NEWS FROM LIBYA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 5

NEWS FROM LIBYA

STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN

LOCAL BOY'S LETTER

SOME EXCITING ENCOUNTERS

Writing from hospital where he is now undergoing treatment for blood poisoning of the hands after experiencing the best part of the Libyan campaign, Gnr Mervyn Cummings, son of Mr and Mrs Tim Cummings of Toroai Street, has> some interesting details to relate. His is probably one of the first letters received in- this town relative to the pro- ■ gress and experiencees of the 1 New Zealand boys and! we have pleasure in reproducing it. In, leading up to the actual description of the attack, Pte Cummings s;ayfe:— "We travelled many miles across 'the desert chiefly at night time until we approached the border which is determined by a high wire fence set in concrete across to the coast. About midnight one night Tve set off cut the wire and penetrated tibout 15 miles into Libya, where we had our first scrap. This wa? a Jerry fort and we captured it after a day's fighting.. In the meantime another crowd were attacking his water line which ran to Solium. This also was taken about the same time and we were off again. The travelling was very swift and I suppose you wondered how we sot up to the Tobruk area so quickly when Hell Fire Pass and Rardia had not been taken, but after taking this fort we went inland. Ceaseless Fighting I suppose for about a fortnight we didn't average three hours sleep a night and some nights we travelled all night in the pitch dark. On our Avay we ran into l a column ■of enemy tanks but had them cleaned up in about four hours. The same night we attacked an aerodrome and captured and destroyed about fifty planes. Oh we went next day without much doing until towards evening when we came across some Jerries who had a number of South African prisoners. These we released and took the Jerries. In the meantime 'Jerry' had retaken the drome so back we went to give him the

works. A Great Tank Battle Next clay we were right intoi his strongest area and here Ave saw the biggest tank battle to (late. Lt was an awe-inspiring sight these giants of steel belching fire and shell but the crews of each —just a suicide squad. Here we had the Hun split up into five different lots and the main job for us to do, had Still) to be done—release the garrison from Tobruk. What part of the division we had was split up again which to my mind was a mistake as Jerry had so many men there. Our battery went into position at one place and about one in the morning we found ourselves surrounded.

Burst Through German Lines There was only one thing to. do make a break for it hack to the rest or be wiped out so off we went hell for leather through Jerrj r 's lines. You, never heard such a clatter and .a bang with all these trucks tearing in and out amongst hordes of Germans. I don't know who> was startled the most they or Ave. However we "had every mortal thing fired at us .-and came through with only a couple of casualties and about four trucks set on fire. We got out jufctt on daylight and back to the rest oif the -chaps. Had a good hot breakfast . and a bit of a snore off, \Vhi:le the infantry proceeded to have a go at Jerry. Tobruk Garrison. Reached The following day we joined up with the garrison who had ventured • out from Tobruk which was eight • miles distant —and were those boys pleased to get out after being shut in for six months. Our next battle was terrific. Jerry came one morning like a desperate foe just on ■ daylight with everything he had tanks and all. Our own infantry by this time had very heavy casualties and no reinforcements. The rest were absolutely done—in for want otf sleep and the effects of the hard travelling. So it was left to the artillery and a few tanks that were attached to us to ward him off. Hell Let Loose Our battery was the first to get it. Talk about hell let loose! I have never seen gunners fight so bravely! (Continued in next column)

They beat off the tanks and turned them back repeatedly, but the Hun infantry then came in with tommy and machine guns and it was hopeless as I said before. Our own infantry Avere out of it and could not support us. At this stage General Freyberg Avas up Avith us and told us all toi make a dash back to the Ist Echelon guns which meant everyone for himself or be taken prisoner or shot. From Avhere I Avas behind a truck AA'heel I could see about 100 yards up betAveen smoke and ruin, chaps surrendering but I AA r as determined I Avas not going tb stay and be a prisoner not in the desert anyAvay because at the time Ave had his food supplies Avell cut up.

Dash for Safety I looked behind me and no one was in sight so I decided to make my clash. Bullets poured around me but I said just as many prayers and not one got me. When I thought I had run far enough to be out of danger I stopped to get a breather but some blighter opened up with a machine gun so on again I went until a Tommy came across in a tank a?ul gave me a lift out. Was I pleased! Baok with the rest of the boys it was quieter and I managed to get a little breakfast. We were told we had to hold this place till 5.30 that night and we would be relieved and out for a rest. This we did after another big battle in the afternoon and Ave pulled out at the appointed lime. Shock Troops ?So much for the Avar. Things are going pretty Avell iioav and the final push with fresh troops about to begin but the New Zealand casualties are heavy as again Ave Avcre used as a spear head and shock troops. However the boys ditl more than was set out for them to do. He adds that tlie New Zealand troops are confident of being able to beat the Germans, on equal terms.