Description
Object description
New Zealand private served with W Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1940-1943; also include comments from wife Dee Gibb.
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of operations with W Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1940-1943: assessment of character of New Zealanders and suitability for Long Range Desert Group; opinion of Cpt Mitford; various memories of pre-war life, education and employment in New Zealand; chain of command; description of sleeping arrangements in bivouacs; relations between Cpt Mitford and New Zealand troops; story about getting drunk on rum and wine while celebrating birthday; water and lime juice ration; description of using scrim to camouflage truck; story of rolling friend Gordon into roll of scrim; continuation of story about getting drunk and subsequent threat of court martial for providing alcohol; story of taking lira off Italian POWs as souvenir; reason for issue of rum ration; description of rations and supplementary hospital comforts.
REEL 2 Continues: story of helping doctor in Cairo prepare rations for Long Range Desert Group; description of W patrol training behind pyramids; story of crash while training driver; description of desert terrain and method of driving; description of filling 4 gallon tins with water from artesian well and soldering on lids; description of sand sea; use of empty food tins to mark track; problem of trucks driving over sand dunes; description of different types of sand; use of sand trays and mats to extricate trucks stuck in sand; problem of having to make maps during patrols; description of desert surface and problem of concealing tracks and footprints; description of attack on fort carrying Lewis gun and grenades; injury to knee; method of driving in convoy; problem of Italian air attacks; description of desert terrain and climate; problem of being burned by hot metal on truck; description of winter clothing including sheepskin coat; attitude to desert conditions; method of cooling water; use of methylated spirits as swab for patients; acoustic anomalies in desert.
REEL 3 Continues: story about wind blowing over empty rum jar sounding like approaching convoy; killed gazelles for food; story about losing bottle of different coloured sands and other personal possessions; effects of sand storms including stripping paint off vehicles and generating static electricity; story of finding water under sand and constructing bath; use of sand to keep clean; water ration; story about snails; attitude to discipline; morale in unit; improved relations with Cpt Mitford following dismissal of court martial proceedings; importance of self-discipline; description of clothing including sandals; opinion of pith helmets; demonstrates putting on Arab head scarf (keffiyeh); story about tracking Italian soldier; story about seeing southern cross; story about disappearance and rescue of friend Don Steel.
REEL 4 Continues: story about Don Steel's truck catching fire; further memories of pre-war life and employment in New Zealand; assessment of own character; family background; scouting skills; story of locating German targets for artillery in desert; attitude to carrying knife; opinion of using heavy vehicles in desert; story about men refusing to eat herrings in tomato sauce; relations with local civilians including bartering tea leaves for eggs; amusing story of giving out lollies to sick soldiers and local chief and wife.
REEL 5 Continues: story about sabotaging railway tracks and capture of Italian supply convoy; use of captured vehicles including tractors and trucks; description of firing from escarpment onto oasis; attitude to fear; story of being attacked with incendiary bombs at El Alamein; description of driving through minefield at El Alamein and carrier in front hitting mine; reaction to death of friends; premonitions of death; attitude to war; reaction to finding mutilated body of British soldier; description of road watch duties; question of artillery barrages causing rain at El Alamein.
REEL 6 Continues: problem of heavy rain and mud in desert; amusing story about friend Bluey and grease gun enema; various stories about snakes; problem of static electricity; story of being assaulted by Arab with tyre leaver; story about fight with SAS soldier; story about trying to meet Gen Wavell; story about falling down stairs at dance; comments from wife about courtship and marriage in Hamilton, New Zealand.
REEL 7 Continues: story about fiancée making wedding dress out of parachute; family life; story of conversation about leave with US soldiers in Italy; attitude of wife to husband's service with Long Range Desert Group; story of missing bullet after bending down to pick up map case; story of writing poem to fiancée; reason for wearing helmet chin strap under chin; reflections on wartime period from New Zealand perspective marriage.
REEL 8 Continues: marriage and post-war life in New Zealand.