Click here to read diary entry for Friday December 19th – Thursday December 25th 1941

… On 1/2 hours notice to shift.  Finally moved at 2PM until 6 o’clock.   Issued with 1 can of beer.  Bedded down for night.  Rain hard.

Friday December 26th (Boxing Day)

265th Day

Convoy moved out at 7.30AM.  Travelled through terrible sand storm in which part of convoy got lost.  Crossed border into Egypt.  Halted at 5.45PM for night.  Lost part pulled in during night.

Saturday December 27th

266th Day

Moved on to rail head.  Received first mail for over 7 weeks.  Weather terribly cold.

Sunday December 28th

267th Day

Caught train at 10AM.  Horded in patrol wagons.   Received great meal at 4PM.  Reached Sidi Ammar at 7.30PM.  Pitched camp on flat below escarpment.

Monday December 29th

268th Day

Sent cables to Mum & Marg.  Rained all day.  Very miserable.  Spent most of day at YMCA.

Tuesday  December 30th

269th Day

Still raining hard during day.  Pictures given at night by S.A’s(?).  Bing Crosby in “Star Maker”.

Wednesday December 31st

270th Day

Weather cleared.  Visted 24 Battalion. Heard sad news of Keith.  Six Brigade suffered 75% casualties. Whole of Keith’s platoon wiped out at Sidi Rezegh(?).  Early to bed.

Note : Keith was my Grandfather’s brother – he was killed in action back in November.  To read more about Keith, click here.

Thursday January 1st 1942

271st Day

Received letters from Mum & Marg about Keith.   Spent day writing letters.  During afternoon terrible sand storm blew up.  All gear smothered with layer of dust which turned to mud when it rained later.

Friday January 2nd

272nd Day

Rained and blew all morning.  Received parcels from home, Marg & Lyttelton.  Saw R Seymour & B Lester in afternoon.  Listened to news then to bed.

Click here to read entry for Saturday 3rd January – Sunday 11th January 1942