to collect meals from the cookhouse & serve them out & wash up.I also had issued here a suit of blues. I also managed a swim in the blue Mediterranean which was about 100 yds from the hospital. I was eventually passed as fit & told I would be going to the G.R.T.D. the following day & had issued to me a blanket KD longs kit bag & mosquito net.
Friday 13th
The allies bomb Rome, Turin and Milan.
Saturday 14th
Badoglio declares Rome an open city.
Sunday 15th
The allies launch an assult on Messina.
Tuesday 17th
The last Axis defences on Sicily crumbled today as British and American troops met up in Messina, opposite the toe of Italy. The whole of Sicily is now in Allied hands. Long-range guns are already pounding coastal batteries on the mainland, Allied warships are shelling the coast roads out of Reggio, and bombers are harrying targets along the length of Italy.
John Daly, an American broadcaster, was with the first platoon to reach Messina city hall at 8:25 am – 50 minutes ahead of the British. “We did not arrivein style,” he reported. “In fact we walked the last seven miles practically on tip-toe, fearing to touch abandoned equipment lest it contained booby-traps. We watched the ground for mines until our eyes ached.”
Then, at 9:15 am, “a lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Army drove up to the advancing Americans. All he said was: “Hello, Yanks. Congratulations.” Daly added: “The city is a complete ruin. Bombs and craters take the place of streets and buildings. The few people were listless and haggard with the horror of what they had been through.”
Tuesday 24th
This day I left hospital & my troubles began & went to 7 Company 6 Brigade 1 G.R.T.D. During my stay here all efforts to get back to my unit failed. We had Basic training including Route Marches, weapon training & also fatigues & generally messing us about but no sign of a posting back to Sicily. Here I met a couple of nice fellows Syd who came from Whally Range & George. I also saw Sgt Avins Signalman Badcock & Tubby Stevens all of whom I knew in 8 AA. The day after I arrived there a draft came in & who should turn up but Freddie Lee a fellow whom I knew when I first joined up. He had been able to rise to the rank of W/Of. Whilst here I saw & played the old game of “Diddle & buck if you put it down you can’t pick it up” or Crown & Anchor & lost on it every time I played. Still it taught me. While here I also tried to become a wireless op & later on an E/S both I was promised various things but nothing came of it much to my disgust.
September 1943
Friday 3rd
The allies land on the mainland opposite Messina. In Rome, Badoglio signs a secret armistice with the allies.
Saturday 4th
The allies capture Reggio di Calabria, a vital centre on the “toe” of Italy.
Reggio Calabria and its coast
Lying in a splendid position on the strait of Messina, with a magnificent coastline praised by poets and writers – Gabriele D’Annunzio called it “the loveliest kilometre in Italy” – is the ancient Region founded around 743 BC by the Chalcidians. There are beautiful and popular beaches nearby and it presents also numerous attractions. The medieval castle granted the city numerous privileges and the title of “metropolis of Calabria”. In the National Museum are exhibited the two famous Riace Bronzes found in the sea off the coast of Riace. The most important dishes are: swordfish “alla ghigliottina”, pasta china (pasta baked in the oven), “cannoli” with cream, and “granita” with coffee.
Wednesday 8th
On parade in the afternoon our names were called out & we thought here at last was our posting. The C.S.M. told us we were going on a semi-permanent posting until we actually were posted & we found out we were going on permanent gaurd at the 100 General Hospital a little way away. I felt very dumpy & so did Syd about this not liking guards at the best of time. About twelve of us went & were to replace some fellows who had been posted. That night Syd & I found ourselves on guard. We did 2 on four off three of us & we were guarding sick P.O.W.s Gerrys & Ities.
We found this on the whole to be a good job as we had 24 hrs off. In our off time we were free to do as we please & managed to get into Philippeville quite often & also got plenty of swimming in the Med. It was lovely & clean & warm. Altogether we were much better off than at the G.R.T.D. I also had a great thrill receiving my first mail here an airgraph from Betty & a letter from Jock & Johnny. I had a few more after those too. One sticky job we had though was being bearers for any dead to be buried which was not so good but did not happen often. We were in tents again & the trouble with them was we had a lot of fleas & were bitten a lot. Eventually we were recalled as the job faded out. They removed the prisoners to another hospital.
Italy has surrendered to the Allies unconditionally. In a broadcast this evening, General Eisenhower announced that a representative of Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Prime Minister of Italy Since the fall of Mussolini in July, had signed a military armistice with the Allies several days earlier.
Hostilities between the armed forces of the Allies and those of Italy terminated at once, Eisenhower declared. Then, in a clear invitation to Italy to turn on its former ally, he added “All Italians who now act to help eject the German aggressor from Italian soil will have the assistance and support of the Allies.” In the wake of the broadcast, which followed a secret meeting four days ago between Eisenhower and Badoglio, the Italian government halted all ships, trains and vehicles carrying German troops, and the Italian garrison on Corsica was reported to have overpowered German forces on the island.
The sudden capitulationtook the Nazis by surprise. Less than an hour before the broadcast, Berlin radio was reporting “solid resistance” by Italian and German troops to the British invasion of southern Italy.
Philippeville
Skikda, formerly Philippeville, city and port, northeastern Algeria, on the Gulf of Stora, near Constantine. Exports include fruits, vegetables, livestock, wheat, iron, and marble. Major industries include the processing of fish and agricultural products, the smelting of iron ore, and the manufacture of aluminum. The site of the city has been occupied by successive settlements since antiquity. The present city was founded by the French in 1838.
Thursday 9th
The Allies land at Salerno, near Naples, meeting stiff German resistance.
Salerno
Friday 10th
German troops occupy Rome.
Sunday 12th
The Germans claimed tonight to have rescued Mussolini from his prison somewhere in Italy. A special announcement from Hitler’s HQ in Berlin said: “German parachutists, and men of the security service and the armed SS, today carried out an operation for the liberation of Mussolini, who had been imprisoned by the clique of traitors. The coup succeeded. The Duce is at liberty.”
This is the first definite news of Mussolini since he resigned seven weeks ago. There are no details yet of how his rescue was carried out, but the involvement of parachutists suggests a daring behind-the-lines operation.
Friday 17th
The Germans are retreating from Salerno as the Allies join in a continuous line across southern Italy.
Sunday 19th
Italian troops seize control of Sardinia.
Monday 20th
The Allies begin an attack on Naples.
Wednesday 29th
We arrived back at G.R.T.D. to find it very crowded & settled down to being messed about in general. I was not feeling too good either being under the M.O. for diarrhoea again, but this was not half as bad as it was in Sicily.
Thursday 30th
The Allies enter Naples as the Germans pull back.
October 1943
Saturday 2nd
Our names were again called out & we were really on our way out for good. Syd was not though but Bob another fellow who had been on the guard with me was & he was a real decent fellow came from Hamilton. We said cheerio to Syd who was sorry he was not with us.
Sunday 3rd
This began one of the most amazing journeys I have had. We were awakened early & had breakfast & given haversack rations & went to the station in lorries. We were split up into parties by now there being 27 signals in ours. We were all due to ride the train together in the same cattle truck. On the outside of which there read “Hommes 32 Chevaux 8″. We were given rations for five days which shook us. We found out we were going to Bizerta which was about 180 miles away. This was easy a days traveling at the most yes in England but alas not in “Nord Afrique” no four days. We were shunted & stopped & messed about with, it was terrific. We were nipping off the train & brewing up at every stop & hanging the fire on the carriages & getting on again if caught in the middle of it. We had also a very rough crowd of fellows with us two of whom were drunk before starting from Ph. 6 of them were left behind at Constantine but they managed to catch the train up again somehow. We ended the journey with one man down he was left in the “mush” at constantine. Sleeping was a horror as there was no room to lie down. Here Bob & I fell in with two other fellows Len & Fred the former being a T.S.B.O like myself.
Bizerta
Few cities have a strategic a position as the town the Romans called Hyppo Diarrhytus. It is located on a strip of land that connects the Mediterranean and the huge, natural harbor named after the city. The incomparable shelter for ships explains why Bizerta has always been so important, and why it has been Punic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Turkish… Today the city is lively and prosperous. The well preserved Median, with its mosques, souks, and Moorish houses, offers many pleasant discoveries for the visitor. Its winding streets end at the Old Port, where there are coffees and small docks for fishing boats, and the atmosphere here is unique. A visit to the fish market is a must.
Wednesday 6th
In the morning we arrived at Bizerta in the pouring rain had to dump our kit at the side of the line & march 3 miles to the Texas Transit Camp. We were wet when we arrived & it was terribly muddy& were pushed 10 in a tent. Our kit came up later when we had dried off & we had to help pull the lorries out of the mud. Finally bed& oblivion.
The Germans are reported to be looting Rome of art treasures ahead of the Allied advance.
Thursday 7th
Things passed very easy while at the camp the hardest part being getting meals for which there was numerous queues. During my stay here I managed some washing which I badly needed doing. We did not have the chance to visit Bizerta which had been badly knocked about & really wasn’t worth it.
Saturday 9th
We moved off to the docks today & boarded the LST‘s which were to transport us. There was also some Yanks on board & as usual they got the bunks & we had to sleep on the deck. Bob & I found a nice place under one of the gun mountings forward. Our kit bags nearly missed us as the lorries which were due to go back for a second load didn’t & some commandeered transport just made it before we sailed. The food on the voyage was good being for the most part American rations. I was in high spirits thinking I was due to go to Sicily but on the second day out we learnt we were bound for Taranto which was a bit of a blow. On the night of 11th a storm broke & there was lightning & a deluged of rain which wet us through & washed us down below & we spent a wet night half awake & asleep below.
Taranto
Taranto
Tuesday 12th
About midday we sighted land which finally got nearer & in the evening just as it was going dark we steamed into the inner harbour at Taranto. I have never seen such a fine harbour or such a big one & there were plenty of warships etc. there including a number of units of the Italian fleet. We docked & disembarked at night & spent the night in a big shipbuilders place on the quays which was quite comfy for the night sleeping on planks of wood.
Wednesday 13th
We arose & shaved etc. & had one of the best breakfasts I had seen whilst in transit who organised it I don’t know but it amazed me. We then donned our kit & marched to the X transit camp at Taranto. After putting us down in one spot & Bob & I had a tent made out of our groundsheets we had to pack up & move about ¼ mile away. Here in the dark amid much confusion we were placed in wooden huts, which had been an Italian barracks until the army had blasted it & they were in various states of collapse. Whilst at this camp we again got messed about having various fatigues to do if & when they could catch or find us. I went into the town about 3 times after which I had no money & did not bother again. I found very little to buy of any value most of the goods having a very cheap look about them. The Italians themselves are a very poor type of people & I am not impressed by them. While we were in the huts, which which had no tiles on the roofs, we got wet through about 3 times& eventually moved in[to a] house confiscated by the army this lasted two days & we then moved into tents again. These though were very good being I.P. & also having floor boards in them. We spent our nights here playing bridge & had some good games. Our lights were made by putting 4 x 2 in tins filled with margarine. The latter we collected at meal times from odd bits thrown about. On Oct 27 our names were read out again & we were to move the next day.
The decleration follows a wave of atrocoties and looting since the Italian surrender last month. In Rome, German troops have been stealing Old Masters, pricelelss manuscripts and art treasures.
Naples, now under Allied control, was subjected to a five-day reign of terroras retreating soldiers took revenge on their Italian “betrayers”. In one case, the Germans planted land mines under a room, herded more than 100 civilians into it – then detonated them.
Soldiers roamed the city almost at random, looting and blowing up buildings. Hospitals were attacked to destroy their stocks of food. Water mains and sewers were dynamited to foul water supplies. Thousands of civilians have died. Resistancehas been svagely put down. In the village of Aversa, near Naples, 80 Italian policemen and 20 civilians were shot in reprisal for the death of a single German.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of disarmed Italian soldiers are being crammed into sealed trains under gaurd and taken to Germany as slave labour.
Thursday 28th
We started out & marched to the station this time the journey was much better riding in the II classe Italian coaches. It only lasted a couple of hours we arrived at the 2(br) Corps Reinforcement Unit. Here I learnt finally that due to me being away from my unit so long I would not be returning there & was placed in the pool. The first thing we had on arriving was a kit check & the 2 confiscated all surplus stuff. The first night here due to our tent only having been put up that day it had no drainage ditch & it poured down again. I got washed out & evacuated to a drier tent. Most of our time here was spent in fatigues digging drainage & whatnot. Oh I got caught for guard & was on with Len it was cushy though but exceptionally cold. Bob lucky fellow got sent back to his own unit & broke up our bridge school. One remarkable thing about the place was what was termed “the market” which was a congregation of Italian vendors selling odd things it also sported a number of barbers. Eventually our names were called again & I found myself going to 8th Army Sigs Len unfortunately was going elsewhere.
Thursday 31st
Allied armies trying to inch their way up the boot of Italy – “like a bug on one leg,” as Winston Churchill put it – have run into stiff resistance north of the Volturno River. The Nazis have transformed the Benedictine monastery at Monte cassino into an almost impenetrable fortress.
The Allies are short of men, and geography is against them: the rugged Appenines make ideal shelter for Nazi machine gun nests;there are few roads; the land is marshy. The weather is against them, too: fog hampers Allied planes, and winter is close.
November 1943
Thursday 4th
We were to move today so an early rise last minute packings & we were ready we drew haversack rations two cheese sandwiches & a small packet of dates, the latter were really good. We all formed up on parade & told we all would be going to the 200 transit camp at Foggia which was about 100 miles away & after our previous experience of train travelling in Italy I thought it would be pretty good. We marched to the station (FSMO) it was about ¼ mile away & waited around until the train steam up on which certain carriages were reserved for us & we boarded. It did very well up to Bari & here the journey started to assume a bleaker aspect. We were shunted about Bari for ages & finally left to rot in a siding until about 15:30 when they attached umpteen goods wagons to us & off we went at a very slow rate. Every station which we came to carriage & wagons had to be shunted off & on us & we had to settle down to a night in the train. We each made ourselves as comfortable as possible I slept on the floor.
The allies seize Isernia, a key German position on the way to Rome.
Foggia
City (1991 pop. 156,268), capital of Foggia province, in Apulia, S Italy. It is a transportation and industrial centre and the main wheat market of S Italy. It is a highly diversified secondary industrial centre. It has long been the custom to store grain in huge holes dug in the squares of the city. An earthquake in 1731 destroyed much of Foggia. The city was a favorite residence of Emperor Frederick II, who built (13th cent.) a fortified castle there (since greatly reconstructed).
Friday 5th
The train still ambled along & stopped & then ambled again & towards midday we found out that it was the engine itself which had broke down & could only get one boiler full of steam up at a time when that was used up we had to wait ½ hr or so till it filled up again. Finally we reached a station where another train was added. Then we had to wait around because from there to Foggia there was only a single track & we were waiting for a train coming back down it. Well just like the army we arrived at Foggia just as it got dark. We detrained & marched to the transit camp about 2 miles through the town which was a ruin having been heavily bombarded in the advance. We found the camp situated in a huge block of flats & had a nice comfortable & dry room to sleep in that coupled with the hot meal we had brightened things up. Then it was bed & was glad of it.
Saturday 6th
On the parade after breakfast we learned that we would probably be away today which pleased us so we dismissed & packed up our things. On the afternoon parade we were called out & bundled into two lorries & taken to the 111 FMC another transit camp atLucera about 16 miles away. We slept here in an old brickworks it what used to be the storage for them. A Signals Officer interviewed us here from the C.S.O. pool & apparently we learned that the 24 of us for the 8 Army Sigs were really unposted & he promised to bring back posting for us the next day. Incidently I found out that one of the chaps with us worked for Shell in London.
Lucera
Postcards of Lucera bought during the war.
Sunday 7th
As promised this officer turned up & had our postings & I actually found myself bound for Main 8 Army Sigs 3 Coy which was only a few miles away & this Officer saw me there in the truck . I reported at the company office & was put in 28 Operting Section so I duly reported at their office which was trhe Sgts’ tent. They had just moved from bivouacs into tents but had not enough to go round so I had a bivy all to myself & had the rest of the day to settle in & get myself organised. The fellows seemed quite friendly & Willing to help me out. Most of them had been with the unit right from El Alemaine. At night I went to the recreation room attached to the camp which also served as a conference room & was in a big farmhouse building. It was very cosy here & had a radio playing & a wood fire going.
Monday 8th
I got up far too early not knowing what the time was & had to wait around for breakfast at 0700 hrs after this I washed & shaved & also scrounged a square can from the cookhouse to make into a washing tin. Went on parade at 0900 hrs but it was nothing spectacular. After the parade two of us had to go to the armorers to help them but found they did not need anyone & just hung around. After dinner I had to see all the rifles went back the right persons. At night “Pop” one of the fellows invited me in the section tent to write and I wrote four letters mainly to the lads I had known in the army & then I had an early bed.
Tuesday 9th
Getting up in a morning is extremely hard as it is very cold & there is usually a cold wind blowing this makes shaving in the open pretty drastic. On parade again this time for the R.S.M. who I take it is a bit of a blighter & we had skeleton order & rifles & he inspected all the company himself it took ages & could hardly hold our rifles by the time he finished. Afterwards I had a job helping one of the drivers pitch the roof of one of the mobile exchanges. This job finished about 1430h & I went & had a bath in some huge wooden tubs in which we were allowed about 4″ of hot water but it was a real treat. At night I went along with “Pop” to the cinema in town by truck & saw the Marx Bros in “Go West” which was very good indeed & also very funny.
Wednesday 10th
After parade I had nothing to do & it was lovely & warm in the morning. So I had my blankets out to air & also packed all my stuff in my big pack which is how all the other fellows have their kit & I thought it advisable. In the afternoon went along to the Recreation room again & armed myself with numerous airgraphs & wrote to all the people I promised to when home. This took me 11 airgraphs not bad going. At night I got a ticket to see an ENSA show “Hello Happiness” in Lucera (transport provided) & went along. Getting in was quite a farce as numerous people without tickets got in & we had to stand at the front. It was well worth it as it was a fine show. I also saw my name on the next list for duty for the next week so was very pleased.
Thursday 11th
Armistice Day & I never realised it at all till it had nearly gone. Went on duty in the afternoon & saw the exchage in action. 3 FoF boards having some 160 lines. I quite enjoyed it being the first time for months to any real, what one might term, progresive work. In the evening went along to one of the tents & spent the evening there. We had a brew of tea & some toast & cheese & then we were on duty again all night this proved a very slack period & got to sleep a few hours at 0300.
Friday 12th
This was our day off & it was a really lovely sunny day not too warm. I got paid in the morning 1200 Lire sounds a lot but it is only £3. In the afternoon I applied for a pass & went intoLucera with Tom one of the fellows I had been on with and actually an old SAA man. We managed to get some cards of the place & look around in general. We were particularly interested in an old castle but of course we were unable to ask its history as we didn’t speak the language. We also got some blue & white flashes for our battle dress. We got back for dinner & afterwards retired to the recreation room to write up this diary which I had started.
Saturday 13th
Our busy day were on from 0800 to 1230 & the board was very busy & kept one fuly occupied. In the afternoon went to see 3 Coy play 4 A.F.S. at rugby it was a grand game but we had to leave at half time in order to get back for dinner as we were due on again in the evening. Incidently although the team were winning 13-0 at half time they lost 18-16.
Sunday 14th
I have been here now a week & have realy like it, better now as I am beginning to get to know some of the fellows who seem a grand lot. This morning we had no parade so we are in the luck with our duties ths week. Tom told me I should probably get my DII after a while not that it matters much. In the afternoon went on duty weather dull Sunday afternoon traffic quite slack. After dinner drew my NAAFI rations & had “two” air letters issued one to be sent free for Christmas. I went along to Tom’s tent & wrote to Betty & started one home but did not finish it before going on duty. What we did have was a brew of tea on the old primus very good. I drew the last turn for duty & so at 2300 got down but did not get much kip as the wind was terrific & the side of our shelter was all loose & kept brushing over the bed & keeping me awake.
Monday 15th
The duty passed quite calmly I managed to finish off the letter home & handed them in when I came off. After breakfast got the rest of my Naffi ration & then made my bed & went to sleep. Tom woke me up for tiffin. In the afternoon it was fine & did a little washing a pair of socks my two [] handkerchiefs & my tea cloth. Later I had a hot bath in the 5″ of water in huge wooden tubs & I felt much better the weather altered & it rained a little followed by the wind When it cleared just before dinner Tom & I went to the well for some water & got wet through coming back into the bargain.
After dinner which was also a wet affair we went to the pictures & saw a great film Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland in “The Major & the Minor” it was really funny & I felt sorry when it was over. When we came out of the cinema it was a lovely night with a full moon. I felt like making use of it & going for a walk but crawled into my bed instead.
RAF Wellington bombers are reported to be using new techniques to allow night-time precision bombing.
Tuesday 16th
Manage to get up early about 0645 had wash & shave before breakfast & go on duty. As usual in the morning this was pretty hectic but I survived. I am getting to know the board now. When I came off the Sergeant said I could go into one of the tents as there wsa a space, so I moved my stuff over & packed up my bivouac. Went on duty in the evening again were kept going. It rained as well & I felt a lot better about my kit now it was in a tent. When I came off duty the lads in the tent offered me a mug of tea which was quite good. I found it much warmer in the tent & did not have my overcoat over me.
Wednesday 17th
It was raining a litle when I got up so had to go for my breakfast in my gas cape. Afterwards got all ready to go on parade which was a skeleton order & rifles but when we got on parade it started raining again so it was cancelled. I had to go back & clean my rifle again for show. It was very wet so I stopped in the tent & read a book I had. In the afternoon went on duty & found it busier than usual in the afternoon. During the evening went in Tom’s tent & wrote part of a letter to Betty which I must finish tomorrow I then had a lie down & went on duty. It had by then cleared up but I could tell we were in for a cold spell. At 2300 the other two got down & I did the first shift till 0200 hrs there was very little traffic & I finished off my book “Peril at end house” by Agatha Christie quite good one of her Hercule Poirot.
Thursday 18th
I came off duty with cold feet I had not been able to get them warm all night. After breakfast I did some washing a shirt towel & socks & also hung my blankets out to air. The weather this morning is sunny & warm the Cpl in our tent played his banjo during the morning & was really good. After dinner got cleaned up & had to go to the MO. for an innoculation we had 1cc anti typhus Vaccine (cox) did not feel any effects just a slight stiffness of the elbow which soon wore off. Bought some airgrgraphs on the way back intend to get some writing done this evening. Dinner ws very good being Bully croquetts (rissoles to me only long) peas, carrots & potatoes Duff & sauce & tea. After dinner went to the recreation room. I finished off the green envelope letter to Betty (40) & wrote airgraphs home (26) Edith, Marion, [L Lumn, Mr Deighton] When I got back to the tent I had quite a bit of mail waiting from Betty I had an ordinary letter (29) 20 Sept an air letter (32) 6 Oct. From home (13) 8 Oct. From Margaret 7 Oct From Marjorie 11 Oct. This made me feel much better & I also went and had my half bottle of beer with “[frig]”
Friday 19th
Woke up and heard the rain falling but it stopped as I got up. I posted my previous night mail & went on duty. The switchboard was quite busy in the morning. In the afternoon I made my bed a thing which is worth spending a little time on as it makes all the difference between a warm nights sleep & a cold restless one. After this I went & had a bath & washed my hair. On arriving back at the tent a corporal was recounting his experience of having nearly being electrocuted he had 9000 volts through him when mending a broken down line & a power cable fell across it. The power was so great he could not move a muscle. At night the board was exceptionally busy for an evening & I got told off for no apparent reason by Maj Betts the O.C. of our Coy expect his liver was upset. Felt very tired on coming off duty & was soon asleep.
Saturday 20th
This morning it was my turn to go on parade not being on duty till 12:30. It was a Coy Commanders parade. (skeleton order & rifles) we all got cleaned up & on parade & it started to rain so they just called the roll & dismissed us. Unfortunately by that time our rifles were wet & required another cleaning when we got back to the tent. We were issued with two air letters again one of which could be sent for free but there is some doubt as to whether the latter goes before Christmas. I must find out for sure as I have already sent one off to Betty thinking she would get it soon. Tom’s tent who had been harbouring an injured dog had to shoot it & bury it as it was bleeding inwardly & they could do nothing for it. In the afternoon went on duty & found traffic moderate although they had had a very busy morning. After dinner I lay in bed & had a doze & then had a piece of pudding which Bert one of the lads in the tent had made from bits of stuff supplied from our various meals. Later on I had a drink of tea & went on duty. Oh during the morning I wrote an airletter to Betty (41) & posted it & started one to home but did not finish it before going on duty. During my night duty I had to middle turn 0200-0500 & finished reading “The Man from Nowhere” which was not too bad.
Sunday 21st
Came off duty & during breakfast time it started raining making our trip to Lucera pretty impossible. I shall have to get a haircut somehow. Finished off letter home. It was quite a miserable day rained the whole time up to dinner & there was nothing to do. We had our Naafi rations today & in the evening went to Lucera to see “Sunny” with Anna Neagle & John Carroll. It would have been alright but being an army audience there were various remarks & shouting passed in some parts especially the love scenes.
Monday 22nd
On duty early & it was a lovely day but I felt lousy. I have a terrific head & am very hot in fact feverish hope I don’t have to go sick. In the afternoon aired my blankets & finished off drying my shirt also scrubbed my garter & then lay down as I felt worse. On duty in the evening felt really bad and was thankful when 21:00 hrs came I went straight to bed & spent a restless night.
Tuesday 23rd
We all woke rather late 07:20 & although I am a lot cooler I still have a splitting headache. This morning the step up step up went off so we should be moving soon. I must try & keep well for this move or I am sunk again. The weather today is wet again but this time it was more thoughtful & rained before we went on parade so it was cancelled. I spent the rest of the morning in bed & I felt better for it when I went for dinner. When we got to the exchange we found the side tents where we usually slept on nght duties flooded with water. It was a very quiet afternoon. I must mention here something I forgot the other day. On eof our local extensions was out & it was found to be due to someone having lit a fire on the line. In the evening I again went to bed but did not sleep much. I received a letter from home N°4 written 27 July to the A.P.O. N° I had these odd letters keep turning up now & again. On night duty I had the last turn 05-0800 & we all slept in the exchange itself a bit crushed but still “you’ve got to rough it on active service” as Bob always said.
Wednesday 24th
For a change it was a fine day & went into Lucera with Ron, Vic & Tom. We first of all had a haircut & whilst in the barber learned that two tommies were to marry Italian girls that day in Lucera. After the haircut had a general look round but did not see very much at all. I did meet a fellow I knew whilst in transit & learned that he is stationed just across the way from me at D.A.F. so I must contact him again. We went into a cafe & had some coffee & some sort of cakes to eat which had a high percentage of almonds & walnuts in a thing which is plentiful out here. After this we got a hitch back on a jeep which did everything bar fly, anyway we got back in time for tiffin. In the afternoon did odd jobs & wrote airgraph to Betty 42 & home 28 & to Margaret & Marjorie. In the evening we lit a charcoal fire in an old jam tin to warm the tent. Jack lent me a book of short stories and started reading “My Man Godfrey” which is very funny. Later we brewed up some tea & went to bed.
Thursday 25th
I woke up & found a terrific gale blowing & when I look out the sunrise was just a very red brilliant strip above the horizon. Anyway got up & shave & went on duty the morning was a very quiet one indeed. In the afternoon had another 1cc Typhus innoculation & afterwards I changed my shirt & pants. The evening duty was quite hectic for one reason a gale was blowing & another I had quite a row with REs over not getting their call to Lemoli quicker than I did. These fellows expect miracles. I arranged over the phone to see Len the following day at 0930. When I came off duty the lads had a hot cup of [] waiting which was apetizing as I felt a bit groggy again am wondering if it is the innoculation.
Friday 26th
Woke up with a terrific headache. I can’t understand it at all & my body feels quite sore to touch guess its old age. Went on parade & afterwards went down & spoke to Len at the gate. He is apparently enjoying life. In the afternoon went on duty & at night had a sleep before going on nights. I went on duty & did not feel too good at all. It was my first turn but at 0100 hrs had to wake Tom up. I thought I was going to be sick went outside for a couple of minutes but could not be sick. Tried to finish my sleep but at 0140 had to wake Tom again I felt really bad & lay down first informing him to call me early as I wanted to report sick.
Saturday 27th
At 0530 I woke up again and had to dash out & was sick & felt a little better after it but I went off early and saw the M.O. by this time I had an intermittent pain in my stomach. The M.O. examined me and said I was constipated & gave me two spoonfuls of senna. I got back to the tent & I thought it would not be powerful enough to work me so took some Andrews & went to bed. I had to get up a moment later because of pay. I drew £4. The rest of the day I stopped in bed & managed during the course of it manage the lavatory twice. I had nothing to eat except at dinner when I had a piece of duff & for supper made some toast on the old charcoal fire & had a cup of tea. After that I went to sleep.
Sunday 28th
I woke up & felt much better & also after breakfast I heard Walt was at Tactical Bomber Force which can’t be very far away. I also had two letters one from Jock saying that Johnny had been transferred to 15 c of G & that he thought they would be disbanded soon. The other was from none other than [Chas loc] & he is also here in Italy somewhere. He asked me to be be “best man” for him after the war & I accepted the offer by writing back to him today. I also dropped a line to Jock & one to Johnny. In the evening went on duty & nothing much happen when I came off found a real batch of letters waiting for me some of the earliest written to me since leaving England. Read one or two but did not have timefor them all. The one of the letters from home had an airgraph from Walt in it & also a letter from [Chas Doc]. After getting in bed I felt rather shivery & could not get to sleep for ages my feet were so cold.
Monday 29th
Did not feel so good when I got up but managed to get on parade in time after this was over I felt pretty deadly so went & lay down. Did not have any tiffin but after going on duty had to come off again & go on a special sick report. The M.O. told me to go & bed down & see him the next day he also gave me a couple of pills to take. I went back to the tent & got into bed & I was like a [] & remain like it all night.
Tuesday 30th
Went sick again & he said I had apparent jaundice and would have to go to hospital. This I did not like but could do nothing about. Went to Foggia on a lorry which was going to Bari & it dropped me off at the wrong place & got a lift by Military Policeman in a jeep to the 14 Fld. Amb. The doctor examined me & they also took a blood sample which showed nothing. I do not seem to be very yellow so I am hoping that it is not jaundice at all. I was agreably surprised as well in Walt & Chalky turning up just before dinner & they said they would come back in the afternoon. Could not eat much at all for dinner although somehow I felt hungry as well. After tiffin Andy & Ron turned up but we had a good chat about old days. They also brought me a couple fo books & Andy presented me with some “life savers” (acid drops). After they had gone I read a little & then slept.
Badoglio strips King Victor Emmanuel III of his official titles
December 1943
Wednesday 1st
Continued reading book after the M.O. had been round I was told that I would be evacuated lying which meant on a stretcher. Before we left we had a Naafi issue & after tiffin we were carted away to the ambulance. The latter took us to an airfield where we were transferred tp another ambulance & left for quite a while I managed to finish my book. Later rthe four stretcher cases in the ambulance were taken round & placed in a DC2 & off we went to Bari. When we landed here they unloaded the plane but forgot all about us for a while. Eventually an ambulance turned up & we were taken to the 98 Gen. Hosp. where I went to bed between sheets & wearing pyjamas again. There was an air raid on at the time & the lights were out but there were no incidents & the lights soon came back on again. I then had some soup & dry bread. I have now finally got jaundice which means a fat free diet & about three weeks hospital oh away having had two blood slides taken before entering here they started to take another I was beginning to feel like a pin cushion.
Thursday 2nd
I was awakened not to early & managed a wsh & shave before breakfast & hafd my temp & pulse taken. Then the sisters came round & made the beds & then the M.O. made his rounds. There are six in our room 3 Canadians & I have jaundice. a Royli next to me has trench feet one fof the first cases seen over here in the war & there is a Navy man who is a survivor from a minesweeper who is going out tomorrow. The day wore on we had chicken or turkey or some such animal for dinner a bit toughbut quite a change. for tea we had some jelly which was also something I had not experienced for a time. After tea things started to happen I was told I was being evacuated & shortly afterwards there was an air raid on Bari after watching the A.A. for some time the bombs started dropping & I evacuated to the cellar one landed nearby & blew all the widows out of the hospital a few people were hurt by flying glass. Soon the planes went & I went upstairs to bed again & could hear amunition going off inthe harbour & presently a whole ship load went up what a sight & what a blast finished off the remaining windows in the hospital. After this tried to go to sleep but was woken up for this evacuation had to dress & then chase up my kit for I did not want to loose my great coat. Found out after all this I was meant to be a stretcher case & they plonked me on one in the ambukance & off we went landed up at the railway station & was put on an ambulance train which was extremely cold. When full we set off for an unknown destination.
The Germans make a surprise attack on the town of Bari, on the eastern coast. (see above)
Friday 3rd
We had breakfast on the train then landed up at Taranto where we were transferred to ambulances and imagine my disappointment when the doors opened. I saw a ship at the side. Worse was to come though after being put aboard I learned it was bound for Philippeville the place I had just left which meant I GRTD when I am discharged. Anyway later on it was altered to Algiers which is worse in a way. Well I’ll have to wait and see. The rest of the day passes very quietly & I slept nearly all the time.
Saturday 4th
We were woke up not to early these hospitals must be getting human. I went along to the toilette for a wash and shave during the morning felt very sleepy despite the fact that I slept all night. The treatmentconsists of salt & a fat free diet for dinnerI had potatoes peas & lean meat. The latter was fresh & tasted good but no gravy for a sweet I had jelly whereas other people had rice pudding. The ship I am on is St. Andrew a cross channel boat of just over 1900 tons but I believe it cran drawer 20 knots when put to the test. The afternoon passed uneventfu(ally)ful because I slept the whole time. For tea had pressed meat & pickles & dry bread. After this meal I went along to the lavatory and found the ship to be rocking a lot when I came back I felt queer & was soon sick (Dad was always a bad sailor)after which I felt alright again but slept badly during the night.
Sunday 5th
The sea seems much calmer & early this morning well about breakfast time passed Pantelleria. I am beginning to loose count of the number of times I have seen this Island. After breakfast wrote a letter to Betty. The next rest of the day passed very quietly. Read a little & slept a little towards evening the sea calmed off & we were then hugging the N. African coast.
Monday 6th
Was awakened as usual & presented with a dose of salts. After this went along & washed & shaved. After breakfast mended two pairs of socks one clean one dirty. We are due to dock tomorrow. The rest of the day passed uneventful except that I had a touch of diarrhoea. They ceased giving me salts.
Tuesday 7th
This morning after breakfast we sighted Algiers but did not finally dock till after dinner & they started unloading at about 1400. We were all placed on stretchers & then passed through a hatch in the side of the ship like so much baggage. outside a Red cross sister gave me a packet of cigarettes & then was put in an ambulance & away we went on arriving at the hospital 95 Gen we were docketted again & I was taken to ward M17 which was a marque it was very cold in here & I felt quite miserable for a bit. Some orderly or other brought me pyjamas& a suit of blues etc & went to bed after first managing to get a book to read. The supper for the new arrivals another fellow & I was quite good as we had chicken & potatoes & after was peaches (sliced) I read after this till nearly lights out by which time I was feeling a little warmer & I had a good nights sleep.
Wednesday 8th
Was awakened with the lights being put on soon after this breakfast came along a grapefruit & a plate of porridge & tea without any milk in & bread without butter but with syrup. The latter two are due to the fat free diet we are on. there are three bowls for washing in & managed to get one before the morning was out. Te M.O. never came round during the morning & for dinner we had lean meat potatoes & carrots followed by rice pudding & finally a cup of tea. Oh we also had a few toffees issued in the morning & also 7 cigs the latter I gave away. (he did not smoke and told me he always gave them away apart from towards the end of the war when he sold them as he did not know the other people he was with) During the afternoon the M.O. came round & after looking at my eyes said I could get up the next day & also I might go on ordinary diet. Nothing happened after this I read a little & went to sleep early.
Thursday 9th
After breakfast I got up & dressed in the blue uniform of the army hospital it felt very cold & I wrote a letter home also posted letter to Betty. After dinner I went along to the showers & had a much wanted one although it was a cold one. I felt better after it. Supper time was my first meal on ordinary diet & consisted of a piece of spam. After supper went to bed & finished off the book I was reading “Midwinter” by John Buchan. A story of intrigue about the Pretenders bid for the throne of England. After this went to sleep & woke up hearing it raining during the night.
Friday 10th
Saturday 11th
Sunday 12th
Monday 13th
Tuesday 14th
Wednesday 15th
Thursday 16th
Thursday 16th
Friday 17th
Saturday 18th
Saturday 18th
Sunday 19th
Monday 20th
I helped to make the coffee & then went for dinner
Tuesday 21st
Wednesday 22nd
Thursday 23rd
Friday 24th
Saturday 25th
Sunday 26th
Monday 27th
Tuesday 28th
When light we found
Wednesday 29th
A big draft went off this morning
Canadian troops seize the Adriatic port of Ortona.
Thursday 30th
Got up at reveille 0700hrs & gotdressed shaved & breakfast
Friday 31st
Rain was in the air
May 1945
Tuesday May 8th
We had 8th Army News delivered which said “TODAY IS VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY — OFFICIAL”. It was a peculir sensation we did not know what to do. Jock, Dave & Ron went to Venice & I went to work had a bad time but managed to fit up a wireless to hear the official announcement by the P.M. & we then all led by Capt. Randall gave three very hearty cheers & all had a drink of Whisky. In the evening had one or two drinks but was not tight
Notes
“Hommes 32 Chevaux 8”
“Men 32 Horses 8” – This was one of my Father’s favourite stories. I think this probably prepared him for commuting from Bookham to London and back again every day for twenty years.
Here in the dark amid much confusion we we placed in huts wood, which had been an Italian baracks untill the army had blasted it& they were in various states of colaspe.
blasted – this looks more like bloated.
100 General Hospital
This was built by the 706 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers
The work carried out at Philippeville was at the 100 General Hospital in the construction of Nissan Huts, operating theatre, cookhouses, wards and the construction of a 30,000 gallon reinforced concrete water storage tank. At an RASC Camp at Cork Forest it was in the construction of cookhouses, latrines and ablutions. At Stora Road it was improvement of the hill road above Stora to enable passage of 3.7 Anti Aircraft guns to the top of the cliff. At a Commands.o Camp it was the provision of a water supply, erection of cookhouses, ablutions, latrines and a boathouse. In March 1943 there was an air raid on Phillippeville Docks and some of the men were sent to repair the damage and fill in the bomb craters. Other work undertaken in Algeria during 1943 was the construction of Petrol Storage Tanks, a POW camp and two POW hospital
Betty Wakefield
His girlfriend during the war. They married after the war on 6th July, 1946.
The Lavatory
This is the first reference to the lavatory which is a recurring theme throughout the diary. In fact this is still a major topic of conversation with certain members of the family.
Chas
I spoke to my Mother and think this is probably Charles Tripe who later took his wife’s name of Robinson. I found this photograph of Chas and Dad.
Shell
For forty-three years Dad worked for Shell-Mex and BP and then Shell. Originally in Manchester and then at Shell-Mex House in The Strand
Bari Attack
I found the following documentary about the Bari attack on YouTube: