Went to church in the morning. Can’t seem to settle down after our trip it was like a holiday
Wrote No 6
Worked hard to-day, fixed up Quad, 4 new springs, new front diffe and break booster . Got a bit browner because the sun was very hot. Wrote letter no 6 to Frances. Will be on Sarg mess to-morrow all day
Put the chock on the ice because it was very soft, it soon got hard again though. The Quad is fixed again reddy to go . Had in the Sagt mess this morning sugar, melon, poached eggs and toast and fried tomato. Dinner, pasty, cucumber and beetroot. Tea, mutton, r. potato, marrow, onion, mint sauce
Played cricket to-day won again. Made 20 .Have an avg of 44. Went and seen Norm again
Went on guard at 1700hrs. There won’t be any news until Saturday
On guard . Been in 2nd N.Z.E.F. 5 months
We are going on manovers tomorrow at about 0730hrs . Are going out past Meana which is about 25 miles. Tom is not going with me so I will be in charge for the three weeks we are going to be out. I have a chap called Cameron with me, he is a driver too. He has been up the blue . Sleep in the quad for first time.
Reville at 0430hrs. Breakfast 0500. Started to move at 0615. Miles 30. Stopped the other side of Mari(?) Today has been the hottest day I have felt since I have been over here. I am by myself to-day as the chap is gone to the R.A.P. he hurt his hand , doesn’t matter though we are not going out until to-morrow early in the morning.
Up at 0545hrs. Started to move at 0730hrs. Took our first possition up at 0905hrs. This was my drive in the sand and I thought I done very good, home at 1515hrs finished for the day.
Went to the YMCA for a cup of tea because it was free . Was out again but this time the ground was a bit harder and the heat was not so bad. There was a wind blowing we had beetroot for dinner also carrot onions tomatoes and grapes , tea , bread
Two months at M.E.
Went to 2nd N.Z.E.F. sports at Forouk stadiam, it was just like going to the races without betting. It was very hot and stuffy. We got a free bottle of beer and pies also a programme
We won again at cricket so now we are amongst the first three teams . Norms tea is still in. I would like to win the comp as we would be the first 6th field team to do any good at cricket. I made 5. Def AU 108 us 118 – 3 wks. I also sprained my ankle and it is very bad to. I have had it strapped up.
On E.D. This is the first time I have been on sick parade since I have been in the army. We went out to day and my ankle is much better to-night so I will be alright by Mon so I m glad
Had a day of rest
Went and seen N.Z play S.Af at cricket. S.Af won by 9 wkts one of their chaps made 100 out of their total of 160 we got 152 . The day was very got and it cost me 70 Ahkers to get around. Never went out on manovers today or yesterday. Eclipse of the moon over here 2130hrs
Still on E.D. so I am not doing any driving yet.. Had a rest back at our base camp. Have a bad cough as well as a sprained ankle so I am not doing so well this week. They went out on night occupation to-night, shall be back tomorrow.
Wrote No 7
Stayed back to-day and done some washing and sewed some buttons on as well. The boys came back at 3.30pm. C.Carew came out of the hospital and is back in the troup but has been put on E.2 this time. E.2 is his old gun. Went to see the doc and he told me to come back Thursday. Wrote to Frances 8 pages
Went out with the boys to-day but did not drive much. Tenth Rifle arrived here 6000 we heard but will soon find out. Resistance ends in Sicily
Wrote to Frances No.8
Received two letters Frances, Gran three letters. Wrote to Frances No.9
Played cricket against Norms team 23rd Rifle Ball lost we made 97 they got 106 for 4 wkts. I went out first ball. L.B.W.. Norm made 3. They surplied tea, lemonade and cakes.
Received 5 letters Frances. Wrote to Frances No 10.. Got ready for our week but very hot today. We had a church parade at 0800hrs finished at 0945.
Had a day of rest but got all fixed up for our big week in the desert. Will be leaving at 1930hrs and will drive all night. I have not drove at night before so I don’t know how I will get on. Here I am, I was going along got into sand 18” deep, had to change down to my lowest gear and just as I was getting onto hard ground my fan belt broke. There I was at 2115hrs in the middle of the desert fixing it, got going again but got lost, hot in possition at 2300hrs and then dug a gun pit, went back to wagon lines put up our long net and got to bed at 0130hrs this morning . Sand bad food covered, worked all day fixing starter.
Received 2 letters from F.
Up at 0515hrs. Breakfast 0600hrs. Wrote to Dad and Gran. Traveled 3 mls
Still out in desert
Out in desert still
Came back to Marde Camp
Church parade
Sorted out the Reg cricket gear
Will be doing maintenance all the week
Doing maintenance
Played Troup cricket. E.Troop V F. Troop. E.Troop won , I made 6.
Wrote no 11.
Wrote to Frances and Harry, doing very little to-day
Eighth Army land in Italy unconditional surrender. Four years war.
Went to play cricket at S.A camp. Played 23 Reg, we made 114 and they made 117-4 wkts. We had Sat night dinner and tea we then had a party, drinks etc. We went to bed at 2359hrs. They had a dance band. Hillbilly, and a ventrilquist also a tenor who was very good. Met H.Watt the springbock footballer, he is a good chap.
Played 6th Field Reg S.A.A we made 71 and they made 87 all out. I took two catches behind and made 8. Yesterday I made 2 bowled both times. We had dinner at their mess, rost veal, roast spuds, egg, fruit, greaps and tin peaches, cream. This Reg seems to feed better than the 23rd Reg. Left their camp 1400hrs had tea in cairo back camp 2030hrs.
Wrote to Frances 12. Striped Quad of engine. Done other small jobs also had a lazy day. Out of tobacco.
Another lazy day done some writing, played table tennis with Alec and Frank Allen, went to the pictures, wrote to Mother.
Wrote to Frances 13
Wrote to Mrs Allen. No engine yet – no work. Wrote all after-noon. Very hot to-day 100deg all day. Armistic with Italy made known. Come over the raido at 9pm news M.E. time I was lying on my bed thinking of my dear wife at the time
A very quite day. I would have been 10 years at A. Farrars to-day.
The boys came back, our holiday is over. I got landed for the Baty runner job. We got free beer this week. Mr Harvy gave it to us, it was his birthday the officers talked him into it.
At 0855 (IT RAINED) Our engine came at 1700hrs so work at last. Got terrible pains in the stomach thought it was apendix. Seen the doc and he said I never even had a slight touch of it. He said it was wind.
Had church parade. Got another pair of boots and another blanket. I have 2 pairs of boots and three blankets now. New engine arrived. Still out of tobacco.
Put new engine in quad. Worked in the sun from 0900hrs until 1700hrs. Started engine, engaged clutch and found it was useless. Sabatarge, for when clutch plate was taken out it was old and rusty, replaced new one, seems alright now
Engine going alright have not run it yet though. Tobacco still short
Went on guard at 1200hrs after being held up on parade ground for 1 ½ hours.
On guard, wrote some of a letter to Frances Went into town this afternoon bought Frances a table center with 6 mats. I also bought Mother and Hilda a silk hankie each. The whole lot cost 120 Akers which is 1 pound 4/- Met Pat Patterson, we went around together.
Started to get ready to go into action again. New tyres, all the trucks painted dark grey, rifles etc issued to different chaps. All drivers got one. Loaded 24(?) rounds with charges into Quad also we got tins for petrol, kero, grease , oil etc. Threre is not going to be much space left when we arae fully loaded
Finished letter no 14. Wrote letter no 15. Sent Frances the Task(?) system. Done more to the quad. Loaded camel tank, spare limber wheel, long net and one or two more jobs, don’t know where we will finish up somewhere in Europe. We know that alright. The boys are leaving tomorrow afternoon the trucks wont be going till Wednesday
Just mucked around put our base kits in wont to see them for quite a while. We are going 97 miles from here to a place called Burgel Arab it is 30 odd miles from Alex. Worked on truck most of the day 20 Monday Boys left Mardi Camp for Burgle Arab at 1445hrs. They will stop at Meana which is the other side of Cairo from there they will march 14 miles a night for 7 nights. We lined up the trucks ready to take off . We leave to-morrow at 0600hrs having a rest to-day just odd jobs are being done
Jusst a few odd jobs are being done again to-day. Went to the pictures and seen “Seven Days Leave” Funny me seeing it for the last letter I got from Frances she said that she had been to see it. Very hot to-day. Went to pictures seen (Tommy Egcan) Robert Taylor on piquet from 11 – 12.
Wrote to Frances 16. Left Mardi at 0600hrs , going to a place near Aamien(?) . Traveled 157 miles landed at our camp at 1730hrs. We are bedded down at the same place as the chaps were this time last, it is about 12 miles from Alamein it might be wet soon, as where we are is the wettest place in Egypt.
Just fixing things up today. The food is not to good but to-night we had a good tea. Went to the beach and the sand is very fine, round qutze stone. It is pure white, there are small balls on the beach, they are made of weeds, they look like pieces of horse hair all tangled up. It is getting cold at night now.
We left this camp at 1900hrs. We are going to a place 28 miles from here, we are going to do it in the dark. 2230hrs had a crash. I stopped my quad and the one behind ran into it. I was able to go away under my own power but the spout of the hun pushed the front of his quad right in the spout even pokeing through his steering wheel.
Had gun inspected , have to take it back to B.Arab. Made the trip back in 1 ¾ hrs. It took us 6 hours. Last night we got to bed at 1.30am. This morning took the guns into possition at 1900hrs tonight, 6 miles away. Came back in the dark again and got to bed at 11.30 very heavy dew, will be wet in the morning.
Wrote Frances No 17
Breakfast at 0700hrs.at ——– It was wet this morning our blankets were wet through. Wind and sand very trying getting into everything resting at the wagon(?)lines. Are going to pick the guns up tomorrow and then back to B.Arab for I don’t know how long. Stacks of flanel shirts and B.D.s there now.
Came back to Burgle El Arab for good until we go overseas anyhow. Went to Alex on leave, a far cleaner place than Cairo, more white people. Things are very cear worse than Cairo. Sent Frances 3 cards and 1 Christmas card.
Got the Needel to=day. Tet, Proh III and T.A.B.III. Was very ill got a high temp, got to bed at 19.15 hrs. Got issued with B.D. scarf, jerkin. Another blanket, wollen underware,——– and a pair of gloves, K Drill with leather fronts. We now have two sets of clothes, summer or winter
Got another needel to-day, thypus III so as far as we know no more for a year. We are going to Italy I think but don’t know when.
Very Quiet.