Click here for diary entry for Thursday March 19th – Tuesday March 24th 1942
… Halfaya Pass – but lorried again through desert. Terrific sand storm blew up – absolutely dreadful day – hardly breathe. Heading for Shalala – old railhead in Egypt. Spent night there.
Wednesday March 25th
Day 353
Off again across desert, much clearer this morning. Arrived at bitumen (asphalt) at 2.30. Turned northwards towards Marsa Matruh(?) on ??? track. Now on bitumen for rest of trip to Maadi. Camped south of Marsa for night. Raided YMCA – plenty of chocolate.
Thursday March 26th
Day 354
Continued down bitumen road. Would be beautiful trip on bitumen road during peace-time – runs straight for miles along coast. Lunched at Daka(?) arriving at ??? at 5.30PM. Beautiful day trip most enjoyable. Wogs camped near truck.
Friday March 27th
Day 355
Moved on again at 8AM. Travelling near coastline. Very warm day. Arrived at cross-roads at noon (Alex-Cairo). On to Wadi Natrun reaching there at 4PM. Camped opposite “Road House” – half way between Cairo-Alex.
Saturday March 28th
Day 356
Reveille at 4.45AM. On road at 6AM. Travelled past pyramids and through Meena over Nile then onto Maadi arriving at 10.30AM. End of 700 mile trip. Camped behind 33rd battalion lines in tents. Received for mail for 7 weeks. Sent cables. Pictures at night “I want a divorce”. Boys rather merry – first for seven weeks.
Sunday March 29th
Day 357
Reveille at 6.30AM. Church parade. Wrote during afternoon. Pictures at ??? in Pall Mall Theatre.
Monday March 30th
Day 358
Ceremonial parade in morning preparing for inspection of C in C (Commander-in-chief) on Thursday. Free afternoon. Leave in Cairo. Trucks supplied…
Click here for entry for Monday March 30th (cont.) – Tuesday 7th April 1942
14 Weeks Worth of Socks 
I love that aside from the ‘factual’ bits, there’s also lots of personality coming through. Like the references to ‘raided YMCA- lots of chocolate’ and ‘boys rather merry – first for seven weeks’
I love those too. I know what he meant about the chocolate – that would be high on my list along with a shower after some of these stints out in the desert. I actually get quite excited about some parts and often read out sections to my family as I transcribe them. I’m glad you are enjoying them 🙂
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