A RANKER'S DIARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 51, 11 May 1942, Page 5

A RANKER'S DIARY

GLIMPSES OF LIBYAN BATTLE CAPTURED MAN'S EXPERIENCES K3VENTS FROM DAY TO DAY I The following diary extracts hy. Signal mini L. K. Rya n who was, coptured bs' tlie Germans and interned at Bardia until finally released by the Sottth Africans will be of interest to those of our readers whose relatives participated in the Libyan campaign. Jan 4. Perfect day. Biscuits, but* ter, jam, tea. Y.M.C.A. issues three ; cakes chocolate, 40 eigs, box mat-» ches all round. Move off to railhead byi truck at 11 a.m. Travel across desert. Lunch tea bully, and biscuits. Going very rough. Arrive just after dark. Stew, bread, butter, and tents to sleep in for a change. Jan 5. Beautiful day, sausages, bread, butter, jam and orange. On train about 10 a.m. Get isstfeel with, hard rations for two days. 35 men in large iron Avagon, weather good. After some minor casualties to a couple of wagons' while shunting I found myself in the ration truck so I lived rather well for the resit of the' trip. 9 p.m. we arrived at a place with a hot mea'l waiting, rum and cig's issued as well. Travel all nightJan. G. Make breakfast in wagon, bread', milk, grape juice, and sugar. Lunch at El Amrya—stew, bread, jam, butter and tea. Getting tired, but looking forward to good times ahead. Tea in wagon—tinned fruit, milk, biscuits and toast. Arrive Maadi about 2 a.m. Jan. 7. Taken to camp and find meal of New Zealand beef, potatoes, kumera onions and sauce, witli rice and raisins for dessert. Then to huts and find bed 1 , boards and fiveblankets awaiting ias. Jan 8. Breakfast. Bully and scrambled eggs, tea, bread, butter and ijam. Sorted into something like units. Lunch —tea; orange, banana, , cakc, chocolate, bread, butter and I jam. Tea —first class also—being treated like Kings. Strip off, shower, and then complete issue of new clothes. 'Paid £2 into' Cairo. Jan. 9. Issued some equipment.. Paid £1 more leave. Jan. 10. Pack up. Going to signals. Find gear a bit heavy. Get set in Sigs. school. Food here same as ordinary.. Jan. 12. After-mucH argument we are now on special rations. Breakfast to-day poached eggs, scrambled ! eggs, on toast. Morning tea, bread and butter; Lunch, tea, custard (made with eggs), and prunes bread and butter- and jam*. Afternoon tea, tea and Xinas cake. And so another chapter of my Army life.