HOME FROM LIBYA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 25, 6 March 1942, Page 5

HOME FROM LIBYA

J>OUG. WILSON'S EXPERIENCES PERIOD OF CONVALESCENCE AHEAD CAPTURE AND RELEASE To be repatriated home wounded, after some fifteen months absence in the Middle East, during which he took part in the • recent spectacular Libyan campaign, captured by the Germans, met the celebrated General Rommel, and finally to be released by a wandering group of bren-gun carriers, was the experience of Pte Doug. Wilson, son of Mr and. Mrs' R. Wilson, of Domain Road 1 , who arrived in Whakatane last Sunday. Dong. avlio is reticent about hisexperiences, provided a pressman •with an interesting hour yesterday, when he gave in some detail his experiences * from the commencement of the campaign. Being the first local wounded man to arrive back home his talc will be of wide interest and we are pleased to give it full space. Scene of Armed Power The actual invasion presented a spectacle, which he described as unforgettable. As far as the eye could reach the desert was black with vehicles of every description. From one escarpment, the whole picture was one of moving military might. Troop-carrying lorries, bren gun carriers, tank and guns rolled along in n vast cloud of dust, while overhead the air was vibrating with the purr of hnndrcd.s of planes. Action, at Bir Gerba Crossing the border, the first engagement by the New Zcalandci was against a small fortress, known as Bir Gerba, held by a mixed force of Germans and Italians. Underestimation in strength led to a small section being diverted to invest it. but the fire from the position proved so hot that it was a vertible death trap to venture closer than 1200 yards. Meanwhile the 'jerry' guns got the range and casualties were inflicted on the small attacking force. The first man to get wounded was Pte W. Merrie of Taneatua. From behind their concrete pillboxes the enemy opened up Avith all they had, and at nightfall it was deemed best to withdraw. Numbing Cold The wounded, of which Pte Wilson was one, were removed to the lee . of some large trucks, while the walking wounded moved off with the infantry. An icy rain, did not improve matters, though the cold had the effect of numbing the pain for tile wounded men. The infantry finally wihtdrew leaving the badly ■wounded to be picked up later by the ambulance units. These unfortunates, unable to Avalk remained six hours in the cold and rain before they received their first dressings, and that occurred about 2 a.m. in the morning, 'when an officer returned to the abandoned trucks and later directed a convoy of ambulances to the spot. The men were then picked up and direction was made for an Indian dressing station. Attack on Red Cross Scarcely had they travelled, a few miles than a despatch rider warned them that an armed German Column separated them from their objective. At this juncture a single Messerschmitt machine-gunned the red cross column, killing five wounded men, and re-wounding many others. He had been up and down the column once or twice, when a Tomahawk, coming from nowhere swooped down upon him and the last they saw of the Hun was 1 a flaming mass crashing to earth. Enemy Column Approaches The news of the German approach, made it necessary to retrace their steps, but as the column got nearer, it was resolved to call for volunteers to stay with the wounded while the others escaped. A doctor (Major King), twelve orderlies -find two cooks remained with the 150 wounded men, while the others waved farewell. That night the 'Jerries' came round on tAvo sides. They Avere disciplined and orderly. Occasional Aisitors came through the tents and distributed cigarettes. Papers and haversacks Avere as expected, carefully searched for information, but otherwise everything Avas left intact. (Continued in next column)

German General's! Visit On the second day, General Rcmmei himself visited the main tent, and in perfect English addressed the Major, asking him to co-operate with the care of the German wounded. When this was promised, he thanked him and took his leave. Two days later, the Germans passed on, and the Italians swarmed about the little camp. According to Ptc Wilson, they were little more than a rabble. There was no restraint in their actions; they were rowdy and undisciplined. Unlike the Germans they did not appear to be of good type, and were in and out of the tents all day long. They appeared particularly keen to ascertain how many Australian soldiers were among th wounded. Luckily there were none, for as our informer understood they had the Aussies sorted, for the manner in which they had treated their undisciplined armies who surrendered in the first Libyan campaign. Even the crack 'bersagleiri' troops failed to impress as soldiers. All the time the guns at Bardia could be heard blazing away, and many a tale was 'swooped' by t he wounded men as they hoped against hope that the British drive would be successful. Rescued at Last After three days with the Italians, a strange silence set in. The hirelings of Mussolini had suddenly melted away. What was greater than the surprise of the men, one morning to see three bren-gun carriers of their own 'Div Cav' rumbling towards them. Word was sent forward of their plight and soon a convoy of ambulances arrived taking them all to a South African dressing station inside the border, just six days after the action at Bir Gcrba. From there to an English station, and from thence by easy stages to Sidi Barrani, Mersa Matruh and finally on to the N.Z. Divisional Hospital at Cairo, where Doug, was privileged to meet many of the 'beys' who had also been casualties in the campaign. It only remained for a few •weeks convalescing in restful surroundings to put most of them right, and the next move Avas the thrill of the trip home which was made without j incident of any kind.