A RANKER'S DIARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 45, 27 April 1942, Page 5

A RANKER'S DIARY

x GLIMPSES OF LIBYAN BATTLE

CAPTURED MAN'S EXPERIENCES

EVENTS FROM DAY TO DAY

The following diary extracts by Signalman L. K. Ryan who was captured by the Germans and interned at Bardia until finally released by the South Africans will be of interest to those of our readers whose relatives participated in the Libyan campaign.

November 29. T was searched in the morning and then moved to another camp about 100 yards away not much better than the first, slightly bigger but jiist as stony, and still no roof. Issued one pint of water and half loaf of bread and a cup of macaroni «tew 4.30. No one really worried as yet but rather hungry. We find that tlje Germans are manning machine gun- posts ancl Italians on guard on the gate and round about with rifles. Managed an occasional smoke thanks to some of the chaps who brought in a supply. Some 1 still Avith no coat or blanket so those with more than one pass on to the rest so that we all 1 have at least one blanket.

November 30. Cold night. Cup of coffee made with ground coffee 1 beans boiled in water about 8.30. My last shave 26th. Issued two cigarettes per man and at 12 p.m. coffee and macaroni stew with day's ration of bread, one loaf. Feel much better. 4.30 macaroni stew, slightly larger issue, no water, and finished loaf of bread. German planes flew over about 5 and dropped packets of medical supplies. 5 p.m. two cigarettes for to-morrow's issue. December 1. Count of prisoners 8 a.m. Coffee 8.30, one cup of water. Total number in compound 1100 odd. 12 —cup macaroni and rice, coffee, bread. December 2. Coffee 8, lunch bread, macaroni and coffee. In afternoon. R.A.F. directly overhead 1 and' drop books nearby. Feel a bit unhappy until we are sure that they are not going to drop on us. Weather cold and showery and Ave 1 have no shelter. Wish let some of us out for iron and wood provide shelter. Chaps digging holes with tin hats and sticks and putting up ston® walls to keep off biting wind. Tea 3.30 is two cups macaroni and under the blanket at 6p.m.

December 3. Arise at 8 after cold night. Gup coffee. Walk up and down for a while to get warm. Very little sun. Gunfire in distance. A. gun behind us opened fire in reply and we nearly died of fright. IJ. a.m. lunch as usual. Hoping the gun fire means we won't be here long. Weather cold, wind, no sun. Rumours of victories German and English flying round. Apparently coming from nowhere. Nearby gun: opens up in the afternoon once more nnd distant gunfire sounds further awaj r . Feel a bit disappointed. Cig -1 arettes and evening meal as usual;

December 4. Another cold night, we walk round to keep warm for ark hour or so. Not much sun in the morning, wind cool, so most of us stay under our blanket. Water (onecup) in morning. Lunch a§ usual. Afternoon still cool, lie around and wait for tea which, arrives as per schedule. Getting short of topics of conversation the main ones being food to be consumed when released—• release—and rumours.

December 5. Cold night. Much: bombing during day. Several going sick with dysentry. Strong movement in favour of applying to guards for parole t>r something, before we nil got sick. Some object to idea, [tys apparently can't get us to Italy. Rumours of arrival of submarine irt port. Little gunfire to-day, rather disappointing. Loaf bread only for lunch. Itys say food is getting shorts Clear sunny afternoon so all feel! much better. First shave yesterday by the way. Nothing done about parole. Asking guards 'for permission fo erect shelter for ourselves as well 1 as meat, sugar and more bread. What a hour. Weather gets colder in evening. December 8. Ccld and showerv night. Everyone pretty miserable, clothes and blankets wet. Little sun during the day. Morning coffee and issue of water. Loaf bread for lunch. Two South Africans captured last night so all the new rumours are reputed to have come from them. Turkey in the war with us but they have no information about the position in the desert. They think it is intended to stave Bardia out. That is what we are afraid of. (To be continue*!)