Diary_1

7753

DIARY N2

as from 1/5/42

The same inferences apply as previous diary

1 Letters from Bill & Marge

1st May 1942 Friday Dud woke us up at 1220 to say that the U.S. army made a report that the Japs had landed on the coast & that we were to pack habersak & put boots on & be ready in a minutes notice. Blue and Norb just rolled over & ignored order. Mr Kenny took out a patrol to have a look to see if anything was doing. also 3 Carriers went too. They moved in transport, no Admins parade just lined up & Mr Cook told us to get one blanket each & roll them all up in bundles. Apparently they are for working Sam came to me & told me I can go on leave tomorrow instead of today.

Had to report to Coy H.Q. again Mr Smith told me to report to Mr Haynes. I went out with Cookie & then went over. Settled down to a bit of digging with Tom Armanacq about 10 AM the Anti Aircraft guns opened up. 27 shots from Mt St John area & 30 from Cluden area. There was supposed to be a Jap recce plane up. It was very high I couldn't see it.

2 Wrote a note to Marge on back of her Letter

Heard tonight that another 4 Jap machines flew over at dinner time. To go for swim at 3.30 in Coy truck. It didn't turn up. The 115th reserve came & Dud comandered it. I am on Battn guard tonight. Had a dip. Got over to guard on time. I got the first shift at the Q store. Had a cup of coffee & a piece of cake. Brought lamp over to use with Dud is going to write a letter after. Blankets came back tonight & they were the same ones. I don't think they belonged to the platoon. I took a good one anyhow.

Saturday May 2 Had breakfast & walked down to Nth [North] gate. Waited until about 8.15 before leave truck came. Got to town & posted tins & bottle to Mum Knocked about with Nev Bettany all day. We had quite a lot of beer. Went to the Matinee at the Roxy. & to the Wintergarden at night. Banked £4 & 17/- cheque. Spent about 30/- all day. Bought Married Love by Marie Stokes. Didn't do anything sensational.

Peter Taylor came into A Coy. He is in 7 platoon & is with 2 section. I hope he has a good time. Bought 8' file 1/6.

Posted letters to Mum & Marge

3 Sunday May 3 Fell in with 9th. Haynes read a big long sermon. Went up to see if I could get in with another tent in 9th area. Am still with same tent. Cleaned Bren Gun up in morning. One barrel in a hell of a mess. I put plenty of oil in it. Cleaned it up thoroughly. Went out to Blue Water for swim. Some of the lads went to the rodeo at Mt St John. Had a couple of beers tonight- It was good. Had a good tea. 7th Jock column tonight.

Monday May 4 Fell in with 9th. Albert Lee put on a bit of a turn. Pulled both barrels of the bren. Spare still dirty Went out onto job. Dug quite a bit of trenches. 7 pl over at BHQ. Most of 8 away too. Dinner not too bad had a nice piece of tongue. Came home & had a few beers. Ritchie nearly full he had about 9 or 10. Had a good tea. No swim. Went out after tea with Bren. Fred Stump on trsport. Mounted gun on pit & lay down. Never done much Came home & old Heck put on a turn

4 Letter from Doris? (Not sure of day posted Bills 30/4/42)

He marched us backwards and forwards for 10 minutes or so. Ross laughed like hell after too. Put gun away & came back to tent. Norb curious as to what made Heck just turn on. I told him to go and ask Heck Tom got word that he has 2 months exemption. The others all commandeered his ground sheet etc. Norb tossed & won it. Am having a bath soon & going to bed. Bill Moody hollered out Lights out while I was halfway through a shave. I finished the shave. Had a bath and went to bed.

Tuesday May 5. On parade & milled Bren barrels through again. Went out to job. Heck on day leave. Albert Lee took platoon. Done quite a bit of digging. About one more day will finish it. Went to Blue Water for swim. Lorries as late as buggary supposed to pull out at 4 p.m. & didn't leave until about 4.30 a drop of rain & cold as hell Water not too bad. Tea later. On guard tonight. 10-12 & 4-6 on Nth gate.