Description
Object description
Two detailed ms diaries written in Field Message Books (131pp and 146pp, with a ts transcription by his daughter (45pp) including a list of his movements from October 1939 to May 1941) by an NCO in 390th (Surrey Yeomanry) Battery, 144th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (5th Indian Division) covering the period December 1940 – March 1942, including being attached to Gazelle Forces (390th Battery, Skinners Horse, Sudan Defence Force (SDF)), the bombardment of Kassala, Sudan, (January 1941) moving into Eritrea, attacks on Kanu, Agordat and Keren (January – February 1941), deadlock at the front, returning to 144th Field Regiment, browned off at being pulled away from action, based in Tessenet, being impressed with Italian road and telegraph building and defensive possessions, returning to Keren, large barrages (March 1941), moving to Happy Valley, witnessing the aftermath of battle, with descriptions of the fighting and devastation, moving to Asmara, on leave in Massawa, posting to a gun battery, moving to Abyssinia (April 1941), joining F Troop, constant shelling of the Italians, the wet weather and lack of cover, moving to the Ambalagi front, witnessing the official surrender of the Italian Army (May 1941), driving a gun back to Asmara, embarking on SS DUMFRIES[?] at Massawa (June 1941), sailing to Egypt, ending in a camp in Chassassin (Tel-el-Kebir) (July 1941), moving to Cairo and then along the Mediterranean coast to Buqbuq, driving CRA Brigadier Strawvensea to 31st Field Regiment RA positions, and 25th Forward gun positions, going on leave in Cairo (August 1941), moving to Mersa Matruh and El Alamein, digging gun positions, moving back to Burg El Arab, 144th Field Regiment leaving the 5th Indian Division and joining Army Corps taking orders from the GOC direct, moving to E Troop, getting used to working with guns, moving to Alexandria for the journey to Tobruk, Libya (September 1941), with descriptions of the siege, the positions, taking over an Italian 105mm gun, witnessing German attacks, sand storms, lack of water, delivery of new 4.5 inch Medium Guns, fire missions, effects of sand on the guns, premature explosions wrecking guns, the relief of the siege (December 1941), applying for a commission, E Troop being disbanded and joining F Troop, moving to Derna, Libya, for Christmas, return to Tobruk, joining the 4th Indian Division, moving to a forward defensive anti-tank role supporting the Camerons (January 1942), retreating from a German attack (January – February 1942), forming a defensive line with the Eighth Army, moving to be attached to 1st Armoured Division, relief and move to Bir Hakeim (March 1942). Throughout the diaries give details of casualties, air raids, number of rounds fired (and the cost of the shells, he was a chartered accountant pre-war), friendly fire incidents, numbers of prisoners of war taken, sickness with dysentery and jaundice, reactions to news on other fronts, weather, accommodation, rations, the men in his battery, the fluid front line fighting in the desert, his initial admiration for the 4.5" guns turning to dislike due to accidents, and his hatred of 'bullshit' parades and bad officers. Together with a photograph of his troop on camels by the pyramids (November 1940) with a Christmas message on the reverse, and 25 photographs of him, guns, transport and colleagues, with descriptions.
Content description
Two detailed ms diaries written in Field Message Books (131pp and 146pp, with a ts transcription by his daughter (45pp) including a list of his movements from October 1939 to May 1941) by an NCO in 390th (Surrey Yeomanry) Battery, 144th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (5th Indian Division) covering the period December 1940 – March 1942, including being attached to Gazelle Forces (390th Battery, Skinners Horse, Sudan Defence Force (SDF)), the bombardment of Kassala, Sudan, (January 1941) moving into Eritrea, attacks on Kanu, Agordat and Keren (January – February 1941), deadlock at the front, returning to 144th Field Regiment, browned off at being pulled away from action, based in Tessenet, being impressed with Italian road and telegraph building and defensive possessions, returning to Keren, large barrages (March 1941), moving to Happy Valley, witnessing the aftermath of battle, with descriptions of the fighting and devastation, moving to Asmara, on leave in Massawa, posting to a gun battery, moving to Abyssinia (April 1941), joining F Troop, constant shelling of the Italians, the wet weather and lack of cover, moving to the Ambalagi front, witnessing the official surrender of the Italian Army (May 1941), driving a gun back to Asmara, embarking on SS DUMFRIES[?] at Massawa (June 1941), sailing to Egypt, ending in a camp in Chassassin (Tel-el-Kebir) (July 1941), moving to Cairo and then along the Mediterranean coast to Buqbuq, driving CRA Brigadier Strawvensea to 31st Field Regiment RA positions, and 25th Forward gun positions, going on leave in Cairo (August 1941), moving to Mersa Matruh and El Alamein, digging gun positions, moving back to Burg El Arab, 144th Field Regiment leaving the 5th Indian Division and joining Army Corps taking orders from the GOC direct, moving to E Troop, getting used to working with guns, moving to Alexandria for the journey to Tobruk, Libya (September 1941), with descriptions of the siege, the positions, taking over an Italian 105mm gun, witnessing German attacks, sand storms, lack of water, delivery of new 4.5 inch Medium Guns, fire missions, effects of sand on the guns, premature explosions wrecking guns, the relief of the siege (December 1941), applying for a commission, E Troop being disbanded and joining F Troop, moving to Derna, Libya, for Christmas, return to Tobruk, joining the 4th Indian Division, moving to a forward defensive anti-tank role supporting the Camerons (January 1942), retreating from a German attack (January – February 1942), forming a defensive line with the Eighth Army, moving to be attached to 1st Armoured Division, relief and move to Bir Hakeim (March 1942). Throughout the diaries give details of casualties, air raids, number of rounds fired (and the cost of the shells, he was a chartered accountant pre-war), friendly fire incidents, numbers of prisoners of war taken, sickness with dysentery and jaundice, reactions to news on other fronts, weather, accommodation, rations, the men in his battery, the fluid front line fighting in the desert, his initial admiration for the 4.5" guns turning to dislike due to accidents, and his hatred of 'bullshit' parades and bad officers. Together with a photograph of his troop on camels by the pyramids (November 1940) with a Christmas message on the reverse, and 25 photographs of him, guns, transport and colleagues, with descriptions.
History note
Cataloguer SJO