Click here for diary entry for Sunday March 8th – Friday March 13th

Saturday March 14th

342nd Day

On way to breakfast met R Wilson – told me had seen Keith’s grave the day before.  Got permission to go on salvage trip to Sidi Rezegh and to Keith’s grave.  Made grave as nice as possible with stones.  Has cross at his head with rank – name – number – age – 2NZEF.  Considering state of most you see, grave looked quite neat.  Many Jerry & our tanks destroyed around area.  Must have been a terrific battle ??? when our boys opened corridor to Tobruk.  Collected salvage & returned to camp passing El Adem drome.  Over 20 Iti planes in one heap. Keith was my grandfather’s brother who was killed in action.  For more information on Lance Corporate Matthew Keith Sillars – click here.  Photos of the grave site are here.

Sunday March 15th

343rd Day

First free day since arriving back in Libya.  Wrote home & to Marg.  Heat getting terrific.  Eight enemy planes over at intervals.  Tobruk raided heavily.  Out on patrol at night.

Monday March 16th

344th Day

Rest of platoon went outside perimeter to dig weapon pits & crawl trenches. Excused on account of patrol previous night.  Wrote & washed clothes.  Flies becoming annoying.

Tuesday March 17th

345th Day

Finished sandbagging our own pits.  Fairly easy day.  Planes over again.  Ack-ack opened up – an unknown white article flew from one of the planes – could not understand what it was – dropped over horizon.  Believe might be a wing as one Jerry plane crashed.

Wednesday March 18th

346th Day

Marched outside perimeter – spent day digging new positions. Told shifting back to Maadi on Sunday for 10 days then proceeding to Syria to become mountain(?) troops – much rather be going Australia way.

Click here for entry for Thursday March 19th – Tuesday March 24th 1942