Unpaginated. 13.6x11 cm (5¼x4¼"), full red morocco with metal clasp and lock, key included, ornamented and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt.
Entries from January 1 to December 31 in the year 1941. The author writes of being in charge of troops and tanks,; gunnery and musketry; then being appointed head of the cavalry at Hanuta, a camp just outside of Haifa Palestine. He suffers from homesickness, depression, and loneliness in the desert where temperatures reach 116 degrees. He and his troops take prisoners in a raid for contraband in Haifa.
On Jan. 1, 1941, our author writes. "Well here's a new year and it is
a very different opening from last year. I was with my Eni then and as
happy as one could be under the circumstances. I've now been a year in
Palestine, and am sick to death of always waiting and turning out for
nothing. Thank heavens I am in Egypt for two months (taking a course
on guns and gunnery), and away from it all. Here we are 3 miles from
Cairo and it takes 4 hours to get there and back, and its dam
expensive which is not all that amusing. Otherwise I can stay at the
Abbassia Barracks (Cairo), waiting, sitting and putting on weight.
Jan. 3, Today we had a mixture as we rode around in a tank, in very
tight quarters. I was in the driver's seat and I felt as tight as a
cork in a bottle. It took me 10 minutes of hard work to get myself out
again. Later on I went into Cairo with Patrick. Jan. 4, Lecture all
morning on the guns the Besa machine gun & Bofors, and on the A/T
rifle. Altogether we are going to do 8 guns, in this course, so they
will need a bit of sorting out. After lunch, Buddy, Greson, Hinley,
Cartwright and self went to the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the citadel,
and I must say I am very impressed by it. Then we went on to the
museum and the zoo. Took tea at the Gezira Club which is a wonderful
place. Our guide took us to a Turkish bath which was hell while having
it but grand afterwards."
(The Besa machine gun, one of the guns they were using was a British
version of the Czechoslovak ZB-53 air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun,
which in the Czechoslovak army was marked as the TK vz. 37. It was
used extensively by the armed forces of United Kingdom during the
Second World War, as a mounted machine gun for tanks and other
armoured vehicles, to replace the heavier, water-cooled Vickers
machine gun. Although it required a rather large opening in the tank's
armour, it was dependable and reliable. The name came from the
Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), who signed an agreement with
Äeskoslovenská zbrojovka to manufacture the gun in the UK. The War
Office ordered the weapon in 1938, and production began in 1939, after
modifications.)
"Jan. 6, We went down to the depot and saw every type of Tank and
armored car and dragoons, and heaven knows what else. Also the new
A13, which is a great improvement over the A9, and with which we are
going to be armed. They have a lot more armor & it is much heavier &
they have a torpedo bulge which makes them much safer." He continues
to write about the numerous hours of lectures, testing and training
out in the desert. He is driving a Cruiser tank, shooting two pounders
and Vickers machine guns, while driving tank and aiming at moving
targets. They wake up to winds that blow the sand everywhere in their
tents and quarters, and entails massive clean ups. After a full day of
practice shooting, marching in the desert, falling numerous times due
to the difficult terrain, writing up his notes of the day, then he and
some buddies often go into Cairo to dinner and a movie. Numerous sight
seeing trips are also chronicled in this incredible book, and they
love going to the Turf Club. Entries include several names of chaps/
friends and the tragic death of his pal Bill Rilson, killed in the
war. He gets sick with appendicitis and is embarrassed to be in the
hospital with wounded soldiers from the front. Spends numerous
depressing days, "in a hospital that is so depressing I can't wait to
get out of here. I was talking to a chap from the front with only one
eye but in really great spirits." When he gets released to go back to
the camp, the tents and the desert he remarks that they "don't look
so bad after all."
"Feb. 17, We had a Cruiser tank all day so in the morning we went off
to the desert and I found the Royals practicing with their armored
cars. So we practiced 5 orders in line on targets. We eventually hit
the Suez Road at the other side of Heliopolis & came back into camp
that way. This war seems to be at a standstill out here. We are
constantly patrolling in the East & Libya hasn't been in the news
since Benghazi. So now what? Feb. 23, I arrived at Haifa after that
two month course in Egypt. Back to Palestine & I will be out on the
range all next week. I am very depressed. Feb. 20, Out on the range
all day with the Hotchkiss gun. Afterwards we all went to Bassa. March
10, We are moving to Hanuta & by the sound of it, pretty uncomfortable
- with no water except for one tap & very few tents. I went to bed
very depressed about everything. Nobody really seems to know what we
are doing out here. Even the officers are a grumpy as Hell. Our
Division seems to be nobody's baby." They proceed to go into Haifa
where they do a raid and take prisoners once they find contraband &
arms, and the prisoners are sent to Bassa. His birthday is April 3 and
he longs for home; his wife Eni & his daughter Sonia. He is very
depressed and on April 13 he notes; "Easter Sunday. My second out
here. April 28, The news from Greece & Libya is not good at all as we
are retreating all over the place & I imagine that we shall start
evacuation soon. I suppose we must be humbled before we can triumph."
"May 1, Iraq has now come in again as they think that we are violating
our treaty rights by sending too any troops. It is really only the the
Raschid ali party who don't want us here. May 8, Tobruk is being a bad
situation for the Germans & today many prisoners were taken & damage
well done. May 19, Nine squadrons of German planes are reported to be
in Syria - some of which are troop carriers. There is talk of a raid
on Crete. May 17, We have captured Solium & Rachid Syria. May 24, We
have to fix a staging camp for 3,000 Aussies on Monday who are going
up to Syria. May 27, Huge convoys of Aussies going through all day
going North. I believe by now 10,000 have gone through."
Last page of his diary Dec. 31, Memorandum at bottom of page." Pray
God I may be back home by this time next year. The war so far as one
can see is progressing well. The Russians are beating up the Germans
good & proper, & we in Libya appear to have very nearly smashed Rommel
in Libya. The Japs are rather in the up & up in the Far East, but the
U.S. are in & getting thoroughly worked up which they richly deserve.
And so on the whole I feel rather optimistic for 1942."
Condition: Fine binding on this fully leather bound diary, which is in
very good condition with gilt edges all around, retaining the original
red satin page keeper ribbon and a jeweled fob holding the original
key which still works. Inside there is a notice from the publishing
company that this diary will never be published again due to war
regulations. I am enclosing several images for your perusal. I have
read it practically from cover to cover and for me he remains an
unknown British Officer in World War Two.