A RANKER'S DIARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 46, 29 April 1942, Page 5

A RANKER'S DIARY

GLIMPSES OF LIBYAN BATTLE

CAPTURED MAN'S EXPERIENCES

EVENTS FROM DAY TO DAY

The following diary extracts by Signalman L. K. R\*an who was captured by the Germans and in-, terned at Bardia until finally released by the South Africans will be of interest te> those of our readers whose relatives participated in the Libyan campaign. December 7. Night not quite so cold. One plane come overhead but bombs dropped well to rear of us during night. Not once but several times. Coffee 8 a.m. Coffee and bread 11.30. Tea, rice, beans and vegs 4 p.m. Weathor a bit better so borrowed gear for a shave. December 8. Weather fair. Meals as usual except macaroni for tea. Seven bombers made three raids in vicinity. Evening cold. December 9. One plane over nearly dropped load, six later. Guards want us to shift to new position about quarter mile away. Say slightly better protection from weather. We refuse on account of old tank in centre and ammunition dropped: nearby. Want us to shift ammunition. Still won't go. Guards sayno food unless we do this. Left at that six planes made many trips, always releasing bombs almost overhead. Know this means they are not for us but rather uncomfortable just the same. Meals as usual. December 10. Night mild and overcast. Day windy showery and cool. And still hoping we will soon be out. Afternoon cold meals as usual. December 11. Very cold night, all else as usual. Stroll up and down the compound, lie down, wait for meals and then another stroll. Conversation, meals when rejeased—release—and the latest rumour. Some chaps eat all their bread when received others make it last two or three meals. ' • December 12. As -before except that we have bread issue for to* morrow at night. December 13. Sold fountain pen for a loaf and 30 cigarettes. December 14. Germans over iifc morning, dropped small package. One of ours over in afternoon dropped some bombs nearby. Unable to see any damage. Rumour has it that Itys intend to reduce rations again. No supplies in for 17 days according, to them. Get out on working party and. collect two sheets iron as cover for Arch., Cory and myself. We have been together all the time so far. German guard remarks this is a bad Xmas for you and us.

December 15. Wet and windy night—our new shelter kept us comparatively dry. Told that hospital! ship is to take us away. See shi']> coming in during morning. All to pack up, breakfast as usual. All rations cocked by 1 p.m. in caste alif go. Names drawn for those to gomissed. Some very keen to get away. No rations left for tea. All wondering what comes next. Part left fof ship about 4 p.m. Return at 5 p.m. German officer saw them waiting on. wharf and asked what was the matter with them all. They answered that nothing was the matter but that the Itys were sending them on. the hospital ship. Told them he was in charge of ship and had no intention of taking fit men on- it. He knew the rules and he tried to keej* them. In any case there was a naval ship waiting outside to intercept him as he went out. Proceeded to tell the Itys off properly. Some had said they were very sick to get on board before this in the hope of getting better accommodation. All food eaten —all very hungry. Just on dark to-morrow's rations arrive, 300 men short (hospital ship chaps) so have to cut down a bit. We get 1V 2 cigarcttes and half loaf and small cup coffee. Just about dark we see hospital ship leave, all. lit up and submarine come in. Star shells out at sea later so apparently ship was stopped all right.