BATTLE EXPERIENCES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 263, 27 January 1941, Page 5

BATTLE EXPERIENCES

ACTION AGAINST ITALIANS

CAVALRY CORPORAL'S VIVID ACCOUNT

[ A, breezy and fascinating account of experiences in the Western-Des-ert has been received by a Te Aroha friend, from Corporal C.> Capamagian, B Company of the First 13c helon, Divisional Cavalry, whose letter, written on New Year's Day, was on Italian notepaper and enclosed in an litalian envelope. "I Avas lucky to be one of the 12 picked avlio, together with another 12 from the A Squadron, were sent forward to retrieve a swag of Italian tanks. Praise of Drivers. "I had the Lime of my life," he says. "Of course we were bombed and one fellow was shot through the shoulder and thigh from a plane. We were right where the doings were, as you may guess. "We had to work quickly and, believe me, New Zealand drivers are just the ones for that. We were never too sure when the biter might get bitten, since it was not quite impossible to evade us. Diesel Enginedi Tanks. "Most of these tanks were dieselengined ones and, believe me, most intricate. They had eight huge cylinders and five forward gears, with an auxiliary gear box containing another five forward gears. They have nice young cannon mounted on the front, firing armour-piercing shells. They also carry twin machine guns firing at the rate of 1400 a minute. They appeared most efficient and were largely 1940 models. Risky Enterprise. ''After bringing out the best, we got cheeky and, manning a dozen, we went right through two of the, mine fields without losing one, although a Tommy just behind me did —he was twelve inches the wrong way. "We could see where the mines lay, as they had been put down hurriedly. The Tommies reckoned we were magicians, for they had been investigating for two days and had found no way through. We reckoned it was better to write off a couple of "Wop" machines than one of our own.

Shells Bounce Off. "To see a 25-pounder make a direct hit on a tank and fly off liko a snowball is a fact and not a yarn. No wonder that we walk over their gun emplacements. I have seen them stop at 400 .yards and olean up field guns one after the-other.' - ' Souvenir Collection. Continuing in his humorous style, the Corporal gives an i'dea of the quantity of abandoned equipment left behind by the fleeing Italians, from which he apparently seems to have claimed his share of souvenirs! "I have a lovely lot of souvenirs. I have four of the 'Wop' shells, about eight hand grenades and several kinds of bullets, all of which I have rendered useless. While I was removing the detonators, caps and fuses, my mates here nearly had the jitters. "I' have collected a lot of badges and buttons, a few medals and coins and plenty of notes, some new cloUieSj-Jsoots, dress spurs,, and a brand new officer's real beauty .> General's Equipment. "I am sleeping on General etti's mattress," he proudly announces. "It would cost at least £6 in New Zealand. I got the heavy duck fly off his tent, wrapped it around the- mattress and, with two oi his swag straps„ tied it on to the back of the tank. "It is a great idea at night. I unroll the fly, strap it to the side of the tank and pin down the other edge with three steel pegs. Now the stars no longer keep me awake and the clew cannot annoy me. Water Shortage.

"We were away from base a fortnight altogeßier; and the last week we lived on 'Wop' tucker, whieli was not bad for a change.' Of course, water was a problem. We' had one shave ®n Christmas Day with an Italian razor ancl soap. We liad three washes in the fortnight. Corporal concludes his letter by say irig what a good time he is having,/ especially since .he is good friends with the cook j and the cyiartevmaster-sergofcmt.