Click here for entry for Sunday 7th June (cont.) – Saturday 13th June 1942

Sunday June 14

Day 433

Early reveille 5AM.  Moved 6AM on manoeuvres mostly convoy work – whole brigade working together.  Returned to old site at 10.30 for rest of day.  Taken down to Euphrates River for swim – very muddy but quite enjoyable.  Moved off again at 5.30PM forming dugouts about 10 miles further into desert.

Monday June 15th

Day 434

Rested most of day.  Told that we were enroute for Libya.  Terribly disappointed.  Convoy moved on at 4.30 until 8PM then formed laager for night.

(According to Google, a “laager” also known as a wagon fort, is a mobile fortification made of wagons arranged into a rectangle, a circle or other shape and possibly joined with each other, an improvised military camp.)

Tuesday June 16th

Day 435

Reveille at 4.45AM.  While folding blankets shook scorpion out of them.  Convoy moved on at 6AM.  Passing hundreds of camels.  Heading to mountains.  Passed through many villages mostly of beehive type.  Arrived at bitumen road at 3PM heading towards Ba’ Albak.  Then on 10 miles ??? arrived at camp at 7PM.  Bedded in huts.

Wednesday June 17th

Day 436

Full day.  Visited water course in valley – showers & washed clothes.  Fourth brigade pulled out early morning.  Many Greek camps close by.  Played Housie-Housie (Bingo) at night won Snow Ball – 12 Syrian Pounds.

Thursday June 18th

Day 437

Reveille 5AM.  Convoy pulled out at 6AM.  On main road but ??? main towns.  Passed Ba’ Albak out off on by road around Damascus Valley between Lebanon very beautiful – class of natives seems to improve with rich ground.  In afternoon climbed Lebanon Mountains passed Syrian-Palestine border.  Circled around Sea of Galilee – 680 feet below sea level – drops …

Click here for entry for Thursday 18th June (cont) – Tuesday 23rd June 1942