The Siege of Tobruk 1941 - War Diary of VX 18879 SSGT (later Captain) Gordon John Watson
Gordon in 1937, aged 21.
PREFACE
In my late mother’s effects I found a number of small diaries belonging to my mother and father. They had been kept in the early days of their relationship. My father’s diary for 1941 caught my eye as it seemed to have been filled in as a journal every day rather than as a working diary. The pocket diary was produced in Bombay and bound in Karachi, and measured just 10 cm x 7 cm. It is a Hira No 5 brand, and was just small enough to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket. Most of the entries were in fountain pen except for some pages that had been frustratingly filled in with very pale pencil. But as I was soon to realise, any frustrations I experienced in digitising my father’s diary paled into insignificance compared to the horrors and privations of life for my father in Tobruk.
Gordon joined up on 29 May 1940 serving a total of 1,983 days attached to the units 4th AGH in Tobruk and 2nd/7th Australian Field Ambulance in New Guinea; completing his service with an honourable discharge on 1 November 1945, receiving promotions in the field to the rank of Captain. His brother Alan also served in Tobruk. Further research is required as to when Alan joined up and arrived in Tobruk.
The grandson of fisherman John Watson one of the original four Watson brothers who settled in Portsea, and the son of William James Watson Portsea builder, Gordon left home at the beginning of the depression in 1930 when his father’s business struck trouble and Gordon knew he had to make a life for himself in the big smoke. He made his way to Melbourne, working on the construction of the Point Nepean Road.
He found work in the gymnasium of the Bjelke-Petersen brothers in Flinders Street and discovered with the help of Percy Pearce that he had talent as a physical culturist and an extraordinary talent for the game of squash rackets.
This memoire starts on the troop ship RMS MAURETANIA in December 1940 at 8 a.m. on Wednesday 29th, 7 months from the day that he’d signed on for the Kings shilling at Puckapunyal Army base. It finishes on Sunday, 2 November 1941.
This is an engaging and completely honest insight into a soldier’s struggles with his daily conditions; everything from shipwreck to constant shelling, strafing and bombing. Jerries, Ities, fleas, dysentery and many other unwelcome visitors were his constant companions as he endeavoured to complete the many and varied tasks he was responsible for. This included autopsies, the management of 2 frontline hospitals, organising medical treatment and evacuations for thousands of patients, both allies and prisoners of war.
His only respite was the rum issue, games of table tennis and cribbage, and occasionally behaving disgracefully with his mates, for which he usually paid a heavy price the next day.
His vulnerability is evident through his soulful yearning for his darling Val, whom he refers to as ‘Dah’, short for ‘darling’. Her love and support, expressed in her constant correspondence was the one treat that Gordon could rely on and take pleasure in during his confinement in this terrifying siege scenario. Note that where an entry is illegible I have entered ??? as a reference requiring investigation.
John Watson
March 2017.
DATE: TUESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 1940
LOCATION: ABOARD H. T. MAURETANIA IN PORT PHILLIP BAY,
Arrived on MAURETANIA on 29th Dec. at 8 a.m., after 7 months to the day at Puckapunyal. Very comfortable cabin. Anchored in bay all night. Passed home town at 8 a.m. 30th December. Saw various sheets waving on cliffs. Immediately set up hospital on board.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 1ST JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD H. T. MAURETANIA IN PORT PHILLIP BAY,
Rex Bishop, John Rohden, Bert Stringer, Frank Coker, Keith Willis and Gordon Reid on board.
DATE: THURSDAY 2ND JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD H. T. MAURETANIA IN PORT PHILLIP BAY,
No entry.
DATE: FRIDAY 3RD JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD H. T. MAURETANIA IN FREMANTLE.
Arrived Fremantle at 9 a.m. Unable to go on leave as patients in hospital. Went ashore two hours in the evening. Most of time spent drinking beer and riding on roundabouts etc. On foreshore. Walked home with Dick and swore off beer and cigs for life!! Joe’s drinking friend, not at home.
DATE: SATURDAY 4TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA OFF FREMANTLE
Left Fremantle on Mauretania with Queen Mary, Awatea, Dominion Monarch and Aquitania. Cruiser Canberra as escort. Exhibition of power dives by Lockheed bomber as ships pulled out. George waving scanties from porthole; girl arrives. Sent Val letters and telegram. Letter from her. Most annoyed with Harry, unable go Perth (Sic).
DATE: SUNDAY 5TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA OFF FREMANTLE
No entry.
DATE: MONDAY 6TH – TUESDAY 7TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA OFF FREMANTLE
Just routine and more sea.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 8TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA OFF FREMANTLE EN ROUTE PERTH - COLOMBO
Tex Hill won light weight champ of H.T. Mauretania.
DATE: THURSDAY 9TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE PERTH - COLOMBO
Terribly monotonous time for all. Sea, sea, sea. No serious illness on board.
DATE: FRIDAY 10TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE PERTH - COLOMBO
Crossed equator 2:05 p.m. Stinking hot and storm brewing.
DATE: SATURDAY 11TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE PERTH - COLOMBO
North-east monsoon evident. Raining and blowing. Boat rolling but not disturbing.
DATE: SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: COLOMBO
Arrived Colombo 8 a.m. Many ships in harbour, 32 in all. Coin divers absent. Sea lion conspicuous.
DATE: MONDAY 13TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: COLOMBO
Sent Val moonstones, letters. Went on leave at 9:20 Lunched at Gable Place. Visited Mount Lavinia. Walked through villages with Geoff and Dick. Drank McNabs beer. Marched through streets to Gable Place. R. E. R.S.M. warned us against weeping willow. Troops troublesome returning from leave. 19 AWL’s but all arrived during evening.
DATE: TUESDAY 14TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: COLOMBO
Major Matheson congratulated me on behalf of H.A.G.H. officers on (the) way hospital was run on Mauretania. Typical of Mat.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 15TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: COLOMBO
175 ANZACS taken on board from Egypt. Poor devils some shell-shocked. Others blind and some osteorinylitus (sic). Here’s hoping I don’t come back like them.
DATE: THURSDAY 16TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Left Colombo on H.M.T. Nevasa at 1:30 p.m. 15 boats in convoy, Cruisers Canberra & light cruiser Capetown are escorts. Also Blue Funnel, armoured merchant ship.
Evacuated 12 patients H.T. Mauretania to H.M.T. Nevasa.
DATE: FRIDAY 17TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Meals are lousy, bread musty and butter like axle grease. Curry excellent. Genoese steward named Romsom attends to wants.
DATE: SATURDAY 18th JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
No entry.
DATE: SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Jim Best went church in Sergeant’s mess.
Filling in time for bar to open.
DATE: MONDAY 20TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Played darts in lounge for drinks. Shanghai beer not bad. Rather heavy. Retired slightly pickled about 11 pm.
Fear mumps outbreak. Now 5 cases in isolation.
Val on mind all day. Wish I could see her just for 10 minutes.
DATE: TUESDAY 21ST JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Now 7 cases mumps in isolation, Practised evacuating patients from hospital. Probably alright in theory. 25 patients in hospital. Mostly flu with 1 pleurisy. Machine gun practice from Dominion Monarch, Bob Quinn SA football captain Sgt in 2/43, Jack Maxwell according to 2/43 is H.B. 2 bright cobbers. Action station & Reg & George leave me asleep in cabin.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 22ND JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Full dress rehearsal at action stations. No enemy sighted.
All now carrying water bottle sack & water wings. Cruiser in haste towards smoke on horizon.
DATE: THURSDAY 23RD JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Met by escort of 4 destroyers. All emergency doors closed tonight.
Ship – almost uninhabitable. Terribly homesick for Val. To bed early.
DATE: FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA EN ROUTE RED SEA
Strong sea running. Hospital flooded through porthole. Amusing sights. Pleasant dream last night. Entered Red Sea early morning. Report on lost kits. No action yet. Now 17 ships in convoy and seven destroyers.
DATE: SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT THE RED SEA
Wrote report to Col Cooper on activities of nurses on night duty.
Plenty barnacles on bottom. My address after war will be Val’s apron strings.
DATE: SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: AT THE RED SEA
Escorted by only one destroyer now. Mussolini must be God here anyway.
What an opportunity he had. Q.M. wish (sic) Punch nose 72 years of age.
Remembered at 5 p.m. that it was my birthday. Quite a good night.
Four weeks since last saw Val seems like months.
DATE: MONDAY 27TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA
Hangover this morning. Passed monument to canal Creator at 11 a.m.
Now in Gulf of Suez. Hills in Arabia a blue pink. Mount Sinai passed at 3 p.m. Arrived in darkness. Another big night tonight.
Present to Ted Mills – order of bastards. Convoy in single file.
DATE: TUESDAY 28TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA
Another hangover in a.m.
Freezing cold in a.m.
Arrived Suez at 11 a.m.
Anchored off the Port. Fishing searchlights.
Wearing S.D. again very cold.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 29TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA. SUEZ
8:15 here Val will be having afternoon tea. I used to ring her about 4:00. Oh boy! Collins dressed as Genoese steward. Come in Dick! Still at Suez.
Reg Scott left with baggage party.
DATE: THURSDAY 30TH JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA. SUEZ
Air raid warning station at 4:45 a.m. All clear 5:05 a.m. Another warning 5:55 a.m. No hits scored. Won 2 rupees from Jeff.
DATE: FRIDAY 31st JANUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA. SUEZ
Concert by 2/43. Harry and Newell went ashore. Sgt’s very laconic towards them on return.
DATE: SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: RED SEA. SUEZ
Six ships with prisoners left here for South Africa and India, 10,000 in All.
News of five mines swept up in canal. Still at Suez. Italian prisoners cheering us as they pass. Dominion Monarch leaves Port Said for England.
DATE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2ND 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Left Nevasa at 1:30 p.m. Boarded train for Alexandria. Arrived Cairo at 6 p.m. Marched to barracks for mess. Went on round of the Cairo brothels and cabarets with Cpl M.P. Returned to Sgt’s mess and drank beer. Boarded train at 2:59. Terribly tired. Handed over Nevasa patients to R.A.M.C. for 2 AGH.
DATE: MONDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Spent night in train between Cairo and Alexandria. Arrived Alex at 530 this morning but immediately moved on to Abd El Kader.
Struck camp at 820 here about 15 miles from Alexandria. 9+10 letters (sic)from Val. What a thrill. Oh boy!
DATE: TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Arose at 630 hours. Pitched tents all morning.
Went scrounging gear to set up with our tents in afternoon. First sand storm this morning. Oh for a bath but no water. Val on mind all day.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Went to Lamgimaruya with Frank Johnson. Tried to scrounge a motor cycle or utility for unit. Hitchhiked all way. Sent letter Number 9 to Val.
DATE: THURSDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Terrific sandstorm raged all day. Built stretcher with respirators on. Mess started first in Egypt. Everything covered with sand dreamt of Val. Air raid last night.
Went out on motorbike. Lost in sandstorm.
DATE: FRIDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
What a thrill six letters and cable from Val, two letters and cable from home and cable from Al. Sent Val cable after riding miles on motorbike and running out of petrol twice Went looking for Dave had gone to Tobruk, but saw Bluey Ball at Amarya recovery dump. Jim Best on donkey. Drinking Abbotts at six piastres per bottle.
DATE: SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 19413
LOCATION: CAIRO
Conducted tour of hospital by Col Cooper. Two air raid warnings by 3:30 p.m. News of six ships and 50 mines in canal. Jim and Keith Forbes QM another ??? Am terribly sick of Harry and his legs. Won 6 Piastres at Jacoby.
Unit seething with dissatisfaction.
DATE: SUNDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Sent No.10 letter to Val. Jim’s effort to build stretcher. Greg 6 and ???
Went to church in morning.
Walked to Abd el Kader with Greg.
Found frog in desert.
DATE: MONDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Half unit went on leave to Alexandria had hell of day as orderly NCO Hampshire Regiment marched in and took possession of canteen.
Made preparations for visits up line.
Jack Wisdom gets first stripe. Had a marvellous letter number 12 from Val.
God I love her terribly.
DATE: TUESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Left at 7:10 for front but only did about 100 miles. Trouble with Harry’s bike. Left at recovery camp. Primitive method of ploughing by Bedouins. Visited Polish Regiment. Charming fellows.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Capt Green gets miniature Mills bomb and then shot in the stomach by Itie officer under white flag. Men go berserk. Branch between CCS and West Hampshire Regiment.
DATE: THURSDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Route marched through Amaruya in afternoon. 5 WO’S from West Hampshire Regiment entertained at mess.
Nine AWL’s all let off with cautions. Capt Divine left with 1st CCS as emergency. Beautiful weather. Simply marvellous moonlit night tonight to be writing by moonlight. Retired at 8 p.m. sent number 11 letter to my darling Val.
DATE: FRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Wrote Mr Chadwick and Betty. Snubbed by Tommy. Sgt. of guard today 9 arrests. 1-pip merchant. Very down in dumps, Menzies comes over in plane instead of letter from biggest darling in the world. God it’s tough without her. Warning to people of Australia. New phase of war.
DATE: SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Ack ack fire in early a.m. No planes seen. Orderly rooms for nine prisoners. Most got CB ??? Got the blues. No mail from Val. Got full at lunchtime retired at 7 p.m. sent letter to Dah.
DATE: SUNDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Went to communion at 6:45. Church Parade later. Lovely letter from Val. Seems more cheery. Also one from Auntie Jess she’s a dear. Val received moonstones. C.O.’s cable not home yet says Mrs Morris.
DATE: MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Very upset by Val’s number 14 letter. She mentions proposal. Apparently she did not make it very clear that she proposed marrying me. Someone must have acted very fast. There are parasites even in heaven. Conducted a concert in men’s canteen. Great work everyone said after the dissension of late.
DATE: TUESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Sent number 12 letter to Dah, also negatives. Arranging cricket match for Friday with A.S.C. Jock presented with small 22 shooter. Gets pickled and fires it about 11:20 p.m. wonderful display of searchlights all around us 17 in all.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Left at 6:20 a.m. IC party on leave to Alexandria. Had a marvellous time with Jeff and Dick. Had to return too soon only fly in the ointment. Strong man stunt in street. Went to see sports editor of Gazette, Mr Woolfe by name. On returning at 6 p.m. heard news of Jim. Boy oh Boy saw can-can again but not entertaining. Breakfast at United Forces, drinks at Australian Services and lunch at Cecil Bar.
DATE: THURSDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Left at 6:30 A.M. on leap frog for Mediterranean. Had lunch on March after swim. Reminded me terribly of Torquay. Wish Val had been with me.
Back in camp very tired at 4:20 p.m.
DATE: FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO
Went down to staging camp work Jim. What a thrill he came down for mess and we drank beer and told each other about our lives in general .
Was I proud with Val’s snaps. Received no.15 letter from Val much more contented. Posted number 12 to her. Jim told us of poor Q work.
DATE: SATURDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Stores from Jim. Went to Alexandria with Dick and Harry Jeff and Frank. Boy what a night. Did rounds of cabarets. Danced with two Greek lasses. Met Greg Lynch just down from Derma. Got Gharri driver’s whip as souvenir. Paradise seemed best cabaret. Cable re. money from Val. Only took 36 hours.
DATE: SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Arrived in camp 4 A.M. Came through terrific fog on road 21 times Harry under weather up at 7 a.m. Church at 10 a.m. Slept most of Day 2/1st C.C.A. moved in. To bed at 7 p.m.
DATE: MONDAY 24th FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Went to Amariya to find convoy notes. Trouble about opening wrong truck. Went to Alexandria in the evening with Dick. Kicked gong about again. Town picket takes over when Dick passes out. Returned to camp at 4:30 a.m.
DATE: TUESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Feeling lonely today. No breakfast or lunch. Terrific thirst. Limewater and black coffee but feel much better since mail arrived photos and number 16 from Val. And one from Betty. Retired to bed at 7 p.m. message per Jack Thompson from Ray Ryan.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Arranged cricket match for today with AASC but abandoned at last minute because of movement order.
Spent afternoon checking trucks at Amariya. Went on duty at canteen in evening. Tommy sang song of mother and sweetheart. Emotional.
DATE: THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: ABD EL KADER
Orders to move to Benghazi. Dick and I go to Alexandria on leave. Marvellous night. Arrived back early morning. Packed mess gear. Ern Newell promoted to Lance Sgt. Jack Wisdom full Cpl. Blue Douglas one stripe, Alan Bloomfield one stripe. Doug Crozier one stripe.
DATE: FRIDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD KNIGHT OF MALTA EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Up early packing our kits. Left Abd el Kader here at 12 noon. Boarded Knight of Malta. Left Alexandria at 4:30 p.m. Struck storm about 6 p.m. Terribly rough. Not feeling so good. Ship 1400 tons and terribly dirty. Cabins under water.
DATE: SATURDAY 1st MARCH 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD KNIGHT OF MALTA EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Spent day on bunk terribly sick. Storm still terrific. Lost escort overnight.
Joe Doyle doing great work. Short of water and food.
Travelled 68 miles in 24 hours. Everybody is very ill.
Believe escort ship struck mine.
DATE: SUNDAY 2ND MARCH 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD KNIGHT OF MALTA EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Storm still raging. But feeling much better. Spent day on deck.
Watching terrific waves. Not shaved washed or eaten since leaving on Friday. Air raid alarm but not any action.
Decided to sleep on deck. Afraid ship would sink.
DATE: MONDAY 3RD MARCH 1941
LOCATION: ABOARD KNIGHT OF MALTA EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Woke on deck at 4 a.m. Ship struck rocks at 4:10 a.m.
Terrifying sight. Felt quite calm. Men taken off during morning.
Lost everything except what have on. Marched 13 miles across desert and then given ride to British C.C.S.
Fed and bed, slept like a top and dreaming of my darling. She kept me going during the March.
DATE: TUESDAY 4TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Believe Tobruk heavily bombed all day yesterday. Maybe we were Lucky. R.A.S.C. Attempting to salvage all gear. Mines going off all around. Sent back with 12 men in trucks to salvage gear. Slept night. 16 trucks (Australian airmen), armed guard to picket stores and gear. Jeff O’Keith (Popeye) slept night on the beach.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Up 5 a.m. after very little sleep. Fritz over about 5:30 but nothing doing stopped breakfast for groups. Set to work salvage gear .
Joe and Mac with pistols slept on the beach. Again all alone just to think of my darling. Pining for her tonight. Boys very merry on whiskey, beer, cognac, ???
DATE: THURSDAY 6TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: EN ROUTE BENGHAZI
Up 7 a.m. Jerry over again in a.m. but only looking.
News by Jack Maxwell from Bardia to join Col Cooper
as advance guard to Barce. Supposed leave at 12:20
but transport difficult. Now leaving 8:20 a.m.
tomorrow. Had long hot bath. Tenting with Reg and in
bed at 7 p.m.
Talking of home.
DATE: FRIDAY 7TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Left 15th CCS outside Bardia. 10:10 a.m. arrived Tobruk.
12:20 p.m. lunched at 2nd /1st CCS. 2nd/13th Major plus 2
men killed by dive-bombers last night. Camped on site
for night. Slept under the stars. Jerry over several times.
Now travelling in M.A.C. Tobruk in ruins.
Giant masts healing over left Bert behind. Maj.
Thomson with 2nd/1st C.C.S. Mobile lab. Guns, cars,
planes, tanks and equipment everywhere.
2DATE: SATURDAY 8th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: BARCA.
Travelled 455 miles in 31½ hours.
Rose at 4 a.m. left for Derna after breaking camp. Arrived Derna 8:30 a.m. Beautiful sight from Hills. Lovely city almost untouched by bombs. Delivering baby.
Breakfast at Piedemonte Hospital. Terribly overworked. Beautiful little chapel here. Left Derna at 11 a.m., travelled through cultivated land to Barca. Arrived there at 4:45 p.m. after lunching in trucks halfway. Taken to hospital.
DATE: SUNDAY 9th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Beautiful hospital here but very filthy.
2nd/7th Field ambulance in care at present. Taking over gradually but only advance party of 23 orderlies here.
330 patients to nurse. Plenty G.S.W. and few V.D. rest mainly medical and accidents. Difficulty with I.H.O. brawl tonight.
DATE: MONDAY 10th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Took over 2 more wards today. 10 Libyan patients from truck accident.
All head cases.
More G.S.W. coming in every hour. Believe mechanised Jerry unit at Benghazi working right through the night. Wrote Val. Will send when main body arrived. Argument with twerp. Fitting out new quarters today with Reg Daw.
DATE: TUESDAY 11th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Up all night now caring for 300 patients. Mostly surgical jobs retired to bed at noon rose again at 5 p.m. Took over dysentery ward. Alan mentioned promotion. Having hell of a time with skeleton staff CEO, for officers and 7 other ranks arrived tonight. Difficulty with different languages. Built disinfector today. 214 patients in dysentery ward.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 12th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
First death on active service at 1:05 a.m. this morning Tommy named Bagg. Died of toxic poison. Terribly burnt when petrol wagon blew up. Passed peacefully.
Still working hard and terrific hours for everyone.
2nd /1st Sgt’s mess abandoned. Going to bed now. Just cannot stay awake. Believe Rex Bishop up front.
DATE: THURSDAY 13th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Sergeants and men very disturbed on account of orders to move quarters.
Everybody working day and night.
Thinking of transfer to 3 L.A.A. Bloody wild with officers.
Refused admission to number 2 Sgt’s mess.
Rode on motorbike 40 miles trying for mail. No luck.
Reg Daw made omelette for supper. Oh for Val tonight!
DATE: FRIDAY 14th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Took over the whole hospital this morning with skeleton staff. Now 350 patients. 2nd death in the morning. Epileptic. Padre says God will sort it out. Saw C.O. re moving quarters. Went for mail again but no luck.
Feeling hostile with everyone. Going to bed to think of Val. Thank God I have her. Woke at 11:30, vomiting and feeling very sick.
DATE: SATURDAY 15TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK TO DERNA
Stayed in bed. Feeling lousy. Col Cooper ran tapes over. Apparently ptomaine poisoning. Lay in bed thinking of Val and reading all day, intermittent perks. Capt Horan and six orderlies arrived. Dive-bombed and machine-gunned at Tobruk. Lance Roberts kicks. Severe injuries to scrotum. Ate only oranges today. Mosquitoes very trying.
DATE: SUNDAY 16TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Up this morning and on job but still feeling lousy. Felt better as day went on. Evacuated 32 RTU’s. Patients still pouring in. One plane over the last night. One bomb dropped but no damage done. Under machine gun fire from Jerry when on motor bikes after mail this morning. Dived into trees. Located booby-trap and pencil bomb. RSM and George Collins arrive.
DATE: MONDAY 17TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Marvellous weather again. Oranges galore.
Picked up Italian civilian going through Sgt’s quarters. Pat on back from A.S.P. Charges will be laid. Very worried about postal and pay arrangements. Val will be worried as there are no stamps or money available. Great discussion re quarters.
Still terribly lousy but things gradually being straightened out.
DATE: TUESDAY 18TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Jack Rich in my tunic for P.O.W.
My new Italian batman Vinjosie. Makes bed cleans my office, room etcetera. Oh boy, most of unit arrived this p.m. 25 30-ton trucks.
Surgical wards very busy. Have now had four deaths.
Expecting M.A.C. tonight.
Moved into new quarters. Not so good.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Busy making new roster and posting new orderlies POWs and one HO do all cleaning and washing et cetera.
Was up all night last night. Some very sick man in hospital.
Went to bed 12 noon, rose again at 4:30 p.m.
Aussies bring down Tommy plane. No casualties.
DATE: THURSDAY 20TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Less work for orderlies but am still going flat out myself.
Paid today; first for three weeks.
Rest of unit arrived.
Only rearguard with major Renon O.C. now to come.
Set up headquarters and quarters next to chief in medical block.
Will be very comfortable and some time to myself.
No mail yet.
Posted letter to Val. Not feeling so good tonight.
DATE: FRIDAY 21ST MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Two deaths. One Tommy, one Wop. Wop pulled the pin out with teeth.
Had a singsong in evening. Greg, Len, Jack and myself. No mail yet.
W.O, with Occulist’s set. Had to hand over. Twerp gave transfusion set to Jim Best. Put him in charge of Cons and RTU’S. Jeff is changing. Bill Ward in hospital. Alan gaining a reputation for killing them off.
DATE: SATURDAY 22ND MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Did post-mortem with Captain Steele. Millinery [slang for removal of the brain during post mortem], TB, kids lungs, testicle, brain, pancreas, ulcers in lower part ascending colon. Almost perforation. Stroll in evening with J.M. Went to Scots Club. Caruso sings Aida on record there. First meeting of orderlies and NCOs in my office.
2 Ities shot in compound one died, brains blown out extra good IHO’s Victoria.
DATE: SUNDAY 23RD MARCH
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Found room of instruments. Gave to Majs. Johnson, Schwartz, Capt Ackland. Am sending Val cable. Very homesick and busy.
Australian soldier with supposed brain fever in orderly room.
Locked up with Red Devils.
Mail arrived today. What a day. 5 from Val.
DATE: MONDAY 24TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Given a stolen bike. Red caps came for it after half an hour.
Slept in this morning. Up very late last night with sick patients.
Bought two table centres for Val in Barca.
Spent most of day writing. Feel a bit b------ (buggered? JW). Up very late tonight.
DATE: TUESDAY 25th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Orders for half unit to proceed to Tobruk.
Very stormy mess meeting. Harry rotten. Went mad about lack of personnel left on medical side. Got our way in the end, am staying here.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 26th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Half unit moving to Tobruk today. Am remaining behind; terribly short-staffed. To carry on while 2/2 C.C.S. arrive. Will then join unit. Tommy Lt. put up your hands by two Ities in fortress. What a darling she is. Three more letters.
DATE: THURSDAY 27th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Ticked Tommy off. He replied, “Might be gentlemanly about the thing”.
Am feeling very worn out and tired.
Completed letter to Dah.
Gosh this Torquay snap has made me more homesick than ever. El Agheila supposed taken back by Jerry?
DATE: FRIDAY 28th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Placed Smith K under arrest for A.W.L. from Ward. Worked all night because of this and feel all in. Big fire at Aerodrome. Sabotage suspected. Read his mail to sick Tommy. Egyptian boy of 12 in Ward. After evening mess, sat and told Jack about previous trip. Slept most of day. Peculiar tactics in front line.
DATE: SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Slept some of day. Very tired. Seventh death last night.
Bad case of burns. Peculiar job laying him out, was not quite dead.
Had trouble with prisoners of war on return parade. All had rations. Many had to be manhandled. Frank Cavanagh in hospital Sgt 3 LAA.
DATE: SUNDAY 30th MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Parade of AGH. C.O.’S message from Ken Burston. Thanks and congratulations. Beer arrived. First for fortnight. Surreptitious IHO’s leave stopped. Believe mail with rest unit at Tobruk. First evacuation by aeroplane 4:20 a.m. Old man had S.O.L.13 9TH Tommy div. And Tommy div. are here in 60 miles radius of front line.
DATE: MONDAY 31st MARCH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
2/2 C.C.S. Arrive to take over from us here. Body of thermos victim brought in. Had to be prepared for burial. Head split asunder.
Had buffet supper with chicken and beer.
Sent all IHO’s away to be interned.
Mail here none for me. Very disappointed about leaving here.
Now have 420 patients have had 11 deaths in 3 weeks.
DATE: TUESDAY APRIL 1ST 1941
LOCATION: BARCE NEAR TOBRUK
Daylight saving introduced.
Trouble with prisoners of war. Guards turn Breda on IHO’s.
DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 2nd 1941
LOCATION: BARCE NEAR TOBRUK
Went to Barce but no trucks available to go to Tobruk.
Went back to hospital and spent afternoon with Joe the interpreter.
Sent parcel addressed to Al for Val’s birthday.
DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 3rd 1941
LOCATION: BARCE NEAR TOBRUK
Left Barce with 20 men for Tobruk. Many narrow escapes in 10 ton diesel lorry with Palestinian driver. Retreating traffic very heavy. Burning vehicles everywhere.
DATE: FRIDAY APRIL 4th 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Awoke to ack ack fire at 5:40 a.m. Jerry over and making presence felt.
Spent morning getting men onto retreat from Benghazi. Bombed In Derna escarpment. Arrived Tobruk at 3:40 p.m. slept night at 15 CCS.
DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 5th 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Over 800 patients and still coming in. Wardmaster for whole district.
This means about 1500 patients in all.
Everyone working flat out.
Alan gone to beach side.
Nine M.E.’s machine gun troops at El Agheila.
2/2 C.C.S. also retreating.
Nurses here 63 in all doing great job.
DATE: SUNDAY APRIL 6TH 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Hospital ship due tomorrow.
Evacuating 450 patients. Up all night last night.
Air raids galore letter from Val. Hardly time to read it.
I love her terribly.
Ticked Tommy officer off after false alarm in ambulance. Nurses are off again. German patrol 20 kilos up Derna Road the cause.
DATE: MONDAY APRIL 7th 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Ship not arrived. Eventually arrived at 11 a.m.
Evacuated 124 stretchers and 66 sitting patients.
Met skipper of K.O.M. I was O.C. evacuation C.O. very pleased.
One raid this morning. Tobruk is in wars.
Six operations in the theatre tonight.
Lovely letter from my darling.
100 days out from Melbourne. Seems like years.
DATE: TUESDAY 8th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Completed ship evacuation early morning. Many raids today. Chat with Flight Lieutenant Perren has the D.F.C.
Many rumours about our danger.
Feel very nervy with a lack of sleep.
Evacuated 100 patients to beach site.
Wish I could settle down and write to Val. Terrific hours still, over 1000 patients still.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 9th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: NEAR TOBRUK
Raids in early morning.
Cheeky Jerry bomber left for our beach site. Now 430 patients at beach.
Marvellous display of ack ack in morning. Lasted two hours.
Jerry dropped one dozen eggs all around us. Screaming bombs?
Several exploded front and back gate of hospital.
Tenting with Norman Cowan.
DATE: THURSDAY 10th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Moved out to beach site to take charge under Col Cooper.
450 patients in tents. Ack-ack fire in evening, shrapnel coming through tents. Heavy artillery fire in distance.
Story of escape from prison at Barce by chap from third engineers.
Wonderful display of tracer bullets.
DATE: FRIDAY 11th APRIL 1941. (GOOD FRIDAY).
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Disturbed early. That rotten Jerry bastard. Bombed us
heavily. Both hospitals.
Poor old Zach, Major Chambers, Norm Forster and Rich
Kanneman got theirs. I Lost 8 patients out here. God
knows how many in Tobruk. Terribly lucky escape
myself. Tin hat dented. Am very shaken and nervy.
Red Cross means nothing to the bastard. Alan got
scratch on arm. Raids all night. Col. and I slept in
dugout. He is wonderful.
DATE: SATURDAY 12TH APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Air raids galore and more bombs on us no casualties. Slit
trenches dug now.
Junkers planes down 100 yards from our tents. Got two
of the bastards. Prisoners I mean, glad they don’t know
at home what this is like.
Best news so far four days. Two lovely letters from Val. I
was sleep in my trench and read them tonight. Still very
nervy. 21 killed in air raid yesterday.
DATE: SUNDAY 13th APRIL 1941. (EASTER SUNDAY)
LOCATION: TOBRUK
God it’s Easter Sunday. Wonder where my darling is. Glad she knows not where I am. Still living, eating and sleeping in trenches.
Evacuated 212 patients from here today. Am still feeling very groggy from effects of bombing. Frightened to leave precinct of air raid shelter.
Patients are lying in caves everywhere. Medical records gone. God it is awful.
DATE: MONDAY 14th APRIL 1941. (EASTER MONDAY)
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Another bomb on Ward 7 in Tobruk. 110 casualties. Heavy raid here but he was astray. Prisoners say it is deliberate because we bombed their hospitals in France.
Heavy artillery fire all day. Jerry has surrounded us about 8 miles in all sides. Hospital ship Vita bombed but no casualties.
100 cases from ship in harbour.
RAF doing great job with hurricanes.
DATE: TUESDAY 15th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
40 bodies in morgue; Tommy’s and Australians. Outlook much brighter. Heavy raid on docks this morning. Little damage. 100 German wounded in our hospital.
Have been in bed all day with dysentery. Feel terribly weak and cold. This dugout is very safe and Tex Hillers my orderly and batman. Italian camp dive-bombed by Jerry. He is crazy alright. Evidently is doping all captured pilots.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 16th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Things have quietened down considerably. No raid for 12 hours. Very quiet day only two raids. Snake found in dugout. Eight ships sunk by Malta Fleet.
200 Ities throw up hands. Artillery still very close. Dysentery much better. Issued with R.C. brassard. May be taken prisoners.
First wash for five days. Our planes everywhere. Tex is amusing.
DATE: THURSDAY 17th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Big naval battle off here today.
More air raids on Tobruk but left us alone.
Air activity surprisingly quiet.
Probably lull before the storm.
Val on mind all these days especially in air raids.
Terrific raid just now. It’s just bloody murder. Feel just about all in with nervous strain. Everyone is the same. Situation is bright according to Col Cook (area Commander).
DATE: FRIDAY 18th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Terrific raid at 5 a.m. only one casualty. Rest all in dugouts escaped. Bad attack of nerves. Fighting hard against them. Cannot hold out much longer. Tex Hall, re. Luke, Flanagan, and Herbert’s. “To hell with expense”. Welcome letter from Al. Very homesick and lovesick. Three more bombs dropped between our tents. Believe our 5 tanks arrived yesterday.
DATE: SATURDAY 19th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
These bloody bombs. Three hour raid this morning. Luck’s a fortune. Nobody hurt at either hospital. God it’s frightening to hear the scream. 30 planes just dive-bombed and machine-gunned us. 20 casualties. Unit okay. Maj Murphy just marked me for Base. Here’s hoping. Flack got four of them.
Suffering agony with nerves of bombing. Jerry now shelling harbour. Shells flying overhead pretty harmless.
DATE: SUNDAY 20th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fairly quiet last night. Marvellous letter from Dah. Helps a lot but Christ these nerves are awful. Handed over gun to our RSM. Tommies would have got it sooner or later. Raining today. Reinforcements arrive to tanks and cruisers. Surprisingly little air activity due to Fuhrer’s birthday [Note: This may have been a wildly inaccurate rumour; in fact on April 23 Hitler had succeeded in forcing Greece to sign an armistice with Italy and has achieved total victory in Greece with the loss of thousands of Allied troops.] Feeling pretty lousy today.
DATE: MONDAY 21st APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Five ships arrive in docks this morning. Hospital full of Jerry and Itie wounded. Ratio 9 to 1. Heavily machine-gunned in afternoon. Only one man hurt, not seriously. Ceiling falls in on Col Saxby. 20 – 25 lb. bombs dropped. Made immense craters. Haw-Haw will wipe Tobruk out tonight. Oh yeah?
Alan is a Wizard. (Nerves). All ships sent out tonight. Vita being towed to Alexandria. Blamey’s guards in front line.
DATE: TUESDAY 22nd APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Quiet night last night. Only two alarms. No action.
Still in dugout feeling very lousy. Tummy trouble. Tommy patient shot last night. He lit cigarette in open. Letter 30 arrived from Dah. Gosh it’s a gem.
1000 Italian prisoners taken. A wonderful ack-ack barrage here now. Bombers got three ships in dock yesterday. I think it’s all as good as over though now. Believe Germans retreated.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 23rd APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fairly quiet night. Plenty of planes about but only one decent raid. Got a petrol dump. Feeling much better. Heavy raid in afternoon. Everyone still building tank holes. Italian prisoners being made use of. All say Germans “no good”. They got an oil dump
today. Only small one. Great news from Greece.
Believe 100,000 Huns killed. Posted letter to Dah.
DATE: THURSDAY 24th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
All quiet until 3 a.m. Heavy fire from then on. Jerry bails
out. Great sight. Marvellous sunny weather. Red crosses
being painted everywhere.
Great target for him. Plenty dogfights these days. My
nerves much better. Can of beer (McLean’s) this
afternoon. Busy cleaning theatre instruments to day.
More heavy raids in evening. Parachutist shot on way
down.
DATE: FRIDAY 25th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Awakened at 6:10 a.m. by the siren. Jerry bastards
everywhere.
Our hurricanes up and not much damage done.
Minesweepers being bombed. Likelihood of us becoming prisoners. The Front now only 5 miles on three sides of us. Battle noise gives terrific headache.
Sing-song in blacked-out trench with Hans Meyer, German lad with RASC. He is very interesting. Two marvellous epistles from Dah. My inspiration!
DATE: SATURDAY 26th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Marvellous night. I just died. No dope either. Awakened at 8 a.m. by Jerry. Hope Val keeps her dates today. Terrific sandstorm today. Sorting and cleaning Italian instruments with Col Cooper. Jerry took photos yesterday. Negs and enlargements.
Another 500 being evacuated on Devonshire today.
Lucky I was not one of them. Daylight now until 9 p.m. Red Val’s letters and snaps. Great pastime. Sent cable to Mother.
DATE: SUNDAY 27th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Jim Best gets cable from Val. Highly delighted. Libyans are fair cows
for work. They sit down and shovel. Dust dying down and air raids
coming on again. Lunch of baked beans, peaches and cream. Very
nice too. Devonshire away okay. Raiding parties in Bardia and Derna. Convoy of 100 trucks through from Mersa Matruh. Heavy raid this afternoon. Cocoa on premiers for tea. Heavy artillery and Breda fire. Army stores and canteens are a racket.
DATE: MONDAY 28th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Jerry bombers dive into sea. Immense clouds
of smoke. God these bombs are terrifying.
Ammunition dumps all around us. Awful business. God there have been air raids galore. Saw one of our Blenheims shot down into sea in dogfight. Believe high officials aboard. Terrific naval bombardment over our heads just when going to sleep. Heart failure. Airraids all night but nerves much better. Tex goes to pieces. Two of our Bredas and crews blown sky-high.
DATE: TUESDAY 29th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Plenty of air activity this morning. Our planes moved from here. Now relying on ack ack barrage. Bastards deliberately bombed us again today killed 3 and wounded nine.
God I have been lucky so far. High level bombing by about 40 planes.
Feel very shaken. System is for their reconnaissance plane to come over in morning, take snaps then big raid followed by more photos. Must get some enlargements.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 30th APRIL 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fairly quiet night. Some flares dropped and our Navy again in action. Seven ships arrived in harbour with tanks and men. Believe 7 armoured division have taken Sollum back.
Our planes apparently fled. Rotten swines bombed us again today killed two and wounded three at I.G.H. got very close to my dugout. Artillery fire very near. Terrific battle tonight. Seemed to relieve my pent-up feelings.
DATE: THURSDAY 1st MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Battle went on all night and still going strong. Impossible to sleep. Impossible to hear planes or sirens. Have to be very wary as they are high level bombing. Ships arrive in harbour. Mother’s birthday today; hope it’s a good omen.
Looking daily for mail.
No siren now. Wastes mens’ time. Road closed at D.I.D.
Battle all day today terrific headache tonight. Beatles, snakes, mice, lizards, rats and other vermin frequent this dugout. Tex getting on nerves.
DATE: FRIDAY 2nd MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Terrific dust storm this morning. Blessing in disguise maybe. Terrific headache again tonight. Discharged from hospital today but feel lousy although nerves much better. Enemy broke through outer defence but were beaten back again. We captured over 20 tanks and two battalions of infantry. Must throw this away if taken prisoner confidence-plus. Artillery started again 4 p.m. Oh for some mail. Received S.G. from Hopman and P.P. (sic – possibly picture postcard) from dad. Terrific headache tonight.
DATE: SATURDAY 3rd MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Dull day, fairly quiet morning after battle last night. Letter from Val mentioned premonition on eighth and ninth of last month.
Maybe mental telepathy.
Also received Tiv. program and snap. Big battle of tanks tonight. Rotten toothache. Bloody tanks kept me awake until about 1 o’clock.
Bombers over at 5:30 having a go at harbour and two cruisers.
Most amusing dream about Val and bad language at Grill (sic)Jordan gets more egoistic every time I see him.
DATE: SUNDAY 4th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Awoken at 5:30 by bombers having a go at shipping in harbour.
Many raids all day. Mainly divers bombing of front line. 120 casualties from battle came in last night. See as Dorchester set on fire by bombers. Lousy cows. Recurrence of dysentery. Evacuated 1130 patients from here. Believe all got away.
Letters being held up by PG also stamp shortage.
Rumour of Turkey and Russia in war?
108 dud bombs collected by R.E.’s. In city area.
DATE: MONDAY 5th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Wonderful sleep last night. Slept for over 10 hours. Dear diary, bugger the bombs. No damage done here though one through Ward six but it was a dud.
Hitler’s unconvincing speech I still think will be over by Christmas.
Much thought about my business when I get back. Sent cable to Val. Gosh love her tenderly. Nasty driving accident to Jerry pilots who admit bombing hospital. 1 also missing off prison ship.
DATE: TUESDAY 6th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Worst dust storm ever. Got bushed when going to cookhouse.
Spent most of day in dugout. Everything quiet.
Mostly reading and thinking of the future. How I love her.
Artillery fire now, much further out.
Apparently situation much better. Could sleep forever these days. Obviously nervous reaction setting in after effects from blast.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 7th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Very disturbed night with raiders over every hour or so. Did rounds with Major Amies this morning. Big snake hereabouts.
Only a few raids today.
Living on my own now. Glad in many respects lovely hot wash and Alan cut my hair this afternoon. Odd dream about Doug Wright and I in a house with women, in retreat. Val and Mabs were there.
DATE: THURSDAY 8th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Alan’s birthday and remembered to congratulate him. He is a grand kid. Evacuated 35 G.S. W in a raging sandstorm. Jerry not very troublesome now.
Doing exercises to try and strengthen my legs. Had Cocoa and yarned in my I dugout with Vern and Norman Cowan one until about 11 p.m.
Broke monotony. Believe Alan recommended for promotion.
DATE: FRIDAY 9th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
More dreams last night. Pleasant and otherwise. Dreamt three letters from Dah. Hope it’s correct. Peculiar kind of day. Ominous is the word I think.
More bombs on hospital. No casualties.
Becoming more resigned to things - just have to.
DATE: SATURDAY 10th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Evacuated 30 patients at 3 a.m., waited up all night for ships arrival.
Evacuated another 60 in p.m.
Few fell close here today. Patients now going on destroyers.
That should trick them. Peculiar speech of Lord Halifax
Congratulations to unit from Blamey, Menzies, Churchill and Wavell, and condolences from Burston.
DATE: SUNDAY 11th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
News of general Wilsons appointment at Palestine. How I’d love some news from Dah. Patient hypnotised and cured by Col Cooper.
Plenty bombs last night. None on us though.
2 yards from ammunition dumps. Engaged mostly in preparing and evacuating patients these days. Believe canal raided heavily. Incendiary dropped here.
DATE: MONDAY 12th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Gosh! Oh Gee! Three letters and snaps from Val, one from
Al and canteen orders from Vera Dark.
Marvellous snap of my darling.
30 planes dive-bombed and sank Ladybird.
Plenty of enemy air activity now.
Another evacuation tonight 48 here. Sent 200 wounded in p.m.
DATE: TUESDAY 13th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Shells bursting about half mile from us. Apparently trying to shell harbour. Most disturbing. Very few patients now. Orderlies having a breather. Wrote to Dah and Betty. Fleas are terrible.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 14th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Maddest of dreams these nights. Dreamt I was marrying Thel Muir last night. Notes from two lasses at Georges in two pairs of socks. Rosaleen Ritter and Pat Hood. Yo te amo coracen. Still plenty of air activity. They are dropping all kinds of booby-traps.
Bombs in Log Cabin tins.
DATE: THURSDAY 15th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Gosh what a great surprise. Three letters today, one from Val, one from home, and one from Nan Muir. Not much work to do these days. Only 100 patients in this hospital. Apparently news of our being bombed “knocked” Dah. Wish I was near her. Half my dream came true. Thel is married. Cricket match on live-bombs marked by tins.
DATE: FRIDAY 16th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fairly quiet night. Mainly flares dropped. Few bombs in sea near dysentery quarters this morning. Evacuated 25 patients from here tonight, air raid in the middle of it. Wrote to Val. Wonder what game Hess is playing. Barges coming in every night now with supplies. Col Cook lives on roof of dugout.
DATE: SATURDAY 17th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Jerry woke me at 3:45. Big tank and artillery battle started this morning. Seems very close. Hope this is the overdue offensive. Recaptured Sollum and relief 12 miles this side. About 150 miles from here. Believe Bardia also fallen. Big raid by dive-bombers this afternoon.
Call Cooper disgusted with lack of cooperation from main body.
DATE: SUNDAY 18th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Best sleep since leaving Australia last night.
Slept for 10 hours and no dreams. Things moving along quite smoothly these days. Doing a great deal of swatting.
Norman took snap in front of dugout.
DATE: MONDAY 19th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Lovely quiet night with no raids.
Had lovely dream of Val with Peter.
Cannot sleep much these nights though Jack came down for a swim and we spent 1 ½ hours reading excerpts from our letters.
DATE: TUESDAY 20th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Stinking hot today.
Gets very cold at night. Henry the Hurricane still
going strong.
Now has 14 to his credit.
Another evacuation this morning.
Trouble with the D patients. They won’t work shelters.
Norman goes to 151 GH for evening mess.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 21st MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Very heavy raids this morning. Saw one plane knocked by new gun. Does she make a noise. Some mail today but none from Val. Dead German colonel’s diary very interesting.
DATE: THURSDAY 22nd MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Heavy artillery fire last night and this morning.
Plenty a-a fire too. Impossible to hear planes with high wind. Kids will all have big ears. Yes dear diary it’s real ink! few air raids today and plenty of artillery. Wrote to Val, Frank and Doug, discussion on Bells Palsy with E.L.C. p.m. on major 2/1 Pioneers. Jerry just machine-gunned us.
DATE: FRIDAY 23rd MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Great bets as to when war will finish.
Very optimistic generally. Odds are even money that it will be over by Christmas. We lost bombers here yesterday but did not of damage.
Parachutists on Crete.
We have been warned of stick bombs dropped quite close at lunchtime is.
No damage.
Terrific sandstorm and another evacuation.
Mother had stroke 1st of May. Am very upset. Alan took it very well.
DATE: SATURDAY 24th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Mine on the beach in morning. Two wards evacuated for safety reasons.
Two letters from Dah, one from dad and one from PWP. Mine goes off at lunchtime. Yours truly hops under table.
Dust storm today.
News from Crete satisfactory. E.G. mentions next of kin in meeting.
May be relieved soon. Schooner comes ashore in storm 200 tons. Many bodies floating in. Sent cable and letter to mother; letters to Dad and Dah.
DATE: SUNDAY 25th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Very quiet night. Slept very well.
Saw three ships bombed by Raiders. No hits scored. News from Crete good. Story of Himmler leaving Germany. Ball I think. Only 150 patients here now. Same number at main hospital. Two letters 39 and 40 from Dah were lost by enemy action.
DATE: MONDAY 26th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Nothing but raids today. Landed 12 -1000 lb bombs in this place. Very narrow escapes but no damage. Also machine-gunned us. Bill Jones, Goodman very lucky.
Afterwards Ian Rich 21st birthday party.
Believe more mail lost by enemy action.
Bust up with Jordan re orderlies going in. Supercilious bastard!
Captain Moran and Major Berayle been here a week in place of C.C.S. medical orderlies and Major Amies.
DATE: TUESDAY 27th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Rotten dreams about Dah last night must’ve been after all the pastry I ate. Raid 1 a.m. Hope my dreams don’t come true.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 28th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Evacuation today but not room enough for many. Believe our move is delayed further now. Tommy and I went for stroll to main hospital.
Walked back through Senussi30 quarters. Very eerie.
DATE: THURSDAY 29th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Terrific air raids today, two bullets near us but bombs fair way away. Dive-bombing and ack ack got nine out of 50 in the biggest raids. Things not so bright.
Crete: Roosevelt’s strong speech. Goods must not be indented. Few mines bobbing about off here. Bomb set off by bren gun carrier.
Bombers got oil dump and little damage in the harbour.
Evacuated 30 patients.
DATE: FRIDAY 30th MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
12 months in the army today. Seems 12 years. Few small raids in the morning. Tiff with Major Quayle but settled amicably.
Majors Matheson and Johnson arrived today. They will be sorry.
Three lovely letters From Dah and a beauty from Al. Dad says to Alan mother improving slowly. Much better. Decent raid in the evening. No damage.
Shells landing quite close. The scream is very frightening.
DATE: SATURDAY 31st MAY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
These cursed fleas! Caught 12 in my blankets this morning.
Dream of Val and Jack, busy with massage of chest. Straps of costume down and I walk in. Lovely, gosh these dreams are crazy but I like. Wrote to Dah.
Oil well still burning. Supper with boys in dispensary. Frank Johnson childish I will dong him yet. Nearby air activity. Believe ack- ack got one yesterday.
DATE: SUNDAY 1st JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Peculiar explosions during night.
Expected push did not come. Our boys stood to all night.
This weather certainly makes them crack. Temperature high the last week?
Fire in harbour early morning. Sabotage?
Big raid at 19:30 hours. Machine gun and dive-bomber.
Five in all bullets in tent 180 casualties.
Some die in air raid on rocks where a Senussi had shaved himself.
DATE: MONDAY 2nd JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Big raid this morning.
Crete evacuated by us.
Six evacuated 19 patients. Beer for troops. Our QM too slow. We missed out. Air raid at 19:30 hours again
100 bombers nine fighters. No damage done. Terrific! Ack ack barrage man with child’s brain “Here turns tunnel”.
Arm very troublesome.
Kept awake last night. Hand seemed paralysed.
DATE: TUESDAY 3rd JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Went to main hospitals in morning. Shoulder x-ray negative. Shells whistling overhead. Ron Birrell leaves unit.
Persistent rumour re push from Mercer by us.
Cows had me in about x-ray for a while.
Alan had to go to main capital at last. Curse it is blowing today. Whistle of bombs first indication. Evacuated 23 from here. Payman and I shared bottle of Resches. First beer for 10 weeks.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 4th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Had rotten night last night. What with an aching arm and enemy planes senility setting in I think. Aches and pains all over.
Persistent rumours about store of petrol for armed division to pick up on way through. Had to burn letters to Dah.
I wrote to Mother and Dad. Few small raids.
Evacuated 12.
Now over 200 patients here.
Worried about dysenteries. Geoff writes some silly notes.
DATE: THURSDAY 5th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Few small raids last night. Norman and I had toast and Cocoa for supper. Windy today. Hard to hear the swine.
Petrol rationing now. Carting patients in anything that has wheels and does not use petrol. Shar (sic)the favourite means. it’s a diesel.
A little artillery tonight. Rum issue tonight. Must be something doing. Evacuated 7 from here.
DATE: FRIDAY 6TH JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Two small raids during night. Heard one scream. All quiet until 1400 hours then became persistent. Not dropping very much. Believe that big fires seen on the perimeter last night was our petrol Bofors shot out his flare. Alan and Colin strolled down from main hospital.
DATE: SATURDAY 7th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
15 bombs not far from orderly room.
Mad Itie going for ack-ack guns I think. One casualty in 15 IGH.
New rocket gun now installed. It’s mostly high level stuff these days.
Evacuated 21 from here. One POW, 160 patients here. 65 are dysentery.
1500 x-rays taken since arriving in Tobruk.
Norman dined at Monty’s! Plenty artillery fire (heavy).
No local news for 4 days, rumours galore.
DATE: SUNDAY 8th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fairly quiet night. He is concentrating on keeping us awake without dropping very much. Jerry artillery on rails again in action. 5 rounds fired into harbour bombs dropped in water alongside wards A, B came from nowhere. News of our march into Syria. Lord Hawhaw; he bombed our P.O.W. ward in town. Killed 3 Ities and injured many. We marched into Syria.
DATE: MONDAY 9th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Bugger of a night. Single plane flew over every hour and dropped egg. Just to keep us awake. Fleas bad too. Am flat because not heard from Dah or home. Had sleep in p.m. trying to write letter but just cannot concentrate.
Saw 2 of our planes having mock battle over sea.
Flat guns shot out flare. Full moon tonight.
Great night for bombing but really a beautiful sight.
DATE: TUESDAY 10th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Same tactic again last night. Just keeping us awake with as few eggs from a single plane. I woke at 5:25 a.m. to fires from Naval fortress.
Jerry was shelling harbour. 1479 patients have been through here.
163 patients total 12 noon.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Buggers kept us awake again last night. Very little dropped. Large abortive raids on waterfront this morning.
Evacuated 16 patients. Sending them to C.C.S. for evacuation now. Dysentery a real problem. Now 104 in hospital. Concert at main hospital. Was far too tired, Slept instead.
DATE: THURSDAY 12th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
More raids in the moonlight. 3 bombs in hospital area and very close to tents. No damage done. Big raid on ack-ack posts this morning.
Getting very worried about dysentery and PUO’S.
Now 120 days and most are very sick.
Supposed woman in Jerry plane. Bomber shot down by artillery shell. Ities in Jerry bombers.
DATE: FRIDAY 13th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Nasty windy day. Cannot hear the cows until they whistle.
Nice quiet night last night only 2 raids. Am very wild with a lack of cooperation at main hospital. Missed mess because of influx of patients. High level delayed action bombs now in ack-ack. Alan Bloomfield evacuated from here with relapsing fever.
DATE: SATURDAY 14th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Rotten night. God knows how many raids. Flares were everywhere Ambulance in triangle set on fire. For bombs on main hospital. No casualties.
Officer arrived on foot from Kerra. Says nothing between Bardia and Tobruk. Now 262 patients and 160 are dysentery. It’s very disturbed. Still no mail. Am absolutely flat without news from Dah.
DATE: SUNDAY 15TH JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Much quieter last night. Very little moon for him to work with now. At present bad tempered, irritable with overwork and no mail.
Doing pathology blood smears for relapsing fever.
Schistosomiasis at India hospital (Guinea) worm. 10 Glenn Martins flew past this morning. One way activity almost nil.
Still no mail. Oh gosh am I flat in spirits.
DATE: MONDAY 16th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Marvellous night’s sleep. Did not hear him at all.
Very hot today but no raids. Evacuated 40 dysentery is and 10 others. Still no mail. Drove colonel’s car into town in evening. Boy is playing to up. Big money at stake. Listened to news at for station and then walked home from tunnel across country. Push started from Sollum I believe.
DATE: TUESDAY 17th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Early morning raid 15 bombs dropped in horseshoe shape around this hospital.
Garry Hone a great fellow. Long talk on sulphonamides. Caught in open first few bombs. Records broken. Push going well I believe. Another stink today.
Doing pathology slides for relapsing fever.
Distributed Red Cross comforts to patients.
Still no mail. Peter last night.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Sand storm blowing up.
Gosh my patience being tried. No mail yet. Took Chief’s car and drove to main hospital. Huge cigar. Great for Sgt and officers playing two-up.
Walked back from tunnel.
Evacuated 150 dysenteries. Now 260 patients in. More than 60% are dysentery. Captain Divine goes through Ward.
DATE: THURSDAY 19th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
One solitary plane over in early morning. Rotten dust storm today. Wrote to Dah and mother. Still no mail. Tinea troublesome on feet. Capt Morton’s discharge. I took smear from chief. He has temperature. This mail question very serious. Dah on my mind continually.
There are rumours galore about the push.
Randolph Churchill says 12 years war? Beatty here too at Admiralty house.
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Lovely quiet night.
Too much wind for him and in no mood.
Jerry artillery opened up on ship coming into harbour. Gosh those shells wine. High level bombing on harbour and ack-ack at lunchtime.
Alan and Ron came down in evening. Still no mail. 3 weeks today boy am I blue!
DATE: SATURDAY 21st JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Quiet night. He only came over twice. Silly bloody ITIES. Insists on bombing from a terrific height Col and 18 men from just a couple old women the way they pick as one another.
Be leave once very good. Pamphlets dropped by Jerry. Australians carrying the burden.
DATE: SUNDAY 22nd JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Today was the day I’ve been waiting for. Gosh what a thrill. 9 letters and photos from Val and one from Al, one from mother, Betty. I believe Ted James killed. Ted Barnett and another also missing at Crete.
Spent most of day reading and re-reading mail.
Russia involved by Germany.
Just what we wanted here. Maybe we’ll get a let-up.
DATE: MONDAY 23rd JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Hell of a fright in early morning.
Just having a bath – when that mad Itie let a stick go. All landed quite handy but no damage. Troops getting I.A.B injections. What a thrill, Rex walked into dugout this evening. Same old Rex.
DATE: TUESDAY 24th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Up at 5 a.m. doing blood smears for malaria and relapsing fever.
3 ships came into harbour.
30 dive-bombers over half hour later and kept it up all day.
Fighters diving and gunning. These are new tactics.
Cable from Dah re. mother. She is a darling. Letter from Dad .
DATE: WEDNESDAY 25th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Few bombs dropped today. Mostly on ack ack to on Ward number 2 but no casualties. IAB injection today. Arm very stiff.
Wrote very thoughtful letter to Dah. Evacuation cancelled. Story about Greek M.O. Very tired, irritable these days.
Apparently things going well on all fronts.
DATE: THURSDAY 26th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Nasty inoculation reaction last night. Very quiet night. Sent letters to Dah, Al, mother, Mr Pearce, Mr Chadwick and Nan Muir.
Italian radio announcement fall of Tobruk. Oh yeah? Alan came down tonight. Just walking back with Jim when Jerry dropped some HE and incendiary. No damage done.
Attack of jitters over barges apparently the command is doing a job.
DATE: FRIDAY 27th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Bad attack of nerves last night and early morning. Due to barges noise.
More mail today. One from Dah and one from dad. Went to main hospital for evening mess. Gosh there are some twerps in this mess. Gum leaf from Eileen at Buffalo.
Really eaten alive by the fleas. Walked home in dark from hospital. That should cure my nerves.
DATE: SATURDAY 28th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Rotten night last night. Fleas and planes.
Moon now showing up again amusing sight. Captain D. chasing E.L.C. He thought it was air raid and and ran. Beautiful timing by bombers, moving decoy. Waited for ack ack to open, Plane came in from behind.
DATE: SUNDAY 29th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Nearly eaten alive by fleas.
Fairly quiet these days. All high level bombing. Fumigated dugout with formalin and potassium permanganate. Col Parker’s car now scrap iron.
Lousy shooting by ack ack at 2 planes just on dark.
DATE: MONDAY 30th JUNE 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Undisturbed night.
Apparently nothing over a few raids (small) in daylight.
Took some snaps with to see. God he jittery. Jerry battery shell in evening. Quite close to dysentery Ward’s.
Flares dropped and Naval gun answers.
Great display of traces when shooting out the flares.
DATE: TUESDAY 1ST JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Four ships came into harbour in early morning. Jerry battery opened up and bombs dropped. Expecting the dive-bombers. Terrific dive-bombing raids at 1300 hours.
50 planes attacked harbour. Ships put up smokescreen. Only 3 wounded, one killed. Ack ack terrific. Jerry artillery firing on harbour intermittently 7 killed 10 wounded by bombing in harbour. All open country covered by derelict tracks.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 2nd JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Marvellous sleep up very early this morning. Jerry shelling all small motorboats entering harbour. Bitten on whatsis by Jellyfish. Damn sore but joke’s on me I suppose.
Jerry shelling town. Am expecting parachutists troops and shelling here any tick of the clock. Many flares dropped at dusk and during night.
Mimic battle and directions against parachutists (sic).
DATE: FRIDAY 4th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Extra good sleep.
Believe Jerry pushing the perimeter.
Jerry note sent over is this a private war?
High level and then dive by bomber. Hell of a fright. Terrific dive-bombing attack by 25 planes. Saw one burst into flames. They got all 5. No damage done.
Smokescreen in harbour very effective.
2 sticks and flares dropped just when going to sleep some quite handy.
DATE: SATURDAY 5th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
New system started.Chas. Murray responsible for 1220s, A35 and 3118s. 2 sticks dropped but ack ack got one plane very windy and sandy day. Waiting anxiously for mail. POW swatting Lee’s VD manual Jeff is a pain in the neck these days. Taking things easy because of irritation of business.
DATE: SUNDAY 6TH JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Terrific explosion during the night. A few light raids during the night. Big raid this morning. 20 dive bombing and gunning they are diving terribly low these days. Mail for some but none for me.
DATE: MONDAY 7th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Jim Best and Reg Scott came down for spell. Both very nervous. Bill Jones to go to main hospital for evacuation. Am now acting RSM for this section. Very little activity today. Jim Johnson, Blue Douglas and Lance Roberts arrive back from base.
DATE: TUESDAY 8th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Plenty planes about. All Jerry’s. Still shelling harbour and town.
Went to main hospital for annual Sgt’s mess/meeting. Major Reilly in great form. Bombs dropped just at completion.
2 bombs all dropped here behind dispensary. Rotten cow. No damage done though. 2 letters from Dah, with snaps. Took 20 days. Also one from Doug Reid. Walked home full moon.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 9th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Rotten night. He was over intermittently all night. Ductless glands responsible for what you are. Pituitary, thyroid, sex,. Inguinal, etcetera tall or short, dark or fair.
Disorders of any of these glands affects balance or scale and changes in stature follow. ELC. Mostly high level bombing now shelling a bit distracting.
High level stuff has definitely improved.
DATE: THURSDAY 10th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Norm Coward admitted with diarrhoea.
Reg Scott our office . Bill Jones returns to main hospital line and now acting are as an stop transport difficult these are going to ACC and RASC going back.
Col. Littlejohn’s good report from base on units work
Vern Johnson and Alan came down.
Plenty of activity HE and incendiary bomb dropped from great height.
DATE: FRIDAY 11th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Fun with dummy tanks out near fig tree. Made in half an hour by one man
supposed Jerry doing so . long discussion with Reg Scott debit and balance sheet of war. Four corking letters from Dah and one cable.
First mention of “pansy trouble”. Hasn’t got it all on her own.
Machine-gunned while having a pee this morning.
DATE: SATURDAY 12th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Bad night last night.
Jerry over all night. Far too moonlit. Dah’s reference to “pansy” disturbed my equilibrium. More NCOs to be appointed classes commencing on Monday for medical orderlies. Morale of troops in general very high. Opportune time for push somewhere. Jerry now shelling harbour and town ad. lib..
Transport difficulties now. Overcome by two 30cwt’s and 2 ambulances.
DATE: SUNDAY 13TH JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Quite a good night.
Few sticks here and there but not here.
Fighting ceased in Syria. Germans launch big offensive in Syria. Russia and Britain sign alliance. Wrote number 3 letter to Dah.
Incendiaries and HE in bofors gun unexploded. 10 men in it, no one hurt.
Many bombs do not explode these days.
DATE: MONDAY 14th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Very disturbed night. Woke to sound of shellfire on harbour and town. Gosh it’s hot here now. One bottle and two tins of beer per man Fosters Export. Scotty and me (sic) found it no trouble. Mags from Dah. We may move?
Drawing up plans in case we have to evacuate this hospital.
Gun pit being dug just behind orderly room.
DATE: TUESDAY 15th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Slight hangover this morning. Soon wore off though. My first of a series of lectures to orderlies. Canteen supply is very good now.
Parcel from home. Fruitcake, cigarettes, shortbread. Wacko!
Alan and Jim came down this evening. Had a long yarn. Captain Horan and self drawing up plans for evacuation. All secret.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 16th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Sent number 3 to Dah. About 30 HE’s dropped around here today. That is about an average day. Morale of troops is very high. Good time for push I should think. Move to new site mooted. Capt Horan and me (sic)working overtime making arrangements.
Lecture – pneumonia.
Supper – mothers fruitcake. Phoned news from RAF.
Quiet night – no moon until early morning.
DATE: THURSDAY 17th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
ELC at new site believe moving there in about fortnight as ack-ack guns will be moved too. Where we are at present Jerry shelling very annoying. One unexploded trench shell fired by him landed in CC docks kitchen.
Major Lay and Capt Horan now the MO’s. Both are great scouts.
DATE: FRIDAY 18th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK
Commenced breaking up our home. 10 trucks and 50 men from 2/1 AFW to help us. Now Jerry battery-shelling in town over the main hospital.
Telephone wires blown up. Had to drive through dark to main hospital with message for ADMS. Slept night in post office. Several raids. Some bombs just behind Ward 8, 9 and 10. All patients evacuated from here today.
DATE: SATURDAY 19th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Rose early at main hospital and drove back to beach. Hospital trucks did not arrive until 11:30. Due 8:30. Jerry bombed us twice but no damage done. Tents nearby all struck. AGH personnel including self now at main hospital. AFW troops get away with food.
Great relief to be back in civilisation.
Apologetic note from Dah today.
Alan made acting Cpl.
DATE: SUNDAY 20th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Took party to beach in morning continued demolishing until 11 am then Major 51st HAA came and told me to POQ as they were standing to for parachutists.
Came back for lunch had a real bludge in afternoon. I wrote number 4 letter to Dah.
Received number 61 from her. She seems to have the pip properly these days.. Up many times from shelter during night.
DATE: MONDAY 21st JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Have been given the medical section to control this included Ward 3. Walking back with Joe Doyle from Ward 3 and Jerry sent over to shells. One killed and 6 wounded not far from us. CEO asked me to understudy the RSM his eyes are bad. Am I thrilled!!?
Scrounging from dump at ordnance (Tommy). Amenities here are wonderful after 4 months in the desert.
DATE: TUESDAY 22nd JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Marvellous sleep last night. No raids. Being shown about by Harry Jordan. He is to leave tonight. Went down to wharf on evacuation.
Harry left with patients. I doubt whether he will be back. Jeff and I walked back from docks in early morning.
Some shelling out on other side of harbour.
Very dark night.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 23rd JULY 194132
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
First day as RSM. Can sense the feelings of a few. Must try and help them as much is possible. Everything went quite smoothly today. Am endeavouring to set a standard I will then try to live up to. Must chip CEO about his behaviour in orderly room. Swatting military law. Things very quiet – no BC coming in. Dick very helpful. Ordinance dump very popular.
DATE: THURSDAY 24TH JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Good night sleep with no activity at all. Congrats from most but a few disappointed at my promotion (T).
Jeff troubling me with his big head. Action imminent T102 on going to bed, but had a marvellous sweat and awoke after dreaming of Dah quite normal.
CO plays solo with Jack Dick and Major Ley these nights. New beach site nearly ready. Bill Jones is down there with ELC and Jim B.
DATE: FRIDAY 25th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Jerry sending over hell of a lot of shells on town, harbour these days, one behind Italian Ward. Went down to docs to see Rick Berry regarding evacuation. I hope this job becomes permanent. Made some postings of nursing orderlies, one clerk and one cook.
I believe in cooperation with everybody.
Old man talks too much to the men. Judicious? Heaviest day of shelling so far.
DATE: SATURDAY 26TH JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Wrote number 5 to Dah. 6 bombs on hospital in broad daylight after evening mess. Terribly lucky only 6 injured. Many badly shaken. Piece of shrapnel in orderly room. I was under table. Gradually shaking down in new job.
Plenty of cooperation in most quarters Q exception, but they are always the same. Paraded Bill Jones and Jack Wisdom for explanation.
DATE: SUNDAY 27TH JULY 194133
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Received number 63 from Dah. Much brighter I think.
Lance Corporal Cook.
Getting ready to evacuate 10 and 12 wards to new site. No sign of leave yet. Gradually getting used to being called Sir and Mr Watson. Tom Roberts in to see Jack and me.
Think Rex going home, his father died. Len Cook gets one stripe.
DATE: MONDAY 28th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Hellish air raid last night, Lasted about three quarters of an hour. Nothing near us but kept everyone awake. Believe one shot down. New gun seems to be just out side window.
Capt Barnett’s application for transfer to AAOD. I had discussion with old man. News from all fronts very ???.
Big sweep on Melbourne cup to be run, £100 first, £20 2nd, Jerry shelling town still but not doing much damage.
DATE: TUESDAY 29th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Only disturbed 3 times. Number 6 letter to Dah. 2 letters from her she is an absolute darling. Gosh I love her. Things going well in new job.
Running and staffing new site Z and here takes some doing. Abbreviations give me a headache sometimes. Col Littlejohn returns from base. Great difficulty experienced.
Went for a drive to new site with Capt Barnett in staff car (Humber).
DATE: WEDNESDAY 30th JULY 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Letter from Dah written on anniversary. Can’t work for thinking of her in that pink chiffon. Gosh I’m homesick for her.
Debit -100 cases for her. Number 7 to Dah.
Big raid tonight. Mines and 3 – 1000 lb bombs dropped. Ron Barassi and chap named Davis killed alongside their trucks.
Destroyers unable to take patients. Mines in harbour. Ack-ack barrage is terrific here now.
DATE: THURSDAY 31st JULY 194135
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Jerry very persistent today. Single planes over every hour or so.
Many accidents with gun crews using Italian guns. Premature bursts,. Ward 4 of Italian wounded. Major Ley is the one for them. Captain Wheeler and Captain Blue Stewart now attached. Old site being bombed every day apparently sandbags look like ammunition.
DATE: FRIDAY 1ST AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Capt Sinclair evacuated to base with PUO about 6 raids today. Have had 1113 raids since March 4th. Boys very hostile about cold footers at home. Newspapers and censorship to blame for falling off in recruiting.
News from seminar – Russian front very good. One solitary hurricane came over and dropped package. Overshot aerodrome and package lost.
DATE: SATURDAY 2nd AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Big Sully (sic)due to night. Artillery going into action with 3 battalions as well.
Everything tee’d up for influx of wounded. Air activity almost nil today. Our hurricanes over again in morning. Number 8 to DAH . received number 67 . Corker from PWP. Kit inspection of prisoners of war – cigars and bottle of tea. Ron Shapter in element .
car depot bombed 3 killed and 7 wounded.
DATE: SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Big batch wounded coming in 28th and 43rd copped it.
Whole show complete washout. 90 wounded, 30 killed of140 who were out. Bob Quilliam copped it. Fractured femur. Can’t understand our leaders.
Watched 14 planes dive-bombing raid on our lines.
Wounded still coming in. Plenty bombs and shells here late tonight.
Under bed some 4 times.
DATE: MONDAY 4th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
First orderly room this morning. Sgt McLagen, picks (sic) Dale Brooks.
Wounded still coming in. Orderlies and M.O’s doing great job.
Evacuation of 100 jobs tonight. Jerry dropped 30 bombs on harbour while patients being loaded on destroyers. No damage done.
DATE: TUESDAY 5th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Another evacuation tonight 75 jobs in all.
Jerry gave harbour hell while destroyers were in. No damage done. Keith Benson in to see me. Shells over hospital. Bob Quinn recommended for VC. 7 wounds himself but quite bright. Friendly plane, friendly bombs say plotters. Job going quite well but a ton of responsibility. Patient blew hand off with shaving (sic)stick at Ward Z.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 6th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Terrific sand storm today. Jerry frightened hell out of me with some bombs. Underneath my desk. Saw Ron Cheney. Wrote number 9 to Dah. 6 letters today. Makes me envious with news of her doing. Gosh I love her more every day.
Max Radford’s effort to Dah. Petrol situation very bad apparently.
DATE: THURSDAY 7th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Story of Brigadier Murray’s dysentery. Preparing “court of enquiry” on patient from Ward Z. Major Tyrer tells Ackland off. 24 Mills bombs found in pigeon box.
Farting competition. Major Resch had to fart to get a breath of fresh air.
Jerry very quiet all day. Until the usual 3 or 4 raids at 11 p.m.
DATE: FRIDAY 8th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Court of enquiry held. Went to Z in evening with Col. Cooper went over jumbo and up tower. Watched planes being plotted. Big convoy goes through Mediterranean to Alexandria. Sgt’s had a very bright evening on whiskey. Some very sozzled. Jack Wisdom funny. Had long talk with Ron Cheney. Sent number 9 to Dah.
DATE: SATURDAY 9th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Some shells on POW site. No damage done. Walked to docks hospital with Major Tyrer. Had some whiskey with Major Roan. Capt Hocking okay ???. Just arrived back when bombing and shelling started. Continued for 3 hours.
Impossible to sleep for noise. 2 letters from Dah today. Sick of bloody war. Want to go home. One Jerry brought down this morning. 3 pilots bailed out.
DATE: SUNDAY 10th AUGUST 1941*
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Big dive-bombing raid also heavy artillery action. 3 planes brought down. High level bombing very accurate and consistent. An occasional friendly plane comes over. Sam to ELC. Number 90 from Dah.
Saw parachutist land in distance. Too far away for a shot unfortunately. Intelligence improving apparently as ack ack were prepared for raid.
DATE: MONDAY 11TH AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Very heavy dive-bombing raid in early morning. Wonderful ack ack barrage. Tracers galore. Everything seems to be going wrong. Several senior NCOs are obviously jealous. Screamingly funny mess meeting. McLagen in the chair. Gregory and McNealy in rare form. Debate on shirts or no shirts at mealtimes.
DATE: TUESDAY 12th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Continuous raids for 5 hours in late evening and early morning. 2 bombs on hospital but no damage done. Barge sunk with mail, guns and supplies.
Reserve Itie ammo dump went up. Many casualties. Blackouts in hospital all blown in. 2 hurricanes over in early morning fired on by our machine gun.
¾ gallon of water per man per day now.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 13th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Boy am I tired. Awakened nearly all night with raids. Some landed very close to hospital. Ward 5 S.I.W. got it this morning. Captain Cone and Cpl Haywood very lucky.
Awful scene. Cannot describe it. About 10 wounded 3 killed. All patients. High level. Didn’t hear a sound until the scream.
Real indiscriminate bombing now. Capt Cone and Haywood sent back.
High level stuff all day. 2 marvellous letters from my angel.
DATE: THURSDAY 14th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
High level stuff for about 2 hours. 63 bombs I counted. Jack moved down with men he is our new bomb-o-meter. Grunt for every bomb. Few high level bombers over during day. Major Matheson very jittery. Am absolutely buggered from lack of sleep.
Russia up against it. Smolensk evacuated. Japs getting itchy.
DATE: FRIDAY 15th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Another 2 hours of bombs in early morning.
Dive-bombers this time mostly. One big egg at rear of Ward 8.
Ceilings down everywhere. Big dive-bombing raid at 1900 hours. Believe 5 planes brought down. New ack ack system used. Rocket guns in their element
3 – 1000 lb bombs near docks hospital. Apparently no damage anywhere. Only 12 Italians left now. No patients, all orderlies.
DATE: SATURDAY 16th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Very good night. Solitary plane over a few times. Things improved in job. Have been pulled rounder (sic)by the 2 O.C.’s. Both bastards but one a charming bastard.
30 dive-bombers gave town and harbour hell.
Four brought down by U.P. boys (confirmed).
DATE: SUNDAY 17th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Number 73 letter from Dah. One I’ve been waiting for all about birthday.
Damn fool to forget card. To big dive-bombing raids today. Our laundry wiped out, total loss. Caslan and Baxter okay. Bombed town indiscriminately. Job going very well. Hard to get personnel to take leave.
Tried to get under bed twice. Joke on me.
Leaflets of apology for bombing hospital.
DATE: MONDAY 18th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Marvellous night’s sleep. Things fairly quiet today. Arranging for leave for personnel. Had to ask for applications. Another court of enquiry preparations. Believe Sartakover (sic)killed in Syria also Stan our ex-bookmaker.
Beach section gradually growing. Sent signal for 50 more orderlies.
Laundry got 3 eggs.
Absolute write-off.
Mary’s hit – officers killed in action.
DATE: TUESDAY 19th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Another great sleep.
2 hurricanes over very low in early morning.
Last-minute evacuation of 150 patients. Preference to certain units.
Major Renon, Col Cooper, Maj Ley, Capt Horan leave for new posting.
3 D’s (sic)in tonight, all safely away.
Some whiskey and rum flying about. Everyone seems full. Major Tyrer now acting registrar.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
2 dive-bombing raids on harbour. Damage done negligible.
Two barges sunk 16 miles down the coast one forced to land in enemy territory by MG pilots. Bert Mills evacuated. Job now going quite well. A number of Poles now in Tobruk. Evacuating all patients from certain units.
DATE: THURSDAY 21st AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Alan Ryan sent back. 3 big raids on harbour today. UP guns doing a wonderful job. Pilots pulling out much higher. Spent night till 2:00. Jacks and Murray about experienced in France. All 3 got very disturbed. No moon these nights, good for sleeping.
DATE: FRIDAY 22nd AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
WO Fisher official war history photographer here today. Spent most of day with him. Two big dive bombing raids. About 40 planes each. Major Tyrer (sic) acting registrar while Major Math at beach. Same old trouble with allocation of personnel.
DATE: SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Big raid at 0500 hours. Few casualties but some killed at ack ack post. Disappointed no letter from Val. Captain Fryberg’s patented bedpan for trenches adopted by Jerry.
Nazi – Jew Freiberg. Captain Newell evacuated with varicose veins. Old man on 7 days leave to Alexandria?
DATE: SUNDAY 24th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Plenty dive-bombers about. Polish troops taking over 15th Brigade and ASC.
Hygiene section here Major Berlin their OC. Ern Newell evacuated.
Col Speirs goes on 7 days leave.
DATE: MONDAY 25th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Great night for shipping. No moon. Black as charcoal.
No mail from Dah yet. All this written in a hurry.
Job never ends these days. Getting plenty away on evacuations.
Jack Cato war correspondent from Sun office slept the night.
DATE: TUESDAY 26th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
No news from Dah yet. Bloody disappointed. Everyone seems to be getting mail except me. Major Amies leaves for England via Cairo HQ. Plenty of ammunition for rockets now. All (sic) is g’eed up for big raid. SS Lesvos, Greek ship in harbour had near miss.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 27th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Private Myers paraded and had long talk to. Think it will improve him.
Big Stuka raids again and shelling as well. Place inundated with Poles.
Language presents a problem with drivers and orderlies.
ADMS brings cap from Cairo.
DATE: FRIDAY 29th AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Mother apparently a little better. Geoff Morris and tale of Polish patient re-lettering on board. Jack Maxwell and his “aye”, “what”.
Town presents a pitiful sight now. Mines floating in harbour.
DATE: SATURDAY 30TH AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
LETTERS FROM DAH. A real red letter day today. They arrived accompanied with a very heavy barrage from “Bardia Bill” and “Peeping Tom”. Plenty artillery these days. Hurricane flew over very low. Officers turned on supper in quarters.
High-flyers over at night these nights.
DATE: SUNDAY 31st AUGUST 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Col Speirs due back tonight but no ship coming. Telephonist says Padre out doing a job. Lousy cold in the head but not toxic. Lad of 21 (Tommy) commits suicide.
Left note for cobbers with money for cable to send to girlfriend.
DATE: MONDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Terrific raid. Nearly 100 planes in all. Company from 17th and 28th meet in battle. Many wounded but apparently none killed. Ammo dump blown up in raid. About a man dozen casualties all told. One lad with shrapnel in penis.
No ships in. Patients banking up.
DATE: TUESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Very heavy cold still. Plenty of high flyers during night.
Bardia Bill shelling small minesweeper in harbour.
Probably no mail for 10 days.
Parade of POWs twice daily.
German flyer with a POTTS.
QM is a twerp proper. Len Carroll and Don Wylie.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Sand storm once again. Old man not back yet. No destroyers for a while.
Shelling goes on and solitary plane is over occasionally.
Patients for evacuation mounting up.
Language of Poles quite a problem.
Very tired of Tobruk. Some leave would be nice.
DATE: THURSDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Bad storms. Electric lights and closed windows everywhere. Blessing in disguise maybe? Played Jacoby with Greg, Jack and Len. Had two whiskeys each.
Hostility between Geoff and Dick.
Still evacuations and no mail.
DATE: FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Took cameras to AHQ. Lousy place and just got back when planes had a shot at road. Defensive measures everywhere.
Apparently silence is ominous.
Played Jacoby and lived up to reputation.
Shelling still goes on. Air activity much less.
Full moon tonight.
DATE: SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Lousy night could not sleep because of problem of Geoff and Dick. Had showdown this morning and things should be better.
Rumours started by IHO will send him away first opportunity.
Turned on supper of cheese rolls and soup. Played Jacoby with Jack Norman and Len.
DATE: SUNDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Bloody awful night. Single plane is over every quarter hour.
A few high flyers sent over during the day. Mari Giovanni arrives and brings mail from Dah. Stout little ship went to beach to tee-up evacuations.
Sending 172 tonight. High flyers over all day.
Col Speirs expected back tonight or tomorrow.
DATE: MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Bombs very close in all directions. Single lone flyer over every half hour or so.
Big do tonight.
Mail arrived today and not yesterday as written.
3 corkers from Dah. Am terribly homesick these days.
Old man arrived safely. Boat bombed just about outside. Went down for him in car. Bombs everywhere.
DATE: TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Bloody awful night. Loan bombers over every half hour or so. I stick very close. Matron Thomas and Mc Price killed in car. 2 more letters from the one and only.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
German flyer brought in. He bailed out. Did not give much away. Some bombs very close to hospital. Things fairly quiet with admissions. Beach section now has large number of patients. All medical.
DATE: THURSDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
2 parcels and papers from Dah today. She is a darling . plenty high flyers. No moon as moon comes up during day. Artillery on both sides fairly solid.
Plane dived and dropped stick alongside our mess at evening tea time.
DATE: FRIDAY 12th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Another lousy night. Sticks of bombs just outside front wall. There is nothing there for him to bomb! Must be us I think. Warning from ADM’s to proceed to shelters.
Double red warning. Draws one’s own conclusions.
DATE: SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
More bombs in early a.m. soon as moon came up.
Everyone suffers from lack of sleep.
Bardia Bill opens up frequently.
Derna Susie put a few over this morning. Amazingly few casualties from bombs shelling. Supper with officers. Coffee and milk from Dah as extra.
DATE: SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Stick of bombs across hospital early morning. One lands on Ward 1 and one blew side fence of dental centre in. Once again Lady luck looked after us. A few high fliers during day. 30 odd casualties from very successful stunt by 32nd and 28th.
DATE: MONDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
More bombs bloody close. Anyway moon is nearly finished now.
Evacuation tonight 100 all told.
Clocks retarded one hour at midnight.
Feeling off-colour with bad headache and sour tummy. Jerry twin-engine job shot down Greg’s brother with 2/12 . Killed in action.
DATE: TUESDAY 16th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Marvellous night. Had 8 hours sleep with no interruptions.
Afternoon spent tracking officer who wrote article. 2 hurricanes arrive on drome. Jerry shelled them. 2 letters from my darling one from Nan Muir.
RAF got 36 planes yesterday.
Activity around here very quiet.
Bit of a “do” at Solvency. South Africans in action.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Nice quiet night. Big “do” last night. 4 destroyers arrived. Under cover of dark. 43rd and other brigade units going out. Two British colonels (consultants) looking around hospital.
Reinforcement M.O’s arrive.
Went to beach to tee-up evacuations. Pipe arrived . something in the wind.
DATE: THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Terrific sandstorm all day today. Everything went well last night.
Trouble with QM. He is a bastard.
Some gin in the mess but not for me thanks. Wish it was beer. Frank Broadhurst rang me and came in. Bill Goss in hospital with ear trouble.
DATE: FRIDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Air activity almost nil. Heavy arty over occasionally. Went out to FSD and had some rum. Pole’s funny turns in mess with mouth organ. Bill Ward and Polka.
Sent Ities to cage. Slight indications of move for us.
Tommy Brig is now here.
Jim Harris sent back. Captain Rainesbury’s activity bring CM
DATE: SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
No aerial activity. We now have a couple of planes on patrol here. Plus very good everywhere. To corking letters from Dah.
Daily issue of rum as from today.
Had my issue at several places including FSD and BSD.
Jack Wisdom and Jim Best bonzer jobs. Jack Marshall too.
DATE: SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Went to church tonight. very enjoyable.
Rum issue much nicer tonight.
it varies in quality. Spent most of day writing letters.
Today reminds me of Sundays with Val.
Gosh I love her.
Norm Cowan introduced to mess.
DATE: MONDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Jack Scott gets 14 days detention.
Great trouble to find a suitable place to confine him.
Boy did I get tight tonight. Sick as a dog after drinking rum.
Joe Doyle and me playing bagpipes.
Air raid during night but unaware of it.
Slept in post office.
Plenty Tommies are in area now.
DATE: TUESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Gosh I’d sell out cheaply this morning. Never again!
Improved in equilibrium since last entry. Jack Mo and I went for walk to docks in the afternoon. Considerable activity.
Troops brighter since getting rum issue.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Letters from Val, dad and Al.
Jerry very persistent in early morning.
Dropped few eggs and many mines in harbour.
No party tonight owing to mines.
Reading Beverly Nichols “Patchwork”.
Maj Matheson “Erysyphilis”.
I have 32 of originals on X list since arriving in Tobruk.
DATE: THURSDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Nice quiet night with no activity.
Ed Morrow and 3 others killed by a flying bastard at 9:30
theatre very busy in the morning.
All Australians being relieved.
6 Tommy division coming in.
Maj Matheson evacuated with Erysiphillis.
DATE: FRIDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
At least 50 out of 55 shells sent over by Derna Dora were duds. Evidence of sabotage in German munitions.
Have another lousy cold.
Temperature plus aching all over.
Took tickets in Melbourne cup sweep. Four in all.
Went to beach with old man at CWB
Marked patients for evacuation.
Stick of bombs from out of the blue.
DATE: SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Moon getting bright again now, makes nuisance of himself in early evening.
Dropped mines in harbour. Navy still carries on.
Black Watch and many other famous regiments here now.
2 minutes stand-to for silence for footballers and U.T’s. back home.
Football final today; Essendon should win. [Note: They didn’t. Melbourne defeated Essendon 127 points to 98.]
DATE: SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Feeling very off colour with the cold.
Must keep out of hospital though.
Terribly homesick for Dah.
Lay on bed in evening just trying to visualise the outcome of all this.
Very few casualties coming in.
No church. Max will call me a luke-warm Christian.
Jerry very active in the air when moon is out.
DATE: MONDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
2 hours of very heavy artillery in early morning. Cold still very heavy .
Indians weep over wounded major in SB. “Khamaseen” arrived with a vengeance. High flyers drop bombs occasionally.
Mostly duds from Bardia Bill and “Derna Dora”.
Looks As If Will Be out Soon.
New GOC (Tommy) and ADMS arrive.
DATE: TUESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
QM goes to beach must be full moon so. Save document Night uninterrupted. Some high flyers over during daylight.
Wind and sand everywhere. “Khamaseen” now abated and weather delightful. Cold still very heavy.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 1st OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Moon getting brighter every night and planes getting more frequent. 1 ½ hours continuous last night from 1:30. Trouble with orderlies at beach (officers Ward). One bomb in hospital but no damage. Huge crater just outside 21 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep.
DATE: THURSDAY 2nd OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
2 hours of activity last night from 7 to 9. No bombs in hospital area but quite close enough. Mostly high flyers but they occasionally dive.
No evacuations for a while that means no mail.
DATE: FRIDAY 3rd OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
2 hours of bombing last night. Nothing in grounds but horribly close.
Bardia Bill active occasionally Rum issue in demand these nights.
Many tanks in area now. Looks like push shortly.
DATE: SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Hell of a night last night. Raids from 7:30 to 1:30. Played cribbage alongside shelter with Jack, Dick and Don Rankin. Incendiaries everywhere. 6 in hospital area.
Some landmines or big bombs dropped.
Won 10 akkers at crib.
Went to AHQ and saw McKellar.
2 beer mugs42 finished. Windows and doors blown in.
QM goes to beach, must be full moon soon.
DATE: SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Hell of a night and early morning. Was feeling very off and Jerry over almost continuously.
He only came over a couple of times during the day. Sent mugs to Dah. 12 days since any mail received. Moon is damned nuisance. 6 eggs landed on and between wards at 19:30 hours. No casualties excepting bad blast.
Christ we have been lucky.
DATE: MONDAY 6th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Heard information about our relief. Unofficial. High flyers over in early morning. Jack Maxwell and Jack wisdom arrive home very full. Captain Stubbs – Brown breaks up parties. Double issue of rum made most men pretty tight.
Some very sore heads. Sweep drawn today. I got Stonac and Santa.
Val – Ginger Lass. Dad – Sun Valley. Mother – Stonecastle,. Alan – Federal.
DATE: TUESDAY 7th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Very persistent early in evening for 2 hours. News of relief spread very quickly. Good night’s sleep.
Very busy packing and making arrangements.
Went on tour with Col. Disney in car. Rick in panto about cameras. Jerry over in raid in evening. Diving and dropping mines. Rum issue helps these days.
Sent bottles to Val.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Jerry over occasionally early morning. Loaned badges of rank with long tradition by Captain Barnett He has come good since show-down,
Busy making preparations for departure.
Went touring with CWB.
No mail yet and find it terribly difficult to write.
Old man still hard to get on with.
DATE: THURSDAY 9th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Biggest raid ever on fortress 140+ mainly on arty and perimeter
Rocket guns fired and 12 planes dive-bombed aerodrome.
Still no mail. Two 1000 lbs bombs on Beach section. One unexploded. No damage. Incendiaries everywhere in town.
Some on hospital but soon extinguished. Jerry tried to break through undercover of bombing.
DATE: FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
More incendiaries on hospital – no damage.Spent most of day arranging departure and evacuation. Old man SOB. Lights go out at 8:30 now. 5 The Highway Bentleigh, number 89 letter from. Took exactly a month.
Another bomb on beach. Shrapnel in foot of Cpl Eley. Bastards were over in the moonlight.
DATE: SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Very bad night and early morning.
Bombers flying low in moonlight dropping incendiary bombs.
Making preparations for meeting and billeting. Bardia Bill very active.
DATE: SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
All ready for advance party to go out and new party to come in.
Four ships came in including new mine-laying cruiser. She does 45 kn flat out. She averaged 29 on trip up. Awful balls up with convoy of trucks. 62 duly arrived at 1230. Eventually got home to bed at 2 o’clock.
Jerry quiet all night.
3 new batteries now operating on town and harbour.
Evacuated 310 patients and sent 20 AR’s on advance party.
DATE: MONDAY 13th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Terrific sand storm today. Worst yet. Tried to get to divisional HQ but lost way at Eagle Crossing. Made another attempt in the evening and got through to get cameras.
New Tommy unit taking over by degrees.
In bed by 8 o’clock dreaming of my darling. Gosh I love her unbearably at times. Received 6 letters from her today, one from mother, Al, PWP and auntie Jess.
DATE: TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Marvellous sleep for 10 hours. Gosh was I tired. Sand gone and raining very steadily. This is the Khamaseen. Kits 12 hours overdue at Mersa.
Preparing a list of the next party. Number 29 to Dah.
Queens own bring in 14 Italian OR’s Something new for here, Bardia Bill sent over a few and Derna Dora some more duds. 320 mm gun being laid by Jerry.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 15th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Nice quiet night and thrills galore. 2 hurricanes flew over. They didn’t stay long. Probably boosting morale. Showing the new RSM over the district nearly all day.
No aerial activity today. Seems quite strange.
All but 3 of new unit never been under fire. They’ll be sorry, poor cows.
Played crib with Dick, Don Rankin and Jack. Won 20 piastres.
DATE: THURSDAY 16th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Jerry over in early morning dropping flares and heavy DA bombs. None in hospital area. Have just finalised 2nd party. Feel duty bound to remain for last part.
No aerial activity to beauty in daylight in daylight. Tanks galore now. They must be going to push from here. Busy as hell preparing to go out. What a relief it will be to have a spell. Played crib with Dick, Don and Jack. Won 10 piastres.
DATE: FRIDAY 17th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Marvellous sleep last night. Did not hear a thing. 2nd party of 60 going out tonight. Would like to take Carlane and boys with us.
Got men and officers away safely in dark.
Went down the bank in truck once and one shell perilously close.
No aerial activity though. Simon is, Walsh, Goggin, McPhilly all nice. Also sent out 150 patients.
DATE: SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Nice quiet night and thrills this morning with numbers 96 and 97 letters from Dah. All 2nd party away safely last night.
Ran sweep on Caulfield cup. Drew “Highcast”.
Old man altering towards me. Much easier to get on with now.
Very little to do now except dodge the shells.
Now 9 batteries shelling town and harbour.
Spent most of day writing letters.
DATE: SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Many troops out and many in while there is no moon. Many tanks coming in too. Played poker most of day. Won 10 piastres.Very heavy raid at 2000 hours interrupted game.
Flares, incendiaries and high explosive-bombs for about 2 hours.
2 fires started. Combined attack on Bardia Bill later. Great sight. Went hunting for torch flasher. New unit have taken over now.
DATE: MONDAY 20th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL
Nice quiet night after 22:00 hours. Just whiling away time now. Reading excellent book “the surgeon’s dog” by James Johnston Abraham. Few drinks with sergeants CEO and cold Littlejohn. Got quite bright on run and whiskey. Then went to docs with Reg Daw to meet rear party of 62 PGH. They arrived with extra personnel.
Flares incendiaries and high explosives drop for about 2 hours. Bardia Bill still going strong.
DATE: TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: TOBRUK MAIN HOSPITAL & AT SEA ON HMAS NAPIER
Tonight is our big moment. 102 all ranks left now and will be hell’s own job getting them away if Artie and bombers are active.
Feel very jittery about the 6:30 ordeal tonight.
Went down to docks with CEO, CWB and Reg Newell this afternoon on reconnaissance. Fired on by Bardia Bill and Stuka parade thrown in. Got troops away alright after very heavy raid and artillery. Left Tobruk Harbour at midnight on HMAS Napier.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 22nd OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: AT SEA ON HMAS NAPIER AND LANDED AT ALEXANDRIA
Got torpedoed last night. We are at present hunting for Subs at about 30 kn. 3 destroyers, one cruiser. Navy terribly decent to us. One share from 3 of our planes, arrived intact at Alexandria. Taken 75 armoury Abn Fid (Sic)and then on train for Kantara. Terrible journey through the night. Geoff and I rode outside all night. Much imbibing to keep warm.
DATE: THURSDAY 23rd OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: KANTARA AND BEIT JIRJA
Arrived Kantara at 7:30. Met by our sisters. Saw Cliff, Harry and Jim. Had joined them on train for Gaza at 11:30.
Arrived at Beit Jirja, our new home at 7 p.m. Jack Morris to meet us. Good seeing him and he is doing everything possible. Had shower, beer, feed and then to bed. Unable to sleep. Too tired I think. Arrived minus everything bar what I stood up in. Photos of Dah gone. God I’m wild.
DATE: FRIDAY 24th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Spent day looking around new home. Apparently not for long. Tipped we are going to front in Syria in about a month. Selfish officers okay for leave but what about the men? Am pushing all I can for six-day leaves. They deserve it too. Can’t realise we’re out yet. Still hearing bombs.
DATE: SATURDAY 25th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Still very tired. Back to red tape is very annoying at times. Spent morning chasing staff officer re leave. Officers very selfish and no help at all. Table tennis with Jeff Morris and then to pictures.
DATE: SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Set off for Tel Aviv with Jack Morris, Bert, Capt Russell, Major Mulie and Capt Barrett. Arrived about 5 p.m. and did some shopping.
Then had dinner at at Assherman’s and went to San Remo and Roulin Mouge (sic). Had excellent night with plenty drinks and Russian dancer.
DATE: MONDAY 27th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Arrived back in camp about 3 a.m. quite sober after long session. Up again at 7 a.m. Feeling rather off today. Not surprising really. Plenty to do organising troops leave. Letter from Val with snaps of Pam. Lt Cox CSO fair bastard.
Old man gone all regimental.
DATE: TUESDAY 28th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Spent day running around looking for people. Cpl. Staff officer in trouble with old man and senior NCOs leave. He repented after a while. Most officers on leave. Trouble with Bedouins. Had to double picquet (sic). Plenty table tennis in the mess.
DATE: WEDNESDAY 29th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Bedouins still troublesome. Had to increase picquets. Went to see amenities officer. Real gentlemen and very ready to help. Also went to 7 AGH at invitation of John Bassett. Saw Captain Horan and Major Ley.
Also some of our nurses. Spent evening playing table tennis and drinking. Went to 7 AGH and got Major Ley.
Spent evening playing table tennis and drinking. Went to 7 AGH and got major Ley.
DATE: THURSDAY 30th OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Silly fools let down tent in Sgt’s lines. Paraded unit and told them off.
Also stopped their leave.
Most of unit on one and 2 days leave. Letter from Dah. Seems rather blue.
Drinking plenty beer trying to put on weight to go to Cairo. Major Ley now OC. Sending senior NCOs on leave in batches.
DATE: FRIDAY 31st OCTOBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Went to Gaza Ridge to get and list men reinforcements.
Went to Tel Aviv in evening with Jack Moorhouse, Dick and Bert. Vamped Bert’s girl all night. He was wild as hell. Dick and me very full.
Back to camp at 3 a.m. San Remo and met Jim Gerald.
DATE: SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Very sorry for self today. Spent day at intervals having hair of dog.
Too bad all our temporary ranks and postings have to revert.
Jack Morris returned from Kantara.
We are taking over at Jerusalem in near future. 33 to Val.
DATE: SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 1941
LOCATION: BEIT JIRJA
Took troops for surf.
Marvellous in water. Stopped on way and picked oranges at Grove. Met Dick Maule on beach. Jack Morris has teed up our leave in Tel Aviv.
Sounds alright to me.
Greg gets his 2 pips today. Very popular. Letter from Best wanting compensation for candy.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The diary for 1941 ends at this point. No diary for 1942 has been found but it is known that Gordon served in New Guinea after finishing his time in Tobruk.
Further research is underway to complete this memoir.
14th July 2017. JW